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Carry-On and Personal Item Size by Airline

Updated October 7, 2026

Enter your bag's measurements to see which airlines take it as a personal item, which take it as a carry-on, and which side is too big. Every limit comes from the airline's own baggage page.

Bag size, with wheels and handles

Fits as a personal item at 3 of 11 airlines that publish a size, and as a carry-on at 15 of 15.

AirlinePersonal itemCarry-on
US airlines
AmericanPersonal item: FitsCarry-on: Fits
SouthwestPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits
DeltaPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits
FrontierPersonal item: FitsCarry-on: FitsCosts extra unless your bundle includes it
UnitedPersonal item: 1 in over on length (max 17 in); 4 in over on width (max 10 in)Carry-on: FitsNot in Basic Economy, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific
AllegiantPersonal item: FitsCarry-on: FitsCosts extra ($10 to $75)
JetBluePersonal item: 1 in over on length (max 17 in); 1 in over on width (max 13 in)Carry-on: Fits
AlaskaPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits
HawaiianPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits
Sun CountryUnderseat item: 1 in over on length (max 17 in); 1 in over on width (max 13 in)Overhead bag: FitsCosts extra
International airlines
RyanairSmall cabin bag: 5.7 cm over on length (max 40 cm); 5.6 cm over on width (max 30 cm)10kg cabin bag: FitsCosts extra (Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, Regular or Flexi Plus)
easyJetSmall under seat cabin bag: 0.7 cm over on length (max 45 cm)Large cabin bag: FitsCosts extra, or with easyJet Plus or an Inclusive Plus fare
British AirwaysHand bag: 2 in over on length (max 16 in); 2 in over on width (max 12 in); 2 in over on depth (max 6 in)Cabin bag: Fits
Air CanadaPersonal item: 1 in over on length (max 17 in); 1 in over on width (max 13 in); 2 in over on depth (max 6 in)Standard item: FitsNot in Economy Basic within North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
LufthansaPersonal item: 5.7 cm over on length (max 40 cm); 5.6 cm over on width (max 30 cm); 5.3 cm over on depth (max 15 cm)Carry-on: FitsNot in Economy Basic on short- and medium-haul flights

Your longest side is compared with each airline's longest limit, and so on. Weight is checked only where the airline publishes a limit. "No size published" means the bag just has to fit under the seat in front of you.

Carry-on size by airline

Most big US airlines allow a carry-on of 22 x 14 x 9 inches (about 56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels and handles. Southwest and Frontier allow 24 x 16 x 10 inches, and Sun Country 24 x 16 x 11. A bag no bigger than22 x 14 x 9 in fits the carry-on limit of every airline below.

AirlineCarry-on sizeWeight limitFree carry-on?
American22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 36 x 23 cm)None publishedAll fares, including Basic Economy
Southwest24 x 16 x 10 in(61 x 41 x 25 cm)None publishedAll fares
Delta22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 35 x 23 cm), 45 in (114 cm) totalNone publishedAll fares
Frontier24 x 16 x 10 in(61 x 41 x 25 cm)35 lb (15.9 kg)Costs extra unless your bundle includes it
United9 x 14 x 22 in(23 x 35 x 56 cm)None publishedNot in Basic Economy, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific
Allegiant10 x 16 x 22 in(25 x 40 x 55 cm)None publishedCosts extra ($10 to $75)
JetBlue22 x 14 x 9 in(55.88 x 35.56 x 22.86 cm)None publishedAll fares
Alaska22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 36 x 23 cm), 45 in (114 cm) totalNone publishedAll fares, including Saver
Hawaiian22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 36 x 23 cm), 45 in (114 cm) totalNone publishedAll fares, including Saver
Sun Country24 x 16 x 11 in(61 x 41 x 28 cm)35 lb (15.9 kg)Costs extra

Southwest, Frontier, Alaska, Hawaiian and Sun Country publish inches only; their cm figures are converted. Sizes include wheels and handles.

Personal item size by airline

A personal item goes under the seat in front of you, and every airline here lets you bring one free.American, Frontier and Allegiant allow the largest, 18 x 14 x 8 inches; United's 17 x 10 x 9 inches is the smallest. Southwest, Delta, Alaska and Hawaiian publish no personal item size at all: the bag just has to fit under the seat.

AirlinePersonal item sizeWeight limit
American18 x 14 x 8 in(45 x 35 x 20 cm)None published
SouthwestNot published; must fit under the seatNone published
DeltaNot published; must fit under the seatNone published
Frontier14 x 18 x 8 in(36 x 46 x 20 cm)35 lb (15.9 kg)
United9 x 10 x 17 in(22 x 25 x 43 cm)None published
Allegiant8 x 14 x 18 in(20 x 35 x 45 cm)None published
JetBlue17 x 13 x 8 in(43.2 x 33 x 20.32 cm)None published
AlaskaNot published; must fit under the seatNone published
HawaiianNot published; must fit under the seatNone published
Sun Country17 x 13 x 9 in(43 x 33 x 23 cm)None published

To be safe on any of these airlines, keep a personal item within 17 x 10 x 8 in (43 x 25 x 20 cm). That fits every published limit, including United's narrow 10-inch width and the 8-inch depth at American, Frontier, Allegiant and JetBlue.

Which fares include a carry-on?

