Refunc · Design for Succession

Neoprene sleeve generator

Cutting pattern for a laptop sleeve made from surplus neoprene — dry suits and wetsuits, the stream that runs at hundreds of units a year. Type a brand and model to pull the dimensions, or measure your own. Neoprene stretches 10–20 %, so a snug fit is cut smaller than the device.

Device

Brand and model

Start typing to search __N__ devices.

Device size — width × depth × thickness (mm)

Neoprene thickness

Fit

Snug uses the stretch of the neoprene — cut under size, pull it on.

Closure Seam allowance (mm) Corner radius (mm)

Cut two panels

Cut width

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Cut height

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Finished inside

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Neoprene per sleeve

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Cutting

Two panels at the size above. Mark straight onto the neoprene — no paper pattern needed for a rectangle.
Stretch runs across the panel (arrow in the drawing). Neoprene stretches most in one direction; that direction must go around the device, not along it.
Harvest from the back panel and the legs of a suit — the largest flat areas without darts or zips.
Cut with a sharp rotary cutter on a mat. Scissors crush the foam edge.

Sewing

Stretch needle size 14–18, polyester or nylon thread.
Zigzag or overlock, 10–12 stitches per inch. A straight stitch snaps when the neoprene stretches.
Walking foot if you have one — neoprene drags under a normal foot.
Sew three sides: bottom and both long sides. Leave the top open.
For a flat seam, glue the butted edges with neoprene cement first, then blind-stitch. Bulkier but stronger: overlap and zigzag.

Cut sizes at a glance

Two panels per sleeve, in millimetres, at 3 mm neoprene, 10 mm seam allowance and an open top. Width × height. Use the calculator above for any other setting.

Brand	Model	Snug	Normal	Roomy
Apple	MacBook Air 13" (M2–M4)	336 × 254	345 × 254	355 × 254
Apple	MacBook Air 15" (M2–M4)	373 × 276	382 × 276	392 × 276
Apple	MacBook Pro 14" (M1–M5)	349 × 262	358 × 262	368 × 262
Apple	MacBook Pro 16" (M1–M4)	394 × 290	402 × 290	412 × 290
Apple	iPad Pro 13" (M4)	308 × 251	317 × 251	327 × 251
Apple	iPad Pro 11" (M4)	276 × 213	285 × 213	295 × 213
Dell	XPS 13 (9315/9350) *	332 × 240	341 × 240	351 × 240
Dell	XPS 15 (9520/9530) *	383 × 272	392 × 272	402 × 272
Dell	XPS 15 (9560) *	395 × 276	404 × 276	414 × 276
Lenovo	ThinkPad X1 Carbon *	359 × 256	368 × 256	378 × 256
Microsoft	Surface Laptop 13.5" (4) *	344 × 263	352 × 263	362 × 263
Microsoft	Surface Laptop 15" (4) *	375 × 284	384 × 284	394 × 284
Microsoft	Surface Pro 13" *	317 × 247	326 × 247	336 × 247
Generic	11" laptop *	307 × 231	316 × 231	326 × 231
Generic	13" laptop *	342 × 256	351 × 256	361 × 256
Generic	14" laptop *	358 × 266	367 × 266	377 × 266
Generic	15" laptop *	384 × 277	393 × 277	403 × 277
Generic	16" laptop *	396 × 290	405 × 290	415 × 290
Generic	17" laptop *	436 × 308	445 × 308	455 × 308

* Indicative — generations differ, measure your own device before cutting. Apple figures are from the manufacturer.