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Southwest Airlines Carry-On and Personal Item Size

Checked against Southwest Airlines's baggage pages on October 7, 2026

Southwest Airlines allows a carry-on of up to 24 x 16 x 10 in (61 x 41 x 25 cm), including wheels and handles. Southwest Airlines publishes no personal item size: it just has to fit under the seat in front of you. Every Southwest fare includes the carry-on.

Bag size, with wheels and handles
AirlinePersonal itemCarry-on
SouthwestPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits
FrontierPersonal item: FitsCarry-on: FitsCosts extra unless your bundle includes it
AmericanPersonal item: FitsCarry-on: Fits
DeltaPersonal item: No size publishedCarry-on: Fits

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.

Southwest Airlines carry-on size

Inches24 x 16 x 10 in
Centimeters61 x 41 x 25 cm (converted)
OrderL x W x H
WeightNo limit published
Included?All fares

Southwest Airlines gives a roller bag or small suitcase as examples.

Southwest Airlines personal item size

Southwest Airlines doesn't publish a maximum personal item size. The rule is that it fits under the seat in front of you. If you want a number to shop by, 18 x 14 x 8 inches is the most generous published limit among US airlines, and 17 x 10 x 8 inches fits all of them; under-seat space varies by plane.

Personal item examples from Southwest Airlines: a purse (including crossbody bags), briefcase, laptop case, backpack, pillow, blanket or small camera.

Does Southwest Basic include a carry-on?

Yes.All fares.

  • Southwest's carry-on policy allows one carry-on bag and one personal item and lists no fare that excludes the carry-on, Basic fares included.

More Southwest carry-on rules

  • Wheels, handles and any attachments count toward the 24 x 16 x 10 inch limit.
  • Southwest gives examples for the personal item but no maximum size: it has to fit under the seat in front of you. Neck pillows don't count toward the limit.
  • A pet carrier counts as either your carry-on or your personal item.
  • If a bag is too large, or you have more than one carry-on or personal item, Southwest asks you to check it at the ticket counter before going to the gate.

Is a backpack a Southwest personal item?

Yes, if it fits: Southwest Airlines lists backpacks among its personal item examples. With no published size, a slim daypack that slides under the seat is the safe choice. Our travel backpack picks, by their makers' measurements:

BackpackAs personal itemAs carry-on
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45Lstandard (35L), 22 x 13 x 9.5 inNo size publishedFits
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45Lexpanded (45L), 22 x 13 x 11 inNo size published1 in over on depth (max 10 in)
Osprey Farpoint/Fairview Travel Daypackdetachable 15L daypack, 18.1 x 12.2 x 8.3 inNo size publishedFits

Southwest vs Frontier vs American vs Delta carry-on size

AirlinePersonal itemCarry-onFree carry-on?
SouthwestNot published24 x 16 x 10 in(61 x 41 x 25 cm)All fares
Frontier14 x 18 x 8 in(36 x 46 x 20 cm)24 x 16 x 10 in(61 x 41 x 25 cm)Costs extra unless your bundle includes it
American18 x 14 x 8 in(45 x 35 x 20 cm)22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 36 x 23 cm)All fares, including Basic Economy
DeltaNot published22 x 14 x 9 in(56 x 35 x 23 cm)All fares

Compare every airline, including international carriers, in the carry-on size checker.

Sources

Limits are from each airline's own pages, checked October 7, 2026. Airlines change bag rules often, so check before you fly. Conversions use 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Backpack sizes are from the manufacturers.