The Ultimate Carry on Luggage Size Guide
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At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier. Our advice and recommendations are based on years of travel experience. We only recommend products that we use on our own travels.
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Getting past the ticketing agent, the gate agent, and the flight attendants can feel like running a gauntlet.
Will your bag fit? Will you have to check it, pay for it, and hope that it shows up at baggage claim?
We’ve all been there. That’s why you should travel with
The first step to traveling light is to learn the rules. The second step is to get the right carry on backpack.
Carry on luggage sizes and weights differ by airline, fare type, and region.
In this article, you’ll learn the rules: what qualifies as a
Pack for trips of one week or more without checking a bag.
- Thick comfortable straps
- Easy to organize
- Durable, waterproof fabric
- Backed by our Worldwide Warranty
What Counts as Carry On Luggage ?
Carry on luggage is the primary bag you bring onboard a plane and store in the overhead bin.
You may have a carry on in addition to checked luggage that you give to the airline and is carried in the plane’s cargo hold. Checked luggage costs extra, is a hassle to deal with, and frequently gets lost. At Tortuga, we believe in traveling light, which means carry-on-only. We won’t cover checked luggage in this article. Instead, we’ll assume that your
Lastly, a personal item is your secondary bag which you bring onboard the plane but store under the seat in front of you. Personal items include purses, laptop bags, totes, or anything else that can fit comfortably in the cube-shaped space under the seat. Personal items are bags, not suitcases. The rules for personal item sizes are even more confusing than those for carry ons.
Most airlines allow you to bring one
However, basic economy tickets are more restrictive. When flying on a basic economy fare, you aren’t allowed a
Carry On Luggage Sizes by Airline
The most common size for
Most airlines’ size limits are similar to these dimensions.
Some airlines only specify total linear dimensions, not individual dimensions. Some airlines allow larger bags. Some airlines are more restrictive.
Use the charts below to get started but always confirm the size guidance on your airline’s website before flying.
If you’re traveling on multiple airlines, use the strictest size guideline. If you’re flying on a budget airline expect them to be more serious about enforcing the size and weight limits.
If you’re planning to buy a new carry on bag, check the airlines that you fly most often and buy a bag that will fit on all of them. A 40L bag will fit on almost all airlines.
Below are tables of
Any discrepancies between measurements are due to converting between metric and imperial and rounding up or down to make the sizes as clear as possible. In some cases, airlines provide guidance in both measurement systems.
American Carry on Luggage Sizes
Airline | Carry On Size (in) | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Size (cm) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Aeromexico | 21.5 x 15.7 x 10 in | 22 lb¹ | 55 x 40 x 25 cm | 10 kg¹ |
Air Canada | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | Not specified | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Alaska Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Allegiant Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Avianca Airlines | 21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in | 22 lb | 55 x 35 x 25 cm | 10 kg |
American Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Delta Air Lines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 or 22 lb² | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 or 10 kg² |
Frontier Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in | 35 lb | 61 x 41 x 25 cm | 16 kg |
Hawaiian Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 25 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 11 kg |
JetBlue Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Southwest Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in | Not specified | 61 x 41 x 25 cm | Not specified |
Spirit Airlines | 22 x 18 x 10 in | Not specified | 56 x 46 x 25 cm | Not specified |
Sun Country Airlines | 24 x 16 x 11 in | 35 lb | 61 x 41 x 28 cm | 16 kg |
United Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
WestJet | 21 x 15 x 9 in | Not specified | 53 x 38 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Minimum | 21 x 13.5 x 9 in | 22 lb | 53 x 36 x 23 cm | 10 kg |
Maximum | 24 x 18 x 11 in | 35 lb | 61 x 46 x 28 cm | 16 kg |
Mode (most common) | 22 x 14 x 9 in | n/a | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | n/a |
¹ “[I]ncludes one piece of carry-on baggage and one personal item weighing a maximum of 10 kg (22 lb) between them (except on domestic flights)”
² “Singapore, Singapore – Changi International Airport (SIN) carry-on should not exceed 15 lbs. (7 kg); Beijing, China – Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requires that domestic hand carry bags should not exceed 10 kg. Individual carrier rules apply for international flights. Shanghai, China – Pudong International Airport (PVG) carry-on should not exceed 22lbs. (10 kg)”
European Carry on Luggage Sizes
Airline | Carry On Size (in) | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Size (cm) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Aer Lingus | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 24 cm | 10 kg |
Aeroflot | 80 in¹ | 51 lb | 203 cm¹ | 23 kg |
Air France | 21.5 x 14 x 10 in | 26 lb | 55 x 35 x 25 cm | 12 kg |
Alitalia | 21.5 x 14 x 8 in | 18 lb | 55 x 35 x 20 cm | 8 kg |
British Airways | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 51 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23 kg |
easyJet | 22 x 18 x 10 in | Not specified | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Not specified |
Iberia | 22 x 15.5 x 10 in | 22 lb | 56 x 40 x 25 cm | 10 kg |
Icelandair | 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg |
KLM | 21.5 x 14 x 10 in | 26 lb² | 55 x 35 x 25 cm | 12 kg² |
Lufthansa | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 18 lb | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg |
Norwegian Air Shuttle | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 22 lb² | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 10 kg² |
Ryanair | 21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg |
SAS Scandinavian Airlines | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 18 lb | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg |
Swiss Air Lines | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 18 lb | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg |
Turkish Airlines | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 18 lb | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg |
Vueling | 21.5 x 15.5 x 8 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg |
Minimum | 21.5 x 14 x 8 in | 18 lb | 55 x 35 x 20 cm | 8 kg |
Maximum | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 51 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23 kg |
Mode (most common) | 21.5 x 15.5 x 10 in | 18 or 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 25 cm | 8 or 10 kg |
¹ The sum of all three dimensions (length + width + height).
