How Much Can a Carry on Bag Weigh
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When y'all travel with just carry-on baggage you avoid airline luggage fees, the chance of having your numberless lost, and long waits at the baggage carousel on arrival.
To make sure yous can have your pocketbook on the plane, though, you lot need to be familiar with airline restrictions every bit merely bags of a certain size and weight are allowed.
We've been travelling the earth full-time for over 10 years with carry-on luggage merely. In this post we share our tips for dealing with airline limits including the carry on baggage size and weights allowed and how strict airlines really are.
Contents
- Acquit On Luggage Size
- How Strict Are Airlines With Carry On Size?
- Recommended Carry-On Luggage
- Carry On Luggage Weight
- Additional Personal Detail
- List of Airline Conduct On Luggage Size and Weight Allowances
- N America
- Europe
- Asia
- Oceania
- Resources for Travelling Carry-On Merely
This post was originally published in July 2022 and last updated in Baronial 2020.
Conduct On Luggage Size
How big can a carry on be?
The most commonly allowed airline carry on size is 56 ten 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 ten nine inches) including all handles, side pockets, and wheels.
This varies by airline, though, with some assuasive slightly larger or smaller numberless, then bank check with the airline yous program to travel with. We've included a list of carry on luggage dimensions for many airlines at the end of this post.
Airlines have baggage sizers at the gate and while boarding the plane they could ask y'all to place your bag inside. If it doesn't fit, you could be forced to check the bag in the luggage concord (and near airlines accuse fees for this).
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We've establish that most airlines aren't likewise strict nearly the exact size of carry on luggage.
In over x years we've never had our bags measured, although our luggage has been a piffling over the size restrictions of some airlines such equally Ryanair.
Information technology has helped that for nearly of that time we've travelled with backpacks, which are less likely to describe the attention of airline staff than suitcases.
It's best to try to board the aeroplane as early every bit possible as space in the overhead bins tin run out, and some budget airlines (like Ryanair and Easyjet) don't guarantee that at that place will be space for your cabin luggage even if you lot meet the restrictions.
Nosotros've never had an issue with this, simply if y'all are worried, you might want to pay extra for priority boarding, which many budget airlines offer. We do find this worth the upgrade as it reduces stress about whether your bag volition brand it on or not, plus in that location's less waiting to become on the plane.
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To be sure y'all can have your purse on the plane, it'southward best to choose baggage that fits the restrictions of the airlines you lot'll be travelling on. See the list of allowed sizes at the finish of this post.
Haversack
If y'all'll be travelling with a haversack, look for one in the range of xxx to 45 litres, merely practice cheque the dimensions too, and be aware that overpacking can make the haversack expand over the stated measurements.
We recommend the Tortuga Setout 45L backpack if you're looking for the maximum deport on size or the Osprey Farpoint 40 for something a flake smaller for stricter airlines.
See our Tortuga Setout Backpack review for more than details.
Suitcase
Later on nearly a decade of travel with backpacks, we recently switched to carry on size suitcases.
I have the Away Bigger Acquit-On which is technically larger than most airlines permit (at 22.7 10 xiv.7 x 9.six inches), only it was designed to fit in the sizers of near United states of america airlines (which are actually a little larger than they say).
This is the best choice if you want to maximise the amount so you lot can have on the plane, but there is a gamble yous'll exist asked to bank check it in. I haven't had any problems so far.
For a smaller, safer option, cheque out the Away Carry-On. This measures 21.7 x 13.7 x nine inches and is designed to meet the carry on requirements for as many airlines as possible.
Simon has a smaller suitcase, the Samsonite Base Boost Spinner 55cm, which is lighter and cheaper than the Away suitcase but not as robust or easy to manoeuvre. He plans to buy an Abroad Bigger Carry-On before long.
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Carry On Luggage Weight
While US domestic airlines don't normally have weight limits, the rest of the globe does. Cabin baggage usually has a weight restriction from v kg to 12 kg, with most airlines in Asia and Australia limiting information technology to 7 kg.
