9 best cheap suitcases 2024 UK; tried and tested
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
GOOD luggage doesn’t have to cost the earth; goodness knows holidays are expensive enough without spending a fortune on cases.
The best cheap suitcases will provide you with all of the functionality you need for a trip away, including TSA and/or combination locks, multi-directional wheels, telescopic handles and plenty of pockets.
There’s something to suit you, no matter what your budget, in both hard and soft shell varieties, from cabin bags to large suitcases. And you’re not limited to boring colours either, as there are a rainbow of shades to choose from.
Indeed, the best cheap suitcases can offer the features of their more expensive counterparts, buy you keep more in your pocket to spend when you get to your destination; win-win!
Best cheap suitcases at a glance:
- Best overall cheap suitcase: Rock Novo
- Best budget suitcase: Tripp Holiday 7
- Best cheap cabin suitcase: Vonhaus Pink Hard Shell Cabin Case
- Best cheap medium suitcase: Rock Santiago
- Best cheap large suitcase: Featherstone Hard 8 Wheel Suitcase
Rock Santiago Medium Suitcase
- Rock Santiago Medium Suitcase in Purple, £64.99 from Rock – buy here
Pros: Lightweight, easy to move, choice of colours
Cons: No pockets inside, combination rather than TSA lock
Rating: 4/5
I love the colour of this suitcase, it’s purple but with a hint of grey, so the effect is understated elegance rather than full-on bright.
The eight spinner wheels make it simple to manoeuvre in all directions and it fared just as well when I tested it on carpet as it did on hard floors and outdoors. I’m also impressed at the height of the telescopic handle, which has enough space to sit a cabin bag comfortably while still leaving enough space to move the case easily.
Inside, the two sections of the case are separated by a mesh divider and there are luggage straps to secure your clothes, but there are no pockets.
The case is made from tough ABS and has a combination, rather than a TSA lock.
Size: 66 x 40 x 27cm, Weight: 3.2kg, Capacity: 51L, TSA lock: No, it has a combination lock, Guarantee: 15-year manufacturer’s warranty
Featherstone Hard 8 Wheel Large Suitcase
- Featherstone Hard 8 Wheel Large Suitcase Navy, £75 from Argos – buy here
Pros: Ample capacity, eight spinner wheels, two grab handles, feet on one side
Cons: Only one internal pocket
Rating: 4/5
This suitcase is ideal for longer-length trips or for sharing with your partner as its 104-litre means you’ll fit in everything but the kitchen sink.
It’s made from ABS so should be tough enough to withstand the bumps of baggage handling and although it’s navy, it’s a bright shade so will stand out on the luggage carousel when you get to your destination.
Spinner wheels make moving the case simple and there’s eight of them to distribute the weight evenly, which is useful because this high capacity case is heavy when full.
There’s a grab handle on the top and one side, with four feet on the other side so I could set it down without worrying about scraping the bottom. The retractable handle does not rise very far though and after I’d fitted my cabin bag on top there’s wasn’t a lot of space left for my hands
Inside, I like that the grey lining contrasts nicely with the navy shell. A mesh divider separates the case’s two compartments and this itself has a large, zipped pocket for small items or those you want to find quickly.
It’s a great price for a lot of suitcase.
Size: 77 x 53 x 30cm, Weight: 4.35kg, Capacity: 104L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 5-year manufacturer’s warranty
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Rock Novo
- Rock Novo medium in navy, £89.99 from Amazon – buy here
Pros: Separate zipped top section, expandable, easy to move, spacious
Cons: Lack of inside pockets
Rating: 4/5
The Novo is a good-looking suitcase. It has eight spinner wheels, which make it really easy to pull when I tested it on carpet, hard flooring and pavement.
I really like that the upper section is separated from the lower section by a zipped divider, so you can keep the contents of both parts of the case separate, which is great for storing shoes without worrying about marking your clothes.
The suitcase is also expandable, giving you an extra 7L capacity for all your holiday buys. It also has a TSA lock and a 15-year warranty.
Size: 69 x 45 x 28/31cm weight when empty: 3.9kg capacity: 60/67L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 15-year manufacturer’s warranty
Tripp Holiday suitcase
- Tripp Holiday 7 Suitcase £69.50 from Tripp - buy here
Pros: Lightweight design, integrated TSA lock, budget-friendly
Cons: No easy access pockets, can’t be expanded, handles are a little stiff, wheels are not great on carpets
Rating: 4/5
The Tripp Holiday collection offers three sizes (cabin, medium, and large) and six colours, ensuring there's something for everyone.
