The 6 Best Luggage Tags of 2024

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Here’s everything to know about properly tagging your luggage — for safety and security.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang

On a two-week backpacking trip with a group of college classmates, I landed in Germany, made my way to baggage claim, and waited — and waited — for my suitcase to arrive. It didn’t show up for another three days, well into our trip, and with my one pair of jeans feeling particularly disgusting.

Today, more and more travelers opt for carry-on luggage due to increasingly frequent baggage delays and loss. Many people would rather pack lightly than risk having their vacation spoiled by the headache that comes with relocating lost items. However, checking a bag can sometimes still be a smart, if not inevitable, move, especially for long or international trips.

In 2023, delayed bags made up 77 percent of all mishandled bags, according to a 2024 study by aviation technology company SITA, while the proportion of bags delayed at transfer increased to 46 percent. But flyers can help get their lost or delayed suitcases back quickly by attaching a luggage tag with their name, email address, and phone number (in addition to the airline’s luggage sticker).

International travelers (who will likely go through at least one transfer) should also consider writing the address of their hotel or residence, so they can be quickly contacted and lost luggage can be redirected without delay. For those using a written luggage tag, you can add a temporary address by simply slipping your hotel’s information into the tag on a separate card atop your permanent one. It’s also a good idea to take a photo of your secure luggage and luggage tags before checking in. That way you have proof of what your bags look like to help you get compensation if the items don’t arrive, or arrive damaged.

For safety reasons, you should not include your home address on your luggage tag. For the most part, this information is unnecessary since the airline will contact you via phone or email to reunite you with any lost bags. Furthermore, adding your address to luggage tags could open you up to robbery while you’re away as many people could view this information once you’ve headed out on your travels. The best luggage tags also feature a security flap, so your personal information can’t be easily seen, or are smart tags where your data is stored electronically and only accessible by authorized users. You can even help out airport staff, and calm your own fears, by tracking your bags yourself using smart tags or luggage trackers.

As frequent fliers, Travel + Leisure editors know checked bag challenges all too well and we've invested in luggage tags to make it easy to identify and quickly reunite us with lost items so we’re never again stuck on vacation wearing the same outfit for days on end. From brightly colored to personalized luggage tags, these are the ones we recommend most for stylishly safeguarding personal information on a suitcase.

If you really want your luggage tag to stand out from the crowd, we recommend this personalized photo option from Nations Photo Lab. All you have to do is upload your favorite photo and add optional text, and then your luggage tag will arrive at your doorstep before embarking on your trip.

T+L’s associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker frequently travels with her dog via airplane, so she opted to print a headshot of her beloved Beau onto her luggage tag. “I like that this tag can have his face and name on the front and my name and contact info on the back. There’s room for several lines of text so I added his microchip number, too,” Parker shared. For keeping track of precious cargo, Parker appreciates the peace of mind that comes with attaching the customized tag to Beau’s carrier. She also thinks it makes a great personalized gift option for the traveler in your life.

Away’s pebbled leather luggage tag offers a stylish and secure way to add your information to a suitcase. The only way to access the personal information card is by unbuckling the tag (belt loop style) to open up the tag and reveal the written contents. This means that not just anyone can access personal details, so the extra layer of security is appreciated.

“This luggage tag is the very thing that prevented my checked bag getting lost on the way to Sint Maarten,” senior editor Jasmine Grant said. “Somehow the airline's baggage tag had accidentally ripped off on the conveyor belt, but thanks to my Away Luggage tag, the airline staff was able to call me while I was at my gate to confirm my destination before my luggage ended up in baggage purgatory.” Grant has used her tag for the last few years and it still looks as good as new — meaning it’s worth every penny for durability and security.

For travelers that bring multiple bags on a trip, this pack of luggage tags is perfect for one-and-done shopping — or four-and-done in this case. Senior writer Merrell Readman loves that the quartet of luggage tags come in bold shades like lime green and magenta to make it much easier to spot your luggage on the carousel. “This set of luggage tags stands apart thanks to the bright color selection that makes it easy to spot my neutral suitcase at baggage claim,” she said.

