Cabin bag rules vary more than most travelers expect. Two airlines on the same route can differ by several centimeters and several kilos, and some low-cost carriers only include a small under-seat bag in the basic fare. Type an airline name or pick a region to see its standard economy cabin bag size, weight limit and personal item rule, with a link to the airline’s own page.
American Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in)
Carry-on included on all fares listed on its carry-on page.
Delta Air Lines
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 35 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- Must fit under the seat (no dimensions published)
Also capped at 45 linear inches (114 cm). Small Delta Connection jets may only take personal items on board.
United Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 35 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- 43 x 25 x 22 cm (17 x 10 x 9 in)
Basic Economy gets a personal item only on most routes, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific.
Southwest Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 61 x 41 x 25 cm24 x 16 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- Must fit under the seat
Larger overhead limit than most US carriers. Measurements include wheels, handles and attachments.
Alaska Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- Must fit under the seat
One carry-on plus one personal item.
JetBlue
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- None
- Personal item
- 43 x 33 x 20 cm (17 x 13 x 8 in)
Carry-on included on all fares.
Frontier Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 61 x 41 x 25 cm24 x 16 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- 16 kg (35 lb)
- Personal item
- 46 x 36 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in)
Overhead bag is a paid extra unless your bundle includes it.
Allegiant Air
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 25 cm22 x 16 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- Not stated
- Personal item
- 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in)
Overhead bag is a paid extra.
Air Canada
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 23 cm21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- No weight limit (must lift it yourself)
- Personal item
- 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in)
Economy Basic within Canada and to/from the US: personal item only.
WestJet
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- Light enough to lift unaided
- Personal item
- 41 x 33 x 15 cm (16 x 13 x 6 in)
UltraBasic: personal item only, except to/from Europe and Asia.
British Airways
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 45 x 25 cm22 x 18 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- No set limit (must lift it unassisted)
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in)
One of the most generous overhead sizes in Europe.
Lufthansa
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 23 cm21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- 8 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Economy Basic (European routes) includes the personal item only.
Air France
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 35 x 25 cm21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in
- Weight limit
- 12 kg combined with the small bag
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Basic fares on some routes include the small bag only.
KLM
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 35 x 25 cm21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- 12 kg combined with the accessory
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Light fares within Europe include the accessory only.
Iberia
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 40 x 25 cm22 x 16 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- 10 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Full flights may see overhead bags checked for free at the gate.
Virgin Atlantic
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- 10 kg
- Personal item
- Not published separately for Economy
Economy allows one hand bag.
Turkish Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 23 cm21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- 8 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm (4 kg)
Personal item has its own 4 kg limit.
Ryanair
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 20 cm (paid Priority only)21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in
- Weight limit
- 10 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 20 cm (free, all fares)
The free bag must fit under the seat; the overhead bag needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.
easyJet
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 45 x 25 cm (paid or fare-included)22 x 18 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- 15 kg
- Personal item
- 45 x 36 x 20 cm (free, all fares)
The large cabin bag is cheaper online than at the gate.
Vueling
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 40 x 20 cm (fare-dependent)21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in
- Weight limit
- 10 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 20 cm (free)
Overhead bag only with fares that include it or as an add-on.
Emirates
- Cabin bag
- 55 x 38 x 22 cm21.5 x 15 x 8.5 in
- Weight limit
- 7 kg
- Personal item
- Small items such as a handbag or laptop bag (check route)
Economy: one carry-on bag.
Qatar Airways
- Cabin bag
- 50 x 37 x 25 cm20 x 14.5 x 10 in
- Weight limit
- 7 kg
- Personal item
- Small personal item (check route)
A shorter bag than most. Many 22-inch roll-aboards are too tall.
Singapore Airlines
- Cabin bag
- 115 cm total (L+W+H)45 in total
- Weight limit
- 7 kg
- Personal item
- 40 x 30 x 10 cm
Measured by total dimensions, not a fixed box.
Cathay Pacific
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- 7 kg
- Personal item
- One small item
Economy: one carry-on bag plus one small item.
Qantas
- Cabin bag
- 56 x 36 x 23 cm22 x 14 x 9 in
- Weight limit
- 7 kg (international Economy)
- Personal item
- One small personal item
Domestic rules differ slightly, so check your flight.
Standard economy allowances, checked against each airline's own page in November 2026. Basic or light fares, regional aircraft and premium cabins can differ, and airlines change rules without much notice, so the airline's current page always wins.
How to read the results
Each result shows the airline’s standard economy cabin bag size, its weight limit where the airline sets one, and the personal item rule. Those are the standard allowances, so a cheaper fare on the same airline may include less. The carry-on size and weight limits comparison puts the same airlines in one table and notes where a basic fare drops the full-size bag.
If your trip has several airlines, plan around the smallest allowance on the itinerary. When that turns out to be a small under-seat bag, these carry-on only packing guides from travel bloggers show how people fit a week or more into one small bag.
Before you rely on these numbers
- Fare type matters. Basic, light or “saver” fares often include less than the standard allowance shown here.
- Size includes wheels and handles. Measure the bag as packed, not the size printed on the label.
- Connecting flights follow the strictest airline. If one leg is on a partner or regional carrier, check that airline too.
- Gate checks happen on full flights. Keep medicine, documents, chargers and valuables in the personal item.
If an airline’s own page and this table ever disagree, the airline’s page wins. Check it again in the week before you fly.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Spotted a change? Email [email protected].