Carry-On Luggage Size by Airline (2026): Full Dimensions Chart

The carry-on luggage size printed on a suitcase label means very little at the boarding gate. What counts is the box your airline publishes — and those boxes differ more than most travelers expect. A bag that is a perfect fit for Delta's 22 x 14 x 9 in limit is 6 cm too tall for Qatar Airways and can be 3 kg too heavy for Emirates.

Below you will find the official carry-on dimensions and weight limits of more than 45 airlines, grouped by region, followed by the bag size that works almost everywhere and the measuring mistakes that cause most gate fees.

Carry-On vs Personal Item

Most fares allow two cabin items: a carry-on bag that goes in the overhead bin and a smaller personal item that goes under the seat in front of you. This chart covers the overhead carry-on. Personal item limits are much smaller and vary even more between airlines — see our dedicated personal item size chart.

Check your fare before you pack. On Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Ryanair, Wizz Air, United Basic Economy and many other basic fares, the overhead carry-on is not included and only the personal item is free.

US Airlines Carry-On Size Chart

The 22 x 14 x 9 in box has been the de facto US standard for more than a decade. The two exceptions are Southwest and Frontier, which allow a larger 24 x 16 x 10 in bag, and Spirit, which allows 22 x 18 x 10 in but charges for it. US airlines rarely weigh carry-ons; you only need to be able to lift the bag into the bin yourself.

Canada & Mexico Carry-On Size Chart

Canadian airlines publish slightly smaller boxes than US carriers: WestJet's 53 cm height is 3 cm shorter than the US 22-inch standard, which is enough to fail a strict sizer check.

European Airlines Carry-On Size Chart

European airlines almost all publish a weight limit, and the low-cost carriers sell the overhead bag as an add-on. Note that the most common full-service size, 55 x 40 x 23 cm, is 4 cm wider but 1 cm shorter than the US 22 x 14 x 9 in box, so a US-sized bag may still fail by height.

Watch the depth on Ryanair and Vueling: both allow only 20 cm, the shallowest overhead limit in Europe. Many hard-shell carry-ons are 23–25 cm deep with wheels and will not fit their sizers.

Middle East, Asia & Oceania Carry-On Size Chart

This is where weight, not size, catches most travelers. The typical economy allowance is a single bag of 7 kg, and check-in staff at hubs such as Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur routinely weigh cabin bags.

Latin America Carry-On Size Chart

The Carry-On Size That Fits Almost Every Airline

Taking the smallest limit in each direction from the charts above — Air France, KLM and LATAM's 35 cm width, Ryanair, Vueling, Emirates and Korean Air's 20 cm depth, and the 55 cm height used by most full-service airlines — gives a practical "universal" carry-on of 55 x 35 x 20 cm (21.5 x 13.5 x 8 in), packed to 7 kg (15 lbs) or less.

That bag meets the published carry-on rules of every airline in this guide except Qatar Airways (50 cm height) and WestJet (53 cm height), which require a shorter bag. If you fly mostly within the US, a standard 22 x 14 x 9 in bag is enough; if you regularly fly Gulf or Asian carriers, the 7 kg weight is the limit to plan around, not the size.

How to Measure Your Carry-On Correctly

1. Measure the bag packed, standing upright on the floor. Expansion zips and front pockets add 2–5 cm of depth once the bag is full.
2. Height includes wheels and the collapsed handle. This is the most common reason a "22-inch" suitcase fails a 22-inch sizer: the label measures the shell only.
3. Width includes side handles and feet. Measure across the widest point, not the middle of the shell.
4. Weigh it if your airline sets a limit. On airlines with a combined allowance (Air France, KLM, JAL, ANA, AirAsia), weigh the carry-on and personal item together.

What Happens If Your Carry-On Is Too Big?

On full-service airlines, an oversized carry-on is usually tagged and checked to your destination, sometimes for free and sometimes for the standard checked bag fee. On low-cost airlines the bag is charged at the gate rate, which is the highest price the airline offers: Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair and Wizz Air all charge more at the gate than for the same bag added during booking. When in doubt, add the bag online before you leave home.

Tips to Get More Into Your Carry-On Allowance

• Move heavy items to your personal item on airlines that only weigh the overhead bag.
• Choose a soft-sided bag for airlines with shallow 20 cm limits; it can compress into the sizer where a rigid shell cannot.
• Wear your bulkiest layers on board rather than packing them.
• Pack liquids to the 3-1-1 rule so security does not slow you down — see our TSA liquid rules guide.
• Know the difference between TSA and airline rules: TSA screens what is in the bag, the airline enforces how big it is. Our TSA carry-on rules guide explains both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard carry-on luggage size?

22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) in the US; 55 x 40 x 23 cm on most European airlines; 56 x 36 x 23 cm with 7 kg on many Asian and Middle Eastern airlines.

What carry-on size fits all airlines?

55 x 35 x 20 cm (21.5 x 13.5 x 8 in) at no more than 7 kg fits every airline in this chart except Qatar Airways (50 cm height) and WestJet (53 cm height).

Is a 22-inch suitcase a carry-on?

Only if it measures 22 inches including wheels and handle. Many bags sold as 22-inch are 23–24 inches tall in reality.

Do airlines weigh carry-on bags?

US airlines generally do not. Airlines in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America usually publish a 7–12 kg limit and do weigh bags.

Is the carry-on size different for international flights?

For US airlines the size is the same on domestic and international flights, but your connecting partner airline may be stricter. Always pack for the most restrictive airline on your itinerary.

Sources: each airline's official baggage page and conditions of carriage, as linked from the individual airline guides above. Limits checked October 21, 2026. Airlines change these rules without notice; always confirm with the operating airline before you fly. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.