The 15 Best Expandable Luggage Pieces of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Away’s Carry-on Flex suitcase offers just about everything we look for in a carry-on. It starts at a relatively compact size that tucks easily into an airplane overhead bin, but we had no problem fitting our entire packing list inside. If you want a little more room, it expands an extra 2.25 inches for up to 44.6 total liters of space. The clamshell opening reveals two main compartments, with one side featuring a compressional panel and straps, while you can zip the other side closed with its mesh cover. The compression panel has a zippered pocket on the front, and there is a small zippered pouch tucked in the opposite compartment. The zippers run smooth, and the bag is easy to open and close, even when it’s packed to the brim.

Weighing under 8 pounds, we found the carry-on easy to carry and maneuver. The wheels run smoothly on carpet, hard floor, and tile, and the handle distributed weight evenly regardless of how we pushed or pulled the bag. Although the polycarbonate shell is lightweight, it proved to be plenty durable after being thrown from a table and hit with a metal baseball bat. We did see a few scuffs (although the integrity of the bag wasn’t compromised) and would recommend a dark matte color if you want to preserve the aesthetic of the bag longer. Considering the versatility in size, high-quality design, and moderate price point, we think this is an excellent bag for most travelers.

The Details: Carry-on | 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2.25 inches | 7.9 pounds | 39.8 liters (unexpanded), 44.6 liters (expanded) | Polycarbonate

We’ve tested a lot of bags at T+L, and this suitcase from celebrity-owned brand Béis is one of the largest we’ve come across. With an impressive 112-liter capacity, we had enough room to fit our entire packing list twice over before we used the 2-inch expander. There are also plenty of organizational features inside, from zippered covers to compression straps, to help you keep everything in its place. Plus, it comes with two removable bags to store dirty laundry and shoes, and a built-in luggage scale — a cool feature found in most Béis luggage.

Although the bag is massive, it isn’t bulky or heavy and proved easy to move when packed full. It could easily get heavy considering the capacity and size, so we recommend keeping this in mind as you pack. That being said, features like a cushioned handle and smooth-rolling wheels make it simple to push and pull without too much effort. While this bag sustained zero dents or scratches during our durability tests, we noticed in the lab and during three months of real-world testing that it scuffs easily. We recommend buying a darker color to hide scuffs or using a damp cloth to wipe them away between trips. It comes in nearly a dozen neutral colors with limited-edition shades offered regularly.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 31.3 x 19.6 x 12.6 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 11.84 pounds | 112-liter capacity | Polycarbonate

If you prefer to travel with a softside bag, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Expandable Spinner is an excellent mid-size checked suitcase. It’s roomy without feeling bulky and expands 2.5 inches for a little more wiggle room with your packing list. Made from ballistic nylon, the exterior looks sleek but doesn’t compromise on durability — we threw it from a table and hit it with a bat repeatedly in our lab and it emerged without a scratch. We also love the strong aluminum handle and self-repairing YKK zippers that only get smoother over time.

This bag has some cool organizational features inside, including a built-in folding garment bag that was a little confusing to use at first but worth the effort. There are also a handful of zip pockets inside plus two front exterior pockets. This is a luxury bag with a price tag to reflect that, but we feel it’s worth the cost if you’re able to swing it.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 26 x 18 x 12 inches (unexpanded); 26 x 18 x 14.5 (expanded) | 12.5 pounds | 80-liter capacity (unexpanded), 97-liter capacity (expanded) | Ballistic nylon

While every expandable bag on this list is spacious, the July Carry-on Max takes the cake when it comes to useable space. It has a whopping 50-liter capacity before even using the expansion feature, which is quite large to begin with, but you can expand it to bring it to 62 liters of packing space, making it the most spacious carry-on on this list. But despite its size, it didn’t look much larger or feel heavier than a standard carry-on when we tested it, though the wheels were not as smooth rolling in all directions as smaller bags when packed full. We can also imagine that you may be forced to gate-check this bag on some airlines, and it may not fit in all overhead bins.

The organizational features inside are pretty standard and include a compression panel, buckle strap, and long pouch on one side, while the other side has no internal pockets but can be zippered shut. We would love to see a few more pockets but didn’t run into problems when packing because the capacity is so large. The handle runs smoothly and has 20 different adjustable heights, and there is an integrated TSA lock on top. We also appreciated that the carry-on comes with a packable tote with a luggage sleeve so it can sit on top of the suitcase. The suitcase feels high-quality and emerged from our durability tests with no dents or scratches.

