The best all-around holster for the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 is the Rounded Gear M&P M2.0 IWB Holster, from $44.95. It is our best selling M2.0 shell, it is listed for the M&P M2.0 4in and 4.25in and the original M&P 4in and 4.25in, in 9mm and .40 S&W on one mold, and every Kydex holster we build is optic cut, so a red dot changes nothing about what you order. If you carry appendix, add the Holster Claw Kit to roll the grip into your body. If you want one shell that converts between inside and outside the waistband, take the M&P M2.0 DRUID 2.0 Holster instead.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: M&P M2.0 IWB Holster, from $44.95
- Best OWB: M&P M2.0 Paddle Holster, from $49.95
- Best for Tucked Shirts: M&P M2.0 Tuckable IWB Holster, from $49.95
- Best Belt Loop OWB: M&P M2.0 OWB Holster, from $59.95
- Best One Holster That Does Both: M&P M2.0 DRUID 2.0 Holster, from $69.95
- Best for Appendix Carry: M&P M2.0 Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
- Best Light Bearing: M&P M2.0 4in Olight PLX IWB Holster, from $49.95
- Best for a Streamlight TLR-1: M&P M2.0 TLR1 DRUID 2.0 Holster, from $77.95
- Best Premium Build: M&P M2.0 IWB Kydex Holster, Plus Line, from $64.95
- Best for the 3.6in Subcompact: M&P M2.0 3.6in IWB Holster, from $44.95
- Best Belt to Carry It On: The Ultimate Concealed Carry Leather Gun Belt, $69.99
M&P M2.0 Specs That Affect Holster Choice
| Spec | M2.0 Full Size 4.25in | M2.0 Compact 4.0in |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | 4.25 in | 4.0 in |
| Overall Length | 7.4 in | 7.25 in |
| Height | 5.5 in | 5.0 in |
| Width | 1.3 in | 1.16 in |
| Capacity | 17+1 | 15+1 |
| Weight, unloaded | About 24.7 oz | Lighter than full size |
Two of those numbers do the work. Height is the one that decides concealment: at 5.5 inches the Full Size carries half an inch more grip above the belt than the 4.0in Compact, and grip is what prints through a shirt, not barrel. Width is the one that decides comfort: 1.3 inches across the controls on the Full Size against 1.16 inches on the 4.0in Compact is the difference you feel after eight hours against your hip.
Barrel length matters least of the three, which surprises people. A Kydex shell indexes on the slide, the trigger guard and the ejection port, not on the muzzle, and our shells run open at the bottom. That is why one M2.0 mold covers both the 4.0in Compact and the 4.25in Full Size, and why the 3.6in M2.0 Subcompact, which has a genuinely shorter slide, gets its own shell.
Which M&P M2.0 Do You Have?
The M&P M2.0 is a family, not a single gun, and the live AI answers on this search literally ask you which barrel length you own before they will recommend anything. Here is the short version, taken from our own fitment data rather than from a chart.
| Your Gun | Shell You Need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| M&P9 or M&P40 M2.0 Full Size, 4.25in | M&P M2.0 IWB Holster | The standard M2.0 shell, listed for the M&P M2.0 4in and 4.25in and the original M&P 4in and 4.25in, in 9mm and .40 S&W. Also the base for the paddle, tuckable and OWB versions |
| M&P9C or M&P40C M2.0 Compact, 4.0in | M&P M2.0 IWB Holster | Same shell as the 4.25in Full Size. One holster covers both |
| M&P M2.0 Subcompact, 3.6in, or the original M&P 9C Compact | M&P M2.0 3.6in IWB Holster | Its own dedicated mold, listed for the M&P M2.0 Subcompact and the M&P 9C Compact. Do not order the standard M2.0 shell for these |
| M&P M2.0 Compact, 3.6in | Not listed separately | None of our M2.0 shells lists the 3.6in M2.0 Compact, so contact us before ordering |
| M&P M2.0 4in with an Olight PL-X | M&P M2.0 4in Olight PLX IWB Holster | Molded around the gun and the light together |
| M&P or M&P M2.0, 4in or 4.25in, with a Streamlight TLR-1 | M&P M2.0 TLR1 DRUID 2.0 Holster | Molded around the gun and the TLR-1 together, and converts between IWB and OWB |
| M&P M2.0 5in, Metal or Competitor | Not currently listed | We do not list a shell for the 5in slide or the Metal frame. Ordering the 4.25in shell for one is not a fit we will claim |
The 3.6in rows are the most useful thing on this page. Most M2.0 owners assume every M2.0 shares a holster, and most of the time they are right: the 4.0in Compact and the 4.25in Full Size genuinely do share ours. Our 3.6in shell is a separate mold listed for the M&P M2.0 Subcompact and the original M&P 9C Compact, and the 3.6in guns are where people order wrong.