Constructed from lightweight polypropylene, it safeguards your belongings on short or long-haul trips without adding to your weight limit. With an integrated TSA lock, your items remain secure. Plus, it comes with a standard five-year guarantee for peace of mind.
I tried a large size, which is ideal for family vacations or extended trips where more packing space is needed. While it falls in the middle in terms of size and capacity among large suitcases, it's one of the lightest options available.
This means it won't contribute much to your total luggage weight, allowing you to pack more essentials. Though the case feels somewhat flimsy due to its lightness, this flexibility actually enhances its durability against bumps and rough handling.
However, it's best to keep the suitcase reasonably full to prevent warping. Choose the size carefully to meet your needs. Despite not being ultra-durable, the Tripp Holiday collection provides good value for occasional travellers, offering premium features without the hefty price tag.
Review by Qin Xie
Size: 76 x50 x 32cm, Capacity: 102L, weight: 4kg, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 5-year guarantee
Vonhaus Cabin Case
- Vonhaus Pink Hard Shell Cabin Case, £39.99 – buy here
Pros: Price, good internal layout
Cons: No side handle
Rating: 3.5/5
This pretty cabin case is perfect for a weekend break or for a short business trip.
Inside, the divider in the top section keeps contents separate from the bottom. There’s a large, zipped pocket within the divider and a second zipped pocket in the lower section, so lots of space to keep small items secure. Luggage straps keep clothes in place.
The case is lightweight and made from ABS plastic, so it seems pretty sturdy. The spinner wheels mean the case is easy to pull across all flooring. There’s a telescopic handle as well as a soft-grip handle on the top.
It also has a combination lock, which is pretty good for a budget suitcase.
Size: 55 x 37 x 21cm weight: 2.5kg capacity: 35L, TSA lock: No, it has a combination lock, Guarantee: 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
Featherstone Hard Shell Suitcase
- Featherstone Hard Shell Suitcase (Medium) £65 from Argos – buy here
Pros: Good price, good manoeuvrability, internal divider, light for its size
Cons: Could have more internal pockets
Rating: 4/5
This is a well-priced suitcase that will easily see you through at least a week’s holiday, probably two.
It features eight 360° wheels and a telescopic handle, so it’s simple to pull across hard floors, carpets and pavements. There’s also a handle on the top – the soft grip is really comfy to hold – and another on the side. If you need to set down your case there are four feet on the other side to stop the outer shell being damaged.
Inside, luggage straps in the bottom section keep your clothes secure, while there’s a zipped divider in the top section. This has a large, zipped pocket on one side, which is handy for keeping accessories or small items together.
The case also has a TSA lock and comes with a five-year guarantee.
Size: 67.5 x 46.5 x 25.5cm weight: 3.65kg capacity: 66L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 5-year manufacturer's guarantee
Argos Featherstone Soft Suitcase
- Featherstone Soft Suitcase, £55 from Argos – buy here
Pros: Ample space, great price, 5-year guarantee
Cons: no lock
Rating: 4/5
This suitcase is a great price and gives you a brilliant 86L of packing space – enough for multiple outfits and lots of shoes and accessories.
Inside, the main compartment has luggage straps to secure your clothes, and there’s a full-size mesh pocket on the top.
Outside, there’s a large pocket on the front of the case, and while there’s no combination lock, you could easily fit a padlock.
The spinner wheels mean the suitcase is easy to move, but there are only four of them – eight would have been better for when the case is full, but that’s a minor point, really, when you consider the price point.
There’s a telescopic handle, of course, as well as a padded handle on one side and a grab handle on the top.
I love the vibrant colour, it’s such a fun shade that screams holidays.
Size: 77 x 46.5 x 26.5cm weight when empty: 2.79kg capacity: 86L, TSA lock: No lock, Guarantee: 5-year manufacturer’s guarantee
It Luggage Attuned
- It Luggage Attuned, £75 from It Luggage – buy here
Pros: great capacity, price, expandable, 10-year warranty
Cons: could be more internal pockets for the size
Rating: 4/5
This suitcase boasts a massive 159L capacity when you use the expansion function – that’s a lot of clothes. It’s ideal for long-haul trips when you’re going to be away for more than just a couple of weeks – you could easily pack enough different outfits for a month or more.
Inside, the upper compartment is separated from the lower by a zipped divider. The divider itself features three elasticated pockets (great size for shoes) and a zipped mesh pocket.
The lower section of the case has luggage straps to hold everything in place, but no more pockets alas.
Outside, the shell is tough ABS plastic. The telescopic handle has three positions, and there’s a fixed handle on the top, with another on the side. The eight wheels are multi-directional for ease of movement, and the Attuned glides freely on both hard flooring and carpet.
It has an integral TSA lock and comes with a 10-year warranty.
