It is the first question most collectors ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on your pins. A window full of small round pins holds far more than one with a few big, odd-shaped ones. So we give every bag an estimate based on a standard pin, and show you how we get there.
How we count
We plan with 3 cm pins, measured on the longest side. That is close to a typical enamel pin. We leave a 3 mm gap between pins, so each one takes a 3.3 cm square. Then we divide the window's width and height by 3.3, round each down, multiply, and round the result down to the nearest 5.
Worked example: the thick cotton 3-Way has a visible window of 21 × 23.5 cm (8.3 × 9.3 in). That gives 6 pins across and 7 down, which is 42, so we call it about 40. For small pins of 2.5 cm the same sum gives up to about 55.
Pin counts by bag
| Bag | Window | 3 cm pins | Small pins (2.5 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16″ 2-Way tote | 21 × 38 cm | About 65 | Up to about 90 |
| 17″ 4-Way | 27 × 28 cm | About 60 | Up to about 90 |
| 15″ 3-Way, tough Oxford | 25.5 × 24.5 cm (10 × 9.6 in) | About 45 | Up to about 70 |
| 15″ 3-Way, thick cotton | 21 × 23.5 cm (8.3 × 9.3 in) | About 40 | Up to about 55 |
| 15″ Dual Window, navy | Front and side windows | About 40, plus about 15 in the side window | Up to about 60 in the front |
| ITA Switch Crossbody Bag (A5) | 24 × 12 cm (9.4 × 4.7 in) | About 15 | Up to about 20 |
We have not published counts for the 18″ vegan leather 4-Way, the 17″ corduroy tote, the Daily Backpack Pro or the Expandable yet. If you need a number for one of those, ask us and we will measure it for you.
A note on size: our windows are a sensible size on purpose. We would rather you had a bag you can wear to work every day than the biggest window possible. If a big display is the goal, the totes are the ones to look at.
Layout tips
- Plan on the table first. Take the pad out and lay pins on top before you push any through. Take a photo so you can rebuild it later.
- Start in the middle. Place your favourite pin in the centre, then work outwards. Gaps at the edges look intentional; gaps in the middle look like something fell off.
- Heavy and large pins low. They sit better near the bottom of the pad and keep the top area free for charms.
- Leave room under the D-rings. Charms hanging from the top of the window cover the first row of pins, so keep that row for small or less important pins.
- Group by theme or colour. One character, one series, or a run from warm colours to cool ones. A clear idea looks good even with only a handful of pins.
Pin backs and locking backs
Our pads work with all the common backs: butterfly clutches, rubber backs and locking backs. Butterfly clutches come with most pins and are fine for a display you do not touch often. Rubber backs grip a little better and are kind to fabric. Locking backs are the safest choice for pins you would be upset to lose, because a bag moves, bumps and gets squashed in a way a corkboard never does. If a pin is rare or sentimental, give it a locking back.
Looking after your pin pad
- Do not overcrowd one spot. Lots of pin posts very close together stretch the fabric. Spread them out and the pad stays flat.
- Move pins to fresh holes. When you rearrange, use new spots rather than forcing posts back through stretched ones.
- Keep it dry. If your bag gets caught in the rain, take the pad out and let it dry flat before you put it back.
- Keep a spare. The thick cotton 3-Way, the navy Dual Window and the 17″ 4-Way each come with two pads, so one can rest while the other is on show.
Want to compare windows side by side? See our ITA bag guide, try the bag quiz on our homepage, or browse the ITA bags collection.
Frequently asked questions
How many pins fit in a 15 inch ITA bag?
About 40 to 45 pins of 3 cm in our 15″ backpacks: about 40 in the thick cotton 3-Way and the navy Dual Window front window, and about 45 in the tough Oxford 3-Way.
Do small pins fit more?
Yes. With 2.5 cm pins most windows take roughly a third to a half more. The thick cotton 3-Way goes from about 40 to up to about 55, for example.
Should I use locking pin backs in an ITA bag?
For valuable or sentimental pins, yes. Locking backs hold far better when the bag is moving. Rubber and butterfly backs are fine for everyday pins.
Will pins damage the window?
Pins sit on the pad behind the window, not on the window itself. Our 2026 bags use scratch-resistant TPU windows.