9 Best Luggage Locks of 2026

The Master Lock 4688D ranks first because it pairs a $9.99 price with the most flexible fit of any combination lock here. Its braided steel shackle is 1-1/2 in (38 mm) long and 1/8 in (3 mm) thick, so it bends through zipper pulls that a short rigid shackle cannot reach, and the 1-3/16 in body comes in assorted colors that help you pick out your bag. You set your own three digit combination, so there is no key to lose, and Master Lock says the lock is recognized as TSA approved in 29 countries, which lets screeners open and relock it without damage. The trade-offs are clear on the spec sheet: three dials offer fewer combinations than the four-dial 4696D and 4691DWD, the price covers one lock only, and Master Lock's store ships only to the contiguous United States. Families who want several locks on one key should compare the 4689Q 4-pack. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the lock.

The Master Lock 4689Q is the value pick for groups: $23.99 buys four TSA-approved locks, about $6 per lock, the lowest unit price on this list. All four are keyed alike, so one key opens every bag, and Master Lock lists a 1 in (25 mm) metal body, a front access keyway and a steel shackle 9/16 in (14 mm) long and 1/8 in (3 mm) thick. The shrouded design covers most of the shackle, which Master Lock says minimizes exposure and protects against bolt cutter attacks, and the product page lists a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The drawbacks come with keys: if the key goes missing on a trip, every lock is affected, and the short shackle may not pass through chunky zipper pulls that the 4688D's flexible shackle handles. Master Lock also says each package holds locks of the same color. Travelers who would rather not carry a key should pick a combination model. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the locks.

The Safe Skies 3 Dial Aero TSA Recognized Lock matches the Master Lock 4688D on price at $9.99 and stands out for two published details: it weighs 1.22 oz (35 g), the lowest weight any brand lists here, and Safe Skies promises to replace it free of charge if TSA clips or damages it in transit. The lock measures 2.25 x 1.25 x 0.5 in, uses a 4 mm shackle and a resettable three dial combination with jumbo dials that Safe Skies says are easy to see and operate. It comes in nine colors, and a set of 2 costs $17.99. Safe Skies lists recognition by the US TSA plus security agencies in Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Australia and other countries. On the other side, three dials give fewer combinations than Master Lock's four-dial models, and the store does not publish the shackle length, so check fit against your zipper pulls. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the lock.

The Travelon Set of 2 TSA Accepted Cable Locks is the pick for anything a normal padlock will not fit. Travelon says the flexible cable can secure luggage that steel shackle locks cannot, naming Pelican cases, gun cases and equipment cases, and the set includes two Travel Sentry approved locks for $20, or $10 per lock. Each lock uses a set-your-own three digit combination with black number dials, an alloy metal body that measures 1.25 x 3.375 x 0.6 in, and weighs 0.11 lb according to the product page. Travelon says you can change the combination as many times as you want with a twist and push of the shackle, and its store lists 30-day returns. The cable is the trade-off: it is thinner than the shrouded steel shackle on the Master Lock 4689Q, and Travelon does not publish a warranty term for this lock. For standard suitcase zippers, a rigid or braided shackle lock costs about the same. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the locks.

The Master Lock 4684T is a straightforward 2-pack of set-your-own combination TSA locks for $21.99. Each lock has a 1-3/8 in (35 mm) body in bright colors that Master Lock says make luggage easy to identify, and a rigid shackle 3/4 in (19 mm) long and 1/8 in (3 mm) thick. Like the brand's other TSA models, Master Lock says it is recognized as TSA approved in 29 countries and that screeners can inspect and relock it without damage. It ranks below the 4688D because two of those single locks cost $19.98, slightly less than this pack, and the 4688D's braided shackle threads through more zipper pulls. The 4684T makes sense if you prefer the larger body and want both locks in one box, or if the 4688D colors you want are out of stock. Like other Master Lock store orders, it ships only to the contiguous United States. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the locks.

The Master Lock 4696D is built for gear rather than soft suitcases. Its extended reach shackle is 1-7/8 in (48 mm) long and 1/4 in (6 mm) thick, the longest rigid shackle and the thickest shackle of any lock here, and Master Lock says it fits around larger latches on equipment cases and travel gear. The four dial numeric combination gives 10,000 possibilities, ten times the 1,000 of a three-dial lock, and the metal body is 1-5/16 in (35 mm) wide. It is recognized as TSA approved in 29 countries, according to Master Lock, and the store offers it in 1-pack and 2-pack quantities from $14.99. For a regular suitcase the long shackle can be more than you need and the lock costs $5 more than the 4688D, which is why it ranks mid-table. If you fly with a hard case, tripod case or instrument case, it is the strongest match on this list. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the lock.

The Safe Skies TSA Accepted Brass Padlock is the cheapest single lock we found at $8.95, and a set of 2 costs $14.95. It has a rust-proof brass body that weighs 2 oz (56 g) and measures 1 x 2 x 0.5 in, a 4 mm shackle, and two keys in the box. Safe Skies says it will key padlocks alike if you request it in the comments box at checkout, which is useful for family trips, and it promises a free replacement if TSA clips or damages a Safe Skies lock during travel. The store also sells the padlock in many colors, plus 4-packs for $24.95. It ranks lower than the Aero and Master Lock models because a key is easy to misplace while traveling, the brass body is heavier than the 1.22 oz Aero, and the keyed-alike option depends on a checkout note rather than a listed product. If you dislike combinations and want the lowest price, it is the one to buy. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the lock.

The Travelon Set of 2 TSA Accepted Luggage Locks is a simple pair of Travel Sentry approved combination locks for $20, or $10 per lock. Each one has an alloy metal body, a steel shackle and black number dials, measures 1.25 x 2.5 x 0.6 in and weighs 0.13 lb, according to Travelon. You set your own three digit combination with a twist and push of the shackle and can change it as often as you like; Travelon says the locks also work on backpacks and gym or student lockers. Travelon's store lists 30-day returns. It ranks below the Travelon cable version and the Master Lock combination models because Travelon does not publish the shackle length or thickness, which makes it harder to judge fit against your zipper pulls, and no warranty term appears on the page. If you already shop Travelon for bags and want matching locks, it is a reasonable pair. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the locks.

The Master Lock 4691DWD replaces numbers with letters: you set your own word on four dials, which Master Lock says gives 10,000 possible combinations and makes the code easier to recall. A side window lets you see the dials while you set them. The body is 1-3/8 in (35 mm) wide with a shackle 3/4 in (19 mm) long and 1/8 in (3 mm) thick, and Master Lock says it is recognized globally as a TSA-approved lock, so screeners can open and relock it without damage. It ranks last on value: at $19.99 it is the most expensive single lock on this list and costs twice the $9.99 of the 4688D, which offers a flexible braided shackle, or about the price of Travelon's 2-pack. The word code is the real reason to buy it. If you forget number combinations, it solves that problem; if not, the four-dial numeric 4696D gives the same 10,000 combinations with a longer, thicker shackle for $14.99. We compared documented features and published prices and did not test the lock.