The Details: Carry-on | 23 x 16 x 9 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 1.6 inches | 8.16 pounds | 50-liter capacity (unexpanded), 62-liter capacity (expanded) | Polycarbonate | Packable tote included

The Longchamp Le Pliage Travel Bag is one of our favorite weekender bags, offering the ability to increase from a 30-liter capacity to a 50-liter capacity by simply unzipping the middle. It fit everything on our four-day packing list with plenty of room to spare, and we never found it cumbersome to carry when packed full. Weighing under 2 pounds when empty, it can be folded down into a small square for easy storage. Despite this, the bag feels sturdy and well-made, and the nylon exterior is easy to wipe down to clean. The only downside of this bag is that it doesn’t have many organizational features, but that can be remedied by using a few packing cubes. Travelers can use the grab handles or detachable shoulder strap to carry. Longchamp bags are a splurge, but many T+L editors are fans of the brand and can attest to the longevity of its products.

The Details: Personal item | 17.7 x 13.8 x 9.1 inches (unexpanded) | 1.6 pounds | 30-liter capacity (unexpanded), 50-liter capacity (expanded) | Recycled polyamide canvas

For an expandable bag that’s a little easier on your wallet, you can’t go wrong with this hardside carry-on from Amazon Basics. We tested this one in our lab a second time recently to see if we loved it as much as we did when we first tested it two years ago, and we still believe it’s one of the best budget-friendly suitcases out there. The bag’s capacity is exceptional for a carry-on suitcase, and we were able to fit our entire packing list with room to spare without needing to expand it. Once expanded, the bag offers 2 more inches of space.

This bag has two internal compartments: one contains an X strap for keeping things in place, and the other has a mesh divider for organization that also has two small mesh pockets on top. The carry-on rolled smoothly during testing on various surfaces, although it did get scraped when going over a curb, so we wish the wheels were a bit taller. Other than that, it stood up well to our durability tests and didn’t scuff or dent after being hit with a baseball bat. Overall, we think it’s a great bag for travelers on a budget. “The organization, zippers, and closures are much more intuitive than some of the fancier suitcases we’ve tested,” says T+L Senior Editor Jasmine Grant.

The Details: Carry-on | 21.7 x 14.8 x 10 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 7.7 pounds | 41-liter capacity | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)

Travel trunks, known for their hefty size, don’t typically have an expander, making this one from Calpak stand out. It can expand 2 inches for even more space, making it ideal for long trips or packing for multiple people. It has a 50/50 split when opening, with compression straps on one side and a zippered cover on the other, as well as a variety of pockets and zippered sleeves inside for organizing smaller items — a feature you’ll see often in Calpak luggage. Although it’s large, we were able to easily roll and lift the trunk when it was packed full. The integrity of the bag stood up well to our durability tests, but we did notice some scuffing during three months of real flights (we traveled with the orchid color), so we recommend choosing a darker color to hide black marks.

“My favorite thing is how spacious it is, without being unnecessarily heavy,” says T+L Testing Editor Jackie Cucco, who has traveled with this trunk on several flights. “I am definitely an overpacker, and this trunk gave me plenty of room for all of my hiking gear, bulky boots, and even a puffer coat. I had to use the expansion on the way home to accommodate my shopping habit so that definitely came in handy, and I also love the pockets and zippered sections inside for organization.”

The Details: Checked suitcase | 31.5 x 15.5 x 12.75 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 12 pounds | 93.9-liter capacity | Polycarbonate

Even though it’s a hardside bag, the Monos Expandable Carry-on Pro features a padded front pocket that’s easily accessible without opening the entire suitcase — a feature that’s more commonly found on softside bags. We love that this pocket, which contains three smaller pockets inside, can fit laptops up to 16 inches, passports, and other essentials you might want easy access to while traveling through the airport. This special pocket eats into one side of the carry-on just a bit, but the expandable feature more than makes up for the space, taking the bag from a 35.5-liter capacity to a 41.5-liter capacity.

