Luggage guide
Standard suitcase dimensions, the limits each airline publishes, and how bags are actually measured at the gate. Not sure how to measure? Jump to how to measure your bag. If you already know your dimensions, run them through the size checker.
Standard luggage classes
A handbag, laptop bag or small backpack. Almost never weighed, but it has to fit under the seat in front of you.
The standard carry-on size accepted by most airlines. Budget carriers cut this down, so check before you fly.
The most common checked bag. Comfortably inside the 158 cm total limit and usually under 23 kg when packed.
Close to the 158 cm total limit (157 cm). Easy to exceed the weight allowance before you run out of space.
Limits for a specific airline
Carry-on, personal item and checked baggage allowances are listed per carrier in the airline directory, with fees and cabin-class differences.
How to measure your bag
What to measure
Airlines quote limits in this order: width × height × depth. Match your numbers to theirs before you pack.
Turn your luggage to face you and measure from one side to the other at the widest point. Include any side pockets, zippers, or external features in your measurement.
Measure from the bottom (including wheels) to the top (including the handle when fully extended). This is the most critical measurement as it often determines if your bag fits in overhead compartments.
Place your suitcase on a flat surface and measure from front to back at the deepest point, including wheels and any external pockets. This is the dimension most often left out, and the one that gets bags rejected at the sizer.
First, weigh yourself on a bathroom scale, then weigh yourself holding the luggage. Subtract your weight from the combined weight to get your luggage weight. For more accuracy, use a luggage scale if available.
How bags are measured at the airport
Gates and check-in desks use a metal sizer frame. The bag has to drop in freely — if you have to push or the handle catches the rim, it counts as oversized and goes into the hold for a fee.
Excess & oversize fees (USD)
Typical ranges across major carriers, in US dollars. Paying online before departure is almost always cheaper than at the airport.
A gate-checked cabin bag is usually the most expensive mistake — it costs more than a hold bag booked in advance.
Understanding luggage size requirements
Airline baggage rules are one of the most frequent sources of stress at the airport. Gate agents measure bags, and an oversized carry-on can turn into a fee that costs more than the ticket. Knowing your dimensions before you leave home removes that risk entirely.
Carry-on luggage size restrictions
Most major airlines allow one cabin bag per passenger, typically 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 centimetres), including wheels and handles. Budget airlines in Europe such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet apply stricter limits, so check your airline before flying.
Per-carrier numbers are listed in the airline directory.
Checked baggage size & weight limits
- 62 linear inches (158 cm) for length + width + height
- Weight limits of 23 kg for economy class and up to 32 kg for business and first class
Some airlines charge overweight baggage fees, which can range from $50 to $200 per bag depending on route.
Soft-sided vs. hard-sided bags
Soft-sided luggage compresses slightly, which can help it pass a sizer, while hard-shell suitcases cannot flex. If you fly budget carriers often, a soft-sided bag is the safer choice.
Before you fly
- Measure and weigh every bag the night before
- Check your airline's own size and weight rules
- Weigh your suitcase with a portable luggage scale
- Pack heavier items in your checked bag where allowed
Know your dimensions? Check them against your airline
Enter width, height, depth and weight once, pick up to three airlines and see whether your bag passes as carry-on, personal item or checked baggage.
Open the size checker