TSA-approved luggage locks are the global industry standard for travellers who take their security seriously. Having a TSA-approved lock means that approved agents worldwide can access and check your bags using a speciality key without having to destroy your lock in the process. It's a secure system that ensures your cases will remain locked and safe until you reach your destination.
There are many TSA locks to choose from, and while it's great to have plenty of options, making a decision can be difficult. That's why we've gathered this list of the best locks from top brands such as Master Lock, Anvil and Sure Lock. Whether you're looking for a suitcase lock, a combination lock, or an indiscreet small lock, you're sure to find something here. Best of all, they're all available to order online from stores such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of TSA-approved luggage locks available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Anvil | 2 ![]() Master Lock | 3 ![]() Sure Lock | 4 ![]() Travoce | 5 ![]() Master Lock | 6 ![]() OW-Travel | 7 ![]() OW-Travel | 8 ![]() Go Travel | 9 ![]() Pacsafe | 10 ![]() Diyife |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 4-Digit Combination Padlocks | TSA-Approved Padlocks With Keys | Cable Luggage Lock | TSA-Compatible Luggage Locks | 3-Digit Combi Locks | Two Cable Luggage Locks | Luggage Cable Lock | Combination Padlock | 3-Dial Double Cable Lock | TSA Luggage Locks |
Features | A Four-Digit Lock Made From Durable Zinc and Steel for Unrivalled Security | The Best Traditional Padlock With the Highest Security With a Miniature Clearance of 1.3 cm | The Versatile, Premium Cable Lock With a 4.4 cm Clearance to Put Your Mind at Ease | A 6-Pack Of Heavy-Duty Bright Orange Locks to Help Spot Your Bags | Colourful Combi Locks Featuring a Three-Digit Dial From a Dependable Brand | Two Mini Key Locks With Extended Cables Perfect for Multi-Zip Cases | Compact and Lightweight Key Lock With a Straight Cable and a Plastic End | A Strong, Single Shackle Padlock With a Three-Digit Dial in a Assortment of Colours | Double Cable Combination for Clever Locking, Perfect for Solo Travellers | A Simple Pair of Inexpensive Cable Locks With a High Vertical Clearance of 5.2 cm |
Price | £26.15 | £8.36 | £12.19 | £32.55 | £17.00 | £9.97 | £6.97 | £6.00 | £18.13 | £8.99 |
Type | Combination | Key | Combination | Key | Combination | Key | Key | Combination | Combination | Combination |
Fixing | Shackle padlock | Shackle padlock | Cable | Shackle padlock | Shackle padlock | Cable | Cable | Shackle padlock | Double cable | Cable |
Colour(s) | Black and white | - | Black and white | Black and white | Silver and black | - | - | Silver and black | Silver and black | Black and white |
Digits | 4 | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | 2 cm | 1.3 cm | 4.4 cm | - | 2 cm | 4.3 cm | Cable, 3cm | - | - | 5.2 cm |
Quantity | 2 | 2 | 1, multiple size options available | 1, 2, 4 or 6 available | 2 | 1 or 2 available | 1, 2 or 4 available | Single or pair available | 1 | 2 |
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Just like standard locks, TSA-approved luggage locks can, for the most part, be divided into two categories. The most traditional style is the padlock. With a key, you eliminate the risk of forgetting a lock's combination as well as the chance of anyone cracking the code without your permission.
Even though there is this risk involved, combination locks are still the most popular style for travellers the world over. This is because they do away with a key and the possibility of losing it, which for most people, outweighs the advantages that a traditional padlock offers.
It is, of course, entirely up to you and what you'd prefer based on your travel style. However, even if you go for a combi, it will still have a keyhole for TSA agents to open with their universal key, so if you do forget the code, they could help you get back in.
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Now that you've thought about whether you would prefer a combination or key lock, it's time to delve into the different ways in which it locks itself and, in turn, attaches to your luggage.
Featuring a solid steel shackle, padlocks are easily slipped into zippers and locked shut. However, while they're consistently regarded as being the strongest of all locks, they inherently lose out on versatility when compared to cable types.
