The Best Carry-On Luggage of 2026: 6 Top Picks
A good carry-on lets you skip the bag drop and keep your things with you. This guide is for travelers choosing one bag for the cabin, from weekend trips to business travel. We weighed published dimensions, empty weight, capacity, wheels, organization and warranty coverage.
Our top picks at a glance
The six picks fall into three types. Softside spinners like the Travelpro Platinum Elite, Travelpro Maxlite 5 and Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential give a little when packed full and add exterior pockets. Hardside spinners like the Samsonite Freeform and the Coolife resist crushing and scuffs but open like a book. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a backpack for trips where wheels get in the way. Empty weights run from 3.5 pounds for the Osprey to 10 pounds for the Briggs & Riley, which matters on airlines that weigh cabin bags.
No bag fits every airline. Carry-on limits vary by carrier and route, and many international and budget airlines set smaller sizes or weight caps. We list each bag's published dimensions, with wheels and handles where the maker includes them. Check them against your airline's current limits before you fly, and keep expandable bags zipped closed at the gate.
#1 Best Overall
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
The Platinum Elite gets the most right for frequent flyers. Eight magnetic, self-aligning spinner wheels track straight, a 4-stop PowerScope handle adjusts to your height, and a drop-in, fold-out suiter keeps a blazer presentable. External USB-A and USB-C ports connect to a pocket for your own power bank. Travelpro's lifetime limited warranty also covers repair of airline damage once you register the bag. The trade-off is weight: at 7.8 pounds empty, it uses more of a strict weight allowance than lighter softsides.
Pros
- Magnetic self-aligning spinner wheels track straight and roll easily
- Fold-out suiter helps keep jackets and shirts wrinkle-free
- External USB-A and USB-C ports with a dedicated power bank pocket
- Lifetime limited warranty covers airline damage after registration
Cons
- At 7.8 pounds empty, it eats into strict carry-on weight limits
- Power bank not included for the USB ports
- Fully expanded, it may not meet airline size limits
| Dimensions | 23.5 x 14.5 x 9 inches (with wheels and handles) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.8 lb |
| Capacity | 46 liters |
| Material | High-density nylon with DuraGuard coating |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, plus airline damage repair after registration |
→ Check today's price on the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
#2 Best Lightweight
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner
The Maxlite 5 keeps the same 21 x 14 x 9-inch case size and 46-liter capacity as the Platinum Elite but weighs 5.4 pounds, about 2.4 pounds less. You still get 360-degree spinner wheels, a tapered expansion of up to 2 inches, two exterior pockets and adjustable hold-down straps, plus a stain-resistant polyester shell with a water-resistant DuraGuard coating. What you give up is the suiter and USB ports, and airline damage repair runs one year after registration instead of for the life of the bag.
Pros
- Weighs 5.4 pounds, light for a 46-liter softside spinner
- Same 21 x 14 x 9-inch case size as the Platinum Elite
- Tapered expansion adds up to 2 inches while staying stable
- Stain-resistant polyester with a water-resistant DuraGuard coating
Cons
- Airline damage repair lasts one year, not the life of the bag
- Handle locks at only two heights, 38 and 42.5 inches
- No suiter or USB ports
| Dimensions | 23 x 14.5 x 9 inches (with wheels and handles) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.4 lb |
| Capacity | 46 liters |
| Material | Polyester with DuraGuard coating |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, plus 1-year airline damage repair |
→ Check today's price on the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner
#3 Best Travel Backpack
Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Pack
For trips with stairs, cobblestones or long walks between stations, a backpack beats wheels. The Farpoint 40 holds 40 liters, measures 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.1 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds, the lightest bag here. Its harness and hipbelt carry like a hiking pack, then stow away when you check it. A quick-access sleeve fits laptops and tablets up to 16 inches, and an external toiletry pocket speeds up security. Osprey sizes it for most domestic carry-on limits; stricter international carriers may not accept it, and it has a men's fit.
