IF you're jetting off on a work trip or weekend away, the best carry-on luggage can help make flying super-smooth and hassle-free.
Save yourself time and stress checking in heavy suitcases or waiting at baggage reclaim, by maximising your cabin allowance with a quality carry-on case.
There's a wide range of cabin luggage to choose from, with clever features to help make your journey that bit easier.
360-degree wheels allow you to manoeuvre your case easily through the airport, while interior dividers and removable compartments help you to speed up the packing process.
Plus, a TSA-approved combination lock and lengthy warranty can help give you peace of mind on an investment purchase.
Most importantly, check that the size and weight of your carry-on adhere to the guidelines of the airline you're flying with once it has been packed with your belongings.
Best carry-on luggage at a glance:
- Best ultra-light carry-on luggage: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Spinner Suitcase
- Best underseat carry-on luggage: Amazon Basics Underseat Travel Luggage
- Best hard shell carry-on luggage: Antler Stamford Cabin
- Best soft shall carry-on luggage: Samsonite Popsoda Cabin Case
- Best eco carry-on luggage: Horizon Studios M5 Cabin Luggage
- Best carry-on luggage with stylish prints: Eastpak Transit'R
- Best budget carry-on luggage: IT Luggage World's Lightest 8 Wheel Soft Cabin Suitcase
1. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Spinner Suitcase
- Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Spinner Suitcase, £142.73 at Amazon – buy here
With soft sides and an ultra-lightweight design, the Travelpro Maxlite is your ideal travel companion and the perfect size to take into the cabin.
It has four 360-degree wheel spinners and top, side and bottom carry handles so it's easy to manoeuvre and carry as needed.
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It's also expandable up to two inches so you won't have a problem fitting all your holiday essentials in. Plus, there are two exterior compartments and a full-length pocket and straps inside to ensure everything is organised and secure.
The water-repellent fabric of the soft shell, as well as the strengthened zipper, make this a durable suitcase you can rely on, with a five-year warranty for extra peace of mind.
Size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm weight: 2.4kg capacity: 39L
2. Amazon Basics Underseat Travel Luggage
- Amazon Basics Underseat Travel Luggage, £56.63 at Amazon – buy here
If you're looking for a smaller carry-on bag for shorter trips, this Amazon Basics suitcase is a great value buy that will fit neatly under the seat in front or in the overhead compartment.
Available in a range of colours, it's made from durable polyester with a nylon interior lining and has plenty of handy storage pockets and a removable wash bag insert.
It's super-easy to pull around with a telescopic handle and two in-line skate wheels so it won't be a problem if you need to make a last-minute dash to duty-free.
Perfect for business trips or weekends away, this Amazon Basics case is just the right size for your travel essentials – including a 14-inch laptop – with mesh pockets to keep everything securely in place.
Size: 34 x 24 x 36 cm weight: 2.11kg
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3. Antler Stamford Cabin
- Stamford cabin in khaki, £150 at Antler – buy here
The Stamford cabin suitcase from designer luggage brand Antler is a winning combination of practical features and style.
Also available in putty and black, we love the simple, timeless design but the Stamford case also has 360-degree rotating wheels and a lightweight polycarbonate shell so it's super easy to dash around the airport with.
Inside the case, there's a packing divider, internal pockets and straps to keep everything neatly in place. Plus, there's a TSA-approved combination lock and built-in USB port.
The smooth matt-finish shell is scratch-resistant and the Stamford comes with a lifetime warranty; this is premium luggage that's made to last.
Size: 54 x 40 x 20cm weight: 2.7kg capacity: 37L
4. Samsonite Popsoda Cabin Case
- Samsonite Popsoda 55cm Spinner Cabin Case, £119 at Go Places – buy here
Another bold statement cabin case, the Samsonite Popsoda soft-shell case comes in five different colour options.
The case is lightweight with a good sized capacity and has 100% polyester soft sides, two interior compartments and exterior front pockets to keep all your travel essentials.
It has top, side and bottom handles as well as four wheels and a TSA combination lock for peace of mind.
Size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm weight: 2.3kg capacity: 40L
5. Horizon Studios M5 Cabin Luggage
- M5 Cabin Luggage, £370 at Horizon Studios – buy here
This cabin luggage from Horizon Studios is stylish and sustainable with a partially-recycled polycarbonate hard shell, a Vegan Hi-Core and nylon front pocket and recycled polyester lining.
All the other detailing on the suitcase is 100% vegan, too.
The case is lightweight and easy to move on four 360-degree spinner wheels, with a durable hard shell and water-resistant front pocket for a 15-inch laptop.
The price tag is pretty hefty but this is a 'buy once, lasts forever' purchase that won't let you down.