Every Carry Configuration, Compared
M&P M2.0 IWB Holster, from $44.95
Best Overall
This is the holster most M2.0 owners should buy, and it is our best seller for the model by a wide margin. Adjustable cant and retention, a full sweat guard, and a single mold listed for the M2.0 4in and 4.25in and the original M&P 4in and 4.25in. It is optic cut, so a red dot is already accounted for.
Best for: Daily concealed carry at 3 to 5 o'clock or appendix, under an untucked shirt.
M&P M2.0 Paddle Holster, from $49.95
Best OWB
A paddle goes on and comes off without unthreading your belt, which is why it wins for range days, truck guns and anyone who holsters up at the door and unholsters in the driveway. The paddle sits flush enough behind a light jacket that plenty of people conceal with it in cooler weather.
Best for: Range use, open carry where legal, and quick on and off wear.
M&P M2.0 Tuckable IWB Holster, from $49.95
Best for Tucked Shirts
The tuckable clip lets your shirt drop between the gun and the clip, so the only thing visible above the belt line is a small piece of hardware that reads as a belt clip. For anyone who works in a collared shirt, this is what makes carrying a full size M2.0 realistic five days a week.
Best for: Office dress codes, tucked shirts, and deeper concealment than a standard IWB clip allows.
M&P M2.0 OWB Holster, from $59.95
Best Belt Loop OWB
Belt loops pull the gun tighter to the body than a paddle does, which is what you want if the OWB rig is the one you actually conceal with under a jacket. It is the more stable of the two outside the waistband options and the better choice if you are not taking the holster on and off through the day.
Best for: All day OWB wear, jacket weather concealment, and anyone who dislikes paddle flex.
M&P M2.0 DRUID 2.0 Holster, from $69.95
Best One Holster That Does Both
The DRUID 2.0 converts between inside and outside the waistband on the same shell, so one purchase covers the concealed carry week and the Saturday range trip. If you have been going back and forth between an IWB and an OWB order, this is the answer to that question.
Best for: Carriers who switch modes often and would rather buy once.
M&P M2.0 4in Olight PLX IWB Holster, from $49.95
Best Light Bearing
A weapon light changes the shape the holster has to hold, so a light bearing gun needs a shell molded around both parts. This one is cut for the M&P M2.0 4in with an Olight PL-X mounted. If you run a Streamlight TLR-1 instead, we mold a DRUID 2.0 for that combination, listed below.
Best for: Home defense and night carry with an Olight PL-X on the rail of an M2.0 4in.
M&P M2.0 Sidecar Holster, from $94.95
Best for Appendix Carry
A sidecar joins the holster and a magazine carrier on one flexible chassis, so the gun and the spare mag share a single anchor point and the whole rig folds with your body when you sit. On a gun as tall as the M2.0 that flex is the difference between appendix being tolerable and being genuinely comfortable. It is the most expensive option here and the one dedicated appendix carriers keep coming back for.
Best for: Committed appendix carry, and carrying a spare magazine without a second belt attachment.
