Last Updated: December 8, 2023
What Color Is Best For Luggage?
Not sure which color you should choose for your next luggage? This guide to the best colors for luggage might just help you make up your mind!
Let’s make one thing clear – there is no such thing as the best color for luggage. It’s all a matter of personal preference, and in the end, you should always go with a color that you like.
That being said, there are advantages to certain colors and designs, as well as colors you should avoid, and we’ll tell you all about them in this detailed guide!
Table Of Contents Show All
Most Common Luggage Colors
Black is by far the most common luggage color, followed by dark blues, grays, and browns. These colors are also most likely to get stolen, so I recommend going with brighter colors if you’re trying to pick out a new suitcase. And don’t worry if you already own a dark-colored bag – there are a bunch of ways to spruce it up and make it stand out, and I’ve covered them all in a later section of this guide.
Why Should You Get Luggage That Stands Out?
Here are two simple reasons to get luggage that stands out:
- Reduce theft
- Find your luggage more easily
- Be found more easily by friends or pick up services
Reduce Theft
Luggage that stands out is more easily noticeable on the luggage belt and less likely to be stolen. Thieves don’t often steal suitcases that are unique because they’re more likely to get caught with a bag that draws attention. Instead, thieves prefer to steal darker-colored luggage because there’s a lot of it, and most bags look very similar.
Find Your Luggage Easily
When you have a suitcase you can spot from a mile away, you can just casually stand back and wait for your brightly colored bag to appear on the carousel. I personally don’t see many bright yellow or pink suitcases on the luggage belt when I travel. So, if you own one, you can see it coming from a fair distance.
Be Found More Easily
If you’re meeting someone at the airport or at the destination it definitely helps to have a unique suitcase. They might not notice you, but if you’re the only person around with a neon orange suitcase, they will definitely notice your suitcase.
Grab Yourself Some More Colorful Luggage
What Color Luggage Is Best?
That depends on what you’re prioritizing in your luggage. Dark colors are great because they appear less dirty and stains are a lot less noticeable. However, darker colors like black, gray, and dark blue are the most common, so your luggage won’t stand out at all.
Lighter colors are much less common so your suitcase is most likely to stand out, meaning you will notice it on the luggage belt as soon as it shows up. On the other hand, stains and dirt are more visible on light-colored luggage, as well as any permanent scuffs and scratches.
Popular brands like Rimowa, Samsonite, and Away Luggage manufacture bags in a variety of different colors and unique prints, so you can easily find an excellent bag in virtually any color that exists. But go through their product range and you will see that they offer a wider variety of lighter and brighter colors than darks. This is because lighter colors stand out more, and they’re generally considered a little higher-end.
Build quality and performance should always take priority over the way the luggage looks, and it’s excellent that you can buy pretty and unique luggage without making any compromises on the quality of the bag.
Red is generally considered to be one of the best luggage colors, followed by bright neons – lime green, electric blue, bright pink, orange, etc. Prints are also great on luggage; not only do they stand out in the sea of black and brown bags, but they also hide stains and scuffs very well.
Grab Yourself Some More Colorful Luggage
Does Beige Luggage Get Dirty?
Yes, beige luggage gets dirty, but no more than any other luggage. The only problem is that dark stains and scuffs are more visible on beige luggage because they stand out against the light color. Also, any permanent scratches and scuffs will be more visible on beige luggage, so it won’t look brand new for too long.
At the same time, the fact that stains are more visible against the light background means that they’re easier to spot and clean. You might not notice the dirt on your black suitcase because it blends in with the dark background, so you could be dragging around a filthy suitcase without realizing it.
One thing I must point out is that you can always get a clear plastic cover for your luggage. The color is still visible so the bag remains easily noticeable, but at the same time, the exterior of the luggage is protected from stains, scuffs, and scratches.
Is Brown a Good Color for Luggage?
It is if you want a luggage color that hides stains and wear and tear well but not if you’re worried about your luggage getting stolen. Brown luggage is very common so it won’t stand out, plus it’s more likely to get stolen.
