“At the age of about 3 to 4 years old, kids can be expected to carry a few of their own things when they travel,” explains Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, FAAP, founder and CEO of the Modern Mamas Club app. “But the most important thing is starting them out with a little bit of responsibility versus having them carry a substantial amount of luggage as they travel.” The ideal luggage for your child will depend on their age and the length and style of your family vacation—plus your budget. Our list of the best kids’ luggage includes something for every need. To select our top picks, we considered organization, maneuverability, value, size, style, and durability, putting them through a number of tests in our lab. After research and testing, here is the best kids’ luggage. This all-around ideal option is our best overall pick for the youngest travelers because it’s both attractive and practical. The 19-inch roller board is made from polycarbonate, so it’s both lightweight and durable with a hard shell. The adjustable-height pull handle makes it convenient for small kids on the go, as do 360-degree spinner wheels, which made it easy to maneuver on all surfaces in the lab, earning it a 5 out of 5 for maneuverability.  Testing Notes: “This is one of the cutest designs for little kids that we’ve seen. It’s cartoony without being off-putting. Some of the grownups in the lab wanted this for themselves!” The rubber zipper pulls are easily gripped by little hands, and the zippers are of relatively high quality, our tester noted. The team at the lab also gave the dinosaur design on the suitcase high marks (4.9 for style). That said, because of its small size (it fits eight outfits, one pair of shoes, one baby doll, and one stuffed animal) and only two compartments, this is best for younger kids who don’t have a lot to take along or keep organized. With a current price of less than $60, it’s something you won’t mind passing on to someone else when your kid grows out of it. Price at time of publish: $180 Outside Dimensions: 17.5H x 12W x 11D inches | Inside Dimensions: Side one: 15H x 13W x 5D inches; side two: 15H x 13W x 5D inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: 19-inch carry-on bag But what impressed us most during testing was its many practical compartments, earning it a 5 out of 5 for organization. There are two main interior compartments, one with an elastic strap for condensing cargo and the other with a zippered flap closure and mesh exterior pocket. A front pocket features multiple pockets to keep small items easy to access on the road, and a well-considered side strap holds a water bottle, jacket, or other precious items.  Fully packed, the suitcase fit 18 outfits for 6-to-8-year-olds, a raincoat, one pair of shoes, seven pairs of underwear, three pairs of socks, three small stuffed animals, a truck, an action figure, a toy dog, two books, a tablet, a phone, four small snacks, and four pencils. This suitcase maneuvers “super easy on hard floor and very easy on shag carpet,” if a little harder on grass, our tester noted, giving it a 4.9 rating for that attribute. The telescoping handle can be used at two different heights, which is always good for a suitcase a grown-up might need to pull when their kid gets tired (or, as in one tester’s case, when they plan on “borrowing” this suitcase). It has a side handle that makes for convenient lifting into overhead storage bins.  Testing Notes: “I love that it has two equally sized pockets, which seems great for organizing—especially if you’re traveling with wet or dirty clothing.” State Bags is known for its classy takes on trendy designs for kids and adults, so the prints change from season to season. Still, we recommend buying one that won’t go out of style too soon, just based on the higher price point. Price at time of publish: $220 Outside Dimensions: 19H x 13.5W x 10D inches | Inside Dimensions: Side one: 18.5H x 12.25W x 4.5D inches; side two: 18.5H x 12.25W x 3.5D inches | Weight: 6.31 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: One carry-on suitcase “For its size, it really has a high capacity for a child’s belongings,” our tester said.  The tester noted the case held up well to drop and bat tests but said the “materials are pretty good, but nothing exceptional,” with zippers that can stick around the edges. Even though it only has two wheels—a design that almost always leads to tipping awkwardness when traveling—it performed well being pulled through over all surfaces in the lab. The designs are especially friendly for little kids, and at the current price, this is a very good buy for that age group. Price at time of publish: $45 Outside Dimensions: 19H x 11.5W x 8D inches | Inside Dimensions: 18H x 11W x 7.5D inches | Weight: 3.68 pounds | Wheels: 2 | What’s Included: Softside carry-on suitcase, plush dangle toy While the price point is affordable and the designs are whimsical, the “materials are clearly subpar and inexpensive,” our tester noted, giving it a 3.9 for durability. Further, it has no spinner wheels, which may make it tip during fast walks around town or the airport. Price at time of publish: $75 Outside Dimensions: 18H x 12W x 7D inches | Inside Dimensions: 15.5 H x 11W x 6D inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds | Wheels: 2 | What’s Included: Carry-on suitcase “It has two sets of spinner wheels that are incredibly effective and smooth,” reported our tester. “You can barely tell when it’s on the grass.” Its handle offers two height positions with one button to adjust, and there is also a top carry handle that expands out to fit hands of all sizes. Our tester noted it fits easily in an overhead compartment, too.  In the durability test, a hard thunk of the bat did manage to scuff the shiny hard material, though a dent popped back into shape quite quickly. Kids will probably outgrow the designs this set comes in, but we imagine the suitcase will be one that can be handed down to another user when that happens, making this a pretty amazing deal. Price at time of publish: $89 Outside Dimensions: 20H x 13W x 8.5D inches | Inside Dimensions: Side one: 15.5H x 12W x 4D inches; side two: 15.5H x 12W x 4D inches | Weight: 4.7 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: 18-inch hardside carry-on, 15-inch backpack, 10-inch lunch bag, neck pillow, luggage tag “It definitely has premium materials, comparable to a high-end adult suitcase,” our tester said. He also observed how easy the case is to maneuver, especially when using all four wheels. “It smoothly rolls away when pushed. It’s very easy to pick up and lift into an overhead compartment.” As a bonus, the handle has two height options for kids and adults.  