² The weight limit is for the combined weight of a
Asian Pacific Carry on Luggage Sizes
Airline | Carry On Size (in) | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Size (cm) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
AirAsia | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb¹ | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg¹ |
Air China | 21.5 x 16 x 8 in | 11 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 5 kg |
Air New Zealand | 46.5 in² | 15 lb | 118 cm² | 7 kg |
ANA | 21.5 x 16 x 10 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 25 cm | 10 kg |
Asiana Airlines | 21.5 x 16 x 8 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg |
Cathay Pacific | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
Cebu Pacific Air | 22 x 14 x 10 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
China Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
JAL (Japan Airlines) | 21.5 x 16 x 10 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 25 cm | 10 kg |
Jetstar | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
Korean Air | 21.5 x 16 x 8 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg |
Malaysia Airlines | Not specified | 15 lb | Not specified | 7 kg |
Philippine Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
Qantas | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Not specified | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Not specified |
Singapore Air | 45 in² | 15 lb | 115 cm² | 7 kg |
Thai Airways | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 15 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 7 kg |
Virgin Australia | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
Minimum | 21.5 x 14 x 8 in | 11 lb | 55 x 36 x 20 cm | 5 kg |
Maximum | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 22 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 10 kg |
Mode (most common) | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
¹ The weight limit is for the combined weight of a
² The sum of all three dimensions (length + width + height).
Middle Eastern Carry on Luggage Sizes
Airline | Carry On Size (in) | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Size (cm) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
El Al Israel Airlines | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 18 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 8 kg |
Emirates | 21.5 x 15 x 8 in | 15 lb | 55 x 38 x 20 cm | 7 kg |
Etihad Airways | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 15 lb | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
Saudia Airlines | 62 in¹ | 15 lb | 158 cm¹ | 7 kg |
Minimum | 21.5 x 14 x 8 in | 15 lb | 55 x 36 x 20 cm | 7 kg |
Maximum | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 18 lb | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 8 kg |
Mode (most common) | 22 x n/a x n/a in | 15 lb | 56 x n/a x n/a cm | 7 lb |
¹ The sum of all three dimensions (length + width + height).
Worldwide Carry on Luggage Sizes
Type | Carry On Size (in) | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Size (cm) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Minimum | 21 x 13.5 x 8 in | 11 lb | 53 x 35 x 20 cm | 5 kg |
Maximum | 24 x 18 x 11 in | 51 lb | 61 x 46 x 28 cm | 23 kg |
Median | 22 x 15.5 x 9 in | 18 lb | 56 x 40 x 23 cm | 8 kg |
Mode (most common) | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in | 22 lb | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 7 kg |
How Strict are Airlines About Carry On Sizes?
Every airline differs in how strictly it enforces its
Based on my years of travel experience, I recommend bringing a
Having a soft-sided bag that’s not 100% full will give you some flexibility if you’re asked to put your bag in the bag sizer (the cage next to your boarding gate). As long as your soft-sided bag isn’t totally full, you can smush it down a bit to fit.
Carrying a travel backpack, rather than a suitcase, will also help as gate agents are stricter with suitcases. You may have seen agents asking passengers to “gate check” suitcases on particularly full flights. They are unlikely to ask anyone to gate check a backpack because they’re lighter than almost all suitcases. We’ve found that to be a huge benefit of carrying Tortuga backpacks over the years.