Similar to other luggage tags our team loves, these ones have multiple buckles that need to be open before accessing a phone number, email, or home address. “Each tag is designed to hide my personal information with just my name showing, which is essential to my peace of mind that other travelers don't have access to my address,” Readman said. For less than $12 for the pack, these are also a steal of a deal in our opinion.

It should be no surprise that your luggage is more likely to be mistakenly claimed by someone else if it looks like every other bag in the airport. When associate editor Anna Popp's black suitcase was taken off a carousel by another traveler, she did not enjoy the experience of chasing after a stranger to get her things back.

Now, with her bright Mark & Graham luggage tag, her suitcase actually stands out in an airport. Popp had her initials monogrammed on the front in massive blue and pink letters so she'll never have to worry about confronting strangers again (hopefully). She also loves how the privacy flap can’t be opened unless someone unbuckles the strap fully.

It’s easy to forget things on a packing list, so consider this duo of faux leather luggage tags on Amazon for a budget-friendly option with fast shipping for Prime members. With a whopping 28 colors to choose from, we love the endless options for both bold shades and muted tones — it might be hard to choose just one.

“At the last minute before a trip, I needed an affordable, brightly colored tag that would make my standard black suitcase pop at baggage claim. So I selected Amazon's best-selling luggage tag,” commerce director Suz Brickell said. “For $6, I received two sturdy, sleek faux leather tags with privacy flaps to keep my personal information secure from fellow travelers and adjustable straps to ensure they fit on any bag handle (rollers, duffels, and backpacks).”

Personal information is the last thing you want shared with the public eye, so this passport cover and luggage tag set from Béis is the solution to keeping important documents hidden on the go. The light pink shade is easy to spot on a suitcase or in your purse, and the clear pouch included is the perfect to store both of these accessories at home. The set also comes with a pen and pen holder so that if you forget to fill out your luggage tag, you can do it on the go.

“These luggage tag/passport holder sets from Béis are so popular, they've sold out in multiple colors. The set makes a great gift for a traveling friend — or an even better excuse to color-coordinate your own travel look,” senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero said. “Now, I'm tempted to buy the matching suitcase, too.”

It’s no secret that luggage can go through the wringer while traveling, which means luggage tags can also take a hit, too. Plastic, silicone, and metal luggage tags can ward off the elements but leather can also be just as durable and long-lasting if you take care of the material.

A luggage tag is no help to you if it falls off your bag in-transit. To avoid lost tags, be sure to select options that feature strong straps, clips, or other attachments. If you prefer a luggage tag that's more aesthetically pleasing (like leather options with delicate buckles), you can always reinforce the attachment with stainless steel loops to adds an extra layer of protection.

The bolder the color, the easier it could be to spot your luggage at baggage claim, and, of course, you can always opt for personalized luggage as well. Neutral colors are a perfectly acceptable option, too, especially customizable tags with initials or a photo on it. There are also luggage tags with unique patterns and prints if solid colors aren’t your favorite.

Opt for a luggage tag that comes with a removable card for adding or updating your information. If your tag only comes with one paper card and you need to change the information, you can always buy luggage tag inserts or DIY the insert with thick paper.

Your luggage tag should be attached to the handle or strap of your bag where it will be easy to spot. For a tag with adjustable straps, you should make sure it is pulled tight to minimize the risk of it getting snagged off.

It doesn’t hurt to have both a luggage tag on your suitcase and a tracker inside your bag. A tracker is the best way to find out where your luggage is in real-time, but a luggage tag ensures that someone else can contact you in the event your suitcase gets lost.

When you use any type of digital device for travel, you run the risk of it dying or getting damaged, which can be a huge issue if you’re solely relying on the device. A luggage tag will never run out of battery life and it’s a hassle-free way to get your information attached to a suitcase without having to invest in a digital device.

Taylor Fox is a commerce outdoor gear editor at Travel + Leisure, where she writes about and reviews travel products. She is also an avid traveler and uses research and her personal experience to select the best items for travelers. To put together this list of the best luggage tags, Taylor chatted with her colleagues to find out which tags come highly praised.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.