Your Guide to Carry On Weight Limits (and How Not to Exceed Them)

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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.
As long as everything fits in a
Everyone knows about carry on size limits. But airlines have
You can easily overstuff a carry-on-sized bag. The weight of a laptop, book, and an extra pair of shoes adds up quickly.
Airlines’
The most common weight limits are 15 lb (6.8 kg), 18 lb (8 kg), and 22 lb (10kg), but you should always check with your airline before flying.
In this article, we’ll outline the

Carry On Luggage Size Guides
First, the basics. Your
A personal item is the secondary bag that you bring onto the plane and store under the seat in front of you. Personal items include purses, laptop bags, messenger bags, totes, or anything else that can fit comfortably in the space under the seat. The rules for personal item sizes are even more confusing than those for carry ons, so use the size guide below for reference. Note that most airlines don’t specify weight limits for personal items, so we won’t be covering those in this post.
Pack everything you need without checking a bag.
- Carry-on-sized
- Easy to pack
- Comfortable to carry
- Built to last
The Best Carry-On-Sized Backpack
The Travel Backpack by Tortuga was designed with airline
Whether you pack light or load it up, you’ll be able to carry an
Carry On Luggage Weight Limit by Airline
Carry on weight limits vary by airline and sometimes change without warning. Be sure to check the baggage restrictions for your specific airline before you fly. This is particularly important if you fly a budget airline or book a discount ticket through a major airline.
If you’re flying a North American airline and you choose to book a low-cost, basic economy fare, pay attention to the change in baggage allowance. That’s often where they get you at the last minute and slap you with an unexpected (and high) baggage fee at the gate.
American Carry On Luggage Weight Limit
Airline | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Aeromexico | 22 lb¹ | 10 kg¹ |
Air Canada | Not specified | Not specified |
Alaska Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Allegiant Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Avianca Airlines | 22 lb | 10 kg |
American Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Delta Air Lines | 15 or 22 lb² | 7 or 10 kg² |
Frontier Airlines | 35 lb | 16 kg |
Hawaiian Airlines | 25 lb | 11 kg |
JetBlue Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Southwest Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Spirit Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
Sun Country Airlines | 35 lb | 16 kg |
United Airlines | Not specified | Not specified |
WestJet | Not specified | Not specified |
Minimum | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Maximum | 35 lb | 16 kg |
Mode (most common) | 22 lb | 10 kg |
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)”
Pack everything you need without checking a bag.
- Carry-on-sized
- Easy to pack
- Comfortable to carry
- Built to last
European Carry On Luggage Weight Limit
Airline | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Aer Lingus | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Aeroflot | 51 lb | 23 kg |
Air France | 26 lb | 12 kg |
Alitalia | 18 lb | 8 kg |
British Airways | 51 lb | 23 kg |
easyJet | Not specified | Not specified |
Iberia | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Icelandair | 22 lb | 10 kg |
KLM | 26 lb¹ | 12 kg¹ |
Lufthansa | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Norwegian Air Shuttle | 22 lb¹ | 10 kg¹ |
Ryanair | 22 lb | 10 kg |
SAS Scandinavian Airlines | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Swiss Air Lines | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Turkish Airlines | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Vueling | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Minimum | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Maximum | 51 lb | 23 kg |
Mode (most common) | 18 or 22 lb | 8 or 10 kg |
¹ The weight limit is for the combined weight of a
Asian Pacific Carry On Luggage Weight Limit
Airline | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
AirAsia | 15 lb¹ | 7 kg¹ |
Air China | 11 lb | 5 kg |
Air New Zealand | 15 lb | 7 kg |
ANA | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Asiana Airlines | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Cathay Pacific | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Cebu Pacific Air | Not specified | Not specified |
China Airlines | 15 lb | 7 kg |
JAL (Japan Airlines) | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Jetstar | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Korean Air | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Malaysia Airlines | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Philippine Airlines | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Qantas | Not specified | Not specified |
Singapore Air | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Thai Airways | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Virgin Australia | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Minimum | 11 lb | 5 kg |
Maximum | 22 lb | 10 kg |
Mode (most common) | 15 lb | 7 kg |
¹ The weight limit is for the combined weight of a
Middle Eastern Carry On Luggage Weight Limit
Airline | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
El Al Israel Airlines | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Emirates | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Etihad Airways | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Saudia Airlines | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Minimum | 15 lb | 7 kg |
Maximum | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Mode (most common) | 15 lb | 7 lb |
Worldwide Carry On Luggage Weight Limit
Type | Carry On Weight (lb) | Carry On Weight (kg) |
Minimum | 11 lb | 5 kg |
Maximum | 51 lb | 23 kg |
Median | 18 lb | 8 kg |
Mode (most common) | 22 lb | 7 kg |
How to Stay Within Carry On Luggage Weight Limits
Carry Lightweight Luggage
Don’t forget your backpack’s weight. Before you pack anything, you’re already carrying a few pounds.
