12 Best Underseat Luggage Carry-Ons (2023)

There’s a reason why savvy travelers favor carry-on luggage, and especially smaller-sized underseat luggage, when jetting off to their next locale. There’s no risk of a carry-on bag getting lost, which is especially important if you don’t have a direct flight. And when you arrive at your destination, you can just grab your luggage and go, with no waiting for your suitcase to make its way to the baggage carousel.

While many of the best luggage brands have carry-ons that are sized to stow in the overhead bins, underseat luggage takes advantage of that guaranteed area by your feet, meaning you won’t have to fight for precious overhead space or be forced to check your carry-on at the gate on a crowded flight. The compact dimensions of the small underseat luggage style help prevent overpacking, too.

How to Find the Best Underseat Luggage

A good underseat carry-on bag offers easy maneuverability, features that can help you stay organized, and a size that maximizes packing space but fits under the seat without a struggle. There are plenty of great options from trusty underseat luggage brands like Samsonite, Travelpro, and Briggs & Riley. Here are my picks for the best underseat luggage in a variety of price points from budget-friendly to splurge..

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1. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on Rolling Underseat Bag

Best overall underseat luggage

The small but mighty Travelpro Maxlite 5 underseat luggage has a place for almost everything. Unzip the main opening of this rolling carry-on to find a roomy interior that features a padded sleeve for storing a laptop or tablet and a removable hanging “wet” pocket for toiletries or other items you want to keep separated. Exterior pockets are ideal for stashing must-haves within easy reach. Don’t be shocked when you realize how much it can fit.

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A lightweight but sturdy handle plus ball-bearing wheels help the bag roll easily without wobbling, while a rear strap lets you stack it on top of another rolling bag if you’re traveling with more luggage. And it’ll stand up to frequent trips thanks to the bag’s coated polyester fabric that’s water- and stain-resistant. It

Where to Buy: Travelpro and Amazon

2. TPRC 15-Inch Smart Underseat Carry-On

Best budget underseat luggage carry-on

The affordable TPRC 15-inch smart underseat carry-on is made of durable polyester and features lots of zippered pockets inside and out, plus an open-side pocket for holding essentials. A telescoping trolley handle with push-button mechanism and smooth-rolling in-line skate wheels make navigating around the airport easy and comfortable.

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Keep cell phones and other devices charged and at the ready with this underseat carry-on’s side USB port—just add your favorite power bank and USB cord to avoid the dreaded dead battery. This is a hard-to-beat underseat carry-on bag for its quality, price point, and ease of mobility. And its minimal but still stylish exterior makes the bag appear more expensive than it is.

Where to Buy: Amazon

3. Briggs & Riley Baseline 2-Wheel Cabin Bag

Best splurge underseat carry-on bag

The interior of the Briggs & Riley Baseline 2-Wheel Cabin Bag includes a spacious main compartment with three elastic mesh pockets for stashing smaller items. The exterior offers a slew of features like a front section with pen loops, a padded pocket for your tablet, and side zippered pockets for holding water bottles, cell phones, and other necessities.

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Low-profile wheels and an aircraft-grade aluminum telescoping handle with multiple stop heights make the bag easy to maneuver through the airport and into position under the seat. Webbing handles with a magnetic leather strap help you comfortably throw it into the trunk of your rental car or Uber. And the bag’s ballistic nylon exterior fabric resists moisture, dirt, and other wear and tear. You can even get it monogrammed for a personal touch.

Where to Buy: Briggs & Riley and Amazon

4. Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port

Best spinner underseat carry-on bag

The well-priced Spinner Underseater from Samsonite offers features like multidirectional spinner wheels for 360-degree rolling, a push-button locking handle, and a USB port for charging devices while on the move (batteries not included). There’s a padded compartment for tablets and laptops up to 13.3 inches, a zippered mesh interior pocket, and lots of exterior pockets for headphones, books, and other travel gear. A sleeve on the back allows it to be stacked onto a suitcase for trips when you need more luggage.

Where to Buy: Samsonite and Amazon

5. Away The Daily Carry-On with Pocket

Best trendy underseat carry-on bag

The hard-working Daily Carry-On with Pocket from Away includes a removable three-compartment accordion, a hidden laundry bag for separating dirty clothing, and an interior compression system to maximize packing space. A large exterior front pocket made from water-resistant nylon provides spots for boarding passes, passports, and other items you need at the ready plus a padded 13-inch laptop sleeve.

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The polycarbonate hard shell and 360-degree spinner wheels give this underseat carry-on durability and maneuverability. The bag is simple, sturdy, and highly functional for short weekend getaways. And you might get some envious glances as you’re rolling it through the airport.