In the durability test, the case received a dent and some scratches, making us suspect the white version is likely to show a bit of wear over time, so we gave it a 4 out of 5 in durability. The price of this case is also pretty steep compared to those that are specifically aimed at kids. It’s an “investment piece,” as our tester put it, but only a 3 for value. Price at time of publish: $279 Outside Dimensions: 22H x 14.5W x 10D inches | Inside Dimensions: Side one: 18H x 14W x 4D inches; side two: 18H x 14W x 4.5D inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: Carry-on luggage “Disney fans are going to love this vintage-feeling Mickey print. For anyone less than a fan, however, it’s going to lose appeal quickly,” she said. For this reason, it earned a 4.2 in style. Both suitcases moved quite well on the ground, but when it came time to lift them into an overhead compartment, they felt heavier than some of the other luggage we tested, so we gave it a 4 for maneuverability. If you have a Disney fan in the house—or even better, a pair of sibling fans—this is an excellent deal. Price at time of publish: $210 Outside Dimensions: Small: 18H x 12.5W x 7.5D inches; large: 23H x 14W x 8D inches | Inside Dimensions: Small side one: 14H x 11W x 4D inches; small side two: 14H x 11W x 4D inches; large side one: 16.5H x 13W x 4D inches; large side two: 14H x 11W x 4D inches | Weight: Small: 5.1 pounds; large: 6.7 pounds | Wheels: 4 each | What’s Included: 18-inch underseat carry-on, 21-inch carry-on A lack of inner pockets knocked the organization rating down to 3, but it passed the durability test with flying colors, showing not a single scratch or scuff mark after we beat it up. Our tester noted that the handle extends tall enough for an adult and has a button that allows it to be used at three different heights. In the lab, we found the 360-degree wheels made it “very easy to maneuver,” even on grass. On the flip side, our tester said, “I wish it had a handle on the side for lifting into the overhead bin because it is heavy.”  A note on the styles available: Some styles, like the Cloudburst Neon tested in the lab, get discontinued from season to season, while some standard colors remain. Price at time of publish: $220 Outside Dimensions: 20.5H x 12.5W x 9D inches | Inside Dimensions: 20.5H x 12.5W x 9D inches | Weight: 6.5 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: Carry-on suitcase The wheels are high quality and smooth-rolling, and the adjustable handle can be positioned at two heights. Both suitcases also had a very reasonable capacity, with the carry-on in expanded form fitting 15 outfits, a pair of shoes, one stuffed animal, two books, three snacks, and a set of colored pencils; and the larger suitcase (expanded) fitting 23 outfits, one jacket, one pair of shoes, a doll, an action figure, and two stuffed animals. A lack of internal pockets knocked the organization score down to 4. Our tester noted these cases stand up well, with “not a single mark on the luggage” after endurance and impact tests. While she notes the wheels do protrude in this model, they are nevertheless “sturdy and remained intact despite direct hits with a bat,” garnering it 5 on the durability attribute. Various print options appeal to a range of tastes—though they probably aren’t sophisticated enough to share the set with a grown-up travel companion or teenager. For this reason, this set only earns a 3.5 for value. Outside Dimensions: Small: 20H x 13W x 7.5D inches; large: 24.5H x 14W x 9D inches | Inside Dimensions: Small: 15H x 12W x 8D inches; large: 20H x 14W x 8D inches | Weight: Small: 4.5 pounds; large: 4.6 pounds | Wheels: 4 each | What’s Included: One carry-on suitcase and one larger checked suitcase The rolling bag has multi-directional wheels and telescoping handles, and the coordinating 12-inch backpack distributes weight for kids on the go. “This is adorable but only suitable for really young kids,” our tester noted. “The second they grow out of wanting all cute things, they aren’t going to tote this around.”  While neither the style nor the construction may be made to endure (a dent in testing gave it a 3.8 for durability), the sale price makes it a good value anyway. Price at time of publish: $58 Outside Dimensions: Suitcase: 16.25H x 13W x 8D inches; backpack: 13H X 10W X 4.5D inches | Inside Dimensions: Suitcase 15.5H x 12W x 4D inches; backpack: 12H X 9.5W X 3.5D inches | Weight: Suitcase 3.97 pounds; backpack: 0.88 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: Trolley suitcase and coordinating backpack “It’s one [not very] big compartment that you have to pack sideways, so it’s really awkward and not that functional,” she said. “You have to use the strap to pull it. The strap can be reattached to make it like a shoulder bag, but carrying it that way is heavy and awkward.” While the lid has an extra compartment that’s great for toys and snacks, you have to pack the main compartment from the top, so if you needed something at the bottom, it would be challenging to get to. Also of note: If you opt to take along the included padding for the bed-rest function, that takes up about a third of the capacity. Consider this more of a backpack alternative, not a replacement for a suitcase. Price at time of publish: $229 Outside Dimensions: 18L x 15.5H x 7.5W inches | Inside Dimensions: Main compartment: 17.L x 10.5H x 6.5W inches; lid compartment: 11L x 4W x 3D inches | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Wheels: 4 | What’s Included: Convertible rolling bag, padding for leg rest/bed, decorating stickers 4.5 to 4.7 stars: These kids’ luggage pieces are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them. 4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great kids’ luggage options, but others are better. 3.5 to 3.9 stars: These kids’ luggage pieces are just average. 3.4 and below: We don’t recommend kids’ luggage with this rating; you won’t find any on our list.