This is a big concern for many people, as by the time you lot've added upwardly the weight of your handbag and perhaps a laptop, it doesn't leave much for other things.
The weight of our baggage varies, but it is ofttimes over ten kg, so we are over the limits for most airlines nosotros fly.
Do airlines weigh acquit on bags?
In over x years of full-time travel, our carry-ons accept but been weighed twice. Virtually of the time we find that airlines don't bother, but that's partly because we follow the tips below.
We aim non to describe attention to ourselves—if the pocketbook doesn't look large and heavy then the airline is less likely to counterbalance it.
It was easier when nosotros travelled with a haversack rather than a suitcase, which are more than conspicuous and look heavier. Backpacks also tend to use up less of your weight limit than heavier suitcases.
There are a few things you tin practice to help reduce the weight of your luggage and avoid getting it weighed at the airport:
Check in online – Print your boarding pass in advance (nosotros apply hotels or cyberspace cafes or salve it on our phone if the airline allows it), so yous can avoid the check-in desk and become direct to security. The check-in desk-bound is where your bag is most likely to exist weighed.
Use your personal item – If you have to use the check-in desk and the airline allows an extra personal item (encounter below for details), remove something heavy from your bag similar a laptop, camera, or packing cube while you are checking in. You tin always put it dorsum in your bag later on.
You could also exercise this if you lot get weighed at the gate—there'southward no need to check your luggage if you lot haven't maximised your personal item allowance. Virtually airlines don't include your personal detail in the weight limit simply a few do, so ever check before y'all fly.
Wear it – Clothing your heaviest clothes and shoes on the plane—nosotros did this for a ski trip to Finland. If information technology's too warm to wearable your jumper or jacket, carry it or tie it around your waist rather than pack information technology.
Compress – Be careful how yous pack your bag so it doesn't look as well bulky. Utilise packing cubes or compression numberless to reduce the size of your clothes and compress the straps on the outside of your haversack to make information technology smaller. If it doesn't wait big, the airline is less probable to weigh it.
One handbag – If you lot travel with merely one bag y'all'll be less conspicuous—the aim is non to describe attention to yourself. The airline is more likely to weigh the bags of people who await loaded down with luggage.
Fill your pockets – If the airline is actually strict you could fill your pockets with some of your heavier items—cargo pants or a jacket with pockets would be platonic. We've never had to practise this but Benny Lewis managed to carry on 15 kg of gear in his jacket!
Beg! – One time when our backpacks were weighed while checking-in for a domestic flight in Thailand, they were establish to exist overweight. We politely explained to the staff member that we couldn't bank check our bags as they were full of laptops and cameras. They let us take them with united states of america, with a warning that we might be stopped at the gate (we weren't). It's always worth asking (nicely, of course).
The worst case scenario is that your bag gets weighed and you're forced to bank check it in. Have a fill-in plan for this situation if y'all don't already accept a second personal item.
The but fourth dimension we've had to check our baggage was on a tiny seaplane in the Maldives. When that happened we moved our valuables (laptops and camera) to our packable daypack and tote purse that we normally shop in our main bags and used those as our behave-on luggage.
Don't let the weight upshot stop you travelling with a carry-on. Endeavour to go along the weight downwards, apply some of the above tips, and remember that if yous do end up having to cheque it in, information technology'south unlikely to happen on every flying, and it'south still ameliorate than checking your luggage all the time.
Note: One airline that does regularly counterbalance hand luggage at the gate is Jetstar in Australia and Asia. They only allow 7 kg combined weight for your cabin bag and personal item and will charge yous AUD $l-160 to cheque in over the limit bags at the gate. We travelled with them on a domestic flying in Vietnam without a problem though.
Additional Personal Item
Most airlines allow one piece of carry-on luggage plus an additional personal particular which must fit under the seat in front of you.
Some airlines allow any small purse including a backpack, pocketbook, laptop case, or shoulder pocketbook, while others but allow a small purse or pocketbook. Check with the airline you'll exist travelling with for the size and weight restrictions on personal items.