Cable locks are popular for their manoeuvrability and will give you more choice in how you lock their luggage. Through their flexible steel cables, they can be bent and shaped in order to slip into zippers where the more rigid shackles simply cannot.
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If you've already decided on a combination lock, then the choice between three or four digits is a big one. Most of the TSA-approved combi locks come with three digits as standard, but looking out for one with that extra fourth digit may well be worth it, especially if you travel with valuable or expensive items.
Four-digit locks are more secure because they make it harder for potential thieves to crack the digit case. By implementing just one more digit into a lock, the possible combinations go from 999 to 10,000. This staggering advancement makes the chance of a thief getting your code right slim to none.
Another factor specific to combi locks is how easily read the numbers are. It used to be that pretty much all combination locks featured the same steel dial with black numbers, resulting in a grey wash of colours that were often hard to decipher.
Although plenty of locks still use this same style, some of the more premium locks come with a higher-contrast design that'll be much easier to work with. With a black painted dial and white painted numbers, these are ideal for anyone who wants their lock to be as easily and clearly read as possible.
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Referring to the height of the closed shackle or cable of a lock, the vertical clearance can be considered a very important measurement. Without factoring in the vertical clearance, you could end up buying a lock that, no matter how much you push and squeeze, is inadequately sized to fit your zip.
On the other hand, if you're travelling light, the clearance could also be so oversized that it swamps the zip and half of your bag. Plus, a bigger gap could make the lock easier to cut. If you'd prefer to swerve these possibilities, look out for compact locks with vertical clearances no more than 2 cm.
That being said, a benefit of a larger vertical clearance in the 3-4 cm range is that they have the potential to lock multiple zips shut at once. These kinds of vertical clearances are synonymous with cable locks, so be on the lookout for them if your cases have lots of zips.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£26.15
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Shackle padlock |
Colour(s) | Black and white |
Digits | 4 |
Vertical Clearance | 2 cm |
Quantity | 2 |
£8.36
Type | Key |
---|---|
Fixing | Shackle padlock |
Colour(s) | - |
Digits | - |
Vertical Clearance | 1.3 cm |
Quantity | 2 |
£12.19
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Cable |
Colour(s) | Black and white |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | 4.4 cm |
Quantity | 1, multiple size options available |
£32.55
Type | Key |
---|---|
Fixing | Shackle padlock |
Colour(s) | Black and white |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | - |
Quantity | 1, 2, 4 or 6 available |
£17.00
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Shackle padlock |
Colour(s) | Silver and black |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | 2 cm |
Quantity | 2 |
£9.97
Type | Key |
---|---|
Fixing | Cable |
Colour(s) | - |
Digits | - |
Vertical Clearance | 4.3 cm |
Quantity | 1 or 2 available |
£6.97
Type | Key |
---|---|
Fixing | Cable |
Colour(s) | - |
Digits | - |
Vertical Clearance | Cable, 3cm |
Quantity | 1, 2 or 4 available |
336
£6.00
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Shackle padlock |
Colour(s) | Silver and black |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | - |
Quantity | Single or pair available |
£18.13
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Double cable |
Colour(s) | Silver and black |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | - |
Quantity | 1 |
£8.99
Type | Combination |
---|---|
Fixing | Cable |
Colour(s) | Black and white |
Digits | 3 |
Vertical Clearance | 5.2 cm |
Quantity | 2 |
TSA-approved locks meet the requirements of the Transportation Safety Administration. Not only are TSA locks super secure, they're also accessible to authorised agents via a universal key, should they need to check your case. If you're looking for a TSA lock, check the product description and look out for the red diamond-shaped Travel Sentry logo.
Many TSA locks come with their own keys, which you can use to lock and unlock them. However, it is illegal to purchase a 'master key' that will allow you to open all TSA padlocks. These keys are accessible only to authorised agents.
Although they shouldn't be able to open a TSA lock, some skilled locksmiths may be able to, given some time. We don't recommend that you bank on this, though!
No. Like an ordinary padlock, every TSA lock has an individual key that you alone possess. However, an authorised agent can open any TSA lock using one of seven master keys.
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