Carry-On Size Limits by Region: The Global Comparison Guide
Carry-on size limits differ by region. Compare US, European, Asian, and Gulf airline dimensions — and find the one bag size that fits virtually everywhere.
Carry-on allowances are not globally standardised. A bag that passes effortlessly at a US airport may be refused at a European budget airline gate. Understanding the regional landscape saves you money and stress.
United States: The 22 × 14 × 9 Rule
US domestic airlines broadly follow a de facto standard of 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 cm). This figure originates from FAA overhead bin advisory guidelines and has been adopted by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue. Southwest Airlines uses the same dimensions but does not enforce them with any rigour.
Key points for US travel:
- The size limit includes wheels and handles
- Enforcement is rare on domestic routes
- Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are stricter and charge separately for larger carry-on bags
- Personal item limits (under-seat bag) are typically 18 × 14 × 8 inches
Europe: Two Very Different Worlds
European airlines split into two categories that have meaningfully different size allowances.
Budget Carriers (where size limits really matter)
| Airline | Free Carry-On Size | Paid Cabin Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40× 30× 20 cm | 55 × 40 × 20 cm |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 55 × 40 × 23 cm |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm | 56 × 45 × 25 cm |
| Vueling | 40 × 20 × 30 cm | 55 × 40 × 20 cm |
Ryanair's free allowance is the most restrictive in Europe. Standard fare passengers may only bring a bag that fits under the seat — 40× 30× 20 cm. To use the overhead bin you must buy priority boarding or a cabin bag add-on.
Full-Service European Carriers
| Airline | Carry-On Size |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 cm |
| Air France | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| KLM | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| Swiss | 55 × 40 × 23 cm |
| SAS | 55 × 40 × 23 cm |
The 55 × 40 × 23 cm standard is common across Star Alliance European members. British Airways is unusually generous at 56 × 45 × 25 cm.
Asia: Stricter Weight Limits, Similar Dimensions
Asian carriers typically publish similar dimensions to European airlines (56 × 36 × 23 cm is common) but enforce weight limits more strictly — typically 7 kg, compared to 8–12 kg on European full-service carriers.
| Airline | Carry-On Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | 55 × 38 × 22 cm | 7 kg |
| Japan Airlines | 55× 40× 25 cm AND 115 cm total | 10 kg combined |
| ANA | 55× 40× 25 cm AND 115 cm total | 10 kg combined |
| Thai Airways | 56× 45× 25 cm; source also says 115 cm total | 7 kg |
| AirAsia | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 7 kg |
Gulf Region: Generous Dimensions
Gulf carriers offer some of the most comfortable carry-on allowances globally.
| Airline | Carry-On Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 55× 38× 22 cm | 7 kg |
| Qatar Airways | 50 × 37 × 25 cm | 7 kg |
| Etihad Airways | 56× 36× 23 cm | 7 kg |
Despite generous size limits, Gulf carriers do weigh bags, and the 7 kg weight limit is enforced with more regularity than on European full-service airlines.
Latin America
| Airline | Carry-On Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| LATAM | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 12 kg |
| Avianca | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 10 kg |
| Copa Airlines | 56× 36× 26 cm | 10 kg |
Avianca includes a 45× 35× 20 cm personal item on every fare. One main bag up to 55× 35× 25 cm and 10 kg is included with international Light, Classic, Flex and Business; domestic Basic requires purchase. Check original conditions for Americas Light tickets bought before 27 January 2026. Business still has one main cabin bag.
Africa and Indian Ocean
African airlines do not share one cabin-baggage standard. Ethiopian publishes 55 × 40 × 23 cm and 7 kg per main bag; check each operator and class separately.
The "Universal" Carry-On Size
A bag of 55 × 35 × 25 cm (approximately 22 × 14 × 10 inches) fits every full-service airline globally and the paid cabin bag tiers on European budget airlines. It will not fit Ryanair's free under-seat allowance (40× 30× 20 cm), but no single bag can satisfy both Ryanair standard and full-service allowances simultaneously.
Which Dimension Gets Checked?
When airline staff use a physical bag sizer:
- Depth (thickness) is the most commonly enforced dimension — the third number in any dimension set
- Bags that are slightly too thick fail the sizer frame even when length and width appear fine
- Soft-sided bags often compress enough to pass; rigid hard-shells either fit or they don't
If you are buying a bag specifically to pass airline sizers, prioritise depth. A bag 24–25 cm deep is safer than one at 26–28 cm, even if total volume is similar.
Reviewed carrier allowance
Avianca includes a 45× 35× 20 cm personal item on every fare. One main bag up to 55× 35× 25 cm and 10 kg is included with international Light, Classic, Flex and Business; domestic Basic requires purchase. Check original conditions for Americas Light tickets bought before 27 January 2026. Business still has one main cabin bag.
