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. It comes as standard on LowFare+ and Flex, or LowFare passengers can add it online for around £5 to £9, which Norwegian’s own site says can save up to 50% compared with buying it at the airport.
We’ve picked five bags that fit Norwegian’s allowance and pack well without cutting it fine. Three are built for the 40x30x20cm underseat bag every Norwegian passenger gets for free. Two are sized for the 55x40x23cm overhead bag, worth having if you’ve booked LowFare+ or Flex, or added it to a LowFare booking.
Manhattan 40x30x20cm Recycled Fabric Backpack
Most reviewed — 4.6★ · 16,000+ reviews
The Manhattan is built to exactly 40x30x20cm, the size every Norwegian passenger gets for free under the seat in front. With over 16,000 UK ratings, it’s the most reviewed bag in this guide by a wide margin, which says more about how it holds up on real trips than any spec sheet.
It’s made from recycled fabric with a 24 litre main compartment, a padded laptop sleeve, 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 — 4.6★ · 2,700+ 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 2.2kg 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 4.6 stars from nearly 3,000 UK buyers it’s a dependable pick for anyone who prefers rolling luggage.
Metz Recycled Polyester Underseat Backpack
Lightest option — 4.6★ · 1,500+ reviews
The Metz is the lightest bag in this guide, 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 recycled rPET polyester, 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.
Reviewers consistently mention how much the 24 litre main compartment holds once it’s unzipped flat, which makes it a genuine short-trip bag rather than just a token day pack.
| 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★ · 4,500+ 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, which makes it noticeably easier to steer one-handed through a busy terminal. A 3-digit combination lock is built into the zip pull, 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 4,500 UK buyers, it’s the most reviewed bag in this size on Amazon, and the one we’d buy first for the overhead upgrade.
Flight Knight 55x40x20cm Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase
Best value alternative — 4.6★
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.
At around £12 cheaper than the Anode, it’s 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 every fare includes, the Manhattan backpack is the safest all-round pick, with more UK reviews than any other bag in this guide. If you’d rather wheel it, the Anode 24L trolley fits the same 40x30x20cm limit, and the Metz backpack is the one to buy if every gram against Norwegian’s 10kg cap matters.
For the overhead upgrade on LowFare+, Flex, or a paid LowFare add-on, the Anode 55x40x20cm is the safest choice, with the most reviews and eight wheels for easy manoeuvring. 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 | Not stated | 24L | £30 | Most reviewed Under-seat bag |
| Anode 24L | 40×30×20cm | 2.2kg | 24L | £40 | Best wheeled option Under-seat bag |
| Metz | 40×30×20cm | Not stated | 24L | £30 | Lightest option Under-seat bag |
| Anode 55L | 55×40×20cm | 2.8kg | 40L | £55 | Best overall Overhead bag |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £40 | Best value alternative Overhead bag |
Norwegian’s cabin bag allowance explained
Every Norwegian passenger gets one free underseat bag up to 40x30x20cm. On the cheapest LowFare tickets, that’s the only cabin bag included, with a 10kg weight limit on its own. 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. It’s worth checking how Norwegian compares with the rest of the market on our UK airline hand luggage comparison. See Norwegian’s official hand baggage policy for full details.
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.
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.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
For more about how the site works, read:
