Personal Item Size by Airline (2026): Under-Seat Bag Chart
The personal item size limit is the one baggage rule that applies to every passenger on every fare, including the cheapest basic economy and "bag-free" tickets. It is also the rule with the least agreement between airlines: United's limit is almost 30% smaller than American's, and Ryanair's free bag is a different shape from easyJet's. A backpack that is fine on one flight can cost you a $70+ gate fee on the next.
This guide puts the published personal item dimensions of more than 30 airlines side by side, explains what actually counts as a personal item, and shows you the one bag size that works on all of them.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| Most common US limit | 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) — American, Spirit |
| Smallest major US limit | 17 x 10 x 9 in (43 x 25 x 22 cm) — United |
| Most common European limit | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in) — BA, Iberia, KLM, Swiss, Turkish |
| Size accepted by every airline below | 40 x 25 x 10 cm (16 x 10 x 4 in) — or 40 x 30 x 15 cm if you avoid United, Lufthansa, AirAsia and STARLUX |
What Counts as a Personal Item?
A personal item is a small bag that travels under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin. Airlines typically list a handbag, laptop bag, briefcase, small backpack, camera bag or tote as examples. The test is physical: if it fits the published dimensions and slides fully under the seat, it is a personal item. If it does not, the gate agent can reclassify it as a carry-on bag.
Some items do not count toward your allowance at all on most airlines. These usually include a coat or jacket, an umbrella, a small bag of duty-free or airport food, medical devices and mobility aids, a diaper bag for an infant, and a child safety seat or stroller used at the gate. The exact list varies, so check the individual airline guide linked in the chart.
Personal item vs carry-on: the practical difference
| Personal item | Carry-on bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it goes | Under the seat in front | Overhead bin |
| Typical size | 40 x 30 x 15 cm to 45 x 35 x 20 cm | 55 x 35 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) |
| Included in basic fares? | Almost always | Often not (Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, Wizz, United Basic Economy) |
| Risk at the gate | Low if it fits the sizer | Can be gate-checked on full flights |
For the full overhead-bin rules, see our carry-on luggage size chart by airline.
Personal Item Size Chart: US Airlines
US airlines measure in inches and almost none of them weigh personal items. The difference that matters is the published box: if your airline lists exact dimensions, gate agents can and do ask you to test the bag in the sizer, especially on ultra-low-cost carriers.
| Airline | Personal item limit (in) | Limit (cm) | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 18 x 14 x 8 | 45 x 35 x 20 | None published |
| United Airlines | 17 x 10 x 9 | 43 x 25 x 22 | None published |
| Delta Air Lines | No fixed size — must fit under the seat | — | None published |
| Southwest Airlines | 16.25 x 13.5 x 8 | 41 x 34 x 20 | None published |
| Alaska Airlines | No fixed size — must fit under the seat | — | None published |
| JetBlue | 17 x 13 x 8 | 43 x 33 x 20 | None published |
| Spirit Airlines | 18 x 14 x 8 | 45 x 35 x 20 | None published |
| Frontier Airlines | 14 x 18 x 8 | 36 x 46 x 20 | None published |
| Sun Country | 17 x 13 x 9 | 43 x 33 x 23 | None published |
| Breeze Airways | 17 x 13 x 8 | 43 x 33 x 20 | None published |
| Avelo Airlines | 17 x 13 x 9 | 43 x 33 x 23 | None published |
| JSX | 17 x 13 x 11 | 43 x 33 x 28 | 20 lbs (9 kg) |
The United trap: United's 17 x 10 x 9 in box is narrower than most "personal item" backpacks sold online, which are usually designed around the 18 x 14 x 8 in Spirit and American limit. On a United Basic Economy ticket, where a full-size carry-on is not included on most routes, that 4-inch difference is what decides whether you pay at the gate.
Personal Item Size Chart: Canada
| Airline | Limit (cm) | Limit (in) | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 43 x 33 x 16 | 17 x 13 x 6 | None published |
| WestJet | 41 x 33 x 15 | 16 x 13 x 6 | None published |
| Flair Airlines | 43 x 33 x 15 | 17 x 13 x 6 | 7 kg (15.5 lbs) |
Personal Item Size Chart: Europe
European airlines are stricter on both size and weight, and low-cost carriers build their whole fare structure around the free under-seat bag. On Ryanair, Wizz Air and Vueling's cheapest fares the personal item is the only free cabin bag, and sizers at the boarding gate are used routinely.
