The bag that sailed onto your last United flight might get stopped at the gate in Doha. Carry-on rules look similar from a distance, but the details (a few centimeters here, a 7 kg weight limit there) are exactly what gate agents check. I pulled the current limits for 25 major airlines from their own baggage pages so you can compare them in one place.
Last checked against each airline’s official page: 4 November 2026. Airlines change these rules, sometimes by fare type, so tap the airline name to see its live page before you fly.
The quick answer
- In the US, 22 x 14 x 9 inches (about 56 x 36 x 23 cm) is the standard on American, Delta, United, Alaska and JetBlue. Southwest and Frontier allow a larger 24 x 16 x 10 inches.
- In Europe, most full-service airlines sit around 55 x 40 x 23 cm, often with an 8 to 12 kg weight limit. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Vueling only include a small under-seat bag for free.
- On Gulf and Asian long-haul carriers, the size is familiar, but the 7 kg weight limit is what catches people out.
- Every airline here counts wheels and handles in the measurement.
If you want one bag that works almost everywhere, look for something no bigger than 55 x 35 x 23 cm and weighing under 7 kg packed. That fits inside nearly every overhead limit on this list. Qatar Airways (50 cm tall) and Singapore Airlines (115 cm in total) are the main exceptions to watch.
US airlines
| Airline | Overhead carry-on | Weight limit | Personal item |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not stated | 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in) |
| Delta Air Lines | 56 x 35 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not stated | Must fit under the seat (no dimensions published) |
| United Airlines | 56 x 35 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not stated | 43 x 25 x 22 cm (17 x 10 x 9 in) |
| Southwest Airlines | 61 x 41 x 25 cm 24 x 16 x 10 in | Not stated | Must fit under the seat |
| Alaska Airlines | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not stated | Must fit under the seat |
| JetBlue | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | None | 43 x 33 x 20 cm (17 x 13 x 8 in) |
| Frontier Airlines | 61 x 41 x 25 cm 24 x 16 x 10 in | 16 kg (35 lb) | 46 x 36 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in) |
| Allegiant Air | 55 x 40 x 25 cm 22 x 16 x 10 in | Not stated | 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in) |
- American Airlines: Carry-on included on all fares listed on its carry-on page.
- Delta Air Lines: Also capped at 45 linear inches (114 cm). Small Delta Connection jets may only take personal items on board.
- United Airlines: Basic Economy gets a personal item only on most routes, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific.
- Southwest Airlines: Larger overhead limit than most US carriers. Measurements include wheels, handles and attachments.
- Alaska Airlines: One carry-on plus one personal item.
- JetBlue: Carry-on included on all fares.
- Frontier Airlines: Overhead bag is a paid extra unless your bundle includes it.
- Allegiant Air: Overhead bag is a paid extra.
One thing the table can’t show: on US airlines, the carry-on you’re allowed depends on your fare as much as the bag. United Basic Economy gets a personal item only on most routes, and Frontier and Allegiant charge for overhead bags. If you’re comparing fares, add the bag price before deciding which ticket is cheaper. Our United international bag guide goes through the fee side in more detail.
Canadian airlines
| Airline | Overhead carry-on | Weight limit | Personal item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 55 x 40 x 23 cm 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | No weight limit (must lift it yourself) | 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in) |
| WestJet | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | Light enough to lift unaided | 41 x 33 x 15 cm (16 x 13 x 6 in) |
- Air Canada: Economy Basic within Canada and to/from the US: personal item only.
- WestJet: UltraBasic: personal item only, except to/from Europe and Asia.
European airlines
| Airline | Overhead carry-on | Weight limit | Personal item |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 cm 22 x 18 x 10 in | No set limit (must lift it unassisted) | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in) |
| Lufthansa | 55 x 40 x 23 cm 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 8 kg | 40 x 30 x 15 cm |
| Air France | 55 x 35 x 25 cm 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in | 12 kg combined with the small bag | 40 x 30 x 15 cm |
| KLM | 55 x 35 x 25 cm 21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in | 12 kg combined with the accessory | 40 x 30 x 15 cm |
| Iberia | 56 x 40 x 25 cm 22 x 16 x 10 in | 10 kg | 40 x 30 x 15 cm |
| Virgin Atlantic | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | 10 kg | Not published separately for Economy |
| Turkish Airlines | 55 x 40 x 23 cm 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 8 kg | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (4 kg) |
| Ryanair | 55 x 40 x 20 (paid Priority only) cm 21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in | 10 kg | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (free, all fares) |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25 (paid or fare-included) cm 22 x 18 x 10 in | 15 kg | 45 x 36 x 20 cm (free, all fares) |
| Vueling | 55 x 40 x 20 (fare-dependent) cm 21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in | 10 kg | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (free) |
- British Airways: One of the most generous overhead sizes in Europe.
