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The best all around holster for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus is the Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS IWB Holster at $41.95, our best selling Shield Plus holster and the shell most Shield Plus owners end up carrying every day. If you carry appendix, add the Holster Claw Kit at $15.95, which rotates the grip into your body and removes most of the printing that sends people looking for a new holster in the first place.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS IWB Holster, from $41.95
- Best For Tucked Shirts: Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD Tuckable IWB Holster, from $46.95
- Best OWB: Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS Paddle Holster, from $46.95
- Best Minimalist Carry: Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS Trigger Guard Holster, from $36.95
- Best Upgrade: Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD IWB KYDEX Holster, Plus Line, from $61.95
- Best Concealment Add On: Holster Claw Kit (IWB/Tuckable), from $15.95
- Best Gun Belt: The Ultimate Concealed Carry Leather Gun Belt, 1.5 Inch, 14 OZ., from $69.99
Shield Plus Specs That Affect Holster Choice
| Spec | M&P Shield Plus 3.1in 9mm | Why It Matters For A Holster |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel Length | 3.1 in | Sets how much shell sits below the belt line and how short the holster body can be |
| Overall Length | 6.1 in | Short enough that appendix carry works for most builds while seated |
| Height | 4.6 in | The grip, not the slide, is what prints. Ride height and cant do the concealing |
| Width | 1.1 in | Wider across the grip than the original Shield, which is the whole point of the Plus |
| Weight, Unloaded | 20.2 oz | Light enough for a clip to hold, heavy enough that a soft belt will sag |
| Capacity | 10+1 and 13+1 in 9mm | Magazine length changes nothing about the shell, only your grip length |
| Action | Striker fired | Full trigger guard coverage is mandatory, not optional |
The number that decides everything here is the 1.1 inch width. Smith & Wesson kept the Shield's 3.1 inch barrel, 6.1 inch overall length and 4.6 inch height, then widened the grip to fit a 13 round magazine into the same footprint. That means the Shield Plus conceals like a single stack from the side and carries like a double stack in the hand, so a shell molded around the slide and trigger guard covers both guns. It also means the grip is the part that prints, which is why a claw and a slightly higher ride matter more on this gun than a thinner holster ever will. The same frame is also offered in .30 Super Carry with 13+1 and 16+1 magazines, and our Kydex line is listed for the 9mm.
Which Shield Plus Do You Have?
Shield Plus is a family, and the differences change which holster is right. Match your gun to the row below before you order.
| Model | Barrel | Notes | Holster |
|---|---|---|---|
| M&P Shield Plus 3.1in, 9mm | 3.1 in | The standard gun, thumb safety or not | The full Kydex line below fits |
| M&P Shield / Shield M2.0 3.1in, 9mm or .40 | 3.1 in | Same slide and trigger guard, narrower grip | Shares the same shell. See our M&P Shield guide |
| Performance Center Shield Plus 4in | 4 in | Longer slide, about 22.6 oz | Our Kydex shells are molded for the 3.1in. The Trigger Guard Holster indexes on the trigger guard rather than the slide, so it carries over |
| Shield Plus Carry Comp | 3.1 in | Compensated slide, different muzzle profile | We do not list a comp cut shell. The Trigger Guard Holster is the option that clears a comp |
| M&P Shield X | 3.1 in | Its own frame, not a Shield Plus | Use the Shield X IWB Holster |
Every Carry Configuration, Compared
Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS IWB Holster, from $41.95
Best Overall
This is the shell most Shield Plus owners carry, and it is our best seller for the gun by a wide margin. A single piece of .080 Kydex molded to the Shield Plus, with adjustable retention, adjustable cant and a clip that indexes on the belt rather than clamping the fabric. It rides high enough for appendix and cants far enough forward for the hip.
Best for: Everyday appendix or strong side carry, jeans and a t shirt, anyone buying one holster and being done.
Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD Tuckable IWB Holster, from $46.95
Best For Tucked Shirts
The same molded shell on a tuckable clip, so the shirt goes down between the gun and the belt and only a small clip shows. This is the answer for a dress code, and it is also the quieter option for anyone who does not want a holster body visible at the waistband when they take a jacket off.