| Airline | Limit (cm) | Limit (in) | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 | None published |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 | 17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 | 15 kg (33 lbs) |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 | 10 kg (22 lbs) |
| Vueling | 40 x 30 x 20 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 | None published |
| Eurowings | 40 x 30 x 25 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 | None published |
| British Airways | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | 23 kg (51 lbs) |
| Lufthansa | 40 x 30 x 10 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 | Counted in cabin allowance |
| SWISS | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | Counted in cabin allowance |
| Iberia | 40 x 30 x 15 | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 | None published |
| KLM | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | 12 kg combined with carry-on |
| Air France | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | 12 kg combined with carry-on |
| TAP Air Portugal | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | 2 kg (4.4 lbs) |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | None published |
Why depth matters most in Europe: Ryanair, Wizz Air and Vueling allow 20 cm of depth, but British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Air France and TAP allow only 15 cm, and Lufthansa only 10 cm. A soft backpack can be squeezed; a rigid "underseat" suitcase cannot. If you fly a mix of low-cost and legacy carriers, pack the personal item to the 15 cm depth.
Personal Item Size Chart: Asia, Oceania & Latin America
| Airline | Personal item rule | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| AirAsia | 40 x 30 x 10 cm | 7 kg combined with carry-on |
| STARLUX | 40 x 30 x 10 cm | Included in 7 kg carry-on allowance |
| Vietnam Airlines | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Included in cabin allowance |
| Etihad Airways | Must fit under the seat | 5 kg (11 lbs) |
| IndiGo | Laptop bag or handbag | 3 kg (6.6 lbs) |
| LATAM | 45 x 35 x 20 cm | None published |
| Air New Zealand | Small item such as a handbag or slim laptop bag | Included in 7 kg (Economy) |
Airlines across Asia and Oceania usually enforce a combined weight rather than a separate personal item limit. With Vietjet, AirAsia and STARLUX, for example, the 7 kg allowance covers your carry-on and personal item together, and check-in staff in hubs such as Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei regularly weigh both.
The One Personal Item Size That Fits Every Airline
Comparing all the published limits above, the binding constraints are United's 25 cm (10 in) width, the 10 cm depth used by Lufthansa, AirAsia and STARLUX, and the 40 cm length used across Europe. That gives three practical choices:
- Universal (fits every airline in this guide): 40 x 25 x 10 cm (16 x 10 x 4 in). In practice this is a slim laptop bag or a small tote rather than a backpack.
- Near-universal: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in). Accepted by every airline above except United (width) and Lufthansa, AirAsia and STARLUX (depth). This is the best size for a soft backpack if you mostly fly in Europe.
- US low-cost: 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm). Fits American, Spirit and Frontier exactly, but is too big for United, Ryanair and most European legacy carriers.
A soft, unstructured bag gives you a margin that a rigid case never will: you can compress it into the sizer at the gate. Avoid bags with external wheels or a telescopic handle for this role, because the frame adds 3–5 cm that cannot be squashed.
How to Measure a Personal Item
- Pack it first. Measure the bag in the state you will carry it. A backpack that measures 15 cm deep empty can easily reach 22 cm when full.
- Measure the outside, not the label. Manufacturer sizes often exclude handles, side pockets and padded straps. Airlines include everything.
- Check all three sides against your airline's order. Frontier lists its limit as 14 x 18 x 8 in (height first) while American lists 18 x 14 x 8 in. The box is the same shape only if your bag can be turned.
- Weigh it if your airline has a limit. A luggage scale costs less than one gate fee on easyJet, Wizz Air or any Asian carrier with a combined allowance.
What Happens If Your Personal Item Is Too Big?
On full-service airlines, an oversized personal item is usually just counted as your carry-on, which is only a problem if you also have a roller bag. On low-cost airlines it becomes a paid carry-on or checked bag at the gate, which is almost always the most expensive moment to pay. Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair and Wizz Air all charge considerably more at the boarding gate than they do online during booking. If you are unsure whether your bag fits, adding a carry-on during online check-in is cheaper than risking the gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard personal item size?
There is no single standard. US airlines that publish a limit range from 17 x 10 x 9 in (United) to 18 x 14 x 8 in (American, Spirit). In Europe the most common limit is 40 x 30 x 15 cm, while Ryanair, Wizz Air and Vueling allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
Does a backpack count as a personal item?
Yes, as long as it meets the airline's dimensions and fits under the seat. A larger backpack is treated as a carry-on bag.
Is a personal item weighed?
Rarely in the US. Commonly in Europe and Asia, where airlines such as easyJet (15 kg), Wizz Air (10 kg) and TAP (2 kg) publish a limit, and carriers like Air France, KLM, AirAsia and Vietjet count it inside a combined cabin allowance.
Can I bring a personal item and a carry-on?
On standard economy fares with full-service airlines, yes. Basic economy and ultra-low-cost fares often include only the personal item.
Do airlines measure personal items at the gate?
Ultra-low-cost carriers do so routinely, using metal sizers next to the boarding door. Full-service airlines usually only check when a bag is obviously large or the flight is full.