This article has everything you need to know to avoid last-minute encounters with the gate crew and excess baggage fees. Use our airline-by-airline guide to see what size and how heavy your cabin luggage should be.
And with our Baggage Fee Assistant, you can now see whether your luggage is included in the overall flight price. Search for your flights on KAYAK, add the bags you want to take using the tool on the left and watch your results instantly update.
Most airlines follow very similar size regulations when it comes to hand luggage. The majority go by a standard height, width, and depth measurement.
If you’re flying internationally, the standard size is around 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Remember, those dimensions include the handle, wheels and anything else that may protrude from your case so don’t miss them from your measurements.
And it’s always worth checking the airline you’re flying with to make sure they don’t have rogue measurements in place. Cabin bag size limits are there to make sure everyone’s luggage will fit in the overhead storage. I always try to fly with only hand luggage no matter where I go or for how long. Apart from it forcing me to not overpack, I always travel easier knowing my luggage is within reach rather than in the hold, or even worse, still back at the airport!
What is the hand luggage weight limit?
Weight limits for cabin luggage are even more of a minefield than size restrictions, although generally, they’re not as strictly enforced as they were a few years ago. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can fill your case to bursting and make it so heavy it requires a group effort to get it in the overhead compartment.
Many airlines including Ryanair, Lufthansa and Air Canada don’t specify a cabin luggage weight limit. As long as you can lift your bag over your shoulders high enough to get it in the overhead storage, you’re fine. Other limits vary dramatically by airline, and can even change for the same airline depending on where you’re flying from and to. From a lightweight 7kg with Qantas, Qatar and Singapore Airlines to a more manageable 23 kg with British Airways, it’s always important to check in advance.
What is a personal item on a plane?
You may see some airlines include hand luggage and “one personal item” in their size guidelines, though it’s more common in the US than in the UK and Europe. That personal item refers to a small bag – typically a laptop bag, purse or briefcase. Airline size regulations for personal items vary wildly, but as long as it’s small enough to fit easily under the seat in front of you, you’re good to go.
If you have something specific to carry such as a baby bag for nappies and food, a pair of crutches or something particularly fragile, airlines tend to be quite accommodating in including it as a cabin-size suitcase. To be on the safe side, you should always check directly with the airline in advance.
What is the standard international hand luggage size?
Hand luggage sizes can vary between international flights and carriers, especially for the long haul, although usually not by much. For most international flights, the minimum hand luggage size is 55 x 40 x 23 cm. If your cabin bag is around these dimensions, you’ll have no problems treating it as a carry-on. There are some exceptions such as Qatar Airways, which states measurements of 51 x 38 x 25.5 cm for its cabin baggage.
Flying in Europe can be a bit more varied as there are so many small and regional airlines, which can have very different restrictions depending on the aeroplane.
Hand luggage vs. a personal item: what’s the difference?
The practical difference between cabin luggage and a personal item is that the former is for storage in the overhead compartment and the latter for under the seat in front of you. Your hand or cabin luggage is the bag you don’t hand over at check-in. If you’re travelling light, using your cabin luggage allowance can prevent you from having to check in any bags at all. That’s always a win, as it’ll never get lost or left behind and you don’t have to wait at baggage collection once you’ve landed.
Many airlines include a hand luggage allowance in their ticket price. Some – especially small and budget airlines – charge extra for it but roll in other perks like extra legroom or early boarding (not a bonus!).
Either way, a cabin bag is still cheaper than paying to check in your luggage. A more common term in America, personal items are things like your purse or laptop, briefcase, or camera.
They’re usually permitted on top of your hand luggage free of charge. Size allowances vary by airline but most simply follow the ‘fit under the seat in front of you’ guideline.
If you’re not sure what you can take in your hand luggage or personal item, read the FAQs at the end of this article.
Not sure if your hand luggage size fits your airline policy?
There’s little worse when travelling than standing at the gate sweating about your cabin bag size. We’ve all been there and seen unsuspecting passengers get pulled aside to have their luggage checked and wallets flexed by sky-high fees.
To take the anxiety out of boarding and make sure your hand luggage is always compliant, we created a Bag Measurement tool. Download the KAYAK app and you’ll never need a tape measure again. Just open the app and tap on the “new bag measurement tool.” Using your camera, capture your luggage and the app will do the maths for you to give your bag’s exact measurements. Handily, it also compares airline baggage policies in one place too, so you can quickly check your cabin bag fits no matter who you’re flying with.
Hand luggage policies for airlines
Although there are differences in hand luggage size and weight restrictions between lots of different airlines, many also now tow a similar line to each other. Many international airlines have different fares and a confusing array of classes, from economy to first. These come with different hand luggage and personal item restrictions, so be sure to check which class ticket you have before packing.
Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Turkish Airlines all have the same carry-on size limit but weight allowances vary. Almost all of the International airlines we’ve listed impose cabin luggage weight restrictions, and many on personal items as well. The only exception is Air Canada.
