Carry-On Size Limits for Every Major US Airline (2026): What Actually Fits
Quick answer: the standard US carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles, used by American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska. Southwest allows a bigger 24 x 16 x 10. Spirit and Frontier charge for carry-ons and cap them at 22 x 18 x 10 and 24 x 16 x 10. A personal item that fits under the seat is free on every airline and is usually limited to about 18 x 14 x 8 inches. A bag that measures 22 x 14 x 9 or smaller with the wheels counted fits everywhere.
Every airline publishes its own carry-on dimensions, most of them agree, and the ones that do not are the ones that fine you at the gate. The confusion comes from two things: whether the wheels and handle count (they do, on every US airline) and whether a suitcase advertised as a 22-inch carry-on is actually 22 inches (it often is not once you measure the wheels).
Here are the limits as published in 2026, followed by how to measure a bag and which ones clear every airline on this list.
| Airline | Carry-on bag | Carry-on weight limit | Personal item | Carry-on fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | 22 x 14 x 9 | None | 18 x 14 x 8 | Free (except Basic Economy on some routes) |
| Delta | 22 x 14 x 9 | None (domestic) | Must fit under seat; no fixed dimensions | Free |
| United | 22 x 14 x 9 | None | 17 x 10 x 9 | Free, except Basic Economy (personal item only) |
| Southwest | 24 x 16 x 10 | None | 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 | Free |
| JetBlue | 22 x 14 x 9 | None | 17 x 13 x 8 | Free, except Blue Basic (personal item only) |
| Alaska | 22 x 14 x 9 | None | Must fit under seat | Free |
| Spirit | 22 x 18 x 10 | None | 18 x 14 x 8 | Paid, $35 to $99 depending on when you buy |
| Frontier | 24 x 16 x 10 | 35 lb | 14 x 18 x 8 | Paid, $40 to $99 depending on when you buy |
| Hawaiian | 22 x 14 x 9 | 25 lb | Must fit under seat | Free |
| Allegiant | 22 x 16 x 10 | None | 16 x 15 x 7 | Paid |
Wheels and handles count. Always.
Every US airline measures the bag's outside dimensions with wheels, feet, and the handle in its stowed position. A hardside spinner sold as a 22-inch carry-on is usually 22 inches for the shell and 23 to 24 inches with wheels, which is why bag makers now quote two numbers. Look for the one labeled overall, exterior, or with wheels. If a listing only gives interior or shell dimensions, add about 1.5 to 2 inches to the height and half an inch to the depth. When in doubt, the airport sizer is the tie-breaker, and the gate agent, not the website, decides.
Bags that fit every airline on the table
To clear all ten airlines, a bag must be 22 x 14 x 9 inches or smaller with wheels. Almost every reputable brand's standard carry-on is designed to that number: the Away Carry-On (21.7 x 13.7 x 9), Monos Carry-On (22 x 14 x 9), Travelpro Platinum Elite 21 (23 x 14.5 x 9 with wheels, technically over on two airlines but rarely questioned), July Carry On (21.5 x 15 x 8.5), and Briggs and Riley Baseline Essential (22 x 14 x 9). Watch the bigger carry-on models: the Away Bigger Carry-On (22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6), Monos Carry-On Plus, and July Carry On Max are fine on Southwest and Frontier but over the line on American, Delta, and United, where a strict agent can gate-check them. Our tested picks in both sizes, with measured wheel-inclusive dimensions, are in the best carry-on luggage of 2026.
Personal items: the free bag nobody measures until they do
The personal item goes under the seat in front of you and is free on every airline, including Basic Economy fares that ban a full carry-on. American, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier publish exact dimensions; Delta and Alaska say only that it must fit under the seat, which in practice means about 18 x 14 x 8. The practical rule: a 20 to 25 liter backpack or a slim briefcase fits everywhere, a 30 liter pack is a gamble on United (17 x 10 x 9 is the tightest limit on the list), and any bag with a rigid frame is more likely to be measured than a soft one that squishes. Our favorite under-seat bags are in the best backpacks for work and travel.
Basic Economy and budget carriers: read the fare, not the airline
United Basic Economy and JetBlue Blue Basic allow only a personal item on most domestic routes; bringing a full carry-on to the gate means a checked-bag fee plus a gate-handling fee. American and Delta Basic Economy still include a carry-on domestically. Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant charge for every carry-on, and the price climbs from booking, to online check-in, to the airport, to the gate, where it can hit $99. If you fly those carriers, either buy the bag online at booking or pack into a personal item and skip it entirely.
International carriers are stricter on weight
Most US airlines do not weigh carry-ons. Most international carriers do: 7 kg (15 lb) on Qantas, Emirates economy, Singapore, and Cathay, 8 kg (17 lb) on Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM, 10 kg (22 lb) on British Airways and Iberia. European low-cost carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz) allow only a small under-seat bag for free, around 40 x 25 x 20 cm, and charge for anything bigger. If a trip includes one of those legs, pack to that airline's limit, not the US one.
The Bottom Line
Buy a carry-on that measures 22 x 14 x 9 inches or less with wheels and it will board every US airline without a conversation. Keep your under-seat bag to about 18 x 14 x 8 and soft-sided. And before booking a budget or Basic Economy fare, check whether the carry-on you are counting on is even included.
Keep reading: Best carry-on luggage of 2026 | Best backpacks for work and travel | Best power banks (and the 100Wh rule)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard carry-on size for US airlines?
22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles. American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian all use that limit. Southwest and Frontier allow 24 x 16 x 10, and Spirit allows 22 x 18 x 10.
Do wheels count in carry-on dimensions?
Yes. Every US airline measures the bag's full exterior including wheels, feet and the retracted handle. A suitcase marketed as 22 inches is often 23 to 24 inches with wheels, so check the overall dimensions before buying.
Is a 24-inch suitcase a carry-on?
Not on most US airlines. A 24-inch bag exceeds the 22-inch limit on American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska. Southwest and Frontier allow up to 24 x 16 x 10, so a 24-inch bag is a carry-on only on those carriers.
What size personal item is allowed on a plane?
It varies, but about 18 x 14 x 8 inches fits under the seat on every US airline. United's published limit is the tightest at 17 x 10 x 9; American allows 18 x 14 x 8; Delta and Alaska only require that it fits under the seat.
Is there a weight limit for carry-on bags in the US?
Most US airlines have no carry-on weight limit for domestic flights; Frontier caps carry-ons at 35 lb and Hawaiian at 25 lb. International carriers commonly limit carry-ons to 7 to 10 kg (15 to 22 lb).
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