M&P M2.0 TLR1 DRUID 2.0 Holster, from $77.95
Best for a Streamlight TLR-1
The TLR-1 is the most common weapon light on a full size M2.0, and this is the shell molded for that exact pairing. It is built on the DRUID 2.0 chassis, so it converts between inside and outside the waistband the same way the standard DRUID does. A light bearing gun in a shell cut for a different light is not a fit, so order by the light you actually run.
Best for: Home defense and night carry with a Streamlight TLR-1 on the rail.
M&P M2.0 IWB Kydex Holster, Plus Line, from $64.95
Best Premium Build
The Plus Line is the same fit as the standard IWB in an upgraded build. If you already know you want this holster on your belt every day for the next decade and you would rather buy the nicer version once, this is that version. Everything about the fit and the adjustment is identical to the Best Overall pick.
Best for: Buyers who want the upgraded build of the shell they were going to buy anyway.
M&P M2.0 3.6in IWB Holster, from $44.95
Best for the 3.6in Subcompact
The M&P M2.0 Subcompact has a genuinely shorter 3.6in slide than the rest of the family, so it gets its own mold rather than sharing the standard M2.0 shell. This shell is listed for the M&P M2.0 Subcompact and the original M&P 9C Compact. Same adjustable cant, same adjustable retention, same optic cut.
Best for: M&P M2.0 Subcompact and M&P 9C Compact owners.
What Actually Matters When Buying
Material. Kydex holds its mold, so retention stays consistent for years and the mouth of the holster stays open for a one handed reholster. Soft holsters collapse after the draw, and for a gun the size of an M2.0 the rigid shell is what keeps the draw predictable.
Retention. Look for adjustable retention rather than a fixed click. The M2.0 Full Size is a heavy gun and what feels secure at the range in a stiff belt feels loose after the Kydex breaks in. Our shells adjust with a hex key.
Cant. Adjustable cant is not a luxury on a 5.5 inch tall gun. A forward cant of 10 to 15 degrees tips the grip toward your ribs and is the difference between a printed outline and a clean shirt at 4 o'clock.
Trigger guard coverage. Full coverage of the trigger guard is not optional on a striker fired gun with no manual safety, which is how most M2.0 units ship. Anything that leaves the trigger reachable inside the waistband is not a holster.
The belt. This is the part people skip and then blame the holster for. A soft department store belt lets a 24 ounce gun sag and roll away from the body no matter how good the shell is. A proper gun belt does more for the comfort of a full size M2.0 than any other single upgrade.
IWB vs OWB for the M&P M2.0
| Factor | IWB | OWB |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Strong. Only the grip needs covering | Limited. Needs a jacket or an untucked overshirt |
| Comfort | Good with a claw and a real belt, worse when seated | Better. Nothing between the gun and your body |
| Draw Speed | Fast once practiced, one clearing motion | Fastest. Nothing to clear but the cover garment |
| Wardrobe Impact | Waist size up one, shirt untucked or tuckable clip | Cover garment required in most settings |
| Best For | Everyday concealed carry of a full size gun | Range, truck, open carry, cold weather |
For an M2.0 specifically, the honest answer is that most people end up owning both. The gun is large enough that OWB is genuinely more comfortable, and concealed enough at the grip that IWB is genuinely more discreet. If you only want to buy once, the DRUID 2.0 converts between the two.
Appendix Carry Setup
Appendix carry works on a full size M2.0, but it is unforgiving of a setup that has not been tuned. Four things matter.
- Add a claw. The Holster Claw Kit levers off your belt and rotates the grip inward. On a 5.5 inch tall gun this is the single change that removes the print at the top of the grip.
- Ride height. Set the gun high enough that the grip is behind your belt line, low enough that the muzzle is not digging into your thigh when you sit. Adjust, wear it for a day, adjust again.
- Belt. A rigid belt is more important appendix than anywhere else, because the whole rig pivots on it every time you bend.
- Sitting. Test seated before you commit. A 4.25in barrel appendix will tell you quickly whether your torso and the gun get along. Many M2.0 owners carry the Full Size at 4 o'clock and save appendix for the 3.6in Subcompact.