To make it easier for you to search, we’ve gone through the main airlines serving the UK, Europe and further afield and detailed the size and weight limits for both hand luggage and personal items. We’ve also included any other relevant information, tools and tips we think you might find useful when flying with each specific airline.
Note:Aer Lingus has gone to town on the complexity of its hand luggage policies and prices. If you’re flying trans-Atlantic, your cabin and personal items are included in your fare. If you’re flying in Europe, you’ll need to book a “Carry-on bag with priority boarding” ticket and pay upwards of €9.99. Or you can check your bag into the hold, in which case it’s free.
There are a raft of exceptions to this including different fare types and connections, so you should check carefully when you book. If you’re flying Aer Lingus Regional (which uses smaller planes limited mostly to Ireland and the UK), the allowances shrink. Your hand luggage must be a maximum of 48 x 33 x 20 cm and weigh no more than 7 kg.
Hand luggage max weight: 12 to 18 kg (fare dependent) including personal item
Personal item size: 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Personal item max weight: 12 to 18 kg (fare dependent) including hand luggage
Note: If you’re travelling with Air France on an Economy ticket, you can take one cabin bag and a personal item with a combined weight of 12 kg. If you’re flying in Premium Economy, Business or La Première, you can take two carry-on bags and one personal item with a combined weight of 18 kg.
Personal item size: Must fit under the seat in front of you
Personal item max weight: Not specified
Note: All Delta fares include one cabin bag and one personal item. Most routes have no weight limit for hand luggage with a few exceptions. Flying to or from Beijing or Shanghai in China comes with a 10 kg weight limit, and from Singapore, it’s a 7 kg limit.
Note:Another of Europe’s huge budget airlines, easyJet offers only a personal item to take free on board, which they market as a “small cabin bag”. For a proper-size cabin bag, you’ll need to book a FLEXI Fare or Up Front or Extra Legroom seat, or just add a large cabin bag separately. Prices start from £5.99.
Hand luggage max weight: 7 to 14 kg (fare dependent)
Personal item size: 55 x 38 x 20 cm
Personal item max weight: 7 kg
Note: Economy class passengers can bring a single cabin bag weighing 7 kg. Premium Economy passengers can up to 14 kg. Business and First Class can bring two cabin bags of up to 7 kg each. As with Qatar Airways, tickets issued in Brazil have a weight limit of 10 kg.
Beware too that Emirates only allows one item for Economy and Premium Economy fares – either a cabin bag or a personal item, not both. It also notes that if you carry a garment bag it must be no more than 20 cm thick when folded.
Note:You can take a cabin bag and a personal item on all fares except a Blue Basic ticket, where you can only bring a personal item – most of the time. There are, of course, some exceptions.
If you’re in the US military, are an unaccompanied minor, or are travelling to or from the UK or Europe, including connecting flights, you can take a cabin bag with a Basic Blue fare. The same applies if you upgrade your seat or reach the giddy heights of Mosaic status in JetBlue’s TrueBlue rewards programme.
Hand luggage max weight: 12 to 18 kg (fare dependent) including personal item
Personal item size: 40 x 30 x 15 cm
Personal item max weight: 12 to 18 kg (fare dependent) including hand luggage
Note: KLM’s policies change with their fares. Economy gets one cabin bag and one personal item up to 12 kg in combined weight. Premium Comfort gets two cabin bags and a personal item but the same combined weight of 12 kg. Business Class gets the same as Premium Comfort but with a weight increase to 18 kg. And if you bring a baby on your lap, you can take one extra bag weighing up to 12 kg.
Hand luggage size: 55 x 40 x 23 cm or 57 x 54 x 15 cm for foldable garment bags
Hand luggage max weight: 8 kg
Personal item size: 40 x 30 x 10 cm
Personal item max weight: Not specified
Note:All Lufthansa Economy Class and Premium Economy Class fares include one cabin bag and personal item, with size and weight restrictions. Business and First Class fares include two cabin bags, although the second bag may need to be checked in on flights from Italy, India and the USA.
Hand luggage size: 50 x 37 x 25 cm Hand luggage max weight: 7 to 15 kg (fare dependent) Personal item size: Not specified Personal item max weight: Not specified
Note: Economy Class Qatar Airways passengers can take one cabin bag and one personal item weighing up to 7 kg. Business and First class can take two cabin bags and one personal item weighing up to 15 kg. Tickets issued in Brazil have a weight limit of 10 kg.
It’s worth noting that Qatar Airlines considers your laptop and case part of your hand luggage and not a personal item. Note too that 50 cm luggage length, is shorter than most other carriers.
Hand luggage size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (Priority fares)
Hand luggage max weight: 10 kg (Priority fares)
Personal item size: 40 x 20 x 25 cm
Personal item max weight: None
Note: Budget airline Ryanair keeps its prices low by allowing only a smaller personal item as part of the fare price. You’ll need to buy its Priority & 2 Cabin Bags option if you want to take a cabin bag weighing up to 10 kg. Prices vary by route and when you book.