- Lufthansa: Economy Basic (European routes) includes the personal item only.
- Air France: Basic fares on some routes include the small bag only.
- KLM: Light fares within Europe include the accessory only.
- Iberia: Full flights may see overhead bags checked for free at the gate.
- Virgin Atlantic: Economy allows one hand bag.
- Turkish Airlines: Personal item has its own 4 kg limit.
- Ryanair: The free bag must fit under the seat; the overhead bag needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.
- easyJet: The large cabin bag is cheaper online than at the gate.
- Vueling: Overhead bag only with fares that include it or as an add-on.
Europe is where the “personal item” really matters. On Ryanair, easyJet and Vueling, the free bag has to fit under the seat, and the sizers at the gate are strict. If you’re flying a budget carrier with a fixed-size backpack, measure it fully packed, because a stuffed front pocket can add three or four centimeters. We cover the specific Ryanair question of shopping bags in Ryanair duty-free rules.
Middle East, Asia and Australia
| Airline | Overhead carry-on | Weight limit | Personal item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 55 x 38 x 22 cm 21.5 x 15 x 8.5 in | 7 kg | Small items such as a handbag or laptop bag (check route) |
| Qatar Airways | 50 x 37 x 25 cm 20 x 14.5 x 10 in | 7 kg | Small personal item (check route) |
| Singapore Airlines | 115 cm total (L+W+H) cm 45 in total in | 7 kg | 40 x 30 x 10 cm |
| Cathay Pacific | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | 7 kg | One small item |
| Qantas | 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 in | 7 kg (international Economy) | One small personal item |
- Emirates: Economy: one carry-on bag.
- Qatar Airways: A shorter bag than most. Many 22-inch roll-aboards are too tall.
- Singapore Airlines: Measured by total dimensions, not a fixed box.
- Cathay Pacific: Economy: one carry-on bag plus one small item.
- Qantas: Domestic rules differ slightly, so check your flight.
Special items
Garment bags and instruments have their own rules on some airlines. American lets a soft-sided garment bag of up to 51 inches in total stand in for your carry-on, which I cover in the American Airlines garment bag guide. United lets a small instrument travel as your carry-on if it fits in the bin, and the details are in flying United with a guitar.
If you just want a quick answer for one airline, the Airline Bag Rules Finder uses the same data as this page and links straight to each airline’s official rules.
Size vs weight: which one gets you stopped?
In the US, size is what gets enforced. Most US carriers don’t publish a weight limit for carry-ons at all, but bag sizers at the gate are common. Outside North America, weight is checked more often, especially on full flights and at airports in Asia and the Gulf. A 7 kg limit sounds generous until you add a laptop, chargers and a pair of shoes. Many hard-shell roll-aboards weigh 2.5 to 3.5 kg empty.
A small digital luggage scale is the cheapest fix I know. Weigh the bag after you pack, then move heavy things (a laptop, a camera, a power bank) into your personal item if that’s allowed.
𝑺𝒂𝒚 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒔: Avoid surprises at the check-in counter with high-precision measurements that keep your luggage within airline limits—save money and travel stress-free!
Compact and portable luggage scale, registers up to 80 lbs
PRECISE LUGGAGE WEIGHT SCALE: High-accuracy sensor reads in 0.02 lb / 10 g increments, with auto-lock holding the reading steady. This portable weighing scale for luggage helps you avoid overweight baggage fees before airport check-in.
Affiliate links: if you buy through these, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
How to measure your bag properly
- Pack it the way you’ll actually travel. Measurements on a product page are for an empty bag.
- Measure height including the wheels and the retracted handle.
- Measure depth at the widest point, including front pockets and any expansion zip.
- Compare it with the strictest airline on your whole itinerary, including connections on partner airlines. If your outbound is Delta and your return leg is on a European partner, the partner’s rules apply on that flight.
When the overhead bin is full
Even if your bag is within the limits, it can still be checked at the gate when a flight is full. Most airlines do this for free if your bag was within the rules. That’s why British Airways, for example, tells passengers to keep valuables, electronics and essential medicines out of the overhead bag and in the small bag that stays at your seat. Lithium batteries, power banks and e-cigarettes generally can’t go in the hold at all, so move them before you hand your bag over.