Start by carrying a bag that weighs 20% or less of your airline’s weight limit. Look for travel backpacks that weigh 4.4 lb at the most. That’s 20% of the common 22 lb weight limit. Lighter is better as long as you aren’t sacrificing quality, durability, or comfort.
This rule will exclude most wheeled suitcases and wheeled backpacks. The plastic wheels and handles use up too much of your weight allowance.
Wheeled, hybrid backpacks are lighter than suitcases but still weigh 4.5-8.5 lb (2-4 kg).
You would be wasting 20-40% of your
Get a Luggage Scale
Buy a scale so that you aren’t playing luggage roulette. Show up to the airport knowing exactly how much your luggage weighs. Don’t wait for the ticketing agent to tell you it’s overweight and has to be checked.
With a luggage scale, you can weigh your bag as you’re packing so you know if you need to make any changes.
I use a $20 Balanzza digital luggage scale so that I can accurately weigh our backpack samples during product development. But any cheap luggage scale on Amazon should work well enough for most travelers.
Buying the scale is cheaper than checking a bag once. It will more than pay for itself every time you fly.
That’s a great return on investment.
Wear Your Heaviest Clothes
If it’s heavy, wear it. Don’t pack it.
Wear your heaviest clothes onto the plane, even if you aren’t cold. Wear your coat then stash it in the overhead bin. If you pack your coat, it counts against your weight allowance. If you wear your coat, it doesn’t.
The same rule applies to shoes. Wear the heaviest pair of shoes that you’re bringing.
Wear your boots; pack your sandals.
Depending on where you’re traveling from and to, you might look silly all bundled up on the plane. Don’t worry. Most people dress for their flight like they’re going to a sleepover. No one will notice what you’re wearing.
Leave It Behind
You’ll find that some absolute must-haves are easier to buy when you land than to carry with you. Toiletries, for example. You can find all the basics that you need at your destination.
You don’t need to pack extra socks and underwear on longer trips. Find a local laundromat or wash-and-fold, or use a sink or bath tub. Washing clothes is cheaper than checking luggage.
I had a week’s worth of clothes laundered for me in notoriously expensive Hong Kong. The price: $3.87. Or you could spend $25 to check a bag and lug around more clothes. Your call.
Swap Out Heavy Items for Lighter Ones
Reducing weight doesn’t always have to mean subtracting gear. You can also substitute lighter alternatives.
Take a second look at your packing list.
What can you swap out for a lighter-weight alternative?
Swap out a book for a Kindle.
Swap out your laptop for a tablet. Or a smartphone. Or nothing.
You should already be wearing your heaviest shoes, like boots or sneakers. If you’re packing a second pair, bring the lightest ones you have.
Distribute Weight in Your Personal Item
Your personal item should be a purse, messenger bag, laptop bag, or small daypack. Think “bag” or “pack,” not “luggage.”
Most airlines don’t publish weight limits for personal items. So load it up.
Pack your personal item to your advantage. Pack your heavy electronics or books in your personal item to keep the weight of your
The ticketing and gate agents probably won’t weigh your personal item. So take advantage of it for your particularly heavy items.
Pack everything you need without checking a bag.
- Carry-on-sized
- Easy to pack
- Comfortable to carry
- Built to last
Conclusion
Check your airline’s