Best Carry On Luggage That Fits In Overhead Bins (2024)

There are few things more frustrating than trying to shove your carry on luggage into an overhead bin only to find that it won’t fit. Not only are you sweaty, tired, and embarrassed, but now you have to experience a cramped journey with your carry on crammed below your feet. To avoid this from happening again, here are the best carry on features of pieces of luggage that you can fit over an overhead bin.

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1. Compact

The goal of a carry on bag for overhead bins is compactness. You should still be able to fit what you need in your carry on without it taking up more space. A compact bag means that it isn’t built with a lot of flair. It’s stream-lined.

The material of the bag might even press into the contents of the bag to help everything squish together. Because it limits its expandability, you have an easier time fitting it into the overhead bin.

You can also help yourself out by only packing the necessities that you need for a few hours while on the plane. By not over-stuffing the luggage, you can let it do its job by securing your items and fitting easily inside of the overhead bin.

2. Limited Pouches and Pockets

Another feature of a carry on luggage that fits inside of an overhead bin is a lack of pouches and pockets. These can create an unnecessary bulk for your bag that makes fitting it into the bin difficult.

If that bag is devoted to being used as a carry on piece of luggage only, then you should get one that doesn’t have any pouches or pockets. Or, at the very least, has one either in the middle rather than on the sides. There tends to be more space from front to back rather than side to side in an overhead bin.

3. Soft Material

Some may think that a hard shell carry on would do well in an overhead bin. That isn’t always the case. While a hard shell does a great job of making sure your items aren’t damaged, it doesn’t always fit into an overhead bin that easily. This is because the hard shell can’t squeeze.

Softer materials like leather or cloth can be squished inside of the bin. If it needs to take an awkward shape in order to fit next to someone else’s luggage, then it can do so because it’s flexible. A hard shell piece of luggage doesn’t stand a chance in flexing around the other item.

4. No Wheels

Another thing to avoid for the best carry on luggage that fits in an overhead bin is wheels. While having wheels on your luggage can make traveling with them a lot easier, it doesn’t work well for carry on overhead bins.

The wheels alone can provide a problem when trying to fit it inside of the bin. They add a few extra inches of length to the bottom of your luggage. They can also hook on other people’s luggage or the bin itself which can make removing it a nightmare, too.

In addition to wheels, you also have a handle. While some handles collapse snugly against the luggage, others do tend to jut out a bit. That can add anywhere from a half-inch to an inch in length. Your luggage could become just too long.

5. Cloth Handles

One last feature that makes for the best carry on luggage that can fit in an overhead bin are those that have handles or cloth straps. The handles and straps make pulling it up and down easier.