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The best all-round Glock 17 holster we build is the IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $41.95, our best selling Glock shell and the one most G17 owners should start with. It carries inside the waistband, covers the trigger guard completely, and adjusts from -5 to +20 degrees of cant. If you carry appendix, the Sidecar Holster, from $94.95 pairs the gun and a spare magazine on one platform and is the more comfortable choice for a full size gun at the 1 o'clock position.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $41.95
- Best Dedicated Glock 17 Fit: IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $41.95
- Best For Appendix Carry: Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
- Best Minimalist Carry: Trigger Guard Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $36.95
- Best For Open Carry And Range Days: Paddle Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $46.95
- Best Light Bearing IWB: IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49 TLR7A/TLR7X, from $49.95
- Best For Dress Clothes: Tuckable IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $46.95
- Best Upgraded Build: Plus Line IWB KYDEX Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $61.95
Glock 17 Specs That Affect Holster Choice
| Specification | Glock 17 Gen5 |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9x19mm |
| Standard magazine capacity | 17 rounds |
| Barrel length | 4.49 in (114 mm) |
| Overall length | 7.95 in (202 mm) |
| Slide length | 7.32 in (186 mm) |
| Height with magazine | 5.47 in (139 mm) |
| Slide width | 1.00 in (25.5 mm) |
| Overall width | 1.34 in (34 mm) |
| Weight with empty magazine | 24.97 oz (708 g) |
Two of those numbers do the real work. The 5.47 inch height is what decides whether the gun prints, because the grip is the part that pushes out against a shirt, and no amount of barrel length changes that. The 1.00 inch slide width is why a molded Kydex shell disappears against the body in a way a padded hybrid never quite does. The 7.95 inch overall length is the number people worry about and the one that matters least for concealment, since the muzzle end is below the belt line where nobody is looking. At just under 25 ounces empty, loaded weight climbs past 32 ounces, which is the argument for a rigid gun belt rather than a wider holster.
Which Glock 17 Do You Have?
The Glock 17 has run through six generations plus an MOS optic variant, and Glock has since added two duty guns built on the same frame footprint. Our Glock 17 shell is molded to that footprint, so the table below is about which product page to land on rather than which shell to buy.
| Your Gun | Shell That Fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 Gen 3, Gen 4, Gen 5 | Glock 17 / 22 / 31 / 47 / 49 shell | The core fit. Frame differences between generations do not change the slide profile the shell indexes on. |
| Glock 17 Gen 5 MOS | Same shell | Optic cut is standard on every Kydex holster we build, so the MOS slide needs no separate product. |
| Glock 17 V Series, also called Gen 6 | Same shell, fitment validated | We have confirmed fitment on the V Series. Whichever name you shop under, the Glock 17 shell is the one. |
| Glock 47 | Same shell | Full size frame with the 17 footprint. Shares our Glock 17 holsters. |
| Glock 49 | Same shell | Crossover length that indexes on the same shell as the 17. |
| Glock 22 (.40 S&W), Glock 31 (.357 SIG) | Same shell | Identical external dimensions to the 17, different chambering. |
| Glock 34 | Glock double stack shell | Longer slide. Use the multi-model Glock shell rather than the 17-specific one. |
Every Carry Configuration, Compared
IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $41.95
Best Overall
This is the best selling holster in our Glock 17 range, and it is the one we point most new G17 owners at. It is a single piece of molded Kydex with adjustable Posi-Click retention, cant adjustable from -5 to +20 degrees, and adjustable ride height, so the same holster works at 3 o'clock or tucked forward toward appendix. Because it is a multi-model shell it also covers every other double stack Glock in the safe.
Best for: Daily concealed carry, owners with more than one Glock, anyone who wants one holster to cover the whole collection.
IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $41.95
Best Dedicated Glock 17 Fit
Same price and same features as the multi-model shell, molded only to the full size footprint. If the Glock 17 is the only gun you carry, this is the tighter answer: nothing in the shell is shaped around a shorter slide, so the retention click sits exactly where the G17 wants it. It also carries the 47 and 49 without compromise.
Best for: Single gun owners, Glock 47 and Glock 49 carriers, anyone who prefers a model-specific mold.
Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
Best For Appendix Carry
A full size gun at the appendix position lives or dies on how the weight is spread, and that is the whole point of a sidecar. The gun and a spare magazine sit on one platform, so the load is distributed across the front of the belt instead of hanging off a single clip. It is our most expensive Glock 17 option and the one appendix carriers keep coming back to.
Best for: Appendix carry, carrying a reload, anyone who found a standard IWB uncomfortable at 1 o'clock.
