Published 10 July 2026 | Updated 1 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
Looking for the best carry on bag for Norwegian? Every fare includes one free underseat bag up to 40x30x20cm, with a 10kg weight limit if that’s the only bag you’re bringing. A second, bigger cabin bag for the overhead locker, up to 55x40x23cm, is not included on the cheapest LowFare tickets, though it comes as standard on LowFare+ and Flex, or LowFare passengers can add it online for around £5 to £9, saving up to 50% compared with buying it at the airport. We’ve picked five bags below, three for the free underseat bag and two for the overhead bag.
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Manhattan 40x30x20cm Backpack
Best all-round backpack, 4.6★ · 1,449 reviews
The Manhattan is built to exactly 40x30x20cm, the size every Norwegian passenger gets for free under the seat in front. At 4.6 stars from more than 1,400 UK buyers, it has the track record to back the fit, which says more about how it holds up on real trips than any spec sheet. It’s made from twill polyester and weighs 0.5kg, with a 24 litre main compartment, a rear laptop compartment for devices up to 13 inches, and a rear strap that slides over a wheeled case handle if you’re checking a bag too. Compression straps keep the shape compact enough to avoid catching on Norwegian’s sizer.
For anyone who wants a single, no-fuss bag that fits Norwegian’s free allowance without spending on the overhead upgrade, this is the safest starting point.
Anode 24L TwinWheel Cabin Trolley Suitcase
Best wheeled option, 4.7★ · 2,945 reviews
If you’d rather wheel your underseat bag than carry it on your back, the Anode 24L is built to the same 40x30x20cm limit in a hard-sided trolley case instead of a backpack. At 1.9kg empty, there’s plenty of Norwegian’s 10kg allowance left over for what you actually pack. Two smooth-rolling wheels and a telescopic handle make it easy to pull through a terminal one-handed, and the shell holds its shape better under the seat than a soft-sided bag tends to once it’s been squashed in a few times.
It’s a genuine case, not a bag with wheels bolted on, and at 4.7 stars from nearly 3,000 UK buyers it’s a dependable pick for anyone who prefers rolling luggage.
Metz 40x30x20cm Underseat Backpack
Best budget backpack, 4.6★ · 1,742 reviews
At 0.6kg empty and £29.95, the Metz is the cheapest underseat bag here and one of the lightest, which matters most on Norwegian’s LowFare tickets where the underseat bag has its own strict 10kg cap with nothing else to fall back on. Every gram the empty bag doesn’t weigh is a gram you can pack instead. It’s made from 600D polyester, or recycled RPET on some colours, with compression straps to flatten the load, a side bottle holder and a hidden rear pocket for a passport or phone. A rear trolley strap lets it clip onto a wheeled case handle if you’re also checking a bag.
The 24 litre main compartment opens flat like a suitcase, which makes it big enough for a short trip.
| Bag | Max size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Under-seat bag | 40×30×20cm | Free Included |
| Overhead cabin bag | 55×40×23cm | Paid on LowFare Add-on |
Anode 55x40x20cm Cabin Suitcase, Built-In Lock
Best overall, 4.6★ · 4,753 reviews
If you’ve booked LowFare+ or Flex, or paid to add the overhead bag to a LowFare ticket, the Anode 55x40x20cm is the safest choice. It sits comfortably inside Norwegian’s 55x40x23cm limit, with 3cm to spare on depth, and holds 40 litres at 2.8kg empty. The hard ABS shell runs on eight spinner wheels rather than the usual four. A 3-digit combination lock is built in, and the interior includes a zipped divider, elasticated straps and a separate wet pocket for shoes or damp swimwear.
At 4.6 stars from over 4,700 UK buyers, it’s the one we’d buy first for the overhead upgrade.