On the other hand, there are ways to make your brown luggage more unique so that no one would even think of stealing it. Decorate it with some stickers or put a brightly colored luggage cover over it, and you get the best of both worlds.
Is White a Good Color for Luggage?
White is a great color for luggage if you want a bag that stands out and isn’t likely to be stolen. White luggage is not very common, so your suitcase is more likely to stand out on the luggage belt in a sea of dark colors.
On the other hand, white isn’t a great color if you’re worried about your luggage getting dirty. Stains and scratches are more visible on brighter-colored luggage, and you can expect these to start showing up on the case after your first trip. It’s possible to protect the case with a luggage cover – get a see-through cover for the suitcase to showcase the beautiful color but keep the case clean and scratch-free.
When Should You Use a Black Luggage?
Black color is excellent for hiding signs of wear and tear, as well as stains. Black is a great color for carry-on luggage – you don’t have to worry about noticing it on the luggage belt, and since the bag won’t ever leave your sight, you don’t have to worry about it getting stolen.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with getting a black checked bag. If you’re worried about someone stealing it, you can just add pops of color with covers, belts, and even stickers. This will make the bag stand out so it’s more easily noticeable on the luggage belt, plus it will discourage thieves from attempting to steal it.
What Luggage Color Is Most Likely to be Stolen?
Black luggage is most likely to be stolen simply because there’s so much of it. Black luggage is by far the most common, so thieves can usually get away with picking up a black suitcase and walking away.
If you are seriously worried about your black suitcase getting stolen, you can do a few things to make it stand out more and discourage thieves from even considering stealing your luggage.
- Put stickers on it
- Spray paint it neon pink (or add some color)
- Put a really bright luggage cover on it
All of this will make your bag stand out quite a bit, which should immediately discourage thieves from attempting to steal it.
Other Things You Can Add to Make Your Luggage Stand Out
If you don’t really want to buy a new suitcase, there are plenty of things you can do to make your existing luggage stand out. Here’s a quick rundown of my favorite ways to make your existing suitcase more interesting!
Luggage Stickers
Luggage stickers are great if you want to make your bag stand out. Just get a bunch of stickers and place them all over your suitcase – it will immediately make your bag stand out, and it’s absolutely perfect if you’ve got darker-colored luggage and you’re worried about someone stealing it.
One thing to note is that stickers will work only for hardside luggage with a smooth shell. You can’t really put stickers on softshell luggage, and they won’t adhere quite as well to hardside bags with textured shells.
Luggage Tags
You don’t have to alter the appearance of your entire suitcase to make it stand out. Sometimes, it’s enough to put a brightly colored luggage tag on it, and you will immediately notice it’s your bag when it shows up on the luggage carousel.
Although most suitcases come with built-in luggage tags, it’s never a bad idea to add an additional one, especially if it will make your bag stand out. So, when picking out a luggage tag to add to your bag, make sure you choose something unique. A bright color or a distinguishable print should be easy to notice even when you’re far away.
SEE ALSO: WHAT TO PUT ON A LUGGAGE TAG
Luggage Belt
Adding a belt to your luggage is an expensive way of making your bag stand out. Choose a color that will stand out against the color of the bag, so that you immediately notice your suitcase when it shows up on the luggage carousel.
A luggage belt will also make your bag more secure, especially if you get a belt with a built-in lock. Not only does that make it much harder for someone to break into your suitcase, but it can also help in case of a zipper malfunction or other damage to the shell.
CHECK OUT our list of luggage straps & belts
Bright Luggage Cover
A luggage cover is probably the easiest way of making your dark-colored luggage stand out. If you’ve got a dark suitcase that you want to make more easily noticeable, just get a neon green luggage cover for it. It’s a cheap accessory and it’s available in a wide variety of colors and prints.
Another benefit of adding a luggage cover to your bag is that it will protect the shell of the suitcase from stains and scratches. It’s also easier to clean a luggage cover since you can just take it off the bag and throw it in the shower.
SEE OUR POST on Luggage Covers
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