A few airlines don't allow personal items, so we used to manage without a 2d bag. Instead nosotros used a packable haversack as a twenty-four hours bag that we packed inside Simon's backpack when needed and took out when a personal particular was immune.
Nosotros now travel with a suitcase plus personal item each—see our bear on packing list for details of why we changed.
For our personal items, I accept the Abroad Everywhere Handbag and Simon has the Tortuga Setout Laptop Pocketbook. They both take sleeves that pass through our suitcase handles so we don't demand to carry them—this makes airports so easy.
In add-on to your carry-on and personal item, some airlines allow actress articles such as a jacket, umbrella, small-scale bag of nutrient, and purse of duty-free items. Cheque with the airline every bit allowances vary. If weight is a business organization carry rather than pack these things.
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These are the conduct on luggage dimensions and weights allowed for your primary piece of motel baggage on major airlines.
A smaller personal item is besides immune unless I've stated otherwise—check with the airline for the size.
These are the allowances for flying economic system. Extra bags may be immune if flying premium economy, concern, or starting time class.
Luggage rules do change, and then check the airline'southward website before you fly.
Note that because of coronavirus, a few airlines (such at Turkish Airlines) take stopped allowing large carry-on luggage in 2022 and only small bags that fit under the seat are allowed.
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US airlines have the nearly generous carry-on size allowances, ofttimes with no weight limit.
There is no TSA carry on size—the luggage allowances are set past each airline.
Aeromexico: 21.5 x fifteen.7 x 10 inches (55 x 40 x 25 cm), 22 lb (x kg).
Air Canada: 21.5 ten 15.5 x nine inches (55 ten xl 10 23 cm), no weight limit.
Alaska Airlines: 22 ten 14 x nine inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), no weight limit.
American Airlines: 22 x 14 x nine inches (56 ten 36 x 23 cm), no weight limit.
Delta: 22 x xiv x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), no weight limit.
JetBlue Airways: 22 x 14 10 9 inches (56 ten 36 ten 23 cm), no weight limit.
Southwest Airlines: 24 x 16 10 ten inches (61 x 41 x 25 cm), no weight limit.
Spirit Airlines: 18 x fourteen x viii inches (45 ten 35 ten 20 cm). You can also pay to take a larger carry-on of 22 x 18 ten 10 inches (56 x 46 x 25 cm). No weight limit.
United: 22 x xiv x ix inches (56 ten 36 x 23 cm), no weight limit. If yous travel on a Bones Economy ticket domestically, you can only take a personal detail or pay $25 for a large acquit-on.
Volaris: I personal item of 14 ten 8 x viii inches (36 x 20 x 20 cm) is immune, and you tin can pay for a larger carry-on of 22 x 16 x 10 inches (56 10 41 x 25 cm).
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European airlines tend to be stricter than United states of america airlines, especially about luggage weight and personal items (which are sometimes not allowed). Avoid getting your pocketbook weighed if possible (see the tips above).
Aeroflot: 55 ten 40 x 25 cm (22 x 16 x ten inches), 10 kg (22 lb).
Air Berlin: 55 x 40 ten twenty cm (22 x 16 x 8 inches), 8 kg (18 lb). Personal item can be a laptop or bag upward to 2 kg (four.4 lb).
Air France: 55 x 35 10 25 cm (22 x 14 x 10 inches), 12 kg (26 lb).
Alitalia: 55 x 35 ten 25 cm (22 x 14 x 10 inches), 8 kg (18 lb).
British Airways: 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x eighteen x 10 inches), 23 kg (51 lb).
EasyJet: 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 ten x inches), no weight limit. No personal particular unless you're an easyJet Plus cardholder, Flexi fare, Upfront, or Actress Legroom customer.
Jet2: 56 ten 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x x inches), 10 kg (22 lb).
KLM: 55 x 35 x 25 cm (22 x 14 x 10 inches), 12 kg (26 lb).
