Personal item size limits by airline
The most common US personal item limit is 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm), used by 3 of 12 US airlines. In Europe the most common limit is 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in), used by 8 of 13 airlines. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines publish no personal item size.
A personal item goes under the seat in front of you. Every limit here is quoted from the airline's own baggage page.
| Airline | Personal item limit | Weight | Wheels and handles | Only cabin bag on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | |||||
| Alaska Airlines | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Allegiant Air | 8 × 14 × 18 in (20 × 36 × 46 cm) | — | Included | All fares (base fare) | 2026-10-19 |
| American Airlines | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Avelo Airlines | 17 × 13 × 9 in (43 × 33 × 23 cm) | — | Not stated | All fares | 2026-10-20 |
| Breeze Airways | 17 × 13 × 8 in (43 × 33 × 20 cm) | — | Not stated | Base fare (no Nicer/Nicest bundle) | 2026-10-20 |
| Delta Air Lines | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Frontier Airlines | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | 35 lb (15.9 kg) | Included | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| JetBlue | 17 × 13 × 8 in (43 × 33 × 20 cm) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Southwest Airlines | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Sun Country Airlines | 17 × 13 × 9 in (43 × 33 × 23 cm) | — | Not stated | All fares (base) | 2026-10-20 |
| United Airlines | 9 × 10 × 17 in (23 × 25 × 43 cm) | — | Not stated | Basic Economy | 2026-10-20 |
| Canada & Mexico | |||||
| Aeromexico | No size published | — | — | Light | 2026-10-20 |
| Air Canada | 13 × 17 × 6 in (33 × 43 × 15 cm) | — | Included | Economy Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Porter Airlines | 13 × 17 × 6 in (33 × 43 × 15 cm) | 20 lb (9 kg) | Not stated | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Viva Aerobus | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | — | Not stated | Zero | 2026-10-20 |
| Volaris | 35 × 45 × 20 cm (13.8 × 17.7 × 7.9 in) | — | Not stated | Zero; Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| WestJet | 16 × 13 × 6 in (41 × 33 × 15 cm) | — | Included | UltraBasic | 2026-10-20 |
| Latin America | |||||
| Avianca | 45 × 35 × 20 cm (17.7 × 13.8 × 7.9 in) | — | Not stated | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Copa Airlines | 43 × 25 × 22 cm (16.9 × 9.8 × 8.7 in) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| LATAM Airlines | 45 × 35 × 20 cm (17.7 × 13.8 × 7.9 in) | 22 lb (10 kg) | Included | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Europe | |||||
| Aer Lingus | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | — | Not stated | Saver (Europe/UK, incl. Aer Lingus Regional) | 2026-10-20 |
| Air France | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| British Airways | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm (17.7 × 14.2 × 7.9 in) | 33 lb (15 kg) | Included | Standard fare (no seat or Standard seat); Standard fare with Up Front or Extra Legroom seat; Light (Y) - travel trade channel; Inclusive (B) / Extra (K) - travel trade channel | 2026-10-20 |
| Iberia | 30 × 40 × 15 cm (11.8 × 15.7 × 5.9 in) | — | Included | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Icelandair | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| KLM | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | Economy Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Lufthansa | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | Economy Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | — | Not stated | Basic; Plus; Family Plus | 2026-10-20 |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | 9 lb (4 kg) | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Virgin Atlantic | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | — | Not stated | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Vueling | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | — | Not stated | Fly Light; Luggage Pack (add-on) | 2026-10-20 |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | 22 lb (10 kg) | Not included | Basic | 2026-10-20 |
| Middle East & Asia-Pacific | |||||
| Emirates | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Japan Airlines | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Qantas | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
| Qatar Airways | No size published | — | — | — | 2026-10-20 |
On budget airlines the personal item is often the only free bag: budget airline personal item sizes.
Personal items that fit every US airline
To fit all 8 US airlines that publish a size, a bag has to be within 17 × 10 × 8 in (43 × 25 × 20 cm), wheels and handles included. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines publish no size, so they aren't part of this check.
Personal item size questions
What size is a personal item?
It depends on the airline. In the US the most common limit is 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm), used by 3 of 12 US airlines. In Europe the most common limit is 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in), used by 8 of 13 airlines.
Which airline has the smallest personal item limit?
Of the 29 airlines that publish a personal item size, the smallest is 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in), at Air France, British Airways, Iberia, Icelandair, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The largest is 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm), at Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Viva Aerobus.
Which airlines don't publish a personal item size?
Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Southwest Airlines publish no size for personal items on their baggage pages. Each airline's page here quotes what it does say.
On which airlines can the personal item be your only cabin bag?
22 of the 38 airlines we track have at least one fare without a carry-on, so on that fare the personal item is your only cabin bag: Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Avianca, Breeze Airways, easyJet, Frontier Airlines, KLM, LATAM Airlines, Lufthansa, Porter Airlines, Ryanair, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Vueling, WestJet and Wizz Air.
Which personal item fits every US airline?
5 personal items in our list fit all 8 US airlines that publish a size, which means fitting inside 17 × 10 × 8 in (43 × 25 × 20 cm). The roomiest is the Nomad Lane Bento Bag (24 L).
Which personal item bag fits the most airlines?
In our list it is the Narwey Foldable Travel Bag for Ryanair (NW3302), which fits 18 of 29 airlines that publish a personal item size, by its listed size. See every airline
Budget airlines check personal items at boarding more strictly than most. Confirm on your airline's page before you fly. See also carry-on size by airline.