Size: 40cm x 55cm x 23cm weight: 3.4kg capacity: 35L
6. Eastpak Transit'R S Blocktype Black
- Transit'R S Blocktype Black, £150 at Eastpak – buy here
Carry-on luggage doesn't have to be boring, and we love the range of colours and designs for the Eastpak Transit'R S – from Mystical Dark to Camo and Triple Denim.
As well as 30 colour options to choose from, the Transit'R S has two main compartments with a front pocket and TSA three-digit code lock to keep everything safe and secure.
It's really durable, thanks to the aluminium tubes and protective skids and has a telescopic handle and dual front carry handles so you can pull it along on wheels or carry it if you prefer.
This nifty suitcase is also up on its eco credentials too as no animal products are used to make this 100% vegan product.
Size: 51cm x 32.5cm x 23cm weight: 2.4kg capacity: 42L
7. American Tourister Soundbox Cabin Suitcase
- American Tourister Soundbox 4-Spinner Wheel 55cm Cabin Suitcase, Golden Yellow, £145 at John Lewis – buy here
You won't easily lose track of your suitcase at the airport with this eye-catching golden yellow soundbox cabin case from American Tourister.
With a design inspired by vinyl records, we love the look of this hard-shell case and it has loads of nice practical features too.
The hard sides and TSA-coded zip lock will ensure all your belongings are safe and protected and it's expandable, so you can make the most of your carry-on baggage allowance.
It's also easy to manoeuvre with four spinner wheels and it's lightweight to carry too.
Size: H55 x W40 x D20 cm weight: 2.6kg capacity: 38L
8. IT Luggage World's Lightest 8 Wheel Soft Cabin Suitcase
- IT Luggage World's Lightest 8-Wheel Soft Cabin Suitcase, £50 at Argos – buy here
If you don't want to break the bank on a cabin suitcase, this IT Luggage eight-wheel suitcase is ticking plenty of boxes.
It's extremely light at just 1.9kg and easy to carry with side, top and retractable handles, as well as eight wheels to pull it along on.
The high-tensile fabric makes it strong and durable and the 'no pipes' design means you can pack even more in for your trip.
It also comes with a 10-year manufacturer's warranty – you'll get tons of great features for a great price with this little cabin case.
Size: H55 x W34 x D20 cm weight: 1.9kg capacity: 30L
9. Away the Carry On
- The Carry-On, £245 at Away – buy here
This chic carry-on from stylish luggage brand, Away, is made to last with a polycarbonate hard shell that can be bumped around without getting scratched or damaging the belongings inside.
The 360-degree spinner wheels make it super easy to move this case around smoothly, plus, it's really light and easy to carry.
A nice feature is the interior compression system so you can make the most of your cabin allowance for a work trip or weekend away.
If you're looking for a bigger carry-on, check out The Bigger Carry-On from Away.
Size: 55.1 cm x 34.8 cm x 22.9 cm weight: 3.2kg capacity: 39.8L
10. Thule Aion 55cm 8-Wheel Recycled Cabin Case
- Thule Aion 55cm 8-Wheel Recycled Cabin Case, Nutria, £285 at John Lewis – buy here
Swedish brand Thule has developed a range of durable luggage for adventurous travellers.
This stylish soft-shell cabin case features oversized rear wheels so the case can glide smoothly on different surfaces, as well as a telescopic handle that makes it easy to pull along.
The Thule Aion cabin case includes a compression packing cube that can be used independently and has an easy-clean TPU coating.
On top of this, the bag is made from recycled plastic bottles, so you'll be doing your bit for the environment too.
Size: 55.1 cm x 34.8 cm x 22.9 cm weight: 3.2kg capacity: 39.8L
11. Aerolite Hard Shell Carry On Hand Cabin Luggage Suitcase
- Aerolite 40L Lightweight Hard Shell Carry On Hand Cabin Luggage Suitcase, £52.99 – buy here
The dimensions of this Aerolite suitcase should allow you to maximise your baggage allowance for Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways and more (please double-check before flying!).
This clever case has a generous 40L capacity but is lightweight and easy to move about with its four-spinner wheel design.
It has internal straps, zipped dividers and elastic pockets for shoes so you can keep everything neat and organised.
Plus, the outer casing is anti-scratch ABS hard shell plastic and there is a 3-Digit Combination Padlock to keep your belongings protected and secure.
Size: 55x40x20 cm weight: 2.8kg capacity: 40L
How big can carry-on luggage be?
Here are the maximum carry-on luggage sizes for some major airlines at the time of writing:
- British Airways: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
- Ryanair: 55 x 40 x 20 cm
- Easyjet: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
- Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
- Virgin Atlantic: 56 x 36 x 23 cm
- TUI: 55 x 40 x 20 cm
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What items are banned from carry-on luggage?
You are not allowed liquid toiletries over 100ml – such as creams, lotions, perfume, mascara or lip gloss.
You are also not allowed liquid or semi-liquid foods – for example soup, jam and syrup – in your hand luggage.
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