Trigger Guard Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $36.95
Best Minimalist Carry
The least holster that is still a holster. It covers the trigger guard, includes a claw, and comes off the gun on the draw, which makes it the honest answer for anyone who was otherwise going to shove a Glock 17 into a waistband bare. At $36.95 it is also the cheapest way to make an existing setup safe.
Best for: Deep concealment, pocket or bag carry, replacing no holster at all.
Paddle Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $46.95
Best For Open Carry And Range Days
Outside the waistband on a paddle, so it goes on and comes off without threading a belt. The draw is faster and cleaner than any inside the waistband option because nothing is pressed between the gun and your body, and it is far more comfortable for a long day standing at a range. It conceals under a jacket but not under a t-shirt.
Best for: Range use, open carry where legal, truck and property carry, anyone who wants to holster and unholster quickly.
IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49 TLR7A/TLR7X, from $49.95
Best Light Bearing IWB
A weapon light is the single most useful thing you can bolt to a home defense Glock 17, and this shell is molded around the Streamlight TLR-7A and TLR-7X so the light indexes rather than the slide. It is claw compatible, so the same gun that sits on a nightstand can go on the belt without a second setup.
Best for: Home defense guns that also get carried, low light carry, anyone running a TLR-7A or TLR-7X.
Tuckable IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $46.95
Best For Dress Clothes
The tuckable clip lets you tuck a shirt down over the gun so only a belt clip shows, which is what makes a full size Glock 17 workable in an office. Cant, ride height and retention all adjust the same way as the standard IWB. You give up a little draw speed for a lot of wardrobe freedom.
Best for: Business dress, tucked shirts, anywhere an untucked shirt would look out of place.
OWB Holster fits: Glock 17 22 31 47 49, from $56.95
Best Belt-Mounted OWB
Belt loops instead of a paddle, which pulls the gun tighter to the body and holds position better under movement. This is the version to pick if the holster stays on the belt all day rather than coming on and off, and it conceals noticeably better than a paddle under an open shirt or jacket.
Best for: All day OWB carry, competition and training, anyone who wants a lower profile than a paddle.
Plus Line IWB KYDEX Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49, from $61.95
Best Upgraded Build
The Plus Line is the same molded geometry with upgraded hardware and finish work. If you have carried Kydex before, know exactly how you want it set up, and would rather buy once, this is the version to buy. Everything that adjusts on the standard shell adjusts here.
Best for: Experienced carriers, gifts, anyone upgrading from a first holster they have outgrown.
What Actually Matters When Buying
Material. Kydex holds its molded shape, so the holster stays open after the draw and the gun clicks back in one-handed. Leather and hybrid designs are softer against the body but collapse over time, and a full size gun accelerates that. Every holster in this guide is molded Kydex.
Retention. Look for adjustable retention rather than a fixed friction fit. Ours use a Posi-Click detent you tension with a hex key, so you set how hard the gun has to be pulled and it stays there.
Adjustability. Cant and ride height are what turn a holster that technically fits into one you will actually wear. A Glock 17 carried at 4 o'clock wants forward cant so the grip tucks behind the hip; the same holster at appendix wants the cant closer to neutral.
Trigger guard coverage. Non-negotiable. The trigger must be fully covered by rigid material, with nothing able to press into the guard while holstered. This is the single reason a holster exists.
The belt. A loaded Glock 17 is over two pounds. A soft department store belt will roll under that weight and drag the grip outward no matter which holster you bought. A rigid gun belt fixes more concealment complaints than a new holster does.
IWB vs OWB for the Glock 17
| Factor | IWB | OWB |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Strong. The belt line hides the grip and only the clip is visible. | Limited. Needs a jacket or an untucked overshirt to work. |
| Comfort | Good with a claw and a rigid belt, less so seated for long periods. | Best in class. Nothing sits between the gun and your body. |
| Draw Speed | Slightly slower. The grip has to clear the waistband. | Fastest. Clean, unobstructed grip on the gun. |
| Wardrobe Impact | Needs waist room, roughly one pant size for a full size gun. | No waist change, but the cover garment is doing all the work. |
| Best For | Daily concealed carry in ordinary clothes. | Range days, open carry, cold weather over a jacket. |
Appendix Carry Setup
Appendix works with a Glock 17, but it is less forgiving than it is with a compact, and the details are what make it comfortable.
Use a claw. A claw levers against the inside of the belt and rotates the grip into the body. On a full size gun this is the difference between the grip printing and disappearing, and it costs less than a holster.
Drop the ride height slightly. Sitting the gun a little lower keeps the muzzle from digging into the thigh crease when you sit down, which is the most common reason people give up on appendix.
