A personal item is the one bag that every fare includes, which makes it the bag that matters most on a basic ticket. But there is no common size: airlines allow anything from a slim 40 x 30 x 15 cm bag to an 18 x 14 x 8 inch backpack, and some publish no size at all. Here are the current limits for 23 airlines.
Most US airlines allow a personal item of about 17 x 13 x 8 to 18 x 14 x 8 inches. United is stricter at 17 x 10 x 9 inches. Delta and Alaska publish no size, only that it must fit under the seat. European airlines mostly use 40 x 30 x 15 cm (about 16 x 12 x 6 inches).
Have a backpack or tote in mind? Enter its size and see which airlines accept it as a personal item. Open the carry-on size checker.
Table of Contents
Personal item size by airline
US airlines
| Airline | Max personal item size | Weight limit | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 18 x 14 x 8 in (46 x 36 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Delta | No fixed size; must fit under the seat | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| United | 17 x 10 x 9 in (43 x 25 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Southwest | 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 in (47 x 34 x 22 cm) | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Alaska Airlines | No fixed size; must fit under the seat | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Hawaiian Airlines | No fixed size; must fit under the seat | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| JetBlue | 17 x 13 x 8 in (43 x 33 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Frontier | 18 x 14 x 8 in (46 x 36 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Allegiant | 18 x 14 x 8 in (46 x 36 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Sun Country | 17 x 13 x 9 in (43 x 33 x 23 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Breeze Airways | 17 x 13 x 8 in (43 x 33 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Avelo | 17 x 13 x 9 in (43 x 33 x 22 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
Canadian airlines
| Airline | Max personal item size | Weight limit | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 17 x 13 x 6 in (43 x 33 x 16 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| WestJet | 16 x 13 x 6 in (41 x 33 x 15 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
European and international airlines
| Airline | Max personal item size | Weight limit | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Lufthansa | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Air France | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| KLM | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| Turkish Airlines | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | 4 kg | Personal item + carry-on |
| Emirates | No separate personal item in Economy; a handbag or laptop bag counts as your one piece | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Qatar Airways | No published size; small items such as a handbag or slim briefcase | No published limit | Personal item + carry-on |
| Ryanair | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 in (40 x 30 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
| easyJet | 17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in (45 x 36 x 20 cm) | No published limit | Personal item only |
Frontier is the one US airline that publishes a weight limit for the personal item: 35 lb, the same as its carry-on. Turkish Airlines caps the personal item at 4 kg.
Airlines with no fixed personal item size
- Delta: No fixed size; must fit under the seat.
- Alaska Airlines: No fixed size; must fit under the seat.
- Hawaiian Airlines: No fixed size; must fit under the seat.
- Emirates: No separate personal item in Economy; a handbag or laptop bag counts as your one piece.
- Qatar Airways: No published size; small items such as a handbag or slim briefcase.
“Fits under the seat” depends on the aircraft. Space under a seat in a regional jet is smaller than on a 737 or A321, so a bag that stays within about 17 x 13 x 8 inches is the safe choice on these airlines too.
One personal item for every airline
To meet every published limit in the tables, a bag would have to stay within about 40 x 25 x 15 cm (15.7 x 9.8 x 5.9 in). United’s 10-inch width and the 15 cm depth used by British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and Turkish set that limit.
For US airlines, an 18 x 14 x 8 inch bag works on American, Frontier and Allegiant, and 17 x 13 x 8 inches works on every US airline with a published size except United. Soft bags with no frame are easier to fit than anything with wheels.
What counts as a personal item
Airlines name the same kinds of bags as examples:
- a purse, handbag or tote
- a small backpack
- a laptop bag or briefcase
- a small duffel or underseat rolling bag, if it meets the size limit
Many airlines also let you bring a coat, an umbrella, food for the flight, a diaper bag, medical devices and items bought after security without counting them as your personal item. Check your airline’s list if you rely on one of these.
Traveling with only a personal item
If your fare doesn’t include a carry-on, a few habits help everything fit:
- Use a soft backpack or an underseat bag built to the 17 x 13 x 8 inch size. We reviewed the American Tourister underseater, and backpacks such as the SwissGear ScanSmart and Briggs & Riley backpack.
- Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on the plane.
- Roll clothes and use a compression packing cube.
- Keep liquids in a single quart-size bag; see our tips on packing toiletries.
A small duffel can also work. Our article Is a duffle bag a carry-on? explains when it counts as a personal item.
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 personal item size?
There isn’t one. Most US airlines allow about 17 x 13 x 8 to 18 x 14 x 8 inches, United allows 17 x 10 x 9 inches, and many European airlines allow 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
Is a backpack a personal item?
Yes, if it fits under the seat in front of you and meets your airline’s size limit. A large travel backpack usually counts as a carry-on instead.
Does United measure personal items?
United publishes a personal item limit of 17 x 10 x 9 inches, which is narrower than most airlines. On Basic Economy, where the personal item is your only free bag, it’s worth staying within that size.
Can a personal item have wheels?
Yes. Wheels and handles count toward the size limit, so a rolling underseat bag has to fit within the same dimensions as a soft bag.
Do airlines weigh personal items?
Most don’t. Frontier (35 lb) and Turkish Airlines (4 kg) publish a limit, and Air France and KLM count the personal item toward the 12 kg cabin allowance.
- 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
