How to use the carry-on size checker
- Measure the bag packed. Measure height, width and depth including wheels, handles and any bulging front pocket.
- Enter the size and weight. Type the three measurements in centimetres or inches, and the packed weight if you know it.
- Pick the bag type. Check it as a personal item (under the seat), a cabin bag (overhead locker), or against every rule.
- Read the result. Each airline and fare shows whether the bag fits, by how much it is over, and a link to the official rule.
Carry-on size vs personal item size
Airlines usually allow two kinds of hand luggage. A personal item is a small bag that fits under the seat in front of you: a backpack, tote or handbag. A cabin bag, often just called a carry-on (or hand luggage in the UK), is the larger bag for the overhead locker. Some low-cost fares include only the personal item and sell the cabin bag as an extra.
Taking the smallest length, width and depth across every rule we track, a personal item no bigger than 40 × 25 × 15 cm(15.5 × 10 × 6 in) and a cabin bag no bigger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm (21.5 × 14 × 8 in) would fit every airline in this checker. A bigger bag is fine if you only fly airlines with roomier limits: see the full comparison.
How to measure your bag
- Pack the bag first. A soft bag can gain several centimetres of depth when it is full.
- Measure the tallest point including wheels and the retracted handle, the widest point including side pockets, and the deepest point including the front pocket.
- Weigh it packed with a luggage scale, or on bathroom scales holding the bag minus your own weight.
- The checker turns the bag to its best fit, comparing your longest side with the airline’s longest limit.
Liquids in your carry-on
Most airports still limit cabin liquids to containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) in one clear 1-litre bag. Some airports with new scanners allow more — check your departure airport before you fly.
To keep a small bag small, plan a capsule wardrobe and one laundry stop; our carry-on only packing list shows how, and the packing list generator can build one for your own dates.
Carry-on size by airline
Each airline page shows its limits drawn to scale, packing tips and the official source:
- easyJet carry-on size
- Ryanair carry-on size
- Wizz Air carry-on size
- British Airways carry-on size
- Virgin Atlantic carry-on size
- Delta carry-on size
- United carry-on size
- American Airlines carry-on size
- Southwest carry-on size
- Spirit carry-on size
- JetBlue carry-on size
- Lufthansa carry-on size
- Air France carry-on size
- TAP Air Portugal carry-on size
- Emirates carry-on size
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard carry-on size?
There isn’t one standard size. Among the airlines we track, a cabin bag no bigger than 55 × 35 × 20 cm (21.5 × 14 × 8 in) fits every cabin-bag rule, but many airlines allow more.
What size is a personal item?
It depends on the airline and fare. A bag no bigger than 40 × 25 × 15 cm (15.5 × 10 × 6 in) fits every personal-item rule we track. Low-cost fares often include only a personal item.
Do wheels and handles count?
Yes. Airlines measure the whole bag, including wheels, handles and external pockets, usually with a sizer at the gate.
How up to date are the airline limits?
Every rule was checked in September 2026 against the airline’s official baggage page, linked in the results. Airlines change these rules often, so confirm with your airline before you fly.