Best for: Office dress, tucked shirts, deeper concealment without moving to a smaller gun.
Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS Paddle Holster, from $46.95
Best OWB
A molded outside the waistband shell on a paddle, so it goes on and comes off without unthreading a belt. Draw is faster than any IWB because the grip sits clear of the body, and it is the setup most people want at the range, in the truck, or over a cover garment in cold weather.
Best for: Range days, open carry where legal, jacket weather, anyone who takes the gun on and off several times a day.
Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD PLUS Trigger Guard Holster, from $36.95
Best Minimalist Carry
A Kydex cap that covers the trigger guard and nothing else, with a lanyard that catches on the pocket mouth so the gun comes out clean and the cover stays behind. Because it indexes on the trigger guard rather than the slide, it is also the option that works with a longer slide or a compensated muzzle.
Best for: Pocket carry, gym shorts, a comp model or 4in slide, a second holster for days a belt is not happening.
Smith & Wesson M&P SHIELD IWB KYDEX Holster, Plus Line, from $61.95
Best Upgrade
The Plus Line takes the same molded shell and adds the hardware people usually buy separately: a claw for rotation, a wedge to tip the grip inward, and a metal belt clip. If you already know you carry appendix every day, buying this once costs less than assembling it a piece at a time.
Best for: Committed appendix carriers, slimmer builds where the grip prints, anyone who wants the finished setup out of the box.
Holster Claw Kit (IWB/Tuckable), from $15.95
Best Concealment Add On
The claw catches the inside of the belt and levers the grip toward your body as the belt tightens. On a gun whose grip is the widest part, this is the single highest return upgrade you can make, and it bolts to the IWB and tuckable shells above in a couple of minutes.
Best for: Appendix carry, printing at the grip, anyone who likes their holster but not their concealment.
The Ultimate Concealed Carry Leather Gun Belt, 1.5 Inch, 14 OZ., from $69.99
Best Gun Belt
A 20 oz gun in a soft belt rolls outward and takes the concealment with it. This is 14 oz leather at 1.5 inches, stiff enough across the width to hold the holster flat against the body all day. Most holster complaints we hear turn out to be belt complaints.
Best for: Everyone carrying IWB or OWB on a belt, and anyone who has blamed a holster for sagging.
What Actually Matters When Buying
Material. Kydex holds its shape, so the mouth stays open for a one handed reholster and the retention does not change as the holster ages. Leather and hybrid backers feel softer against the body on day one and lose their molding over time.
Retention. Adjustable retention lets you set the click where you want it. Set it firm enough that the gun stays put when the holster is turned upside down and shaken, then leave it.
Trigger guard coverage. The Shield Plus is striker fired with no external hammer to ride, so the trigger guard must be fully enclosed by rigid material. Nothing soft, nothing partial.
Adjustability. Cant and ride height are what make a 4.6 inch tall gun disappear. A holster with neither is a holster you will fight.
The belt. A 1.5 inch purpose built gun belt does more for concealment than any change of holster. Buy it before you buy a second holster.
IWB vs OWB For The Shield Plus
| Factor | IWB | OWB Paddle |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Strong. The 3.1 in barrel sits below the belt and only the grip needs managing | Needs a cover garment that stays closed |
| Comfort | Good with a claw and a proper belt, and the Shield Plus is light enough to forget | Best in class. Nothing between the gun and your body |
| Draw Speed | Fast once practiced, slower than OWB | Fastest. The full grip is exposed |
| Wardrobe Impact | Waist size up one, untucked or tucked with the tuckable clip | Requires an outer layer in public |
| Best For | Daily concealed carry | Range, truck, cold weather, open carry where legal |
Appendix Carry Setup
The Shield Plus is close to ideal for appendix carry: 6.1 inches long, 20.2 oz, and short enough at the muzzle that it does not dig when you sit. Four things make it work.
- Add a claw. The Holster Claw Kit rotates the grip inward against the belt. On a gun with a 1.1 inch grip, this is the fix for printing.
- Set ride height slightly high. Bury the trigger guard at the belt line and leave enough grip to get a full firing hold on the draw.
- Wear a real belt. Rotation only works if the belt is stiff enough to act on the claw.
