Which airline has the largest carry-on allowance in 2026?

Among major carriers, Emirates allows a carry-on of 55×38×20 cm with a 7 kg limit, but Turkish Airlines allows 55×40×23 cm at 8 kg. US full-service carriers like Delta and United allow 56×45×22 cm with no published weight limit, making them the most generous overall.

Which airline has the strictest carry-on size limit?

Ryanair has the strictest free personal item at 40×20×25 cm. For paid carry-on (with Priority Boarding), Ryanair allows 55×40×20 cm at 10 kg — the 20 cm depth is the tightest depth limit among major European carriers.

Do US airlines have carry-on weight limits?

No. Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines do not publish or enforce a carry-on weight limit on domestic US routes. On international routes operated by US carriers, a 7–10 kg limit may apply depending on the cabin class.

What carry-on size works on every airline listed?

A bag measuring 55×40×20 cm will fit within the limits of every airline in this comparison — including the strictest European budget carriers. This is the safest universal size to buy if you fly multiple airlines regularly.

Do Asian airlines have stricter weight limits than European airlines?

Generally yes. Most Asian carriers apply a 7 kg carry-on weight limit. Some — including AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, and Lion Air — apply this strictly at check-in or the gate. European budget airlines also commonly enforce 7–10 kg limits.

Airline Carry-On Size Comparison 2026: 20 Major Airlines

Carry-on allowances vary more than most travelers realize — the gap between the most and least generous airline is nearly double in volume terms. This comparison covers 20 major airlines, organized by region, with exact dimensions, weight limits, and personal item allowances as of 2026.

US Carriers — No Weight Limit

US domestic carriers are notably more generous than their global counterparts. None enforce a weight limit on carry-on bags for domestic flights.

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Personal Item
Delta Air Lines	56×45×22 cm	None (domestic)	43×33×20 cm
United Airlines	56×35×22 cm	None (domestic)	43×25×22 cm
American Airlines	56×36×23 cm	None (domestic)	45×35×20 cm
Southwest Airlines	61×43×25 cm	None	Free — no overhead fee
JetBlue Airways	56×45×22 cm	None	43×33×18 cm

Southwest is the most generous US carrier: no carry-on fee and a larger size limit than most. JetBlue also offers free overhead bin carry-on on all fare types except Blue Basic.

European Budget — Strictest Limits

European low-cost carriers have tightened carry-on policies significantly in recent years, moving carry-on access behind a fee wall.

Airline	Carry-On Size (paid)	Weight Limit	Free Personal Item
Ryanair	55×40×20 cm	10 kg	40×20×25 cm
Wizz Air	55×40×23 cm	10 kg	40×30×20 cm
easyJet	56×45×25 cm	None	45×36×20 cm (free)
Vueling	55×40×20 cm	10 kg	35×20×20 cm
Norwegian	55×40×23 cm	10 kg	35×25×50 cm

Note: easyJet is the exception — one large cabin bag is included in all fares, not just the base tier. Ryanair's 20 cm depth limit is the most restrictive in this group.

European Full-Service

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Personal Item
Lufthansa	55×40×23 cm	8 kg	40×30×10 cm
British Airways	56×45×25 cm	None (published)	45×36×20 cm
Air France	55×35×25 cm	12 kg	40×30×15 cm
KLM	55×35×25 cm	12 kg	40×30×15 cm
Swiss	55×40×23 cm	8 kg	40×30×10 cm

Air France and KLM (both part of Air France-KLM) allow 12 kg — unusually generous for European carriers. British Airways does not publish a weight limit for Economy carry-on, though 23 kg is unofficially the cap.

Asian Carriers — 7–10 kg

Asian carriers consistently enforce weight limits, with 7 kg being the near-universal standard for economy class.

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Personal Item
Singapore Airlines	55×38×22 cm	7 kg	Included in weight
Japan Airlines	55×40×25 cm	10 kg	Counted in weight
ANA	55×40×25 cm	10 kg	Counted in weight
AirAsia	56×36×23 cm	7 kg	40×30×10 cm

Japan Airlines and ANA combine carry-on and personal item into a single 10 kg total allowance, measured together at the gate. Singapore Airlines enforces the 7 kg limit at check-in.

Middle East Carriers — 7 kg Standard

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Personal Item
Emirates	55×38×20 cm	7 kg	Included in total
Qatar Airways	50×37×25 cm	7 kg	Handbag only
Etihad Airways	50×40×25 cm	7 kg	One small item

Qatar Airways has the smallest carry-on size limit among major international carriers — 50 cm height is notably shorter than the 55–56 cm allowed by most others.

Australian Carriers

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Personal Item
Qantas	56×36×23 cm	7 kg	Included in 7 kg
Virgin Australia	56×36×23 cm	7 kg	Included in 7 kg

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia combine carry-on and personal item into a shared 7 kg limit. A heavy laptop bag can quickly consume most of this allowance.

Largest vs Smallest Allowance Analysis

Most generous total allowance: Southwest Airlines — 61×43×25 cm with no weight limit and no carry-on fee, effectively unlimited cabin bag access.

Most restrictive paid carry-on: Qatar Airways — 50×37×25 cm at 7 kg. The 50 cm height limit rules out standard carry-on suitcases that most other airlines accept.

Most restrictive free personal item: Ryanair — 40×20×25 cm (20 litres), compared to easyJet's effectively unlimited personal item policy (any bag included free at 45×36×20 cm).

Universal safe size: 55×40×20 cm fits within every airline's carry-on limit in this comparison. Buy a bag at this size and you will never have a sizing conflict.