Measure the outside
Measure the bag at its widest, tallest, and deepest points. Wheels, handles, protective feet, exterior pockets, and anything that sticks out count toward the real space your bag occupies.
Free airline baggage checker
Will Your Carry-On Fit?
Check your luggage dimensions against published carry-on and personal-item limits from 55 major airlines. See size, optional weight, fit margin, and the airline’s official baggage policy before you fly.
✓ Free to use✓ Inches or centimeters✓ Orientation-aware
Carry-on checker
Check your bag
Use the bag's total outside measurements, including wheels, handles, side pockets, and other protruding parts.
✓ Official sourcesLimits are based on airline-published baggage policies.
✓ Human reviewedAirline records are checked individually, not copied blindly.
◉ Private calculationsYour bag measurements stay in your browser.
↗ Source includedEvery supported result links back to the airline policy.
Where our data comes from
Built on airline-published baggage rules.
CarryOnChecker uses baggage allowances published by airlines on their official websites as its primary source. We record dimensional limits, weight limits when a clear standard is published, personal-item allowances where available, and relevant fare or policy notes.
Airline policies can change at any time. That is why each supported result shows when the airline record was reviewed and includes a direct link to the airline's current baggage policy for final verification.
Learn how we verify airline policies ↓55airlines tracked
Officialprimary sources
Humanpolicy review
Carry-on guide
Measure once. Avoid surprises later.
Carry-on rules sound simple until airlines use different dimension orders, fare rules, and weight policies. These are the details that matter most.
Dimensions can be reordered
Airlines do not always publish measurements in the same length × width × height order. The checker can test reasonable rotations of your bag instead of rejecting a bag simply because two labels were reversed.
Size and weight are different rules
A bag can fit the published dimensions and still exceed a weight limit. Weight enforcement varies substantially by airline and route, so add weight whenever you know it.
What counts as a carry-on bag?
A carry-on is luggage you take through security and into the aircraft cabin rather than checking into the cargo hold. Most airlines limit its outside dimensions so it can fit in an overhead bin. A personal item is usually a smaller bag—such as a purse, laptop bag, compact backpack, or briefcase—that must fit under the seat in front of you.
There is no single worldwide carry-on standard. Many U.S. carriers use limits close to 22 × 14 × 9 inches, but that is a common pattern rather than a universal rule. International and low-cost airlines can use smaller limits, enforce weight more strictly, or treat cabin bags differently depending on the fare purchased.
Why a bag can fit one airline and fail another
Aircraft type, overhead-bin design, airline operating practices, and fare structure all influence baggage rules. Even when two airlines publish similar limits, one may impose a cabin weight maximum while another does not publish a standard weight cap. Some basic fares also restrict the number or type of bags allowed.
Soft-sided vs. hard-shell luggage
Soft bags can compress, but travelers should not rely on aggressive squeezing to make an oversized bag compliant. Airline sizers are physical frames: if the bag cannot fit naturally, staff may require it to be checked. Hard-shell luggage is easier to measure consistently, but wheels and handles can make its real outside dimensions larger than the shell itself.
Carry-on vs. personal item
A carry-on is generally designed for the overhead bin, while a personal item is intended to fit beneath the seat. Airlines can publish separate size limits, and some fares include a personal item but not a full-size carry-on.
Carry-on weight limits
Dimensional fit does not override a published weight restriction. Some airlines focus primarily on size, while others publish cabin-bag weight caps. If you know your packed weight, enter it so the checker can evaluate both rules independently.
International carry-on sizes
Do not assume a suitcase that works on a domestic U.S. flight will meet every international carrier's rules. Cabin limits can vary significantly by airline and fare, so recheck the operating carrier whenever an itinerary includes multiple airlines.
Common mistakes
Small details that cause gate problems
Ignoring wheels
The wheel housing often adds an inch or more to the actual height.
Measuring an empty bag
Soft luggage and exterior pockets can expand after packing.
Assuming every fare includes a carry-on
Some restrictive fares include only a personal item.
Using an old baggage rule
Policies change. Verify the airline's current page before an important trip.
FAQ
Carry-on questions, answered
What is the standard carry-on size?+
There is no universal carry-on size. Many U.S. airlines publish limits around 22 × 14 × 9 inches, but other carriers may use smaller dimensions or additional weight limits. Use the checker for the airline you are actually flying.
Do wheels and handles count in carry-on dimensions?+
Yes. Measure the total outside size of your packed bag, including wheels, fixed handles, feet, exterior pockets, and other protrusions.
Can a backpack be a carry-on?+
Usually, yes, if the packed backpack stays within the airline's carry-on dimensions and your fare includes a carry-on. A smaller backpack may instead qualify as a personal item.