Where to Buy: Away

6. Verage Carry-On Under-Seat Luggage with USB Port

Best underseat carry-on bag for staying organized

If staying organized is a struggle, Verage’s Carry-On Underseat Luggage has you covered. Its roomy interior has ample space for clothes and shoes, while a zippered front pocket includes a padded laptop sleeve plus spots for other must-haves. Stash sunglasses and other necessities in the zippered side pockets and use the USB port (batteries not included) to stay charged on the go. 

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Multidirectional spinner wheels and a telescoping push-button handle make for easy mobility, while a water-repellent and anti-scratch fabric help the bag stand up to frequent use. A back strap can slide over the handle of another suitcase for easy luggage corralling, and the bag comes in several color choices. 

Where to Buy: Amazon

7. Calpak Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage

Best colorful underseat carry-on bag 

With color choices like “Poppy” and “Pink Sand,” you won’t lose sight of Calpak’s Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage. The oh-so-cute polycarbonate hard-shell bag features lots of interior pockets plus straps for keeping everything in its place. Roller wheels make the lightweight luggage easy to maneuver, and it scores added points for its minimalistic design, quality construction, and ability to hold a lot in a small space. It’s also a great size for kids who are amassing airline miles right alongside their parents.

Where to Buy: Calpak

8. Yotefe 18-Inch Underseat Luggage with Multidirectional Spinner Wheels

Best minimalist rolling underseat carry-on bag

The sleek and stylish Yotefe Underseat Luggage comes in several metallic color choices. Inside is a high-capacity interior with a separate zippered mesh pocket plus cross ribbons for corralling all your gear. An adjustable telescoping handle and 360-degree double spinning wheels help make walking through the airport (and up and down plane aisles) easier. With a bag that looks this great and offers this much functionality, just imagine how great it would be for your next girls’ weekend getaway.

Where to Buy: Amazon

9. Target Open Story Weekender Bag

Best minimalist weekender-style underseat bag

Made from water-repellent nylon, the simple yet stylish Open Story Weekender Bag from Target offers a roomy main compartment, a padded sleeve for laptops up to 15 inches, and lots of zippered pockets inside and out for keeping phones, glasses, headphones, and other items safe and secure.

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Carry it by the top handles, use the detachable padded shoulder strap, or hook it over a suitcase handle with its convertible trolley strap that serves as a pocket when not being utilized. A water bottle pocket helps you stay hydrated on the go and is easy to reach when the bag’s stashed under the airplane seat in front of you. It makes quick trips a breeze and can be used by anyone in the family.

Where to Buy: Target

10. Nomad Lane V4 Bento Bag 

Best splurge weekender-style bag

Blending good looks with high function, the V4 Bento Bag by Nomad Lane opens down the middle like a suitcase to make packing a cinch. It’s got a place for everything, with features like a padded sleeve (for up to 16-inch laptops), tech organizer, clear toiletry pouch, and key leash. An external water bottle pocket can be zipped away when not needed, while the trolley sleeve can be used as a pocket if desired. A detachable shoulder/crossbody strap and two quick-access top pockets up the functionality even more.

Where to Buy: Nomad Lane

11. Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag Large

Best weekender underseat bag that can handle anything

The water-resistant neoprene exterior of Dagne Dover’s Landon Carryall provides durability, while the interior offers function galore, with a padded laptop sleeve, stretch key leash, and shoe bag. An array of pockets inside and out serve as even more storage spots, and handles, a shoulder strap, and luggage-handle sleeve offer carrying choices.

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The lightweight neoprene bag comes in six go-with-anything colors, including basic black and a luxe-looking camel shade. And its durable, made-to-last exterior isn’t the only thing to write home about: The bag’s interior lining and its shoe bag are made from recycled polyester that gives recycled bottles a new life. 

Where to Buy: Dagne Dover

12. Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Underseater

Best luxe-looking underseat luggage 

You’ll look right out of the golden age of travel with the gorgeous Chatelet Air 2.0 Underseater from Delsey Paris. The rolling bag features an interior with elastic side pockets, a zippered pocket, and straps to keep everything just where you want it. A zippered exterior pocket and a combo trolley sleeve-pocket provide additional storage spots.

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A soft-grip handle makes the bag easy to transport through the airport, on the plane, and beyond. The durable, water-repellent exterior fabric is made from recycled water bottles and accented with vegan leather trim, while the interior lining is coated with antimicrobial technology to reduce odors and bacteria. Good looks, high function—this bag has it all.

Where to Buy: Delsey Paris and Amazon 

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