Neutral cant, or close to it. Forward cant helps at the hip and hurts at appendix, where it pushes the grip out.
Sit down before you decide. Any appendix setup feels fine standing in front of a mirror. Sit in a car seat for ten minutes, then judge it.
Consider the sidecar. For a full size gun at 1 o'clock, spreading the load across a gun and magazine platform solves more comfort problems than adjusting a single-clip holster ever will.
Generations, Optics and Lights
Optics. Every Kydex holster we build is optic cut, so a red dot equipped Glock 17 needs no different shell and no separate decision at checkout. Whether you run an MOS slide or a milled aftermarket cut, the sight window clears. You may see legacy products in the catalog labeled Optic Ready; those are older listings from before the cut was applied across the range and are not a different fit.
Generations. The Glock 17 has run from Gen 3 through the current V Series, which press coverage and most shoppers call Gen 6. Our Glock 17 shell fitment is validated on the V Series, so whichever term you searched, you are in the right place. Frame changes between generations, including the finger grooves that came and went, sit below the shell line and do not change the fit.
Lights. A weapon light changes the shell, because the holster must index on the light rather than the slide. We build dedicated shells for the Streamlight TLR-1, the TLR-7A and TLR-7X, and the Olight PL-X and Baldr S / Baldr Mini. If your Glock 17 wears a light, buy the shell for that specific light rather than a standard holster.
What Else Fits a Glock 17 Holster
Glock built several guns on the same external footprint, which is why one shell covers so much ground. This is genuinely useful if you own more than one Glock.
The Glock 17 shell covers: Glock 17, Glock 22, Glock 31, Glock 47 and Glock 49. The 22 and 31 are the .40 S&W and .357 SIG versions of the same gun. The 47 and 49 are newer duty guns built to that footprint, which is why the 47 and 49 questions keep coming up.
The Glock double stack shell covers: Glock 17, 19, 19X, 26, 31, 32, 33, 34, 45, 47 and 49. If you own a Glock 17 and a Glock 19, or a 17 and a 26, this is the shell that carries both.
Going the other direction, a Glock 19 will physically sit in a Glock 17 holster but the muzzle will not reach the bottom of the shell and retention will index differently, so buy the shell that names your gun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Carry Holster for a Glock 17?
For daily concealed carry, our best selling option is the IWB Holster fits: Glock 17 19 19X 26 31 32 33 34 45 47 49 at $41.95. It rides inside the waistband, fully covers the trigger guard, and adjusts from -5 to +20 degrees of cant with adjustable ride height, so one holster can be tuned for hip or appendix position.
What Is the Best Gun Holster for a Glock 17?
It depends on how you dress. Kydex IWB conceals best under an untucked shirt, a tuckable IWB at $46.95 works with a tucked dress shirt, and an OWB paddle at $46.95 draws fastest at the range. All three are built on the same molded Glock 17 shell, so fit and retention are identical.
Is a Glock 17 Too Big for Concealed Carry?
No, though it asks more of your setup than a compact does. At 7.95 inches long and 5.47 inches tall, the Glock 17 conceals well on most builds with a rigid gun belt, a claw, and a holster that pulls the grip inward. Grip height is what prints, not barrel length.
Who Makes the Best Glock Holsters?
There is no single winner, and since we build holsters ourselves, treat this as our view. Rounded Gear, Vedder, Tenicor, Tier 1 Concealment and Safariland all have earned reputations for different priorities. We build American-made Kydex with adjustable Posi-Click retention and a lifetime warranty, starting at $41.95.
What Does "Mexican Carry" Mean?
Mexican carry means carrying a gun tucked directly into the waistband with no holster at all. It is widely regarded as unsafe, because nothing covers the trigger guard and the gun can shift or fall free. A minimalist trigger guard holster at $36.95 removes that risk while staying nearly as slim.
What Is the Absolute Best Concealed Carry Holster?
There is no single best, and any maker claiming one is selling something. The best concealed carry holster is molded to your exact gun, fully covers the trigger guard, holds position on a rigid belt, adjusts for cant and ride height, and is comfortable enough that you wear it every day rather than leaving it home.
How We Chose
These are our own holsters, so this is not an independent review and we are not going to pretend otherwise. What we can do is be straight about the ranking. Every product here was pulled from our live Glock 17 catalog and ordered by actual sales, which is what the Best Overall pick rests on. Anything out of stock was excluded. Prices and fitment are read from the live product records, not written from memory.
Specifications come from Glock's published Gen5 figures. Where a question has no clean answer, such as which brand makes the best Glock holster, we said so rather than steering it toward ourselves.
Related Guides
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- Best Glock 26 Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
- Best Glock 43X Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
- Best Glock 48 Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
