Choosing the best carry on bag for TUI starts with the allowance. TUI’s hand luggage allowance is 55×40×20cm and up to 10kg, and it stays the same whatever you’ve booked. Basic, Standard or Premium package, or a flight-only ticket, the size and weight limit does not change.
The question is which bag to buy for it. We’ve researched six of the best-reviewed carry-on bags on Amazon UK that fit inside TUI’s allowance, from a £50 budget suitcase to a £210 case built to last a decade. Three are wheeled hard-shell cases, one is a backpack, one is a fabric holdall, and one is a lightweight hard case built specifically for this size. Prices, ratings and stock were checked on 5 July 2026.
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Tourister Soundbox | 55×40×20/23cm | 2.6kg | 35.5/41L | £115 | Best overall |
| Amazon Basics Hard Shell | 55×40×20cm | 1.7kg | 33L | £50 | Best budget |
| Antler Stamford 2.0 | 54.1×40.2×20cm | 2.8kg | 37L | £210 | Best luxury |
| Osprey Farpoint 40 | Approx. 55×35×23cm | 1.6kg | 40L | £120 | Best backpack |
| Antler Essential Weekender | 40×48/64×20cm | 0.8kg | Approx. 30-50L | £80 | Best holdall |
| Cabin Max Anode | 55×40×20cm | 2.5kg | 40L | £55 | Best hard case |
Key: Green = fits TUI’s 55×40×20cm allowance with no caveats · Pink = fits, but only with a packing caveat (see review below)
TUI’s cabin bag allowance explained
TUI gives every passenger, on every fare, one cabin bag up to 55×40×20cm and 10kg, plus one personal item up to 40×30×20cm that fits under the seat in front. Both are included free. There are no fare tiers to check and no add-on to buy.
This is simpler than the free vs paid split used by Ryanair and easyJet, both of which charge extra for a cabin bag in the overhead locker on their cheapest fares. With TUI, every passenger boards with the same allowance regardless of price paid. See the official TUI luggage page and our own TUI baggage allowance guide for the hold luggage rules too. For a comparison with a similarly generous airline, see our Jet2 cabin bag guide.
All dimensions include wheels, handles and external pockets. TUI uses a physical sizer at the gate, so a bag that’s even slightly over in one dimension risks being sent to the hold at extra cost. Every bag in this guide fits within the official limit, though two need a bit of care when packing, covered in the reviews below. You can check any other airline’s limits on our hand luggage size guide for UK airlines or our airline luggage checker.
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American Tourister Soundbox Hand Luggage Suitcase
Best overall · 4.6★ · 9,900+ reviews
The Soundbox is the safest all-round choice for TUI’s hand luggage allowance. It measures 55×40×20cm unexpanded, exactly TUI’s cabin limit, and expands to 23cm deep for the flight home. The polypropylene shell flexes rather than cracks, which matters more than rigidity once baggage handlers are involved.
American Tourister is part of the Samsonite group, so build quality is a step up from budget brands without a premium price tag. Four spinner wheels and a weight of 2.6kg leave 7.4kg of your 10kg allowance for the contents.
Nearly 10,000 UK buyers rate it 4.6 out of 5. If you want one case that does the job without surprises, this is it.
Amazon Basics Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase
Best budget · 4.4★ · 61,000+ reviews
At under £50, this is the cheapest suitcase on this list that still gets the size right: 55×40×20cm, with no rounding up. It has over 61,000 ratings on Amazon UK, more than any other bag here, which says more about real-world durability than any marketing claim.
The ABS shell is lighter and less scratch-resistant than the polypropylene cases above, so it will show wear after a few years of hold-luggage duty. For occasional TUI trips, it does the job without the outlay.
Antler Stamford 2.0 Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase
Best luxury · 4.5★ · 80 reviews
Antler has made luggage in Britain since 1914, and the Stamford 2.0 is its case for people who want that to show. At 54.1×40.2×20cm, it sits comfortably within TUI’s allowance, and the polycarbonate shell comes with a lifetime warranty, a TSA lock and a lining made from recycled material.
It costs over four times the Amazon Basics case above for broadly the same size and function, so this is a buy for people who care how their luggage looks and holds up over a decade, not just this year’s holiday.
Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Pack
Best backpack · 4.4★ · 65 reviews
For travellers who want to walk onto a TUI flight rather than wheel a case down it, the Farpoint 40 is the benchmark backpack. It has a stowaway harness so the straps don’t snag on a carousel, a clamshell opening that lays flat like a suitcase, and a lifetime warranty from Osprey.
One thing worth knowing: packed full, the depth can bulge past TUI’s 20cm limit, so pack it firmly rather than loosely if you’re cutting it fine on gate measurements.
Antler Essential Weekender Bag
Best holdall · 4.8★ · 17 reviews
This is a proper fabric holdall, not a wheeled case with a strap, and it carries the highest rating of any bag on this list at 4.8 out of 5. It’s made from recycled ripstop, has a padded laptop sleeve, and a rear strap that slides over a suitcase handle.
The catch is its expandable length: compressed, it’s 48cm long and fits easily; opened out for a longer trip, it stretches to 64cm, past TUI’s 55cm limit. Keep it compressed for cabin use and it’s one of the best-built holdalls on Amazon UK.
Cabin Max Anode Cabin Suitcase
Best hard case · 4.6★ · 16,400+ reviews
Cabin Max built its name on exact-fit cabin luggage, and the Anode is its bestseller: 55×40×20cm precisely, with a built-in three-digit lock, eight spinner wheels and a separate wet pocket for shoes or a swimsuit.
Over 16,000 UK ratings average 4.6 out of 5, ahead of most suitcases twice the price. It won’t last as long as the Antler or Samsonite-group cases above, but for the price, it’s hard to fault.
The best carry on bag for TUI: our verdict
For most travellers, the American Tourister Soundbox is the safest all-round pick: an exact fit unexpanded, Samsonite-group build quality, and nearly 10,000 reviews at 4.6 stars. If price matters more than badge, the Amazon Basics Hard Shell gets the same dimensions right for under £50.
If you’d rather wear your allowance than wheel it, the Osprey Farpoint 40 is the pick, provided you pack it firmly. For a soft-sided option, the Antler Essential Weekender works well as long as it stays compressed. And if you want a cabin case built to last without the Antler price tag, the Cabin Max Anode’s 16,000+ reviews at 4.6 stars are hard to beat.
Frequently asked questions
What size is TUI’s cabin bag?
TUI allows one cabin bag up to 55×40×20cm and 10kg, plus one personal item up to 40×30×20cm that fits under the seat in front. Both are included free on every fare.
Can I take two bags on TUI?
Yes. TUI includes one cabin bag (55×40×20cm, 10kg) and one personal item (40×30×20cm) per passenger, both free on every fare. You do not need priority boarding or an upgrade for either.
Does TUI weigh cabin bags?
TUI enforces a 10kg limit on cabin bags, though gate staff check size more often than weight. None of the six bags in this guide weighs more than 2.8kg empty, leaving at least 7.2kg for your belongings.
Do I need priority boarding to take a cabin bag on TUI?
No. Unlike Ryanair, TUI does not require priority boarding or a paid upgrade for a cabin bag. Both the 55×40×20cm bag and the 40×30×20cm personal item are included free on every fare.
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.
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