Guide

Carry-on size limits by airline (2026 chart)

By Joel Hanson, who builds Wheels Up · October 22, 2026

A carry-on suitcase with a passport and travel wallet on top, by a window

Short answer: most large US airlines allow a carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 35 × 23 cm), plus a small personal item that fits under the seat. Southwest and Frontier allow a bigger 24 × 16 × 10 inch bag, though Frontier charges for it.

Outside the US, limits are usually in centimetres and often come with a weight limit (typically 7 to 10 kg).

A bag that fits one airline can cost you a gate fee on another. Here's every major airline's limit in one place, plus the two things that trip people up most: wheels, and the airline you forgot about on the way home.

22 × 14 × 9 inis the carry-on limit on American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska, wheels and handles included.

US airlines

Airline	Carry-on (overhead)	Personal item (under seat)
American	22 × 14 × 9 in	Must fit under the seat
Delta	22 × 14 × 9 in (max 45 linear in)	Must fit under the seat; no set size
United	22 × 14 × 9 in	17 × 10 × 9 in
Southwest	24 × 16 × 10 in	16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in
JetBlue	22 × 14 × 9 in	17 × 13 × 8 in
Alaska	22 × 14 × 9 in	Must fit under the seat
Frontier	24 × 16 × 10 in, 35 lb (paid)	18 × 14 × 8 in, 35 lb (free)

Spirit Airlines stopped flying on May 2, 2026, so it's no longer on this list.

Popular international airlines

Airline	Cabin bag	Free small bag
British Airways	56 × 45 × 25 cm, up to 23 kg	40 × 30 × 15 cm
Air Canada	55 × 40 × 23 cm, 10 kg	Fits under the seat
Ryanair	55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg (paid)	40 × 30 × 20 cm
easyJet	56 × 45 × 25 cm (paid or fare-dependent)	45 × 36 × 20 cm
Qantas (economy)	56 × 36 × 23 cm, 7 kg	Small item such as a handbag
Air New Zealand (economy)	118 cm total (L+W+H), 7 kg	Small item such as a handbag

Note the weights. Qantas has scales at its gates to check cabin bags, and 7 kg goes quickly once a laptop is inside.

1Measure your bag properly

Airlines measure the whole bag: wheels, handles, side pockets and all. A suitcase sold as "22 inch" often measures 23 inches with its wheels. Stand it upright, measure from the floor to the top of the handle, then the widest and deepest points.

A soft bag gets more slack than a hard shell, because it can be squeezed into the sizer at the gate. A full hard shell can't.

2Check every airline on your trip

This is where people get caught. Your outbound airline might allow 24 × 16 × 10, but if you're coming home on a different airline, or connecting onto a smaller partner, the strictest airline on your trip sets the limit. Check each leg, not just the first one.

3Check your fare

Some cheaper fares don't include a full-size carry-on at all. United's Basic Economy only allows a personal item on most routes, and Frontier and Ryanair charge for the overhead bag on their basic fares. If your fare only includes a personal item, the under-seat size is the one that matters.

Before you leave for the airport

Measured the bag with wheels and handles
Checked the limit for every airline on the trip, including the way home
Checked your fare includes an overhead bag
Weighed it, if any airline on your trip has a weight limit
Liquids in a quart-size bag, 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less each

The liquids rule (TSA 3-1-1)

Nothing changed in 2026: in the US, liquids, gels and aerosols in your carry-on must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, all fitting in one quart-size bag. Some airports with newer CT scanners let you leave that bag inside your suitcase at security, but the size limit is the same. Medication and baby formula are exceptions; tell the officer at the checkpoint.

What it costs if your bag is too big

On most full-service airlines, an oversized carry-on is usually checked at the gate, sometimes free and sometimes for the checked-bag fee. On low-cost airlines it costs more at the gate than online: Frontier, for example, charges much more for a bag paid for at the airport than for one added when you book. If you're not sure, measure at home and pay online.

Checked October 2026. Airlines change their rules, and limits can differ by route, fare and aircraft. Always confirm on the airline's own baggage page before you fly.

Questions people ask

What is the standard carry-on size?

For most large US airlines (American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska) it's 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including wheels and handles. Southwest and Frontier allow 24 x 16 x 10 inches. Many European and Australasian airlines use about 55 x 40 x 23 cm and add a weight limit.

Do wheels and handles count?

Yes. Airlines measure the whole bag, including wheels, handles and anything sticking out. A bag sold as 22 inches can be 23 inches once the wheels are counted.

Is a personal item free?

On almost every airline, yes: one small bag that fits under the seat in front of you. Low-cost airlines like Frontier and Ryanair make the personal item the only free bag and charge for a full-size carry-on.

Did the TSA change the liquids rule in 2026?

No. The 3-1-1 rule still applies at US checkpoints: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, in one quart-size bag. Some airports with new CT scanners let you leave liquids in your bag, but the size limit hasn't changed.