What is the standard carry-on size that fits most airlines?

22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 cm) is the widely cited US standard. Most US airlines (American, United, Delta, JetBlue) accept this size. European airlines vary — many use 55 × 40 × 23 cm or 55 × 35 × 25 cm. A bag at 22 × 14 × 9 inches fits the majority of major carriers globally.

Which airline has the strictest carry-on size limit?

Among major carriers, Spirit Airlines (45 × 35 × 20 cm), Ryanair (55 × 40 × 20 cm for non-priority), and Frontier Airlines (35.5 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm) are among the most restrictive in terms of published limits or enforcement strictness.

What is 22×14×9 inches in centimeters?

22 × 14 × 9 inches converts to approximately 56 × 36 × 23 cm. This is the de facto US carry-on standard and is accepted by American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, and Southwest.

What carry-on bag works on both US and European airlines?

A bag that measures approximately 55 × 36 × 23 cm (just under the 56 × 36 × 23 cm US standard) fits the majority of US and European carriers. Avoid bags wider than 40 cm to stay within most European airline limits. A soft-sided bag near 40 liters is typically safe.

Do airlines measure carry-on bags at the gate?

Inconsistently. Budget airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, Spirit, Frontier) use bag sizers and enforce limits actively. Legacy carriers (American, United, Lufthansa) rarely measure bags unless they are visibly oversized. Enforcement increases on full flights.

Carry-On Luggage Size Chart: All Major Airlines (2026)

No single carry-on size works for every airline. The good news is that most major airlines cluster around a small number of standard dimensions, and understanding those clusters helps you pick one bag that covers the vast majority of your travel.

This guide provides a reference chart for 25+ major airlines, explains what the numbers mean in practice, and tells you how to pick the best universal carry-on bag.

Master Carry-On Size Chart (2026)

North American Airlines

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Notes
American Airlines	56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Also allows + "fits in overhead"
United Airlines	56 × 35 × 22 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Size template at some gates
Delta Air Lines	56 × 35 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Rarely enforced
Southwest Airlines	25 × 43 × 63.5 cm (10 × 17 × 25 in)	None	Any bag that fits overhead
JetBlue Airways	55.8 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Strict on full flights
Alaska Airlines	55.8 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Consistent with US standard
Spirit Airlines	45 × 35 × 20 cm (18 × 14 × 8 in)	None	Only personal item free; carry-on costs extra
Frontier Airlines	35.5 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm (14 × 14 × 9 in)	None	Only personal item free; carry-on costs extra
WestJet	51 × 43 × 23 cm (20 × 17 × 9 in)	10 kg	Canadian standard
Air Canada	55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.6 × 15.7 × 9 in)	None	Generous allowance

European Airlines

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Notes
Ryanair	55 × 40 × 20 cm (Priority)	10 kg	Non-priority: 40 × 20 × 25 cm under seat only
easyJet	56 × 45 × 25 cm	None	Non-priority: 45 × 36 × 20 cm
Wizz Air	55 × 40 × 23 cm	10 kg	Priority required for overhead
Lufthansa	55 × 40 × 23 cm	8 kg	Economy; Business gets 2 bags
British Airways	56 × 45 × 25 cm	None	No weight limit; rare among Europeans
Air France	55 × 35 × 25 cm	12 kg	Generous weight for Europe
KLM	55 × 35 × 25 cm	12 kg	Same as Air France
Swiss	55 × 40 × 23 cm	8 kg	Standard Lufthansa Group
Norwegian	55 × 40 × 23 cm	10 kg	LowFare: personal item only
Vueling	55 × 40 × 20 cm	10 kg
Iberia	56 × 45 × 25 cm	10 kg	Same as BA size
TAP Portugal	55 × 40 × 20 cm	8 kg
Turkish Airlines	55 × 40 × 23 cm	8 kg
Pegasus	55 × 40 × 20 cm	8 kg	Budget Turkish carrier

Asia-Pacific Airlines

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Notes
Singapore Airlines	55 × 38 × 20 cm	7 kg	Enforces strictly
ANA	55 × 40 × 25 cm	10 kg	Generous for Asian carrier
Japan Airlines	55 × 40 × 25 cm	10 kg	Same as ANA
Cathay Pacific	56 × 36 × 23 cm	7 kg	Strict enforcement
Qantas	56 × 36 × 23 cm	7 kg	Australian standard
Air New Zealand	55 × 42 × 27 cm	7 kg	Larger than most competitors
AirAsia	56 × 36 × 23 cm	7 kg	Enforced on busier routes

Middle East & African Airlines

Airline	Carry-On Size	Weight Limit	Notes
Emirates	55 × 38 × 20 cm	7 kg	Economy; 10 kg Business
Qatar Airways	50 × 37 × 25 cm	7 kg	Strict on weight
Etihad Airways	50 × 40 × 25 cm	7 kg	Economy
flydubai	55 × 38 × 20 cm	7 kg	Budget carrier under Emirates umbrella

What Does 22 × 14 × 9 Inches Actually Mean?

