How to determine the size of a suitcase?
 

Hello, all, how do you measure a suitcase? From top to bottom, or like the size of a computer screen - diagonally? Opened or closed?

If my suitcase is 23 and 1/2 inches, does it mean it's 24" or 23" - how do you round it up?

And no, I'm not trolling, I am actually serious. I bought a suitcase, and don't know what size.

You generally round up. To determine if a suitcase meets your airline guidance get out the tape measure. Measure the top to bottom, across the top and the depth. (Front to back) add those up. With a 24" you are fine on most makor carriers (not sure about the budget airlines in Europe).

For airline sizing restrictions there's an even easier way: lie the suitcase down on its longest side. Take the tape measure and measure its "girth" all the way around.

No, I was not asking in regards to the airline restrictions. People here say: I traveled with a 22". A 24" is too large for Europe. Muffin travels with a 33". So I am just trying to figure our the size of mine.

So, it's top to bottom. And if there is a 1/2 of an inch I round up to the next inch, right? And I measure the closed suitcase to include the thickness of the sides?

Weight is much more important than size, for ease of travel around Europe.

Faina, practice pack your suitcase and put it on the bathroom scale. I like to keep mine 25 lbs. or less (20 - 24" is fine for the size).

if airline size restrictions aren't a concern, you only need to worry about two sizes.... if your stuff fits into it, it's the right size. if not, well... get another suitcase.

uuuhhhh, you are my type of person! for us the glass is not half-full or half-empty, just the wrong size ;)

Faina, one of my trips to Italy I took the exact same size suitcase I had always used but had it jammed with "stuff". Long story, will not bore you with the details.

Good grief, my SIL almost got a hernia lifting it. I can't believe KLM even excepted it for check in. And am sure my friends in Italy could have wrung my neck. I could not handle the suitcase at all.

Long story short. I have never again packed so much that I can't personally handle the suitcase. So do consider the weight, more important then the size.

Have fun planning the wonderful trip!

Thank you, all... now, reading the answers, I think I've picked the wrong English words for my question. Really, I only wanted to know how many inches my suitcase is, how to measure, so I can say: I travelled for this many days with this size of a suitcase.

how do you measure a suitcase?

Top to bottom, no diagonal, no half inches. How tall it is (assuming it is a rolling bag, from the wheels to the top of the bag) that is your suitcase size. You measure 23.5 inches, call it a 24" bag.

If you measure length and width use the larger number when desribing your bag side. For a visual go to:

http://www.londonluggage.com/luggage_size.htm