How we pick
We check every bag's published outside measurements, wheels and handles included, against real airline rules so you don't pay a gate-check fee.
What we look at
Published outside size
Brands often advertise a "packing size" without wheels and handles. Airlines measure the whole bag, so we use each brand's published outside measurements, wheels and handles included. We don't measure or weigh bags ourselves; when a brand doesn't publish a spec, we show it as "Not listed" rather than guess.
Real airline rules
We compare every bag against the published personal item, carry-on and checked-bag limits of 14 airlines. When we have confirmed a rule on the airline's own site, we show the date we checked it.
Our scores
Each suitcase gets a 1-10 score for durability, packing space, rolling & handling, value. We add an airline-fit score: the share of US airlines whose published limit it meets (a tight fit counts half; airlines that publish no limit are left out), scaled to 10. The overall score is the average of all of them. Award picks (Our pick, Budget pick, Upgrade pick) are the ones we'd recommend for most people, on a budget, and for frequent travelers.
How we make money
When you buy through our links to Amazon, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Brands can't pay to be listed or to change their ranking. We don't show prices because they change constantly; the button takes you to the current price on Amazon.