Ryanair’s Priority bundle also lets you board the plane early, but don’t be fooled! This often means standing at the front of the queue in a corridor instead of relaxing at the gate while waiting for the plane to be ready.
Note: All SAS fares allow you to take one cabin bag and a personal item with the exception of the Go Light fare – but only if you’re travelling in Europe. On this fare, you’ll need to pay for your cabin bag. If you’re on a Go Light fare to or from Asia, Canada or the US, hand luggage is included.
Plus and Business Class passengers can take two cabin bags with them. SAS also notes you can bring airport purchases and Duty-Free bags onboard with you at no cost.
Southwest Airlines
Hand luggage size: 61 x 41 x 25 cm
Hand luggage max weight: Not specified
Personal item size: 41 x 34 x 20 cm
Personal item max weight: Not specified
Note: As well as offering comparatively generous cabin bag and personal item sizes, Southwest also includes both in all its fares.
Note: Turkish Airlines Economy Class passengers can take one cabin bag and one personal item on board. Business Class passengers can take one extra cabin bag of the same weight and dimensions. For both domestic and international flights, infant passengers are also allowed one more cabin bag.
Note: If you’re flying domestically in the US or between the US and Canada, you can bring one cabin bag and one personal item on all fares except Basic Economy, where you can only bring a personal item. If you’re flying to or from South America or across the Atlantic or Pacific on a Basic Economy fare, you can bring cabin luggage and a personal item.
Certain MileagePlus, Premier and Star Alliance Gold members also qualify to bring hand luggage on all flights no matter their fare. Check the United baggage page for details.
Note: All fares can take a personal item on board, but you can only take a cabin bag if you’re on a TimeFlex Fare, are a Premium customer, require assistance at the airport or are travelling with a child younger than two.
How does KAYAK know what to put in this guide?
Experience and research! I’ve been travelling the world and writing stories about it for 20 years and have one mantra: hand luggage is king. Unless I’m nervously checking in surfboards or skis, I only ever pack a cabin bag and a personal item. Over time I’ve learnt a lot about the tricks to success and the pitfalls of getting hand luggage wrong.
This guide is a culmination of that experience combined with extensive research into international airline luggage policies. I also got great advice from the KAYAK teams who build the features and tools you use to book your travel.
Carry-on luggage FAQs
A rucksack is generally considered a personal item rather than a full cabin bag, as long as it fits below the seat in front of you or meets the dimensions specified by the airline. If you’re travelling with a full-size rucksack that can only be stored in the overhead compartment, this would qualify as cabin luggage. As always, check the permitted dimensions and weight before you travel.
Unhelpfully, there is no single standard cabin luggage size for UK airlines or those flying into and out of UK airports, although the measurements are pretty similar. We’ve listed the major UK airlines as well as Irish-owned Ryanair who, along with TUI, have one of the smaller hand luggage allowances.
BA: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
Easyjet: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
Ryanair: 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Tui: 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Virgin: 56 x 36 x 23 cm
Ah, the biggest question in hand luggage travel. The answer is, sadly, yes – although not all the time. Firstly, not all airlines have weight limits for cabin luggage. Some like Ryanair, Lufthansa and Air Canada simply say you have to be able to lift your bag and put it in the overhead compartment. Others, however, do apply limits with ranges varying hugely from 7 kg (Qatar and Emirates) up to 23 kg (BA).
Where weighing hand luggage was once common for most airlines, especially in Europe, many since the pandemic have taken a more relaxed approach. That doesn’t mean they can’t whip out the scales whenever they feel like it though. Ultimately, if you want to be sure, you should stick to the specified limit for your airline – and don’t forget to check if you’re getting transfers too, especially with regional flights that often have much lower limits.
The UK government has strict rules around what you can take in your hand luggage. Generally speaking, you can take most things you’ll need for your journey. Foods including fruits are fine. If you’re taking baby foods and medicines it’s worth checking with the airline first to make sure they don’t breach liquid limits.
If you have support devices like crutches, a walking stick, a stroller or a wheelchair, you shouldn’t have any problems but let the airline know in advance, just to be sure. Restrictions around the 100ml limit on liquids are starting to ease as well. For example, at London City Airport you can now carry containers up to two litres in volume in your hand luggage.
Disclaimer: Prices and information are correct as of 13.07.2023 and may vary with time.
Duncan MaddenDuncan is a freelance travel writer, copywriter and book author in constant search of travel stories and the perpetual sensation of being on holiday. He’s never happier than when on a dusty trail in search of empty waves or ducking under the piste tape in search of snowbound solitude. British born, living in Germany, but happiest heading for the horizon. His first book, Found in Translation, explores the etymologies and stories of country names around the world and is out now.