This carry-on opens like a clamshell, and you can zip one side shut with a mesh overlay that has a zippered pocket of its own. The other side of the bag has a small zippered pocket, two adjustable straps, and a removable compression panel to hold everything down. The carry-on comes with two shoe bags, a laundry bag, and a vegan leather luggage tag, which we thought were thoughtful additions that added to the overall value. Considering all the pockets, compartments, and added bags, we were impressed with the organizational features of this bag. It was easy to maneuver during testing even when packed full and rolled smoothly over various surfaces.

The Details: Carry-on | 22 x 14 x 10 inches (unexpanded), 22 x 14 x 11.6 inches (expanded) | Expands 1.6 inches | 8.6 pounds | 35.5-liter capacity (unexpanded), 41.5-liter capacity (expanded) | Polycarbonate

While most expandable suitcases use a zipper system, this 22-inch spinner from Briggs & Riley uses a button system for a unique take on the expandability feature. Inside the main compartment are two buttons that you can press to raise panels that create an additional 10 liters of space. Press the buttons again to lower the panels and take the bag back to its original size. We thought these were fun to use during testing and didn’t feel like the buttons took up a significant amount of space. We were also able to use this system to compress our bag after it was fully packed. “I could see how this would be easier than fussing with an expansion zipper that you have to get around the entire suitcase when pushing its capacity,” notes Senior Editor Lydia Price.

Expansion system aside, this is a spacious carry-on that’s ideal for long trips. This suitcase has one large compartment with a small pocket inside and a compression pad that holds everything down. With the expansion panels up, you could easily fit bulky items like boots in the main compartment without needing to shove anything down. We like the lightweight, sleek feel of the shell, although the very bottom of the luggage scratched when we rolled it over a cement curb. Other than that, we didn’t have any concerns about durability and think this is a great bag with a unique expansion option.

The Details: Carry-on | 22 x 14 x 9 inches (unexpanded), 22 x 14 x 11.25 inches (expanded) | Expands 10 liters | 8.6 pounds | 41-liter capacity (unexpanded), 51-liter capacity (expanded) | Recycled Polycarbonate, recycled polyester

We tested the Travelpro VersaPack+ Carry-on and Large Check-in Spinner and thought they made an excellent set for travelers who want expandable features in all of their bags. Both bags can expand by 2 inches, adding a significant amount of space for overpackers and anyone who likes to bring souvenirs home. Worried about keeping your things organized with all that extra space? No need. They come with multiple packing cubes, shoe bags, and laundry bags. This is all in addition to multiple interior pockets and compression straps, making it easy to keep everything in its place.

Both bags rolled smoothly over various terrains during testing and didn’t show any signs of damage after we hit them with a baseball bat. All zippers and handles also worked without issue. “The materials and bag itself seem superdurable, sturdy, and made of high-quality materials that are built to last,” said editor Sophie Mendel, who tested both bags. Overall, this is a great luggage set for organization enthusiasts.

The Details: Carry-on, checked suitcase | 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches (carry-on unexpanded), 30.75 x 18 x 13.25 inches (checked suitcase unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 7.7 pounds (carry-on), 10.9 pounds (checked suitcase) | Ballistic nylon

Antler is known for its sleek, lightweight luggage, and we love that this carry-on has the added bonus of being expandable. Weighing just over 6 pounds, we like that we can fill the fully expanded bag and not worry about going over weight restrictions (although we always recommend weighing your bag before flying just in case). This bag looks small, but it is mighty, and we had no problem fitting a 1-week packing list during testing. It feels remarkably compact considering it has almost 40 liters of packing space inside. You’ll find fairly standard organizational features, including a few small pockets and compression straps, but we would love to see a few more pockets to help keep things in place. However, the bag was easy to close when fully packed and rolled smoothly over carpet, tile, and cement. The handles, zippers, and straps all feel sturdy, and the bag itself stood up well to our durability tests, so we aren’t concerned about this breaking down midtrip.

The Details: Carry-on | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 6.17 pounds | 39.6-liter capacity | Polycarbonate

Weighing even less than our pick for the best lightweight carry-on above, the Antler Soft Stripe Large Softside Suitcase is a large option if you prefer to check a bag. Thanks to the expansion feature, it has a 105-liter packing capacity that you can take full advantage of thanks to its light weight. The bag has a flap-top opening, which means there is a single, deep main compartment that’s great for storing bulkier items like hats, boots, and gear. While there aren’t a ton of organizational features inside (just two zip pockets and compression straps), the bag is ideally shaped for packing cubes and travel pouches. There is also one exterior zippered pouch on the front.

