Best travel pushchairs
Ranked by the two things that decide it in an airport: how much it weighs in your hand, and how small it folds. We also checked each one against real cabin allowances and 69 car boots.
The short version: it is not going in the overhead locker.
Only 4 of these clear even the roomiest cabin allowance, because the slimmest travel pushchairs are 44 to 45 cm wide and most airlines stop at 40 cm. Plan on gate check, which is free almost everywhere, and choose on weight instead.
Pick it once and every pushchair on this page tells you whether it fits your boot with the rear seats up and the parcel shelf in place. We remember your choice on the other guides too.
Ranked by weight
- 1.
- 2. Joolz Aer+
6 kg · folded 53.5 × 45 × 21.5 cm (21 × 18 × 8 in)
cabin size for easyJet, British Airways
- 3.
- 4.
- 5. Stokke (Babyzen) YOYO3
6.6 kg · folded 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20 × 17 × 7 in)
cabin size for easyJet, British Airways
- 6.
- 7.
- 8. Bugaboo Butterfly 2
7.3 kg · folded 55.5 × 44.8 × 24.5 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in)
cabin size for easyJet, British Airways
- 9. Cybex Coya
7.3 kg · folded 53.5 × 45 × 22 cm (21 × 18 × 9 in)
cabin size for easyJet, British Airways
- 10.
- 11.
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
- 15.
Cabin allowances we checked against
| Airline | Overhead bag | Note | Pushchairs that fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| easyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | large cabin bag, paid or Plus | 4 |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | included in most fares | 4 |
| Ryanair | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | only with Priority | none |
| Jet2 / TUI / Wizz | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | typical overhead size | none |
Airlines change these. Check with your carrier before you fly; a pushchair taken into the cabin replaces your own cabin bag.
Some retailer links are affiliate links. The order of this page comes from measured weight and folded size, not from commission.
Frequently asked
Can I take a pushchair into the aircraft cabin?+
Rarely. Of the compact pushchairs we hold, only 4 clear even the most generous cabin allowance (56 × 45 × 25 cm at easyJet and British Airways). Most airlines allow 55 × 40 cm, and the slimmest travel pushchairs are still 44 to 45 cm wide, so they fail on that one axis. It matters less than it sounds, because nearly every airline takes a folded pushchair free of charge at the gate.
What weight should I look for?+
Under 7 kg is the line worth holding. You carry it up the aircraft steps with a child on your other arm, and every extra kilo is felt. Below 6 kg usually means giving up a proper recline, which matters if your child still naps in the pushchair.
Is a travel pushchair worth it as a second buggy?+
If you fly more than once or twice a year, yes. If you mostly want something for the boot of a small car, look at the compact end of the main pushchair list instead — you get a better seat for the same folded size, because you are not paying for cabin-legal dimensions you will never use.
What is gate check?+
You keep the pushchair through the airport, fold it at the aircraft steps and the crew stow it in the hold. It is free almost everywhere and is the sensible default. Where you get it back — at the aircraft door or on the belt — varies by airport, so ask when you board.