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Moving Abroad? How Many Suitcases You Need and How to Pack for a Relocation
October 23, 2026
Most people moving abroad fly with whatever their ticket allows, so the simple rule is one large 28 or 32 inch suitcase per traveler, plus one carry-on for the overhead bin each. That is also what most of our customers who relocate end up buying. Before you buy, check your ticket: how many checked bags are included, the weight allowance and the maximum total dimensions.
The rankings change, the question stays
Every few weeks a new ranking of the best places to move to comes out, and another one appeared this week. In InterNations' Expat Insider 2026 survey, published in the summer with nearly 8,000 foreign residents taking part, Panama came first for the third year in a row, ahead of Mexico and Thailand. In Rumavi's ranking, which looked at 192 countries by cost of living, safety, healthcare, taxes and employment, Estonia came first. But whichever destination you choose, flight day looks the same: you stand at the counter with everything that matters to you, in a few suitcases.
How many suitcases do you need?
Your ticket decides. Start with how many checked bags are included per traveler, and if you need more, add them in advance and check the price on the airline's website. This is what it looks like for families who buy from us for a relocation:
- One large suitcase per traveler (32 inches for those packing winter clothes and bedding, 28 inches for those packing heavier things).
- One 20 inch carry-on per traveler for the overhead bin, with everything that has to arrive with you: documents, medication, a laptop and clothes for the first few days.
- An extra checked suitcase only if it costs less than shipping the same things.
One customer who contacted us before her move, for example, asked for three or four 32 inch suitcases and five carry-ons. That is the usual scale for a family.
32 or 28 inches: weight and dimensions decide
Two numbers come up at almost every airline: 23 kg for a standard checked bag, and 158 cm for the total of length, width and height. Every 32 inch suitcase we sell is over 158 cm, so check in advance whether your airline charges extra for it. We explain this in detail in our guide to a light 32 inch suitcase and the 158 cm rule.
| Suitcase | Volume | Empty weight | Total dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator 32 inch (hard shell) | 120 liters | 4.9 kg | 168 cm |
| Cosmos DLX 32 inch (fabric, expandable) | 150 liters | 4.2 kg | 169 cm |
| Swiss System 32 inch (fabric) | 138 liters | 3.8 kg | 177 cm |
| Swiss Digital Feather Light 31 inch (fabric) | 120 liters | 2.3 kg | 153 cm (161 expanded) |
| Navigator 28 inch (hard shell) | 100 liters | 4.3 kg | 155 cm |
The dimensions include wheels and handles, as listed on the product pages. And the trick that matters more than size: a 32 inch suitcase is for big, light things, like blankets, coats, towels and winter clothes. Fill it with books and shoes and it passes 23 kg long before it is full. Put the heavy items in a smaller suitcase and spread them out.
Hard shell or fabric?
- Hard shell protects dishes, devices and fragile keepsakes better. The Navigator series is made of polypropylene and comes with a 10 year warranty on the shell, and 12 months on wheels, handles and zippers.
- Fabric weighs less for the same volume, squeezes a little when you close it, and some models expand. Every kilo the suitcase doesn't weigh is left for clothes.
Many families take a mix: one hard shell for the fragile things and fabric for the rest. Sets of a large suitcase and a carry-on save you choosing between models, and both series have them.
How to pack a whole life into a few suitcases
- Start with a list, not the closet. Decide what flies with you, what is shipped separately and what stays.
- Vacuum bags for winter clothes and bedding. They reduce volume, not weight, so they suit exactly the big, light items. We have vacuum compression bags and organizers, some with a built-in pump.
- Packing cubes by room or by family member. On the first day in the new apartment you open the kids' cube instead of searching through six suitcases. See packing cubes.
- Weigh at home. A simple hand scale saves you opening a suitcase at the counter. If you are already over the limit, we have a guide on what you pay for excess weight.
- Documents, medication and chargers only in the carry-on. A suitcase can be delayed, and in the first days in a new country there is no time to go looking.
- A luggage tag with an address in both countries and a phone number that works there.
Buying several suitcases together
Order a few weeks before the flight, so there is time to pack calmly and weigh every suitcase.
Products in this guide
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a 32 inch suitcase into the cabin?
No. A 32 inch suitcase is roughly 82 to 90 cm tall and goes in the hold. For the overhead bin you take a 20 inch carry-on, and every 20 inch carry-on we currently have in stock meets El Al's cabin dimensions of 56×45×25 cm (the weight allowance there is 8 kg, including what's inside).
For a relocation, is a set better than individual suitcases?
A set of a large suitcase and a carry-on suits you when each traveler needs exactly those two sizes. When the family needs several large ones and several carry-ons in different numbers, it is easier to choose each size separately.
How long before the flight should I buy?
A few weeks before. That gives you time to pack gradually, weigh every suitcase at home and decide what flies with you and what is shipped separately, without the pressure of the last few days.
What if the suitcase is damaged on the flight to the new place?
Damage caused while the airline handles your bag is the airline's responsibility. File a damage report at the airport before you leave the terminal, and photograph the suitcase, the bag tag and your boarding pass.
