# Best TSA Luggage Locks Source: https://onebagpicks.com/best/best-tsa-luggage-locks Updated: 2026-09-15 Publisher: One Bag Picks. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://onebagpicks.com/how-we-research#our-score Be clear about what a TSA-approved lock is for. Every one of them has a secondary keyway that screening staff can open with a universal key, which means the lock cannot stop anyone holding that key or a copy of it, and the honest purpose is to deter opportunistic tampering and keep zips from working open in transit. It also stops a screener cutting the lock off, which is what happens to a non-approved padlock on a bag checked in the United States. With that understood, the first real choice is combination against keyed. Combination locks have nothing to lose and nothing to leave in a hotel room, and set-your-own models let you pick a number you will remember rather than carrying a printed code around. Keyed brass locks open faster and are sold in packs of four with matching keys, which suits several bags in a family but turns one lost key into several dead locks. The second choice is the shackle. A rigid steel loop is stronger and fits standard zip pulls, while a flexible braided cable threads through awkward pairs of pulls, a duffel's D-rings, or a zip and a fixed loop together, which is often the only way to secure a soft bag. Brass or plated bodies resist the corrosion that seizes cheap cases. Buying a matched multi-pack means one combination for everything. ## Picks ### 1. Master Lock 4688D Set Your Own Combination TSA Luggage Lock Our score: 8.1/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10) The Master Lock 4688D set-your-own combination TSA luggage lock, a simple, cheap lock for checked bags and backpacks. Pros: - TSA-accepted design lets security open it without cutting it off - Set your own combination, so there are no keys to lose on the road - Master Lock is a household name for reliable, affordable locks Cons: - Luggage locks deter casual theft but will not stop a determined thief - Small dials can be fiddly to set in low light or with cold fingers Details: https://onebagpicks.com/product/B000WO84Z2 ### 2. Master Lock 4683Q Brass Keyed TSA Luggage Locks 4 Pack Our score: 7.8/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10) Master Lock's 4683Q brass keyed TSA luggage locks 4 pack, a set of small keyed locks for multiple bags. Pros: - 4 pack covers a suitcase, backpack and daypack in one purchase - Keyed design is quicker to open than spinning combination dials - Brass body resists rust better than cheap painted metal locks Cons: - Keys can be lost, so pack a spare separately from your bags - Small keys and locks are easy to misplace in hostel lockers Details: https://onebagpicks.com/product/B000HWPJRU ### 3. Master Lock 4696T Combination TSA Luggage Lock 2 Pack Our score: 7.8/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10) The Master Lock 4696T combination TSA luggage lock 2 pack, a pair of flexible cable locks for zippers and lockers. Pros: - 2 pack secures two bags or a bag and a locker - Combination design means no keys to carry around - Extended reach steel shackle fits wider zipper pulls and case latches Cons: - Thin cable can be cut quickly with basic tools - Combination dials can shift if knocked in a bag Details: https://onebagpicks.com/product/B01BH5CVJO ### 4. TSA Approved Cable Luggage Locks Re-settable Combination Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10) A Forge TSA approved cable luggage lock set with re-settable combinations, a budget choice for backpacks and suitcases. Pros: - Re-settable combination lets you pick a code you will remember - Cable style threads easily through backpack zipper pulls - Very low price, so losing one on a trip is not a big deal Cons: - Generic listing, so lock quality and TSA compatibility are harder to verify - Budget cable locks are easy to cut and mostly act as a deterrent Details: https://onebagpicks.com/product/B07DPBCV79 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.