With so many airlines charging for checked luggage, more and more people are trying to stuff as much as they can into their carry-on and personal bags. However, even that isn’t easy—there are no set standards for bag sizes. What may ‘count’ as a carry-on bag on one airline might need to be gate-checked on another because it’s too big.
To help avoid that problem, here are the most recently updated regulations for the size of carry-on and personal bags.
To clarify (I know you know…but just in case), carry-on bags are the ones that go into the overhead compartment. These are typically hard or soft-sided suitcases, duffel bags, satchels, garment bags, musical instruments, or pet carriers (which go under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin). Personal bags are smaller and are supposed to go under the seat in front of you. With rare exceptions, you can only bring one of each and there’s no guarantee that a carry-on bag will be allowed onto a plane – if you’re told there’s no room in the overhead, you may have to gate check it.
Some other items, such as diaper bags, child-safety seats, duty-free merchandise, jackets/coats, umbrellas, food & drink purchased in the terminal, and medical and mobility devices usually may be allowed in addition to your carry-on and personal bags, but it varies from airline to airline.
The measurement dimensions below are for height x length x width (just like you learned in math class, forever ago) and all include the space taken up by handles and wheels.
Alaska Airlines
Carry-on: 22″ x 14″ x 9″
Personal item: exact measurement is not given
Notes: On Alaska Airlines, personal items are only defined as a “purse, briefcase or laptop bag.” Years ago, they used to include “medically necessary items” as a personal item but have since changed the rule and you can bring your CPAP, crutches, breast pump etc. into the cabin without it counting towards your carry-on limit (I figure someone sued about that one LOL).
Fun Fact: Alaska Airlines’s carry-on bag limitation used to be a generous 24″ x 17″ x 10” but they changed that to the above specifications in 2018.
Allegiant
Carry-on: 22″ x 16″ x 10″
Personal item: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Notes: Allegiant charges for carry-on items. Jackets, “small” umbrellas, food, and diaper bags do not count as personal items.
Fun Fact: Allegiant’s carry-on bag limitation used to be 22″ x 14″ x 9″, and their personal bags could only be up to 16″ x 15″ x 7″. but they increased both to the specifications above in March 2023.
American Airlines
Carry-on: 22″ x 14″ x 9″ (if you bring a soft-sided garment bag in lieu of a carry-on, it cannot exceed 51 inches ((length + width + height)
Personal item: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Notes: Diaper bags (1 per child), soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don’t count as your personal item or carry-on.
Delta
Carry-on: 22″ x 14″ x 9″
Personal item: exact measurement is not given.
Notes: Among other items, a diaper bag counts as a carry-on item (C’mon, Delta…really? Although to their credit, I’ve heard that some [NOT ALL!] gate agents will let diaper bags go as an extra. At least some of them have common sense. #rolleyes).
Frontier
Carry-on: 24″ x 16″ x 10″
Personal item: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Notes: Frontier charges for carry-on items. Diaper bags, canes, coats, assistive devices, and foot rugs used during prayer don’t count as personal items.
Hawaiian Airlines
Carry-on: 22″ x 14″ x 9″, 25 pound limit
Personal item: exact measurement is not given.
Notes: Hawaiian Airlines specifies that personal items must fit under the seat in front of you. Gate check is reserved for strollers, car seats, and wheelchairs. (Wagons are not eligible for gate check—more info here.)
JetBlue
Carry-on: 22″ x 14″ x 9″
Personal item: 17″ x 13″ x 8″
Notes: Musical instruments count as a carry-on item.
Fun fact: Camera, film, and other video production equipment used to be accepted in the cabin on a space-available basis but no longer are.
Southwest
Carry-on: 24″ x 16″ x 10″
Personal item: exact measurement not given.
Notes: Southwest used to be pretty vague about their personal item dimensions but updated their website a few years ago to include actual measurements. Then they decreased how big your personal bag could be. And now? Now they have changed it again.
Spirit
Carry-on: 22″ x 18″ x 10″
Personal item: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Notes: Spirit charges for carry-on items. They may require a carry-on bag to be checked if it cannot be safely stowed on a flight. Personal items are defined as a purse, small backpack, etc.
United
Carry-on: 22″ x14″ x 9″
Personal item: 17″ x 10″ x 9″
Notes: jacket, umbrella, reading material, food or merchandise purchased in the airport, assistive devices, child restraint system or safety seat, diaper bag, breast pump and pet carrier can be brought in addition to your carry-on and personal bags.
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