- Test it seated. Sit down, buckle a seatbelt, lean forward. If the muzzle digs, drop the ride height a notch before you change holsters.
Optics, Lights And Comp Models
Every Kydex holster we build is optic cut, so an optics ready Shield Plus wearing a red dot needs no different shell and no separate decision at checkout. There is nothing to select and nothing to pay extra for.
Lights are a different story. We do not currently list a light bearing shell molded for the Shield Plus, so if you run a weapon light we would rather tell you that than sell you a shell that was not molded around it. The Trigger Guard Holster is the option that works around a light or a comp, because it covers the trigger guard and leaves the rest of the gun clear.
Thumb safety and no thumb safety Shield Plus models share the same shell. The safety lever sits inside the frame profile the shell is molded to, so it does not change anything about fit.
What Else Fits A Shield Plus Holster
This is where most of the confusion on this gun lives, so here it is plainly. Smith & Wesson built the Shield Plus on the Shield's slide and trigger guard and widened only the grip. Our shells are molded to the slide and trigger guard, which means one holster covers both guns.
- M&P Shield 9mm, 3.1in, including M2.0. Same shell.
- M&P Shield .40, 3.1in, including M2.0. Same shell.
- M&P Shield Plus 9mm, 3.1in. Same shell, with or without a thumb safety.
What does not carry over: the Performance Center Shield Plus with the 4 inch slide, the Carry Comp, the Shield EZ, the Shield 45 and the Shield X are each their own molding. If you own one of those, start from its own product page rather than assuming a Shield Plus shell will do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Holster Is Best For The M&P Shield Plus?
For most owners, a molded Kydex IWB holster with adjustable retention and cant. Our best selling option for the gun is the M&P SHIELD PLUS IWB Holster at $41.95. Add a claw if you carry appendix, since the Shield Plus grip is the part that prints, not the 3.1 inch slide.
What Is The Best Holster For A Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm?
The same one. The 3.1 inch Shield 9mm and the Shield Plus share a slide and trigger guard, so a single molded shell fits both. Our M&P SHIELD PLUS IWB Holster is listed for the Shield 9 and .40, including M2.0. Only the grip width differs between the two guns.
Is The Smith And Wesson Shield Plus A Good Carry Gun?
Yes, and it is one of the better ones. It keeps the Shield's 6.1 inch length and 20.2 oz weight while carrying 10+1 or 13+1 rounds. The trade is a 1.1 inch grip, so concealment work happens at the grip. That is a claw and belt problem, not a gun problem.
What Is The Best Concealed Carry Holster For The M&P Shield 9mm?
An adjustable IWB Kydex holster carried appendix or just behind the hip, on a stiff 1.5 inch gun belt. The holster sets position, the claw sets rotation and the belt holds both in place. Our Plus Line IWB Holster at $61.95 ships with the claw and wedge already fitted.
What Is The Best Concealed Holster For The M&P Shield Plus?
For deep concealment, the M&P SHIELD Tuckable IWB Holster at $46.95. The shirt tucks between the gun and the belt so only a small clip is visible, which hides the gun under dress clothes without dropping to a smaller and harder to shoot gun.
What Are Common Problems With The M&P Shield 9mm?
The most widely reported are stiff magazines that are hard to load and seat, an occasionally sticky slide stop, and feeding complaints tied to specific ammunition. Smith & Wesson also ran a 2013 trigger safety recall on early Shields. None are holster problems, though a full trigger guard shell is non negotiable on a striker fired gun.
How We Chose
These are our own holsters, so treat this as a manufacturer's guide rather than an independent review, and judge it on whether the reasoning holds up. Every product here was checked against live inventory the day this page was published, and anything out of stock or discontinued was left out rather than listed and linked. Order reflects what Shield Plus owners actually buy from us, not what we would like to sell. Fitment claims come from our own molding data: where a shell is not validated for a variant, we say so and point at what is, rather than guessing. Specifications were checked against published manufacturer figures, and where sources disagree we have said so instead of picking the flattering number.
Related Guides
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- Best Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
- Best SIG P365 Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
- Best Springfield Hellcat Holster: IWB and OWB Buyer's Guide
