How Big Can Carry On Luggage Be? A Guide to Airline Regulations

As a seasoned traveler who is constantly jetting between China, the US, and the UK, I feel like I spend my whole life packing, unpacking, or sitting in airports. After years of experience lugging suitcases around the world, I’ve become an expert on carry on luggage regulations for major airlines.

At LuggageUnpacked, we review different types of luggage from an experienced point of view. When it comes to reviewing carry on bags, understanding size restrictions is crucial. Nothing is worse than having your bag turned away at the gate when you’re rushing to catch a flight!

To help fellow travelers avoid hassle and navigate changing airline rules, here is a comprehensive guide on carry on luggage size regulations.

The Basics: Standard Carry On Size

Most major airlines follow a standard carry on size limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. This includes the handles and wheels. Airlines are quite strict about these maximum dimensions, and may use sizers at check-in and at the gate to ensure bags comply.

Some key things to know about the standard carry on size:

• It must fit in the overhead bin. The main purpose of carry on regulations is ensuring your bag can safely fit in the aircraft’s cabin storage. Overhead bin space is limited.
• Wheeled vs. non-wheeled makes a difference. Wheeled carry on bags get more leeway than non-wheeled bags like duffels. Even if it fits in the sizer, a floppy duffel is more likely to get gate checked.
• Personal items have different rules. Most airlines allow an additional small personal item like a purse or laptop bag. These usually just need to fit under the seat in front.

While the standard carry on size is a good baseline, regulations do vary between airlines. Read on for a breakdown of rules on popular US and international carriers.

Carry On Size Regulations by Airline

United Airlines

On United flights, carry on bags cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches. United is quite generous with its sizing, allowing wheels and handles to go beyond the stated dimensions as long as the main body of the bag fits. You can bring a personal item up to 17 x 10 x 9 inches.

Tips for Flying United:

• Use their sizer tool to check your bag in advance
• Soft-sided bags have more flex room than hard shells
• If gate agents say it’s too big, politely ask if it can be checked at the gate instead of having to go back to the main counter

Delta Air Lines

For domestic Delta flights, carry on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Basic Economy tickets only allow one carry on item. Delta planes have smaller overhead bins than other airlines, so even if your bag is the standard size, it may need to be gate checked on full flights.

Tips for Flying Delta:

• Review Delta’s carry-on policy before packing
• Try to get Early Bird check-in for early boarding if you really need your carry on
• If there’s no space left, your bag will be gate checked to your final destination for free

American Airlines

American Airlines allows carry on luggage up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches for domestic flights. You can also bring one personal item like a purse or laptop bag. Size limits are strictly enforced at the gate by agents with sizers.

Tips for Flying American:

• Pay for priority boarding to ensure overhead space
• Pack essentials like medication in your personal item in case the carry on gets gate checked
• American offers free gate checking if your carry on is compliant but won’t fit

British Airways

For British Airways, the maximum carry on size is 56 x 45 x 25 cm. That converts to about 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 inches. You can also bring a personal item up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Laptop bags, handbags, and airport duty free shopping generally don’t count.

Tips for Flying British Airways:

• Review BA’s baggage policies before your flight
• Even if it’s in the sizer, beware overstuffed or oddly shaped bags
• BA is quite strict on bags that “just fit” – leave some extra room if possible

Air Canada

Air Canada’s carry on size limit is 23 x 16 x 13 inches for passengers flying in economy class. This is one of the most generous allowances of major airlines. You can also bring a personal item like a purse or backpack up to 16 x 13 x 6 inches.

Tips for Flying Air Canada:

• Use their carry-on sizer to check your bag before leaving home
• Even with size limits, full flights may lead to gate checking
• Attach the free Air Canada luggage tags to your carry on and personal item

Qantas

Qantas, the flag carrier of Australia, allows carry on bags up to 22 x 15 x 9 inches on international flights. You can also pack a personal item like a handbag or briefcase. Domestic Qantas flights have a stricter limit of 22 x 13 x 9 inches.

Tips for Flying Qantas:

• Review Qantas’ carry on baggage policy before packing
• Use their online sizer to check your bag’s dimensions
• On busy domestic flights, you may need to gate check even if within the size limits

Bags I Use

Little Trips

My go-to is the Travel Duffel Bag from HYC00 – it’s a soft-sided weekender-style bag that works great as a gym/sports bag or overnight carry on.

I like the duffel’s large capacity of 30L which lets me pack light for shorter trips of about a week. The bag has a shoe compartment, interior pockets, and a matching toiletry kit to keep everything organized. The high density material even separates wet and dry items.

While the Travel Duffel is marketed as a women’s bag, I don’t mind the black colorway and find it very functional. The shoulder strap is adjustable so I can carry it crossbody or over one shoulder.

[amazon box=”B07YS438FV”]

Longer Trips

For longer trips or when I need to pack suits, I switch to my tried-and-true Samsonite Winfield 2 carry on spinner. This hard-shell bag gives me 20 inches of packing space while staying within most airline size limits.

The durable polycarbonate shell keeps all my belongings protected. I love the multi-directional spinner wheels that make this carry on super smooth to maneuver around airports and hotel hallways. The side-mounted TSA lock gives me peace of mind when checking this bag.

[amazon box=”B00EALLN42″]

Having both soft and hard-sided carry on options at my disposal ensures I’m prepared for any packing scenario when traveling internationally. I can recommend both bags as high-quality luggage that has withstood the rigors of my frequent flyer lifestyle. The HYC00 duffel and Samsonite spinner are carry on essentials for me!

Tips for Picking the Perfect Carry On Bag

• Prioritize wheels and handles. Since they often extend outside the sizer, wheeled carry on bags with handles give you some extra room.
• Get soft sides. Bags with some flexibility can squeeze into sizers better than hard shells. But they are more prone to getting gate checked when overhead bins are full.
• Keep it light. The lighter your carry on, the less likely you are to get hit with overweight fees at the gate. Shoot for under 10 pounds if possible.
• Attach tags or identifiers. Put your contact info inside and attach airline luggage tags or other ID to the outside so your carry on can be easily returned if lost or gate checked.
• Know your airline’s policies. Even if your carry on is standard size, stricter airlines may gate check it on full flights. Do your homework before packing!

In Summary

I hope this guide has helped shed some light on carry on size regulations across major airlines! While the standard dimensions are 22 x 14 x 9 inches, airline rules vary quite a bit. Do your research before packing for a smooth airport experience. At LuggageUnpacked, we’re here to help with tips and recommendations for the best carry on luggage. Safe travels!