Pros
- Lightest bag in this guide at 3.5 pounds
- Harness and hipbelt stow away for checking or bin storage
- Quick-access zippered sleeve fits laptops and tablets up to 16 inches
- External zip toiletry pocket speeds up security lines
Cons
- No wheels, so the full load always rides on your back
- Stricter international carry-on limits may rule it out
- Men's fit, so it may not suit every torso and shoulder shape
| Dimensions | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.5 lb |
| Capacity | 40 liters |
| Material | 450D polyester |
| Warranty | All Mighty Guarantee |
#4 Best Hardside
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On
If you want a shell that guards against crushing and scuffs, the Freeform is a light, simple hardside. Its polypropylene shell has a textured, scratch-resistant finish, four double spinner wheels (eight in all) roll in any direction, and a built-in TSA lock lets security open and relock it. The case expands, and inside, elastic straps, a divider and a pouch keep 34 liters in order, all at 6.5 pounds. The catch is size: at 23 x 15 x 10 inches with wheels, it runs large for stricter airlines.
Pros
- Polypropylene shell is light and has a scratch-resistant texture
- Four double spinner wheels roll smoothly in any direction
- Built-in TSA lock
- Light for a hardside spinner at 6.5 pounds
Cons
- At 23 x 15 x 10 inches with wheels, it may exceed some airlines' limits
- Expanded, it is less likely to fit an overhead bin sizer
- Interior organization is basic: straps, a divider and one pouch
| Dimensions | 23 x 15 x 10 inches (with wheels) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.5 lb |
| Capacity | 34 liters |
| Material | Polypropylene hardshell |
| Lock | Built-in TSA lock |
→ Check today's price on the Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On
#5 Best Premium
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner
The Baseline Essential is built for business travelers who want one bag for years. Its expandable packing system enlarges for packing, then compresses to fit most US overhead bins, and Briggs & Riley lists it at 22 x 14 x 9 to 11.5 inches. A suit compartment, a USB pass-through pocket for charging, a TSA lock and four shock-absorbing spinner wheels round it out, and the brand offers lifetime repair for damage from normal use. The cost is weight: at 10 pounds empty, it is the heaviest bag here.
Pros
- Expands for packing, then compresses back down for the bin
- Suit compartment and a USB pass-through pocket for charging
- Lifetime repair service for damage from normal use
- Exterior pocket's orange lining shows when it is unzipped
Cons
- Heaviest bag here at 10 pounds empty
- Sized as a domestic carry-on, so check limits for international flights
- Premium-priced next to the other softside picks
| Dimensions | 22 x 14 x 9 to 11.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10 lb |
| Material | Nylon softside |
| Lock | TSA lock |
| Warranty | Lifetime repair for damage from normal use |
→ Check today's price on the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner
#6 Best Budget Hardside
Coolife Hardside Carry-On Spinner
The Coolife covers the basics of a hardside carry-on at a budget price. Its ABS+PC shell is built to resist impact, scratches and deformation, a built-in TSA lock and YKK zippers secure it, and four 360-degree spinner wheels with a 3-level aluminum handle keep it easy to steer. It measures 21.7 x 14.9 x 9.2 inches with wheels and weighs 6.4 pounds. The trade-offs are a smaller 38-liter capacity and a 2-year warranty, short next to the lifetime coverage on the Travelpro bags.
Pros
- ABS+PC shell built to resist impact, scratches and deformation
- Built-in TSA lock and YKK zippers
- Quiet 360-degree spinner wheels and a 3-level aluminum handle
- Fully lined interior with divided compartments and pockets
Cons
- 38 liters is less room than the 46-liter Travelpro spinners
- Only a 2-year warranty
- Coolife says only its 2.0 colors in this size are expandable
| Dimensions | 21.7 x 14.9 x 9.2 inches (with wheels) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.4 lb |
| Capacity | 38 liters |
| Material | ABS+PC hardshell |
| Warranty | 2-year |
→ Check today's price on the Coolife Hardside Carry-On Spinner
How to choose carry-on luggage
Check your airline's size limits first
Carry-on limits vary by airline, by route and sometimes by fare, and international and budget carriers often allow less than major US airlines. Measure with wheels and handles included. On this list, the Coolife is the shortest wheeled bag at 21.7 inches tall with wheels, while the Platinum Elite measures 23.5 inches and the Samsonite Freeform 23 inches with wheels. Expansion zippers add depth, so keep them closed when you board.