The 22 × 14 × 9 inch (56 × 36 × 23 cm) dimension is the de facto US carry-on standard. Here's what it means physically:

22 inches (56 cm) — height. This is the critical dimension. Most overhead bins on narrowbody jets (Boeing 737, Airbus A320) can accommodate bags up to about 22–23 inches tall. The 22" number includes wheels and handles.

14 inches (36 cm) — width. This is typically the widest the bag can be to fit in the bin when placed wheel-first. Some bins allow wider bags, but 14 inches is the conservative safe limit.

9 inches (23 cm) — depth. This determines how far the bag protrudes into the aisle when placed in the bin. 9 inches is the safe standard; some bins accommodate 25 cm (about 9.8 inches).

A bag measuring 22 × 14 × 9 inches sits toward the smaller end of what most overhead bins can physically hold. Many airlines measure to these exact limits for policy compliance.

The European Airline Dimension Puzzle

European airlines use centimeters and don't uniformly adopt the US 22 × 14 × 9 standard. Three common sizes dominate European aviation:

55 × 40 × 23 cm (Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish, Wizz Air, Norwegian) — This is wider than the US standard (40 cm vs. 36 cm) but slightly shorter. A bag at this size works on these carriers but may not comply with Air France/KLM which require a narrower 35 cm width.

55 × 35 × 25 cm (Air France, KLM, ITA Airways) — Narrower and deeper than the Lufthansa template. Bags designed for the 55 × 40 × 23 cm standard may exceed this width.

56 × 45 × 25 cm (British Airways, easyJet, Iberia) — The most generous common European size. Bags within this template work on nearly all European carriers.

How to Pick One Bag That Works Everywhere

No single bag size satisfies every airline simultaneously. But a bag that measures approximately:

Height: 55 cm or less (including wheels/handles)
Width: 36 cm or less
Depth: 23 cm or less

...will comply with the vast majority of major airlines globally, including US carriers, Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air France-KLM, and major Asian and Middle Eastern carriers.

The constraint is width. Air France/KLM require 35 cm; most US airlines allow 36 cm; Lufthansa allows 40 cm; BA allows 45 cm. Staying at or below 36 cm covers the widest possible range of airlines.

Soft bags are advantageous. A soft-sided bag measuring 56 × 36 × 23 cm can often flex slightly to pass through a 35 cm Ryanair-sized template. Rigid hard-shell cases have no give.

Weight is the wildcard. Asian and Middle Eastern carriers commonly enforce 7 kg limits. Keeping your total bag weight under 7 kg gives you coverage everywhere. This is very difficult with a full rolling suitcase (empty bags weigh 2–3 kg); a lightweight backpack or soft duffel is much more manageable.

Airlines That Charge Extra for Overhead Bins

Several ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) have moved to a model where even a standard carry-on bag requires a paid add-on:

Airline	Base Fare Includes	Overhead Bag
Spirit Airlines	1 personal item (free)	Extra charge
Frontier Airlines	1 personal item (free)	Extra charge
Allegiant Air	1 personal item (free)	Extra charge
Ryanair	1 under-seat bag (free)	Requires Priority ($)
Wizz Air	1 under-seat bag (free)	Requires Priority ($)

If you're flying these airlines, always factor in the carry-on fee when comparing total ticket prices against legacy carriers that include the overhead bag free.

Measurement Rules: What's Included

Nearly all airlines measure bags including wheels, handles, and pockets. Do not measure the bag body and ignore protruding parts:

Telescoping handle: included (when retracted)
Wheels: included — the full wheel assembly, not just the body
Side pockets: included if they add to the overall dimension
Top handles: typically not measured separately

When manufacturers list bag dimensions, they sometimes list the interior or body dimensions without wheels and handles. Always verify the "total" or "overall" dimensions including all protrusions before purchasing.

The Bottom Line

There is no universal carry-on size — but there is a zone of compatibility. A soft-sided bag measuring 55 × 36 × 23 cm or less, weighing under 7 kg when packed, gives you coverage on virtually every major airline globally. The 22 × 14 × 9 inch US standard is the practical target for North American travel; European travel requires more attention to the width dimension (some carriers allow 35 cm, others 45 cm). When in doubt, measure — and choose soft-sided for flexibility.