What is considered a personal item?+
A personal item is generally the smaller bag intended to fit under the seat in front of you, such as a purse, laptop bag, briefcase, or compact backpack. Exact limits depend on the airline and fare.
Can a duffel bag be a carry-on?+
Yes, provided the packed duffel fits within the airline's published size limit. Measure it fully packed because soft-sided bags can bulge.
Do airlines actually measure carry-on bags?+
They can. Enforcement varies by airline, airport, route, fare, and staff. A bag that appears oversized may be placed in a physical sizer.
Do airlines weigh carry-on luggage?+
Some do. Weight checks are more common on certain international and low-cost carriers. When a standard weight limit is published and you enter your bag's weight, CarryOnChecker evaluates it separately from size.
What happens if my carry-on is too large?+
The airline may require the bag to be checked, and baggage or gate-check fees may apply. Use the official baggage-policy link in your result to confirm the current rule.
Are international carry-on sizes smaller?+
They can be. There is no single international standard, and some carriers use smaller dimensional limits or stricter weight caps than common U.S. allowances.
Why do airline carry-on limits differ?+
Airlines operate different aircraft, cabin configurations, fare products, and baggage programs, which can produce different size, weight, and quantity limits.
Can I rotate my bag to fit the luggage sizer?+
For a rectangular bag, orientation can matter. CarryOnChecker tests valid rotations because airlines and luggage manufacturers do not always label length, width, and height in the same order.
Do soft-sided bags have to fit completely?+
Plan for the packed bag to fit within the published dimensions without relying on aggressive compression. Measure soft bags fully packed at their outermost points.
What if my bag is exactly the maximum size?+
An exact match is within the published dimensional limit, and CarryOnChecker treats it as a fit. It is still a very tight fit, so measure carefully.
Is a laptop bag considered a personal item?+
Often, but not automatically. It must meet the selected airline's personal-item allowance and your fare must permit that item.
Can I bring both a backpack and a carry-on?+
Many fares allow one carry-on plus one personal item, in which case a small backpack may serve as the personal item. Restrictive fares can differ.
Are basic-economy carry-on rules different?+
They can be. Some airlines restrict cabin-bag allowances by fare family, route, or membership status. Confirm what your specific ticket includes.
Does TSA determine carry-on size?+
No. In the United States, TSA controls aviation security screening and prohibited items, while airlines establish their own baggage size, weight, quantity, and fare rules.
How should I measure my suitcase?+
Pack and close the bag first. Measure the three outside dimensions at their widest points, including wheels, handles, feet, pockets, and other protrusions.
Why does CarryOnChecker rotate dimensions?+
Airlines and luggage makers sometimes use different labels for the same three physical axes. CarryOnChecker can test valid rectangular orientations so a bag is not rejected simply because two labels are reversed.
How often are airline limits updated?+
Our curated 55-airline database stores a review date and an official airline policy link for each record. Policies can change between reviews, so each result includes the source and a correction option.
About CarryOnChecker
A simple checker should still explain its work.
Why it exists: airline baggage rules are scattered across dozens of websites and are not always described in the same way. CarryOnChecker turns those published requirements into a consistent comparison.
What it does: the tool compares the outside dimensions you enter with the selected airline's stored published limit. When rotation is enabled, it checks valid rectangular orientations instead of assuming every airline and luggage maker labels length, width, and height identically. Weight is evaluated separately when both values are available.
What it does not do: CarryOnChecker is not an airline, travel agency, or baggage manufacturer and cannot approve a bag for travel. The airline has final authority over acceptance, fares, routes, aircraft, and enforcement.
Editorial & data policy
How we maintain airline information
Our goal is to make baggage rules easier to compare without hiding where the information came from or overstating what the checker can guarantee.
Primary sources
We use airline-operated websites and official baggage-policy pages as our primary sources for airline-specific limits.
Human verification
Airline requirements are reviewed individually rather than automatically copied from third-party baggage databases.
What we record
We record carry-on dimensions, personal-item dimensions where clearly published, standard weight restrictions, relevant policy notes, and the official source link.
Ongoing updates
Policies are periodically rechecked. Each airline record includes the date its information was most recently reviewed.
Corrections policy
Found something that changed?
Airline policies sometimes change between our reviews. If information on CarryOnChecker differs from an airline's current published policy, tell us what changed and, if possible, include the official source. We review reports against the airline's own policy before changing the database.
Privacy first
Your measurements stay yours.
CarryOnChecker does not require an account, name, email address, or travel itinerary to check a bag. The bag dimensions you enter are processed locally in your browser and are not stored by CarryOnChecker. See our Privacy Policy for details about the site's analytics, advertising, and other web technologies.