Luggage Size Guide
What size suitcase for a week, a fortnight or a month? Most size charts list inches and litres but never say what they actually hold. This luggage size guide translates suitcase sizes into days of travel for minimal, standard and heavy packers, so you can choose what size suitcase you need by trip length, the way you actually plan.
Key Takeaways
- For a one-week trip, most people need a medium 24 to 26 inch suitcase of about 60 to 80 litres.
- Minimal packers can manage a week in a carry-on if they do laundry.
- Litres are a more honest measure than inches, which often exclude wheels.
- Large cases often hit the weight limit before they're full.
- Your packing style matters as much as the trip length when deciding what size suitcase to buy.
Luggage Size Chart: Inches, Centimeters and Litres
This luggage size guide starts with the typical sizes. Exact figures vary by model, so always check a suitcase's own dimensions.
| Size | Typical height | Typical capacity | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item or underseat bag | About 40 cm | About 15 to 25 L | Under the seat |
| Carry-on | About 20 to 22 in, around 55 cm | About 35 to 45 L | Overhead bin |
| Medium | About 24 to 26 in, around 65 to 68 cm | About 60 to 80 L | Checked |
| Large | About 28 to 30 in, around 75 to 78 cm | About 90 to 120 L | Checked |
| Extra large | About 32 in, around 80 cm or more | About 120 L or more | Checked; may exceed size limits |
Why litres beat inches
Inch sizes often describe the body alone, not the wheels and handle, and two cases with the same inch label can hold quite different amounts. Litres measure the space inside, so they're the fairest way to compare. When a listing gives litres, use them to decide what size suitcase you need.
What's Your Packing Style?
The same suitcase lasts a different number of days depending on how you pack. Find your style first; it changes what size suitcase suits you.
| Packing style | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Minimal packer | Mix-and-match capsule wardrobe, does laundry, one pair of shoes plus the pair worn |
| Standard packer | A fresh outfit most days, two or three pairs of shoes, full toiletries |
| Heavy packer | Several outfit options, extra shoes, full-size toiletries, bulky or winter clothing |
What Size Suitcase for How Many Days?
Here's the heart of this luggage size guide: each suitcase size translated into days of packing, by style.
| Suitcase size | Minimal packer | Standard packer | Heavy packer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | 2 to 3 days | 1 to 2 days | Overnight |
| Carry-on | 7 days or more, with laundry | 2 to 4 days | 1 to 2 days |
| Medium (24 to 26 in) | 2 to 4 weeks | 5 to 10 days | 4 to 7 days |
| Large (28 to 30 in) | 4 weeks or more | 2 to 3 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Extra large (32 in) | Months | 3 weeks or more | 2 weeks or more |
These are typical ranges
Weather, activities and shoes change the picture. Winter clothing can take roughly twice the space of summer clothing, and every extra pair of shoes eats capacity quickly. Treat the table as a starting point for what size suitcase suits your trip.
What Size Suitcase for a Week?
For most people, the answer to what size suitcase for a week is a medium 24 to 26 inch checked case, about 60 to 80 litres. It holds a week of fresh outfits, a couple of pairs of shoes and full-size toiletries, with room for souvenirs.
A week in a carry-on
Minimal packers can fit a week into a carry-on of about 35 to 45 litres by choosing a mix-and-match wardrobe, wearing the bulkiest items and doing laundry midweek. Our guide to how to pack a suitcase efficiently shows how.
A winter week
Coats, sweaters and boots are bulky. For a cold-weather week, a standard packer may need a large 28 inch case, or a medium case while wearing the heaviest layers.
What Size Suitcase for Two Weeks or a Month?
For a fortnight, a standard packer usually needs a large 28 to 30 inch case of about 90 to 120 litres, while a minimal packer can manage with a medium case and laundry. For a month or more, most people plan on laundry rather than packing for every day, so a large case or a medium case plus a carry-on works well. Either way, match what size suitcase you choose to how often you can do laundry.
Weight and Size Limits for Checked Luggage
Capacity isn't the only limit. Many airlines cap checked bags at about 23 kg (50 lb) in economy and at a total of about 158 cm (62 inches) when you add length, width and height. That affects what size suitcase makes sense:
- Large cases hit the weight limit first: a full 28 to 30 inch case can easily pass 23 kg.
- Extra-large cases may be oversize: some 32 inch cases exceed the 158 cm total and cost extra.
- Empty weight counts: a heavy case leaves less allowance for your belongings.
Check your airline's rules before you fly. For carry-on limits, see our guide to the best suitcases and carry-on sizes.
One Large Case or Two Medium Ones?
For families or long trips, two medium cases are often easier than one large one: each stays under the weight limit more easily, they're easier to lift, and they fit car boots and taxis better. A single large case works if you have one checked-bag allowance and want to keep everything together. It's a practical way to decide what size suitcase a family needs.
Choosing Your Size: A Quick Rule
If you only remember one thing from this luggage size guide, make it this: choose what size suitcase to buy by your most common trip, not your longest. Buy a carry-on for weekends, a medium case for a week, and add a large case only if you regularly travel for two weeks or more.
Suitcases and Travel Bags by Size From Global Swanky
Here's this luggage size guide applied to our range, so you can see what size suitcase suits each trip. Browse more in the Global Swanky Luggage & Travel Bags collection.
1. Durable TSA Lock Travel Suitcase, 20 to 28 Inches
The Durable TSA Lock Travel Suitcase is from $68.55, in ABS and PC with an expansion layer, in 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 inch sizes: a carry-on, a one-week medium or a two-week large.
2. Aluminum Frame PC Trolley Suitcase, 20 to 32 Inches
The Aluminum Frame PC Trolley Suitcase is from $277, in 20 to 32 inch sizes with a polycarbonate shell and TSA lock. The larger sizes suit long trips; mind the weight, at about 5 kg empty and more for bigger sizes.
3. Travel Backpack, 36 to 55 Litres
The Travel Backpack 36-55L is $26.22, in Oxford cloth. The smaller size suits a carry-on weekend; the larger suits a minimal packer's week.
4. Foldable Travel Duffel, 20 to 35 Litres
The Foldable Travel Duffel Bag is $21.93, 20 to 35 litres with wet-dry separation. It folds flat to pack as a spare bag for souvenirs on the way home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What suitcase size do I need for 7 days?
For a standard packer, a medium 24 to 26 inch checked suitcase of about 60 to 80 litres. A minimal packer who does laundry can manage a week in a carry-on, while a heavy packer or a winter trip may need a large case.
What is a 28 inch suitcase capacity?
Usually about 90 to 110 litres, enough for two to three weeks for a standard packer. Watch the weight: a full 28 inch case can easily pass a 23 kg checked-bag limit.
Is there a checked luggage size chart I can use?
Yes: the chart above shows typical heights and litres by size. Most airlines limit checked bags to a total of about 158 cm (62 inches) when you add length, width and height, and to about 23 kg in economy, so check your airline's rules.
How many days does a 24 inch suitcase hold?
About 5 to 10 days for a standard packer, 2 to 4 weeks for a minimal packer who does laundry, and 4 to 7 days for a heavy packer. It's a common choice for a one-week trip.
What does litre capacity mean for a suitcase?
It's the volume inside the case. It's the most honest way to compare suitcases, because inch sizes often describe only the body. As a rough guide, carry-ons hold 35 to 45 litres, mediums 60 to 80, and large cases 90 to 120.