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Travelling with only a carry-on is the single easiest upgrade to a trip. You skip the bag drop and the carousel, you can change trains in Europe without dragging a giant case up the stairs, and an airline cannot lose what never leaves your hand.
The catch is that "carry-on size" is not one size. A bag that sails onto a Delta flight can be too deep for Lufthansa and far too big for a basic Ryanair fare. So for every pick below we list the maker's outside measurements, including wheels and handles, because that is what airlines measure.
Quick picks
| Bag | Type | Outside size (maker's spec) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Away The Carry-On | Hardside spinner | 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 in (55 x 37 x 23 cm) | Best overall |
| Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" | Softside spinner | 23 x 14.5 x 9 in (58 x 37 x 23 cm) | Lightest roomy case |
| Travelpro Maxlite 5 International 19" | Softside spinner | 21.75 x 15.75 x 7.75 in (55 x 40 x 20 cm) | European airlines |
| Amazon Basics 21" Hardside | Hardside spinner | 21.7 x 14.8 x 10 in (55 x 38 x 25 cm) | Tight budgets |
| tomtoc 40L Travel Backpack | Backpack | 20.5 x 13 x 9 in (52 x 33 x 23 cm) | Cobblestones and stairs |
| HOMIEE 24L Personal Item | Under-seat backpack | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 in (40 x 30 x 20 cm) | Ryanair and Wizz Air basic fares |
No bag fits every airline on earth. Use the table above together with the airline limits further down, and measure your own bag fully packed: expanders and stuffed front pockets add depth.
The best carry-on bags in 2026
1. Away The Carry-On: best overall
Away's polycarbonate spinner is the bag many frequent flyers end up with, and it is now sold on Amazon. At 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 inches it sits right on the common US limit, the shell is light for a hardside case, and the interior compression system holds a week of clothes flat. Buyers praise the smooth wheels and the clean look; the main complaints are that the shell scuffs (as polycarbonate does) and that there is no outside pocket.
Good: right on the 22 x 14 x 9 in guideline, light hard shell, tidy interior.
Watch out: no front pocket, shows scuffs, about 0.4 in wider than 14 in on paper.
2. Travelpro Maxlite 5 21": lightest roomy case
Travelpro was started by an airline pilot, and its bags are a common sight with flight crews. The Maxlite 5 weighs 5.4 lb, holds about 46 litres and expands by 2 inches, with outside pockets for a jacket, documents and a liquids bag. Thousands of buyers rate it highly for weight and durability.
Good: very light, soft sides that give in a full bin, outside pockets, long track record.
Watch out: with wheels and handles it measures 23 in tall, an inch over the 22 in guideline. Fine on most full-service flights in practice, but if you fly airlines that measure strictly, pick a 19 to 20 in case.
3. Travelpro Maxlite 5 International 19": best for European airlines
If your trip includes short flights inside Europe, this is the smart choice. Its outside size of 21.75 x 15.75 x 7.75 inches works out to roughly 55 x 40 x 20 cm, which matches the cabin bag limits of Lufthansa and the paid cabin bag on Ryanair and Wizz Air, and fits inside British Airways' and easyJet's larger allowance. It weighs 5.3 lb, which matters when an airline caps cabin bags at 8 kg.
Good: European dimensions, light enough for 8 kg weight limits, outside pockets.
Watch out: smaller (about 39 litres); at 15.75 in wide it is wider than the 14 in US guideline, though slimmer.
4. Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Spinner: best on a budget
With more than 60,000 ratings, this is one of the most-reviewed suitcases on Amazon. You get four spinner wheels, an expander and a hard shell for a fraction of the cost of the big brands. It is a sensible pick for occasional trips.
Good: low cost, huge number of positive reviews, expandable.
Watch out: the listed depth is 10 in, an inch more than the 9 in US guideline, and it grows further when expanded. Keep it unexpanded for flights and avoid strict budget airlines.
5. tomtoc 40L Travel Backpack: best for cobblestones and stairs
Wheels are great in airports and terrible on Lisbon's hills, Venice's bridges and the stairs of old European stations. A 40-litre travel backpack opens like a suitcase, keeps your hands free and, at 52 x 33 x 23 cm, fits standard European cabin limits. There is a padded laptop section and a separate front pocket for travel documents.
Good: hands-free, suitcase-style opening, fits European cabin sizes.
Watch out: a full 40-litre pack gets heavy on your shoulders; pack light.
6. HOMIEE 24L Personal Item Backpack: best for basic budget fares
Ryanair and Wizz Air only include one small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm in their cheapest fares, and they do check. This backpack is built to that exact size, with a laptop sleeve and a separate wet pocket, so you can fly a short European hop without paying for a cabin bag. It also works as the under-seat personal item on US airlines.
Good: exact 40 x 30 x 20 cm size, light, cheap.
Watch out: 24 litres means two or three days of clothes at most.
Carry-on size limits by airline
These are the standard economy limits as published by the airlines at the time of writing. Fares and rules change often, so check your booking before you pack.
| Airline | Cabin bag (incl. wheels and handles) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American, Delta, United | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No general limit | United Basic Economy: personal item only on most routes |
| Lufthansa | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg | Plus a small personal item |
| Air France, KLM | 55 x 35 x 25 cm | 12 kg (with personal item) | Light fares on some routes differ |
| British Airways, Iberia | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23 kg (BA) | Generous size, plus a personal item |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm free; 55 x 40 x 20 cm paid | 10 kg for the paid bag | Paid bag needs Priority or a bundle |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm free; 56 x 45 x 25 cm paid | 15 kg for under-seat bag | Large cabin bag comes with Up Front, Extra Legroom or Plus |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm free; 55 x 40 x 23 cm paid | 10 kg for the paid bag | Paid bag needs Wizz Priority |
How to choose
- Start with your strictest flight. If one leg is a basic Ryanair fare, that limit decides your bag, not the transatlantic one.
- Check the weight as well as the size. Some European airlines cap cabin bags at 8 kg. A light case leaves more of that for your things.
- Think about the ground, not just the plane. Old towns mean cobblestones, stairs and narrow train aisles. Four good spinner wheels help in stations; a backpack wins in hill towns.
- Keep the expander zipped for flights. Use the extra space for the trip home only if you are checking the bag.
- Pack with cubes. They keep a small bag organised and make security checks faster. See our Europe packing essentials.
FAQ
What size is a carry-on for US airlines?
Most large US airlines, including American, Delta and United, use a limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches (about 56 x 36 x 23 cm), measured with wheels and handles. Always check your airline and fare before you fly.
Is a carry-on the same size in Europe?
No. Full-service European airlines usually allow around 55 x 40 x 23 cm or 55 x 35 x 25 cm, and some set a weight limit of 8 to 12 kg. Budget airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air only include a small under-seat bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm in their cheapest fares.
Hardside or softside carry-on: which is better?
Hardside cases protect fragile items and shrug off rain, but they cannot squeeze into a tight sizer. Softside cases are usually lighter, have outside pockets and give a little when the bin is full.
Can I take only a carry-on to Europe for two weeks?
Yes, many travellers do. Packing cubes, a laundry stop halfway through and clothes that mix and match make it realistic, especially if you take trains between cities.
Planning the rest of the trip? Read our guides to the best eSIMs for travel, power banks on planes, universal travel adapters and flight delay compensation.
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