What Counts as a 'Large' Suitcase?

Updated 3 min read

Booking a vehicle category means guessing how your specific bags translate into whatever counting system is being used, and "large suitcase" isn't always an obvious line to draw. Here's how the classification actually works, in plain terms, so you can count your own luggage accurately before you choose a category.

It's simpler than it sounds: two sizes, one combined budget.

On this page
  1. Two sizes, one budget
  2. How to tell which is which
  3. Working out your total
  4. Awkwardly shaped items don't fit the count

Two sizes, one budget

Every vehicle category has one combined luggage budget rather than separate limits for big bags and small ones. A large checked case counts as two units, and a cabin-sized bag — the kind that fits airline carry-on limits — counts as one unit. You spend that budget however your bags are actually split between the two.

How to tell which is which

If a bag would need to be checked in on a flight rather than carried on, it's a large case for this purpose — roughly anything bigger than a standard airline cabin bag. A backpack, a small duffel, or an actual carry-on-sized case counts as a cabin bag. It's a simple visual judgement, not a precise measurement you need to carry a tape measure for.

Working out your total

Add up your large cases (each worth two units) and your cabin bags (each worth one unit) to get your total. Compare that to your chosen category's budget — Standard, Electric and Business offer 6 units with at most four pieces (2 large bags + 2 cabin bags, or 4 cabin bags), SUV / XL offers 10 with up to four large cases, and Minibus offers 18 with up to eight — and pick the category where your total comfortably fits, with a little room to spare if you're not entirely sure of your final count.

Awkwardly shaped items don't fit the count

Not everything you're carrying will fit neatly into large-versus-cabin — skis, a stroller, a musical instrument or a bike are shaped differently from a suitcase and need their own note rather than being squeezed into the unit count. If you're bringing anything like that alongside your normal cases, mention it separately so it's confirmed as fitting, on top of your regular luggage total.

What every Förare booking includes

The fixed price you see before booking is the price on your receipt — 6% VAT included, whole car, not per person.

  • Flight tracked — pickup follows your live arrival
  • 45 minutes free waiting, from your driver's confirmed arrival
  • No terminal fee
  • No surge pricing, ever
  • Free cancellation up to 12 hours

Questions people ask before booking

How many units does a large suitcase count as?

Two units. A cabin-sized bag — one that would fit as carry-on on a flight — counts as one unit.

What if I'm not sure whether my bag is 'large' or 'cabin'?

If it would need to be checked on a flight rather than carried on, count it as large. When in doubt, it's safer to round up.

How much luggage does each category hold?

Standard, Electric and Business hold a 6-unit budget, capped at 2 large bags + 2 cabin bags, or 4 cabin bags; SUV / XL holds 10 units with up to 4 large cases; Minibus holds 18 units with up to 8 large cases.

What happens if I show up with more bags than I booked for?

Let us know in advance if you can, through the notes field or by contacting us — we'd rather move you to a bigger category than have it be a problem at pickup.

Do backpacks count differently from other cabin bags?

No — a backpack counts as one unit, the same as any other bag that would fit as airline carry-on.

What about a medium-sized bag that isn't clearly either?

When a bag sits between the two, round up and count it as large — it's safer to overestimate your total than to arrive with more than your category can hold.

Does a heavy bag count differently from a light one of the same size?

No — the unit system is based on size, not weight, so a heavy and a light bag of similar size count the same way.

Book your Arlanda pickup

Enter the address and you will see the price for the whole car before anything is paid. No account needed.

  • One fixed price for the whole car, 6% VAT included, shown before you pay.
  • Choose the car by passengers and luggage — every category is priced before you choose.
  • Cancel free of charge more than 12 hours before pickup, refunded in full.

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