Flight Knight 55x40x20cm Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase
Best value alternative, 4.6★ · 23 reviews
Flight Knight’s 55x40x20cm case is a cheaper way into the overhead allowance without giving up a hard shell. Like the Anode, it sits safely within Norwegian’s 55x40x23cm limit, and it weighs 2.7kg empty with 36 litres of capacity. It has four multi-directional spinner wheels, a three-step telescopic handle and a combination barrel padlock that secures the zip pulls together. The ABS shell is scratch and water resistant. It’s cheaper than the Anode, which makes it the pick if you only expect to use the overhead bag occasionally rather than on every Norwegian trip.
The best carry on bag for Norwegian: our verdict
For the free underseat bag, the Manhattan backpack is the safest pick, built to the free limit to the millimetre. If you’d rather wheel it, the Anode 24L trolley fits the same 40x30x20cm limit, and the Metz backpack is the cheaper choice at £29.95, at 0.6kg empty. For the overhead upgrade on LowFare+, Flex, or a paid LowFare add-on, the Anode 55x40x20cm is the safest choice, with more than 4,700 reviews, eight spinner wheels and a built-in lock. The Flight Knight does the same job for less if you only need the bigger bag occasionally.
“Norwegian’s free bag is genuinely free on every fare, but people booking LowFare often assume the bigger case comes with it. It doesn’t, and it’s cheaper to add it online before you travel than to find out at the gate.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 40×30×20cm | 0.5kg | 24L | £35 | Best all-round Under-seat bag |
| Anode 24L | 40×30×20cm | 1.9kg | 24L | £39.95 | Best wheeled option Under-seat bag |
| Metz | 40×30×20cm | 0.6kg | 24L | £29.95 | Best budget backpack Under-seat bag |
| Anode 40L | 55×40×20cm | 2.8kg | 40L | £54.95 | Best overall Overhead bag |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £42 | Best value alternative Overhead bag |
Norwegian’s cabin bag allowance explained
Every Norwegian passenger gets one free underseat bag up to 40x30x20cm, with a 10kg weight limit on the cheapest LowFare tickets. LowFare+ and Flex both add a second, bigger overhead cabin bag up to 55x40x23cm as standard, and LowFare passengers can add the same bag as a paid extra when booking or afterwards through My Norwegian. Once both bags are in play, the combined weight limit is 10kg on LowFare+ and 15kg on Flex. See our UK airline hand luggage comparison and Norwegian’s official hand baggage policy for full details.
Saving money on the overhead bag
All dimensions include handles and wheels. Norwegian’s own site advertises savings of up to 50% for booking extra baggage online rather than at the airport, so it’s worth adding the overhead bag in advance if you know you’ll need it. If you’re flying a different airline, our Vueling carry-on guide, Transavia carry-on guide, Ryanair carry-on guide and TUI carry-on guide cover the same ground for each airline’s own allowance. Packing sorted, it’s also worth knowing when Norwegian releases flights and when Norwegian has sales, so you can book the flight itself at the right time too.
Frequently asked questions
What size is Norwegian’s cabin bag?
Every Norwegian fare includes one free underseat bag up to 40x30x20cm. A bigger overhead cabin bag up to 55x40x23cm is included on LowFare+ and Flex fares, or can be added to a LowFare booking for around £5 to £9 online.
Can I take two bags on Norwegian?
Yes, if you’ve booked LowFare+ or Flex, or added the overhead cabin bag as a paid extra to a LowFare booking. LowFare on its own includes just the single 40x30x20cm underseat bag.
Does Norwegian weigh cabin bags?
Yes. LowFare’s underseat bag has its own 10kg limit. Once an overhead bag is added, LowFare+ passengers get a combined 10kg for both bags, while Flex passengers get a combined 15kg.
Do I need to pay extra for a bigger bag on Norwegian?
Only on a LowFare ticket. LowFare+ and Flex both include the overhead cabin bag as standard. On LowFare, adding it online in advance is cheaper than at the airport, Norwegian’s own site advertises savings of up to 50% for booking baggage online before check-in.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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