The 10 Best Underseat Luggage Pieces of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Calpak Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage

View on Calpaktravel.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Functionality
  5/5

The Calpak Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage is both functional and stylish. The bag fit perfectly under the airplane seat we recreated, and although it’s hardshell, we think it has enough give to be squeezed under a tight seat. In testing, the bag provided excellent organization, with one side dedicated to mesh pockets and a laptop sleeve while the other side was an open compartment for shoes and clothes. We fit two pairs of pants, a bomber jacket, flip-flops, and three shirts inside the underseater without issues.

The one downside to the Mini Hue Carry-on is that there are no pockets on the outside of the suitcase. If you need anything during your flight like a laptop or chargers, we recommend pulling those out ahead of take-off since it might be difficult to open the suitcase mid-flight, especially if you are using the dial lock on its side. The four-wheeled rolling bag made up for this access pitfall during a series of tests involving a mini obstacle course: It glided smoothly and felt sturdy, and we love that the Mini Hue handled hurdles like a breeze due to its four 360-degree spinner wheels. This sleek hardside suitcase has a clamshell opening and comes in eight earthy tones.

The Details: 16 x 13.5 x 8 inches | 6.05 pounds | 31-liter capacity | 4 spinner wheels

Most Spacious

Rockland Underseater Luggage

$57 at Amazon $160 at Macy's View on Jcpenney.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  3.5/5
• Value
  3/5
• Functionality
  4.5/5

If you’re looking for a roomy piece of luggage that fits under most airplane seats, then the Rockland Melrose Upright Wheeled Underseater Carry-on Luggage is your best option. In testing, we were impressed with how easy it was to pack two days’ worth of outfits, including two pairs of pants, three T-shirts, a sweatshirt, and a pair of heels. After regularly using the bag for six months, this is our new go-to weekend bag as it has plenty of space for all our needs.

The bag has a U-shaped opening with a large main compartment for clothing items, and the opening flap has several mesh and zippered pockets for storing smaller items. We liked how organized the suitcase was thanks to plenty of interior compartments, two mesh water bottle pockets, and two zippered front pockets. The bigger front pocket is tablet-sized but can’t fit a laptop, so computers will need to be stored in the main compartment. The roller bag easily fit under the seat during our test, but the ample space inside the suitcase comes with a risk of overstuffing and not being able to slide it in front of your feet.

During our maneuverability assessment, we found the inline wheels to be difficult to turn on tight corners, but the bag rolled smoothly when we pulled it behind us. Additionally, the handle was slightly difficult to pull up to the preferred height of shorter testers. Still, we think the superior organization and impressively plentiful space make this underseat luggage well worth an investment, especially if it’s on sale. 

The Details: 16 x 11.5 x 8 inches | 4.56 pounds | 176 cubic inch capacity | 2 wheels

Best Organization

Kenneth Cole Reaction Underseater Spinner

$110 at Amazon $300 at Macy's $128 at kohls.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Functionality
  4/5

This cute and convenient bag comfortably fits everything you'd need for a quick weekend trip, including your shoes and toiletry kit. It has an extendable handle as well as regular bag handles, so you have the convenient option to roll or carry it. The bag also has straps on the inside to keep your items in place during transit.

Two zippered extenders leave room for expansion, although you may have a harder time fitting the bag under your seat when fully extended. Inside, you can keep all of your item organized in two interior stretch pockets and an interior zippered pocket; outside, there's an exterior pocket on the front and one on each side of the bag to keep all of your most needed valuables within reach. This bag moves smoothly across the floor and its four wheels make for easy maneuverability around corners.

The Details: 17 x 13 x 9 inches | 5.6 pounds | 34-liter capacity | 4 spinner wheels

Easiest to Carry

Travelpro Carry-on Travel Tote Bag

$85 at Amazon $85 at travelpro.com $102 at kohls.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Functionality
  3.5/5

The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Lightweight Underseat Carry-on Travel Tote Bag weighs just 2 pounds and remains comfortable to carry, even filled with two pairs of pants, two shirts, a jacket, a toiletry bag, a pair of sneakers, and a laptop. While this bag impressed us by having room left over to fit even more clothes, no matter how we tried to place it under the seat, it wouldn’t fit under an average airplane seat of 16 x 14 x 9 inches. Airlines have varying underseat dimensions, so we think it’s possible that the bag would fit under the seat of a bigger aircraft, and it’s an excellent bag for riding in a train or car.

The tote bag handles are padded, and it comes with a detachable shoulder strap, too. After regularly using the bag for six months, we found it to be quite small, but a good addition if you're traveling with checked luggage. It’s small enough that you can carry it in front of you or at your side without feeling weighed down or bumping into people. We liked it enough to include it on our list of the best lightweight luggage. Just note that depending on what you pack, it could be less comfortable with more weight added.

The Details: 15.5 x 10.5 x 9 inches | 2.04 pounds | 28-liter capacity

Most Versatile

Samsonite Spinner Underseater

$114 at Amazon View on Samsonite.com View on Luggagepros.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Functionality
  5/5

Whether you’re traveling by train, airplane, or car, the Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port is a great choice for a versatile and functional underseat bag. We loved how easy it was to  pack a laptop and clothing for a weekend trip. The suitcase has one main compartment, and the U-shaped opening folds out to reveal a mesh zipper pocket. Between the large compartment and the opening flap, there is a padded laptop sleeve that can fit laptops up to 13.3 inches. Since the suitcase has one large compartment, you can fit bulkier items like shoes or a blazer if you’re traveling for work. We thought the exterior pockets on the front and side were ideal for storing headphones or a tablet, and the attached USB portis a game-changer for charging your phone while traveling. The suitcase rolled smoothly and was comfortable to carry with the top handle.