Softside or hardside
Softside bags like the two Travelpros and the Briggs & Riley have exterior pockets for a jacket, a book or a quart bag of liquids, and the fabric gives a little when you squeeze into a tight bin. Hardside shells like the Samsonite Freeform and the Coolife guard better against crushing and scuffs and wipe clean, but they open like a book and need floor space to pack. If you carry a suit, the Platinum Elite's fold-out suiter or the Briggs & Riley suit compartment helps.
Count the bag's own weight
Some airlines weigh cabin bags, and every pound of luggage is a pound less of clothes. Empty weights on this list range widely: the Osprey Farpoint 40 is 3.5 pounds, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 is 5.4, the Coolife 6.4, the Samsonite Freeform 6.5, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 7.8 and the Briggs & Riley 10. Heavier bags usually add features such as USB ports, a suiter or a compression system, so decide which of those you will use on most trips.
Wheels or straps
Spinner wheels let you push a bag upright beside you through a terminal, and upgrades such as the Samsonite's double wheels or the Platinum Elite's magnetic, self-aligning ones are designed to roll and track more smoothly. Wheels struggle on stairs, gravel and cobblestones, though. If your trips involve trains, old city centers or hostels, a travel backpack like the Osprey Farpoint 40 is easier to carry, and its harness stows away when you check it.
Read the warranty before you buy
Coverage differs more than you might expect. The Travelpro Platinum Elite pairs a lifetime limited warranty with repair of airline damage for the life of the bag after registration, while the Maxlite 5 limits airline damage repair to one year. Briggs & Riley offers lifetime repair for damage from normal use, Osprey backs the Farpoint with its All Mighty Guarantee, and the Coolife carries a 2-year warranty. Where coverage depends on registration, as Travelpro's airline damage repair does, register the bag soon after it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Will these bags fit in every overhead bin?
No bag fits every airline. Each maker publishes dimensions, and several say their bag meets the limits of most major US airlines, but international and budget carriers often set smaller sizes. Compare the dimensions in each pick with your airline's current rules, with wheels and handles included.
Is softside or hardside better for a carry-on?
Softside bags offer exterior pockets and a little give for tight bins. Hardside shells protect against crushing and wipe clean but open in two halves. The Travelpro Platinum Elite is our softside pick, and the Samsonite Freeform is our hardside pick.
What is the lightest carry-on in this guide?
The Osprey Farpoint 40 travel backpack is the lightest at 3.5 pounds. Among wheeled bags, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 is lightest at 5.4 pounds while still holding 46 liters.
Does a travel backpack count as a carry-on?
On most airlines, yes, as long as it meets the carry-on size limit; a smaller personal item is usually allowed as well. Osprey sizes the Farpoint 40 for most domestic carry-on requirements, so check stricter international limits before you fly.
Which carry-ons cover airline damage?
The Travelpro Platinum Elite covers repair of airline damage for the life of the bag once registered, and the Maxlite 5 covers it for one year after registration. Briggs & Riley offers lifetime repair for damage from normal use.
Should you use the expansion zipper on a carry-on?
Use it for packing room on the way home, but expect an expanded bag to be harder to fit in a sizer or overhead bin. The Platinum Elite and the Samsonite Freeform, for example, may exceed airline limits when fully expanded.
The bottom line
#1 Best Overall
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
If you only look at one option from this guide, make it the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner. Prices and stock change often, so check the current price before you buy.
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