A carry-on that fits one airline can be too big for the next. US carriers mostly agree on 22 x 14 x 9 inches, but budget airlines, Canadian carriers and European airlines all draw the line somewhere else, and some fares don’t include a carry-on at all. This guide puts the current limits for 23 airlines in one place.
The standard US carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels and handles. American, Delta, United, Alaska, JetBlue and most others use it. Southwest and Frontier allow 24 x 16 x 10 inches. Many European airlines use 55 x 40 x 23 cm or 55 x 35 x 25 cm and add a weight limit of 7 to 12 kg.
Enter your bag’s dimensions and see which airlines accept it. Open the carry-on size checker.
Table of Contents
Carry-on size for US airlines
All sizes include wheels and handles. Weight limits are shown only where the airline publishes one; most US carriers don’t.
| Airline | Max carry-on size | Weight limit | Carry-on on cheapest fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| Delta | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| United | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | No |
| Southwest | 24 x 16 x 10 in (61 x 41 x 25 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| Alaska Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| JetBlue | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| Frontier | 24 x 16 x 10 in (61 x 41 x 25 cm) | 35 lb (16 kg) | No |
| Allegiant | 22 x 16 x 10 in (56 x 41 x 25 cm) | No published limit | No |
| Sun Country | 24 x 16 x 11 in (61 x 41 x 28 cm) | 35 lb (16 kg) | No |
| Breeze Airways | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | 35 lb (16 kg) | No |
| Avelo | 22 x 14 x 9 in (55 x 35 x 22 cm) | No published limit | No |
Delta and Hawaiian also cap the total of length, width and depth at 45 linear inches (114 cm), which a 22 x 14 x 9 inch bag meets exactly. Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 2, 2026, so it is no longer listed.
Carry-on size for Canadian, European and international airlines
Outside the US, airlines usually publish limits in centimeters and many add a weight limit. A 22-inch US carry-on is often a little too long or too deep for them, so check the depth in particular.
| Airline | Max carry-on size | Weight limit | Carry-on on cheapest fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in (55 x 40 x 23 cm) | No published limit | No |
| WestJet | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | No published limit | No |
| British Airways | 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in (56 x 45 x 25 cm) | No published limit | Yes |
| Lufthansa | 21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 in (55 x 40 x 23 cm) | 8 kg (18 lb) | No |
| Air France | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in (55 x 35 x 25 cm) | 12 kg (26 lb), combined with the personal item | No |
| KLM | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in (55 x 35 x 25 cm) | 12 kg (26 lb), combined with the personal item | No |
| Turkish Airlines | 21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 in (55 x 40 x 23 cm) | 8 kg (18 lb) | Yes |
| Emirates | 21.7 x 15 x 8.7 in (55 x 38 x 22 cm) | 7 kg (15 lb) | Yes |
| Qatar Airways | 19.7 x 14.6 x 9.8 in (50 x 37 x 25 cm) | 7 kg (15 lb) | Yes |
| Ryanair | 21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 in (55 x 40 x 20 cm) | 10 kg (22 lb) | No |
| easyJet | 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in (56 x 45 x 25 cm) | 15 kg (33 lb) | No |
British Airways publishes no weight limit for the cabin bag, but you must be able to lift it into the overhead bin yourself. Air France and KLM count the cabin bag and the personal item together toward their 12 kg Economy limit.
Fares that don’t include a carry-on
The cheapest ticket often comes with a personal item only. If you show up at the gate with a full-size bag on one of these fares, you usually pay the checked bag fee plus a gate fee.
- United: Basic Economy is personal item only on most routes.
- Frontier: Carry-on is a paid add-on or part of a bundle.
- Allegiant: Carry-on costs extra.
- Sun Country: Only the under-seat item is free.
- Breeze Airways: No Flex fare is personal item only.
- Avelo: Carry-on is a paid add-on.
- Air Canada: Economy Basic within North America and to the Caribbean is personal item only.
- WestJet: UltraBasic has no carry-on, except to/from Europe and Asia.
- Lufthansa: Economy Basic is personal item only.
- Air France: Basic fares on many European routes are small bag only.
- KLM: Basic fares are small bag only.
- Ryanair: Cabin bag needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.
- easyJet: Large cabin bag is a paid add-on.
On these fares, everything has to fit in your personal item. Our guide to personal item size by airline lists what each of them allows under the seat.
One carry-on for every airline
If you fly only US airlines, a bag that measures 22 x 14 x 9 inches or less, wheels included, is accepted by all of the major ones. To fit every airline in the tables above, the bag would have to stay within about 50 x 35 x 20 cm (19.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 in). That’s smaller than most carry-ons sold in the US. Qatar Airways sets the shortest length (50 cm) and Ryanair the shallowest depth (20 cm).
A few things make a bag easier to get on board:
- Check the listed dimensions, not the name. A “20-inch” or “21-inch” suitcase is usually measured without wheels; the full height can be 1 to 2 inches more.
- Leave the expansion zipped. An expanded carry-on is often deeper than the 9-inch limit.
- Softside bags squeeze a little. A soft carry-on is easier to push into a sizer than a hardside one. Our hardshell vs softshell guide covers the trade-offs.
- Watch the weight in Europe and Asia. A hardside carry-on can weigh 7 to 9 pounds empty, which uses up much of a 7 or 8 kg limit. See how much a suitcase weighs.
Looking for a new carry-on? Our reviews of the Samsonite Winfield 2, Winfield 3 DLX, Omni 2, Tumi carry-ons and US Traveler carry-on list each bag’s measured size, so you can compare it with the tables above.
How to measure your carry-on
- Stand the bag upright on a flat floor and measure from the floor to the top of the handle (pushed all the way down). That’s the length.
- Measure the widest point across the front, including side handles.
- Measure the depth from the back of the wheels to the most packed-out point of the front pocket.
- Pack the bag before you measure. A full front pocket can add an inch.
Airlines measure the same way at the gate, usually by asking you to put the bag in a metal sizer.
Limits are taken from each airline’s published baggage rules as of October 2026. They include wheels and handles. Airlines change these rules often, and a basic fare, a small regional jet or a full flight can change what you are allowed to bring, so check your booking before you fly.
FAQ
What is the standard carry-on size?
In the US it’s 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels and handles. Most major US airlines use it.
Is a 22-inch suitcase a carry-on?
Only if 22 inches is the total height with wheels and the bag is no more than 14 inches wide and 9 inches deep. Many suitcases sold as 22-inch measure 22 inches without wheels, which makes them too tall.
Can I bring a 24-inch suitcase as a carry-on?
On most airlines, no. Southwest, Frontier and Sun Country allow 24 inches in length, but the bag also has to stay within 16 inches wide and 10 inches deep (11 on Sun Country).
Do airlines weigh carry-on bags?
Most US airlines don’t publish a carry-on weight limit. Frontier, Sun Country and Breeze cap it at 35 lb. Many European and Middle Eastern airlines set 7 to 12 kg and do weigh bags at check-in or the gate.
Which airline has the biggest carry-on size?
In the tables above, Sun Country allows the largest carry-on at 24 x 16 x 11 inches. Among European airlines, British Airways and easyJet allow the most at 56 x 45 x 25 cm.
- Carry-On Size by Airline (2026): Limits for 23 Airlines - October 25, 2026
- Personal Item Size by Airline (2026) - October 25, 2026
- Will My Bag Fit? Carry-On and Personal Item Size Checker - October 25, 2026
