Luggage Sizes: Carry-On and Suitcase Dimensions
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.
Carry-on sizes at popular airlines
| Airline | Size | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 55 × 40 × 20 cm with Priority | 10 kg | All rules → |
| Wizz Air | 55 × 40 × 23 cm with WIZZ Priority | 10 kg | All rules → |
| easyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm large cabin bag, paid | 15 kg | All rules → |
| Turkish Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | All rules → |
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | All rules → |
| Emirates | 55 × 38 × 22 cm | 7 kg | All rules → |
For low-cost airlines the size is for the overhead bag, which you buy separately; the cheapest fare includes only an under-seat bag. Rules by fare are on each airline's page.
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
Visual Measurement Guide
Height (H) is top to bottom, width (W) side to side, depth (D) front to back. Airlines list them in exactly this order: 55 × 40 × 23 cm.
Measure the bag at its widest points, pockets included. Keep the tape straight.
Step-by-Step Measurement Guide
Stand the bag on its wheels and push the trolley handle all the way down. Measure from the floor to the highest point, usually the carry handle. This is the most important measurement: it often decides whether the bag fits in the overhead bin.
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.
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.
Common Measurement Mistakes to Avoid
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.
What extra bags and excess weight cost
Real fees from four airlines, checked on their own websites. Paying online before you fly is usually cheaper than at the airport.
Prices from each airline’s own site. They change with route and date.
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 bag's measurements at home makes that risk much smaller.
Carry-on luggage size restrictions
The most common carry-on limit is 55 × 40 × 23 cm. US airlines usually allow 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in). European low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet allow less, so check your airline before you fly.
Per-carrier numbers are listed in the airline directory, and how to measure a bag explains where to hold the tape so your figures match the airline's.
Checked baggage size & weight limits
- 62 linear inches (158 cm) for height + width + depth
- Weight limits of 23 kg for economy class and up to 32 kg for business and first class
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 height, width, 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 checkerFrequently Asked Questions
Do I include wheels and handles in my measurements?
Include wheels, side handles and external pockets: airlines measure the outside of the bag as it sits in the sizer. Push the trolley handle all the way down first; it is never measured extended.
In what order are bag dimensions written?
Height × width × depth. A limit of 55 × 40 × 23 cm means 55 cm tall, 40 cm wide and 23 cm deep. US airlines write the same order in inches, such as 22 × 14 × 9 in.
What units should I use to measure my luggage?
Measure in the unit your airline publishes. Most airlines use centimetres and kilograms; US airlines use inches and pounds. Our checker accepts both and converts between them.
How accurate do my measurements need to be?
Round up to the next whole centimetre or half inch. Sizers are rigid frames, so a bag that is 1 cm over can be sent to the hold and charged at the gate.
What if my soft-sided luggage can expand?
Measure it packed, with the expansion zip closed. The depth of a full soft bag can grow by several centimetres, and that is the side that most often fails the sizer.