Optics, Lights and Thumb Safeties
Optics. Every Kydex holster we build is optic cut, so an M2.0 with a red dot on the optics ready slide needs no different shell and no separate decision at checkout. There is nothing to select and no upcharge.
Thumb safety. The M2.0 ships in thumb safety and no thumb safety configurations. Our fitment list names the M&P M2.0 4in and 4.25in without listing the thumb safety versions separately, so if you carry a thumb safety model, contact us to confirm fit before you order.
Lights. A weapon light does change that geometry, which is why light bearing guns need a dedicated shell. We list two for the M2.0: the Olight PL-X IWB shell and the TLR1 DRUID 2.0 for the Streamlight TLR-1. If you run a light we do not list for this model, we would rather tell you that plainly than sell you a shell that was not molded for it.
What Else an M&P M2.0 Holster Covers
Fitment on this family runs by slide length, not by what the box says. From our own product data:
- The standard M&P M2.0 shell covers the M2.0 4.25in and 4in and the original M&P 4.25in and 4in, in both 9mm and .40. One holster, four guns.
- The 3.6in shell is listed for the M&P M2.0 Subcompact and the original M&P 9C Compact and does not share with the above. Shorter slide, different mold.
- The M&P Shield family does not share with the M2.0 full size line at all. The Shield is a single stack sized gun on a different frame. If you own a Shield or a Shield Plus, see our M&P Shield guide instead.
- The 5in M2.0 and the M2.0 Metal are not covered by the shells above and we do not currently list a holster for either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the M&P 2.0 Good for Concealed Carry?
Yes, with the right variant. The 4.0in Compact conceals well for most builds at 5 inches tall and 1.16 inches wide, and the 3.6in Subcompact is smaller still. The 4.25in Full Size is carryable but demands a good belt, a forward cant and a claw, because 5.5 inches of grip is what prints.
What Is the Best Concealed Carry Holster for a S&W M&P 9mm?
For an M&P9 M2.0, the best selling answer is an adjustable Kydex IWB shell molded to your exact slide length, worn on a rigid gun belt. Our M&P M2.0 IWB Holster starts at $44.95, covers the 4in and 4.25in M&P and M&P M2.0, and is optic cut as standard.
What Is the Absolute Best Concealed Carry Holster?
There is no single best holster, only the best match for your gun, your body and your wardrobe. The reliable pattern is a Kydex shell molded to your specific model, full trigger guard coverage, adjustable cant and retention, and a stiff gun belt. Fit to the exact gun matters more than brand.
What Holsters Did John Wick Use?
The films rarely show the holster clearly, and most of the rigs were custom production pieces. The one documented by name is a Cherry Covert Ops Apparel Medina X, a below the waistband deep concealment holster used in Chapter 2. Nothing in that category is a practical daily carry answer for an M2.0.
What Does "Mexican Carry" Mean?
Mexican carry means carrying a gun tucked into the waistband with no holster at all. It leaves the trigger exposed and the gun free to shift, which is why it is unsafe with any striker fired gun, the M&P M2.0 included. A Kydex shell that fully covers the trigger guard solves the same problem safely.
What Is Keanu Reeves' Favorite Gun?
Reeves has not publicly named a personal favorite. The gun most associated with him is the Taran Tactical 2011 Combat Master built for John Wick: Chapter 3, and he trained on it with competition shooter Taran Butler. It is a competition 1911 pattern gun, not a carry gun like the M&P M2.0.
How We Chose
These are our own holsters, and we will say that plainly rather than pretend this is a neutral roundup. What we can tell you is how the order was set. Every product on this page was pulled from our live catalog, ranked by actual sales for the M&P M2.0, and checked to be a real, orderable product before it earned a place. Our holsters are made to order, so a shell you can order here is one we will build for you. Fitment claims come from our own molding data, not from a compatibility chart, and where we do not have a shell for a variant we have said so instead of steering you to a near miss. Gun specifications were checked against Smith & Wesson's published figures and independent spec data, and where sources disagreed we left the number out.
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