Next, we tested how well the luggage rolled on multiple surfaces, including an even hard floor, carpet, and grass (astroturf in the lab), turning around a set of cones. We examined maneuverability based on characteristics like handles, weight, and ability to turn. Finally, we tested each bag’s durability by dropping them from a ladder and then hitting them with a baseball bat. We assigned a numerical score based on all of these attributes and used these scores to rank our list.

What to Look for in Luggage for Kids

Size 

Kids’ luggage should be appropriately sized to their bodies, with handles matched to their height. But the size of kids’ luggage isn’t just relevant to their body size: If you’re traveling by plane and don’t intend to check bags, make sure to pick a piece that qualifies to fly carry-on and fits in the overhead compartment. According to Travel & Leisure, the average carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including handle and wheels, but this varies by airline, so be sure to check ahead.  We measured the packing capacity of each bag because features like wheels and telescoping handles can often make the inside less roomy than it appears from the outside.

Organization and Design

The design of kids’ luggage should match not just their age and personality; it must also incorporate functionality that works for your family. Consider things like exterior zippers or mesh pockets for organization and access.

Maneuverability

Kids should be able to maneuver their own bags as easily as possible in order to keep up in busy, daunting airport terminals or train stations and build personal responsibility in the process. Features like smooth-rolling, 360-degree wheels help substantially. Handles that can adjust to their height and an adult’s height help with this too. Don’t forget that adults often wind up carrying their kids’ bags at least some of the time.

Durability

If you’re choosing a budget-priced piece of luggage with a juvenile design, it might not matter to you if that piece doesn’t make it until next summer’s trip. But durability matters if you’re splurging on a piece of high-quality luggage in a style you expect to grow with your kids—and hold up to the rigors of travel—over the years.

Why Trust Verywell Family 

Alesandra Dubin is a professional product reviewer in the parenting, travel, and lifestyle space. She’s also a mom to 7-year-old twins, with whom she travels the world. (They each had 10 different countries’ stamps on their passport by age 4.) Fold and stack clothing compactly in luggage to squeeze in as many outfits as possible, and take advantage of dead space, such as the inside of shoes, for small items like socks and underwear. Many people find that rolling clothes make them more compact and packable. “It’s much less important how much they carry and how they carry it,” Casares says. “The more important thing is that they do carry something. When kids are given some responsibility to carry their own items when they travel, they are going to learn the habit of being part of a team and part of a family and all the work that goes into making travel possible.” Overseeing their own bag, she says, “makes them feel way more excited about the journey ahead of them and feel more ownership over the trip.”