Thanks to its weight, this bag is incredibly easy to roll around. T+L Associate Editorial Director Morgan Ashley Parker, who tested the bag, had no problems rolling this bag and several others (including an occupied pet carrier) by herself through the airport. After a recent trip to Barbados, Parker didn’t see a single scuff or mark on this bag, so we can also attest to its durability. The zippers run smoothly, and we like the sleek look of the suitcase, which we don’t always see on softside options. While the price is higher than some options on this list, we feel it’s worth every penny. “This is my preferred checked bag because it’s so lightweight, spacious, and easy to maneuver,” Parker says.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 31.9 x 18.3 x 12.2 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2 inches | 5.95 pounds | 105-liter capacity | Recycled polyester

It’s hard to find a decent bag under $200, making this one from Delsey Paris a remarkably good value considering its quality. It’s fairly short and doesn’t look like it holds much at first glance, but we found it wide and spacious inside and had no problem fitting a one-week packing list inside. It also expands to create up to 47 liters of space, which is on the higher end for a carry-on. The front laptop compartment is a handy feature that also has a flexible backing, which means you can choose to pack all of your belongings in the front pocket if you want, or pack more in the main cabin.

This suitcase opens like a clamshell and has two X straps on one side to hold everything down on one side and a mesh zippered cover on the other side. Each compartment also has a small pocket for organization. Inside the laptop compartment, you’ll find a laptop pouch plus two smaller pockets. There is also a charging cord inside the bag that leads to a USB connection on the outside, but we aren’t sure we would want to plug a portable charger into this spot because we think having the charging cord in the front pocket would make more sense. The wheels and zippers could have both worked more smoothly, but that wouldn’t deter us from traveling with it. We were very impressed with the durability of the bag, especially for the affordable price tag. We threw it from a table multiple times and never saw any damage, even to the laptop stored in the front pocket. Overall, this bag is a great option for travelers who want a small yet spacious carry-on that’s durable and not too expensive.

The Details: Carry-on | 21.75 x 13.75 x 9.75 inches (unexpanded) | Expands | 7.5 pounds | 47-liter capacity | Polycarbonate | USB charging port | Laptop pocket

The Bric’s Positano Expandable 27-inch Spinner will stand out wherever you go, with four blue and green hues to choose from, all inspired by the Italian Coast. We think this suitcase is the perfect medium-size checked bag, with enough space to effortlessly fit our packing list. If you want a little more space, the expander adds an additional 1.6 inches. The interior, which matches the color of the outside of the bag, is spacious with a panel divider on one side and a zippered cover on the other. We would love to see a few more pockets for organization, but this wasn’t a deal-breaker. The bag stood up well to our durability tests although it scuffed a bit on the glossy surface when we hit it with a baseball bat, but it does come with a stretchy luggage cover that we used when checked the bag during long-term testing, and it hasn’t gotten any more scuff marks after traveling with it from New York City to Denver and Las Vegas. Other luxe details, like leather grab handles and a leather logo on the front, tie everything together and make this feel like a bag worth splurging on.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 27 x 19 x 11 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 1.6 inches | 7.9 pounds | 83-liter capacity | Polycarbonate with leather details

Tumi bags certainly fall into the luxury category with price tags to match, but many T+L editors find the suitcases and bags to be worth the higher cost. That is the case with the Alpha Packing Case, which is spacious without feeling bulky or hard to handle. We were able to fit our entire packing list in just one side of the 50/50 split case, thanks to organizational details like multiple front pockets that are flexible when expanding. You can also use the zipper expander to add 2.5 inches of depth to the bag, which would offer enough space to share the bag with someone in your travel party.

Everything about this suitcase feels high-quality, from the ballistic nylon exterior to the smooth-rolling 360-degree wheels. The zippers and handle moved securely as well, and we saw no signs of damage to any part of the bag during our durability tests. It is a fairly heavy bag for its size, but we didn’t find it difficult to lift or maneuver in any way. If you’re willing and able to invest in a checked suitcase that should last for years to come, we think this is a great choice.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 29 x 20 x 13 inches (unexpanded) | Expands 2.5 inches | 17.2 pounds | 108-liter capacity | Ballistic nylon