Carry-On & Personal-Item Size Guide
Every major airline's carry-on and personal-item dimensions in one maintained table — cited to each airline's own page and dated, so you can check your bag before you fly.
Almost every travel-backpack roundup buries airline size limits in prose, or skips them entirely. That’s a problem, because the sizer at the gate is the one rule that actually gets your bag taken away. So we keep the numbers in one place: a maintained, airline-by-airline table of carry-on and personal-item dimensions, each cited to the airline’s own baggage page and dated. This is the reference we check every pack against when we do our carry-on fit math.
First, the single most important fact: TSA does not set carry-on size limits — your airline does. The TSA screens bags for security; it explicitly says the allowed cabin-bag size varies by airline. So there is no one national number to memorize. Below are the airlines travelers ask about most, checked on July 21, 2026.
US airlines — carry-on and personal item
| Airline | Carry-on max (in) | Personal item max (in) | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 | 18 x 14 x 8 | None published |
| Delta Air Lines | 22 x 14 x 9 | Must fit under the seat | None published |
| United Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 | 17 x 10 x 9 | None published |
| Southwest | 24 x 16 x 10 | 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 | None published |
| JetBlue | 22 x 14 x 9 | 17 x 13 x 8 | None published |
| Alaska Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 | Must fit under the seat | None published |
| Frontier | 24 x 16 x 10 | 18 x 14 x 8 | 35 lb (each) |
| Spirit | 22 x 18 x 10 | 18 x 14 x 8 | None published |
All figures include wheels and handles where the airline specifies. Dimensions checked against each airline’s own baggage page on July 21, 2026 (see Sources).
European budget carriers — a different model
Ryanair and easyJet don’t use the US “one carry-on plus a personal item” model. Instead everyone gets a small bag free, and a larger cabin bag costs extra or requires priority boarding. The free small bag maps to the personal-item column; the paid larger bag maps to the carry-on column.
| Airline | Larger cabin bag (paid) | Free small bag | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 55 x 40 x 20 cm (~21.6 x 15.7 x 7.9 in) | 40 x 20 x 25 cm (~15.7 x 7.9 x 9.8 in) | 10 kg (priority bag) |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (~22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in) | 45 x 36 x 20 cm (~17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in) | Up to 15 kg |
Inch values are arithmetic conversions of the published centimeter figures. Checked July 21, 2026.
Why the soft-bag advantage matters
A backpack has one edge over a hard-sided roller: it’s soft, so it compresses. A 40L pack packed two-thirds full slides into a sizer even if its nominal dimensions look tight; the same bag stuffed to bursting won’t. That flexibility is real, and it’s why a 40L travel backpack can work as a carry-on where a rigid 40L case wouldn’t. But don’t lean on it at a strict gate — if a carrier is known for enforcing, pack to the sizer’s dimensions, not to the zipper.
How to measure your bag
Measure the bag packed, not empty, and include everything that sticks out — wheels, handles, external pockets, straps. Airlines measure the widest points, and so does the metal sizer at the gate. A bag that measures 22 x 14 x 9 empty but bulges to 22 x 16 x 11 packed is an over-size bag in the only measurement that counts. This is exactly why our pack reviews report external dimensions and give a plain carry-on fit read rather than just quoting liters.
Bookmark this, then pick a bag
Rules change, vary by fare and aircraft, and are enforced at the gate’s discretion — so treat this as a well-sourced starting point and confirm the current limit for your specific flight. When you’re ready to choose a pack whose real dimensions we’ve already checked against these numbers, start with the best carry-on backpacks or, for the personal-item column, the best under-seat backpacks.
Check your airline before you fly. Carry-on and personal-item limits change, vary by aircraft and fare, and are enforced at the gate’s discretion. We date every figure and cite the airline’s own page — but confirm the current rule for your specific flight before you count on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard carry-on size?
On most US major airlines — American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska — the carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels and handles. Southwest and Frontier are more generous at 24 x 16 x 10. Low-cost European carriers are much stricter, so always check your specific airline.
What size is a personal item?
It varies by airline. Common published limits are 18 x 14 x 8 inches (American, Frontier, Spirit), 17 x 13 x 8 (JetBlue) and 17 x 10 x 9 (United); Delta and Alaska simply require it to fit under the seat. A bag around 18 x 14 x 8 inches or smaller is a safe target for most airlines.
Does TSA set the carry-on size limit?
No. The TSA screens bags but does not set carry-on dimensions — the airline does. TSA's own guidance says the allowed cabin-bag size varies by airline and to contact your carrier. So the numbers that matter are your airline's, not a single national standard.
Is there a weight limit for carry-on bags?
On most US airlines, no published carry-on weight limit — the constraint is size and being able to lift it into the bin yourself. Frontier is an exception at 35 lb for the carry-on and personal item. European carriers do set weight limits: Ryanair allows 10 kg on its priority cabin bag and easyJet up to 15 kg on its large cabin bag.
Do carry-on rules differ for international flights?
Yes, significantly. European budget carriers use smaller allowances and a 'small bag free, larger cabin bag paid' model — Ryanair's free bag is just 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Always check the specific airline operating your flight, and note that a connecting itinerary can involve two carriers with different rules.
Sources
- TSA — What are the size restrictions for carry-on bags? — TSA does not set carry-on dimensions — the airline does; TSA screens, it doesn't size (accessed July 21, 2026)
- American Airlines — Carry-on baggage — AA carry-on 22 x 14 x 9 in; personal item 18 x 14 x 8 in (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Delta Air Lines — Carry-on baggage — Delta carry-on 22 x 14 x 9 in (45 linear in); personal item must fit under the seat (accessed July 21, 2026)
- United Airlines — Carry-on bags — United carry-on 22 x 14 x 9 in; personal item 17 x 10 x 9 in (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Southwest Airlines — Carry-on baggage policy — Southwest carry-on 24 x 16 x 10 in; personal item 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 in (accessed July 21, 2026)
- JetBlue — Carry-on bags — JetBlue carry-on 22 x 14 x 9 in; personal item 17 x 13 x 8 in (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Alaska Airlines — Carry-on luggage — Alaska carry-on 22 x 14 x 9 in incl. wheels/handles; personal item must fit under the seat (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Frontier Airlines — Bag options — Frontier carry-on 24 x 16 x 10 in; personal item 18 x 14 x 8 in; 35 lb limit each (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Spirit Airlines — Carry-on baggage — Spirit carry-on 22 x 18 x 10 in; personal item 18 x 14 x 8 in (accessed July 21, 2026)
- Ryanair — Bag policy — Ryanair free small bag 40 x 20 x 25 cm; priority cabin bag 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg (accessed July 21, 2026)
- easyJet — Cabin bags FAQ — easyJet free small cabin bag 45 x 36 x 20 cm; large cabin bag 56 x 45 x 25 cm, up to 15 kg (accessed July 21, 2026)
Keep reading
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See the picksBest under-seat backpacks
Bags sized to fit the personal-item column in the table above.
See the picksWhat size travel backpack?
Turn these limits into the right capacity for how you travel.
Read the guideHow to pack a carry-on
Once you know it fits, the method that gets a week inside it.
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