LATAM allowance for the booked fare
LATAM permits one main bag up to 55× 35× 25 cm and 12 kg in Economy, or 16 kg in Premium Economy/Business, plus a 45× 35× 20 cm personal item. Basic requires a main-bag purchase. Light is included in the English main page and Spanish tables, but the Portuguese international table lists an extra cost; confirm the issued fare. The personal-item FAQ gives 10 kg, while the Brazilian regional table gives 12 kg in Premium cabins.
Sources and scope
Source-based research; no hands-on test or specialist review claimed.
Ryanair: 40×30×20 cm free underseat bag.
Ryanair dimensions only; remaining sections were not reverified in this review.
Cabin BaggageSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Ethiopian cabin size and per-piece allowance; related scope corrections.
Scoped Ethiopian correction only; other carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Carry on Allowance per Cabin Class; Free Carry-On Items; Travel Tips; FAQ 1-7Source review: · Codex (AI source review)
Main 56×36×26 cm, 118 cm total, 10 kg incl wheels/handles; personal 43×25×22 cm, 90 cm total; one main for all; infant-item and child-stroller conditions.
Scoped copa-airlines correction; unrelated carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Carry-on and personal-item sections; expanded infant-items accordionSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Personal item 45×35×20; main 55×35×25/10 kg with wheels/handles, one except Basic; checked 158 cm and Economy23/Business32 kg; ordinary liquids100 ml.
Scoped avianca comparison correction; unrelated destination and carrier claims not recertified.
Cabin and checked baggage tabs; liquid restrictionSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Domestic Basic main bag paid; international Light main included; Classic/Flex one23 kg checked; Business Americas/INSIGNIA one10 kg cabin and two32 kg checked.
Scoped avianca comparison correction; unrelated destination and carrier claims not recertified.
Economy and Business fare cards, including visual inclusion/payment iconsSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Main 55×35×25 including wheels/handles; one 12 kg Economy or 16 kg Premium bag; personal 45×35×20 all fares; Basic purchase up to 6 hours before departure; compliant space-only hold free, noncompliant/unpurchased gate bag paid hold.
Scoped LATAM/Viva comparison correction; unrelated carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Main allowance and inclusion sections; expanded liquids guidanceSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Personal 10 kg general FAQ; main 12/16 kg; standard checked 23 kg/158 cm. Excess maximum 32 kg for listed routes and AC/BA/IB/QF connections; other destinations up to 45 kg/300 cm with fees.
Scoped LATAM/Viva comparison correction; unrelated carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Cabin, checked and overweight sectionsSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Light main 12 kg costs extra; Standard/Full include it; personal 10 kg.
Scoped LATAM/Viva comparison correction; unrelated carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Outside-South-America fare tableSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Economy Light/Standard/Full one 12 kg main and 10 kg personal; Premium one 16 kg main and 12 kg personal.
Scoped LATAM/Viva comparison correction; unrelated carrier and destination claims not recertified.
Economy/Premium tables; Basic restrictionsSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Cabin allowances and route exceptions
Scoped official cabin review; other topics not recertified.
Cabin allowances and route exceptionsSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
All fares include Economy 1×7 kg or Business 2×7 kg /14 kg total, 55×38×20 cm; personal 25×33×20 within allowance; AED200/USD55 gate excess per item plus possible local charges; conditional infant and stroller allowances.
Scoped carrier correction only; unrelated destination/security/other-carrier claims not recertified.
Economy; Business; personal items; boarding gate; infants; stroller FAQSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Economy1×7kg56×36×23;Business/First/Residence2pieces12kg combined, US1piece12kg; extra premium small bag23×39×19/5kg. Basic excludes checked baggage; excess cabin checked with charges; AUH liquid100ml/1L.
Scoped carrier correction only; unrelated destination/security/other-carrier claims not recertified.
Partner-flight FAQ cabin paragraphs; Basic fare; toiletriesSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
One main bag and one personal item share 10 kg in all cabins; 55×40×25 cm AND total 115 cm including handles/wheels. Personal item 40×30×20 cm.
Scoped encountered carrier claim correction; unrelated destination and other-carrier claims not recertified.
Free carry-on allowance / class-independent size and weight table; notesSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
One main bag and one personal item share 10 kg in all cabins; 55×40×25 cm AND total 115 cm including handles/wheels. Personal item must fit under seat; no numeric box published.
Scoped encountered carrier claim correction; unrelated destination and other-carrier claims not recertified.
Free carry-on allowance / class-independent size and weight table; notesSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
All listed classes one7 kg; premium/status extra is conditional. Box56×45×25 conflicts with lower115cm sentence; personal37.5×25×12.5 OR75cm/1.5kg.
Published carrier rule; aircraft, class, route and source limitations retained. AI review, not human verification.
Cabin table, free items, liquids, and oversized sectionSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common carry-on size allowed by airlines worldwide?
What carry-on size works on all airlines?
Do US airlines use the same size limits as European airlines?
Which airlines have the smallest carry-on size limits?
Does the sizer check length, width, or depth most strictly?
Check if your bag fits
Compare your carry-on dimensions with your airline’s allowance.