Lufthansa: 55 x 40 ten 23 cm (22 x sixteen ten 9 inches), 8 kg (xviii lb).
Norwegian: 55 x 40 x 23 cm (22 x 16 10 9 inches), 10 kg (22 lb).
Ryanair: Merely pocket-size bags of 40 ten 20 x 25 cm are immune for complimentary. You must pay extra to take a large purse of 55 x 40 x 20 cm (22 x 16 10 eight inches) weighing upwards to 10 kg (22 lb), which includes priority boarding.
Scandinavian Airlines: 55 x xl x 23 cm (22 ten 16 x 9 inches), eight kg (xviii lb).
Turkish Airlines: Ordinarily 55 ten 40 10 23 cm (22 x 16 x nine inches), 8 kg (eighteen lb). In 2020, only personal items are allowed.
Virgin Atlantic: 56 ten 36 10 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches), x kg (22 lb).
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The weight restrictions on airlines in Asia are even stricter than in Europe.
Air Asia: 56 ten 36 10 23 cm (22 10 14 ten 9 inches), 7 kg (15 lb).
Air China: 55 x 40 10 20 cm (22 10 16 x viii inches), 5 kg (11 lb). No personal item.
Air Republic of india: 55 ten twoscore x 20 cm (22 x 16 ten viii inches), 8 kg (18 lb).
Cathay Pacific: 56 ten 36 x 23 cm (22 ten fourteen x 9 inches), vii kg (15 lb).
Emirates: 55 x 38 ten 20 cm (22 x 15 x 8 inches), 7 kg (xv lb). No personal item.
Nippon Airlines: 55 x 40 x 25 cm (22 ten 16 x ten inches), ten kg (22 lb).
Lion Air: 40 10 30 x 20 cm (16 x 12 x eight inches), vii kg (xv lb). No personal item except a pocket-sized bag or camera.
Qatar Airways: fifty x 37 x 25 cm (20 x xv x 10 inches), 7 kg (15 lb). No personal item except a modest purse, briefcase, or camera.
Singapore Airlines: 56 ten 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 10 9 inches), seven kg (15 lb).
Thai Airways: 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 10 ten inches), vii kg (15 lb).
Tigerair (Asia): 54 x 38 10 23 cm (21 x 15 x 9 inches), x kg (22 lb) including personal item.
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As in Asia, weight limits are low.
Air New Zealand: Non exceeding total linear dimensions (length + width + height) of 118 cm (46.5 inches), 7 kg (fifteen lb).
Jetstar: 56 x 36 10 23 cm (22 x 14 10 9 inches), 7 kg (15 lb). They regularly counterbalance paw baggage at the gate and accuse high fees to check in overweight bags. You can pay actress for a 14kg (xxx lb) assart.
Qantas: 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x nine inches), 7 kg (15 lb).
Tigerair (Australia): 54 x 38 x 23 cm (21 x fifteen x 9 inches), vii kg (xv lb). No personal particular except a pocket-sized purse, tablet, or coat (included in weight assart). Yous can pay for Cabin+ to increase the weight limit to 12 kg.
Virgin Australia (Domestic and brusk haul): Two pocket-sized bags 48 10 34 x 23 cm (19 x 13 ten 9 inches), combined weight vii kg (xv lb).
Virgin Australia (International long haul): 56 ten 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 ten 9 inches), 7 kg (15 lb).
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Resources for Travelling Bear-On Only
If you'd similar to learn more than about how to travel carry-on only, see my book,The Carry-On Traveller: The Ultimate Guide to Packing Light, which is bachelor for Kindle or paperback on Amazon.
Yous tin can besides see our other posts virtually packing calorie-free:
- Our Behave-On Packing Listing (Updated)
- Behave-On Travel in 10 Easy Steps
- Allbirds Review: The Best Travel Shoes
- How to Pack Carry-On Only For Cold Weather
- Ski Trip Packing List
If you enjoyed this mail service, pin information technology!
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Source: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/how-to-travel-carry-on-only-airline-size-and-weight-guide/
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