  • Free on every fare: American, Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian. That includes American's Basic Economy and Alaska's and Hawaiian's Saver fares, though those board last, when bin space may be gone.
  • Not on the cheapest fare: United. United Basic Economy includes only a personal item, except on flights to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific.
  • Costs extra on the base fare: Frontier, Allegiant and Sun Country. Only the personal item is free. Frontier and Sun Country charge more for a carry-on at the airport than when you book, and Allegiant's price depends on the route and when you add it.

Is a backpack a personal item?

Yes, if it fits the airline's personal item size. Southwest, Delta, Frontier, United, Allegiant, JetBlue and Sun Country name a backpack or small backpack among their personal item examples. American's examples are a purse or small handbag, but its rule is a size: 18 x 14 x 8 inches.

Size is what counts. Frontier lists kids' backpacks as personal items but large backpacks as carry-on bags, which it charges for, and it checks personal item size at boarding. Measure your backpack packed, with the straps and any side bottles, and enter it in the checker above.

Do our travel backpack picks fit?

Measured by their makers and checked against the US airlines above:

BackpackSizePersonal item atCarry-on at
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45Lstandard (35L)22 x 13 x 9.5 in(56 x 33 x 24 cm)noneSouthwest, Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45Lexpanded (45L)22 x 13 x 11 in(56 x 33 x 29 cm)noneSun Country
Osprey Farpoint/Fairview Travel Daypackdetachable 15L daypack18.1 x 12.2 x 8.3 in(46 x 31 x 21 cm)noneall of them

The Peak Design's standard 9.5-inch depth is half an inch over the 9-inch limit at American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian, though it is a soft bag that can compress. Osprey's detachable daypack measures 18.1 x 12.2 x 8.3 inches, a fraction over the 18 x 14 x 8 inch personal item limit on paper; Osprey says the Farpoint 55 meets most domestic carry-on requirements with the daypack detached as your personal item. See our travel backpack picks for the full reviews.

International carry-on size

There is no single international size. The US airlines above publish one carry-on size for all their flights. The four European airlines below measure in centimeters first, three of them set a weight limit, and Ryanair, easyJet and Lufthansa sell fares that include only a small under-seat bag.

AirlinePersonal itemCarry-onCarry-on included?
Ryanair40 x 30 x 20 cm(15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 in)55 x 40 x 20 cm(21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 in), 10 kg (22 lb)Costs extra (Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, Regular or Flexi Plus)
easyJet45 x 36 x 20 cm(17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in), 15 kg (33 lb)56 x 45 x 25 cm(22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in), 15 kg (33 lb)Costs extra, or with easyJet Plus or an Inclusive Plus fare
British Airways40 x 30 x 15 cm(16 x 12 x 6 in)56 x 45 x 25 cm(22 x 18 x 10 in)All fares, including hand baggage only
Air Canada33 x 43 x 16 cm(13 x 17 x 6 in)23 x 40 x 55 cm(9 x 15.5 x 21.5 in)Not in Economy Basic within North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
Lufthansa40 x 30 x 15 cm(15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in)55 x 40 x 23 cm(21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 in), 8 kg (18 lb)Not in Economy Basic on short- and medium-haul flights

A bag built to the US 22 x 14 x 9 inch limit is about 56 x 36 x 23 cm. Here is how it does abroad:

  • Ryanair: too big for the 10kg cabin bag (0.9 cm over on length, 2.9 cm over on depth).
  • easyJet: fits the large cabin bag limit.
  • British Airways: fits the cabin bag limit.
  • Air Canada: too big for the standard item (0.5 in over on length).
  • Lufthansa: too big for the carry-on (0.9 cm over on length).

For a carry-on that fits all five, stay within 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Inches are converted where the airline publishes only centimeters.

Spirit Airlines personal item size

Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 2, 2026, so its bag rules no longer apply. Its last contract of carriage set the personal item at 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and the carry-on at 22 x 18 x 10 in (56 x 46 x 25 cm). A bag bought for Spirit's personal item limit matches the 18 x 14 x 8 inch limit at American, Frontier and Allegiant. A Spirit-size carry-on is another matter: its 18-inch width is more than any carry-on limit above allows (16 inches at most), so check it in the checker before you fly.

How to measure your bag

  1. Pack it first. Soft bags and expandable suitcases grow when full; measure the bag as you will carry it.
  2. Include wheels, handles and pockets. Every airline here counts them. Measure from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the retracted handle.
  3. Measure the three longest straight lines at the widest points, front to back included. Order doesn't matter: the checker lines up your longest side with the airline's longest limit.
  4. Expect a sizer. American, United, Delta, Alaska and Sun Country mention bag sizers at the airport, and Frontier checks bag size during boarding.

How this checker works

The checker sorts your three measurements from longest to shortest and compares each with the airline's limits sorted the same way, since a bag can go into a sizer any way round. Where an airline also caps the total of the three sides (Delta, Alaska and Hawaiian at 45 inches), it checks that too, and it checks weight only where a limit is published. Measure in the airline's own units (inches for US airlines, centimeters for the others) and your bag is compared with its exact figures. In the other unit, the checker uses the airline's own conversion where it publishes one, converts where it doesn't (1 inch = 2.54 cm), and allows 0.5 cm or 0.2 inch for rounding. Policies change often, so check your airline's page before you fly. Every limit here was checked on October 7, 2026.

Carry-on size by airline: full rules

Sources

Airline pages checked October 7, 2026.