The Details: 16.5 x 13 x 9.5 inches | 6.17 pounds | 36-liter capacity | 4 spinner wheels

Best Splurge

Tumi Oxford Compact Carry-on

$455 at Nordstrom $650 at tumi.com View on Horchow.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  3/5
• Functionality
  4.5/5

The Tumi Oxford Compact Carry-on is a luxury suitcase that impressed us with its excellent maneuverability. With four recessed wheels, this bag glides smoothly regardless of how you roll it. There was no resistance when we pulled it on two wheels or pushed it using all four, which makes it a great option for navigating busy airports. It fit under the seat, but we did have to flip it upside down with the front on the floor to squeeze it into place.

The bag has a U-shaped opening with one larger zippered compartment and one smaller one that fits two pairs of pants, two shirts, and a jacket. Unlike a traditional clamshell suitcase, one side of the bag stays upright after the bag is unzipped, and we think that could be a hassle if you need to unzip the upright compartment to grab clothes. The bag has a deep, wide front pocket where we placed a toiletry bag and a pair of shoes, but there wasn’t enough space to fit a 13-inch laptop. We still liked this spacious front pocket and the smaller pocket in front of it for a phone or charger. The bag also has a USB port on the side for charging electronics. If you’re looking to splurge on a luxurious piece of luggage, the Tumi Oxford Compact Carry-on has a sleek and functional design, making it a great option for your next weekend trip. 

The Details: 14.5 x 14 x 9 inches | 5.39 pounds | 21-liter capacity | 4 recessed wheels

Best Design

Steve Madden Underseat Wheeled Bag

$116 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  3/5
• Functionality
  4/5

Functional and practical for weekend trips, the vintage-style Steve Madden Underseat delivers an elegant look and much, much more. The bag has a U-shaped opening that unfolds outward to reveal two clear-plastic-lined, zippered pockets and one large zippered pocket. The interior pockets are great for easily finding items in the bag and staying organized. There are also zippered pockets on the front, back, and sides of the suitcase, creating ample storage space for small items like toiletries, jewelry, or phone chargers. After six months of use, this bag still looks brand new with no sign of wear and tear.

While there are plenty of places for smaller items, the bag may not be ideal for long trips. In addition, the bag fit under the seat with slight difficulty initially due to the zippers and dangling accessories getting caught, but when we flipped it onto the flatter side, it slid under with greater ease. We were impressed that despite being packed full of clothes, the bag felt lightweight when we pushed and pulled it through our obstacle course, and the two wheels glided smoothly. 

The Details: 14.5 x 8 x 13.5 inches | 4.80 pounds | 5-liter capacity | 2 wheels

Best Tote

Travelpro x Travel + Leisure UnderSeat Tote

$245 at travelpro.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Value
  3.5/5
• Functionality
  5/5

For those in search of a bag that doesn’t have wheels to worry about fitting under a seat, the Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Underseat Tote is a great option that you can sling over your shoulder or place on a suitcase. During our test, the bag fit perfectly under the seat, however, after placing two days’ worth of clothes inside, there wasn’t enough room for a laptop. If the bag isn’t filled to capacity, there is a laptop sleeve in the back for safely storing a computer. The zippered top opens up to one main compartment that has a buttoned sleeve and zippered pocket. Phones and passports can be easily accessed in a small pocket on the front of the bag.

After regularly using the bag for six months, including on international trips, we still love the capacity, quality, and overall look of this underseat bag. We especially liked having the option to carry the bag either as a tote or with the detachable shoulder strap. If you’re also traveling with a wheeled carry-on suitcase, you can use the tote bag's rear strap to slide it over the handle of your suitcase instead. While the price point is on the higher end, we think the versatility and sleek design of this tote bag will ensure you’ll get more than your money’s worth. 

The Details: 17 x 9.5 x 9 inches | 2.26 pounds | 22-liter capacity

Best Sustainable

Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Underseater

$232 at Amazon View on Delsey.com $232 at Macy's

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  3.8/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Value
  4.5/5

This elegant underseater has 20 liters of capacity, so it fit everything on our packing list easily. It has one main compartment and an external front pocket that is large and padded enough to fit laptops and other tech items. We love the interior snaps that allow you to partially open the suitcase (so it opens like a mouth when upright), but then you can unsnap the panel to fully open flat to pack. It also includes cinch pockets inside so you can individually pack shoes, water bottles, or toiletry bottles.

The exterior is made out of fairly soft recycled polyester, so it does scuff a bit during transit and the lighter colorways are prone to staining. But the bag is so small and lightweight, the two wheels glide smoothly and it's easy to carry. When packed full, it can be a tight fit under most airplane seats, but it will certainly fit in overhead bins and under more spacious airplane seats.

The Details: 16.5 x 15.75 x 8.25 inches | 5.97 pounds | 20-liter capacity | 2 wheels

Best Style

Nicole Miller Underseat Luggage

$90 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4.5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Functionality
  3/5

The Nicole Miller Underseat bag is a spacious option that fit two T-shirts, two pairs of pants, a pair of sneakers, and a toiletry bag during our test for capacity. The bag has a stylish design on the outside and the inside — can you say, animal print lining?! It's easy to maneuver around on the two spinner wheels and also has an additional leather handle for those moments when you want to pick up your bag and run. This underseat pick also has a luggage sleeve on the back so you could attach it to another suitcase for easier transport.

This bag is a perfect additional item to take on your trips or luggage piece for weekend and overnight trips. Even with wheels and a rounder shape, this bag easily slides under airplane seats for simple and stress-free travel.

The Details: 15.5 x 14.8 x 10 inches | 6.3 pounds | 2 spinner wheels