That's a lot of case for your money!
Size: 80 x 55.5 x 33.5cm (+7.6cm) weight: 5kg capacity: 128/157L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 10-year manufacturer’s warranty
Tripp Chic
- Tripp Chic in Sky Blue (Medium), £49.50 from Amazon – buy here
Pros: Expandable, fun colour, lightweight, price
Cons: Four wheels (rather than eight), lack of inside pockets
Rating: 4/5
The Chic is really lightweight for a hard-shell suitcase, and you can certainly pack a lot into it.
Inside, the two sections are separated by a mesh divider in the top compartment, so you can keep the contents here separate and secure, but there are no internal pockets.
The bottom section has luggage straps, but again, no pockets. However, the case is expandable, giving you an extra 6L of packing space if you need it.
The Chic has four multi-directional wheels and is easy to pull across the carpet and hard floors.
The telescopic handle has three positions, there’s a soft-grip handle on the top and another on one side.
I love the colour – think blue skies, blue sea – it definitely has a holiday feel to it.
Size: 67 x 45 x 28/31cm weight: 3.2kg capacity: 66/72L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: 5-year guarantee
How we tested these products
The suitcases we tested were rated against a number of variables, such as how they moved when empty, how they moved when full, how light (or heavy) they felt to lift when they were empty and then again once they were full of clothes.
We packed the suitcases as we would for a holiday or other trip away, with a variety of clothes, shoes, toiletries and other items. We considered how well they moved on hard flooring, carpet and outside, on concrete, to recreate the conditions you would find during a trip.
Sadly we weren’t able to go on holiday to test all of them (we wish), but several were taken on trips both at home and abroad when possible, and we will update individual reviews as others are tested in real-life situations.
What one person likes, another may hate, so reviews are to a certain extent subjective. For instance, I love lots of pockets, they’re so handy for keeping small items separate so you can put your hands on them quickly and I want a separate space where possible for jewellery and make-up. You may hate them.
Overall, we have strived for fairness and objectivity and if any of the products tested didn’t rise to the challenge, then we say so.
Where to buy cheap suitcases in the UK?
No matter what size or colour of suitcase you’re after you’re sure to find one that works for you at a price to suit your pocket.
You can buy cheap suitcases from many stores on the high street and online. Household names such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis offer a good range, with many costing less than £100, as does Matalan, TK Maxx Primark and Dunelm.
During the summer you will also find a selection of reasonably priced luggage at larger supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
The suitcases we reviewed came from:
How much do cheap suitcases cost?
The price of suitcases depends on the size as much as anything else, so generally speaking, a cabin case will cost less than a medium or large suitcase that you check into the hold.
Price also varies between different brands and across product styles, as well as by colour and material.
For our feature we’ve focused on suitcases coming in at under £100. Some are cheaper than others and those with the most features tend to be more expensive.
The suitcases we tested ranged in price from £39.99 for the Vonhaus pink hard shell cabin case to around £90 for the Rock Novo.
What is the cabin suitcase limit?
To avoid getting caught out and made to pay hefty fees, it's crucial to check out the airline's cabin luggage restrictions before you get to the airport.
Each airline has its own rules, and they can vary widely. On international flights, the cabin bag size is usually around 56 x 45 x 25cm.
However, budget airlines generally have tighter restrictions, with sizes dependent on your ticket class. Ryanair for example allows a free underseat bag measuring maximum 40 x 20 x 25cm, but you have to pay for a cabin bag (maximum size 55 x 40 x 20cm).
Easyjet allows a free underseat bag up to 45 x 36 x 20cm and a paid cabin bag up to 56 x 45 x 25cm.
Also check out cabin bag policy for British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Jet2.com.
How to measure a suitcase
Most manufacturers state the measurements of their suitcases online.
But if it’s an old case or an unusual shape, you might need to measure it yourself.
To start, place your suitcase in the upright position on a flat surface with any extendable handles tucked in.
Then measure from the flat surface to the top of the case (usually the handle) - this will give you the height of the case and it should include the wheels.
Then you just turn it on its side and repeat to get the width, and then lie it on its back to get the depth.
In all of the measurements, make sure to include any handles and wheels, as airlines count these towards the size of your bag.
What are the best suitcases?
Travelling can be stressful, especially when you have a to-do list as long as your arm and plenty to think about before you leave the house.
The best suitcase will be one that meets your individual needs, whether that's something big enough for the whole family for a 10-day trip abroad, or a cabin bag for short city breaks.
The best and most reliable brands to look out for include Away, Antler, Rock, Tripp, American Tourister, It Luggage and Samsonite.
Take a look at our guide above for inspiration.
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