Finally, don’t forget about weight. Most travelers focus on the size of their bag but ignore weight limits. Airline employees rarely weigh bags. I’ve never been asked to weigh my bag on a domestic flight. But I have had agents ask to weigh my backpack for an international flight. This has only happened to me when I had to check in or get my ticket at the desk. I’ve never had a bag weighed at the gate.
To be safe, don’t overpack your bag.
Buy a handheld luggage scale for $10-20, and weigh your bag after you’ve packed for your trip. Over time, you’ll develop a good sense of how much you can pack without going over any weight limits. If you avoid having to check your bag even once, the scale will have paid for itself.
Pack for trips of one week or more without checking a bag.
- Thick comfortable straps
- Easy to organize
- Durable, waterproof fabric
- Backed by our Worldwide Warranty
The Best Carry On Backpack
The right-size backpack can qualify as a carry on bag.
If you only or mostly fly domestically in the United States, a bag measuring 22 x 14 x 9? will work well. A 40L size will let you max out your packing without breaking any rules. Notice that in the Americas chart above, all of the airlines with more restrictive size limits—Aeromexico, Air Canada, and Avianca—are outside of the US.
If you travel internationally, choose a smaller bag that’s compliant in more regions and on more airlines so that you don’t have to check airline websites for every single flight you take. Paradoxically, you should choose a smaller bag if you take longer trips.
The Tortuga Travel Backpack comes in two sizes: 40L and 30L so that you can choose the right size for your travel style.
Personal Item Sizes
Personal item sizes are trickier than
The most important thing is that your personal item bag fits under the seat in front of you. As long as you can fit it under the seat for takeoff without your bag sticking out, you should be fine.
Read more about the differences between a carry on and a personal item. Then check out the full guide to personal item sizes to be sure that you’re compliant and have the right bag.
TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule
The final consideration for packing your
Here’s what the TSA allows:
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in a small bag and separating them from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.
Your liquids must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less. Those containers must be in one, quart-sized, resealable bag. A ziplock-style plastic bag works fine.
Any containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) must be packed in your checked luggage.
Keep these numbers in mind when buying toiletries. You can find carry-on-friendly versions of most products and brands. Watch out for products in small containers that are just slightly over the limit. I’m always surprised to find 4 ounce containers of toiletries. Those are close but not compliant.If you can’t find your favorite brands in 3.4 oz sizes, buy the larger size and squeeze some into a Gotoob—a refillable silicone bottle—for traveling.
Experts’ Advice on Traveling With Carry On Luggage Only
Opt for Neutrals and Fewer Shoes
Consider packing a wardrobe of mostly neutrals, or at the very least, colors that tend to go well together. This way, you can re-wear and mix-and-match your options so you can pack less overall. Also, you need fewer shoes than you think; a walking shoe, one elevated shoe, and one pool/beach shoe will do just fine.
Laura Ball, Luxury Travel Advisor, Bon Appetit Travels
Maximize Personal Item Allowance
Take advantage of that personal item! Most airlines have specific requirements and limitations on sizing and weight, but many allow for full-size duffel bags or large purses as your personal item, which can nearly double your storage capacity.
Plus, the age-old trick of “wearing your weight,” meaning wearing your heaviest or bulkiest clothing items and shoes on the plane, helps too!
Kaitlan Whitteberry, Luxury Travel Advisor, WHIT Travel
Use Packing Cubes for Organization
Packing cubes are a game-changer! If you are only traveling with
As a woman, I know that I personally always have to pack so many different kinds of items and a lot of them are small and thus get lost in the mix. Travel cubes, though, allow you to pack by keeping certain categories of items together, and then you can just pull the specific cube out that you are looking for and instantly have what you need.
Brittany Mendez, CMO, FloridaPanhandle.com
Adopt Practical Strategies for Family Travel
For planning family trips, my top tip for packing
Also, it is always a good idea to bring a foldable, reusable bag; it comes in handy for stashing souvenirs, snacks, or wet clothing during the trip. To save space, consider sharing toiletries among family members, or using your accommodation’s toiletries, if provided. Don’t forget to double-check the airline’s carry-on size and weight restrictions to avoid any surprises at the airport!
Catherine Dassopoulos, Travel Advisor, Catherine & Co
Conclusion
Staying carry-on-compliant can seem confusing at first. But the airlines aren’t as strict as you might imagine from the details on their website. Carrying a travel backpack that is small enough to fit every single airline and fare type is ideal but impractical.Instead, choose a bag that fits most airlines, pack light, and weigh your bag before you leave.