Get a case with a flat bottom, not a bag

You want a hard or semi-rigid case with a flat base, not a soft fabric pouch. The pouch rolls and flops no matter how good the zipper is, and it will always land on its side.

The real trick is the shape. A case stands up when its base is wider than its height is tall. A tall, skinny cylinder will tip over every time you brush against it. A rectangular box with a broad footprint stays put. That’s why the classic tin and plastic cases work — boring, but they sit there like a brick.

For the spilling part, look for either a design with a divider in the middle or a multi-fold case that flips open flat. Both keep pens from avalanching into one pile when you unzip. If you’d rather keep it simple, a standard hard case that opens fully flat is fine — just accept that you’ll be fishing around a little.

Skip anything marketed as “waterproof” or “ultra-slim.” You don’t need it, and slim means it falls over. One more thing: check that it actually closes with everything in it. There’s no bigger lie than a pencil case that only latches when it’s half-empty.

Buy the boring box. Your desk will thank you.