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There is no single airline carry-on size or weight limit. A commonly used IATA reference is 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in), including wheels and handles, but each airline can set different dimensions, weight rules, item counts and fare restrictions. The policy of the airline actually operating each flight—including a connection or codeshare—is the rule that applies.
Why carry-on limits are not universal
Cabin baggage rules depend on the airline, cabin class, fare, route, aircraft and available storage. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) describes 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in) as a dimension many airlines use, not as a global entitlement. IATA also notes that allowances may vary by airline, cabin class and aircraft type. Its passenger-baggage guidance describes 5 kg (11 lb) as a typical starting point for airlines that impose a carry-on weight limit, but that figure is not a standard every carrier follows.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives broad U.S.-oriented guidance: “The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag).” Linear inches are a rough reference, not permission to bring any 45-inch combination on every flight. A carrier may specify maximum height, width and depth separately, and a bag that satisfies a linear-inch total can still fail one of those individual measurements.
Use official airline rules for the exact itinerary rather than relying on a product label such as “international carry-on” or “airline approved.”
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IATA Passenger Baggage Rules explains the industry reference and its limitations, while the FAA Carry-On Baggage Tips directs travelers to check their airline’s current requirements.
What counts toward the size measurement
Measure the packed exterior
Measure the bag as you will take it to the airport, not the empty shell. Include wheels, fixed handles, side grips and any exterior pockets that protrude when filled. If an airline publishes dimensions that include wheels and handles, compare your measurements on the same basis. A soft-sided bag can expand beyond its nominal depth when overpacked, so measure it fully closed with the contents inside.
Check dimensions individually and as a total
Some airlines publish three maximum measurements; others use a linear-inch or linear-centimetre limit. Record height, width and depth separately, then calculate the total only when the carrier asks for it. A bag measuring 56 × 45 × 25 cm has a linear total of 126 cm (49.6 in), which is different from the FAA’s broad 45-linear-inch example. Do not substitute one system for the other.
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Checked baggage allowances, cabin baggage allowances and personal-item limits are separate. A suitcase that meets a checked-bag size rule may be too large for an overhead bin, and a fare that includes a checked bag may still restrict the cabin bag.
Weight limits: published caps versus practical handling
Airlines use different weight models
A carrier can set a per-bag maximum, a combined limit for all cabin items, a cabin- or fare-specific limit, or no published carry-on weight cap. When a limit exists, confirm whether it covers only the overhead bag or the overhead bag plus personal item. A scale reading that is acceptable for one airline can exceed another carrier’s allowance.
ANA’s combined limit
On ANA Group-operated flights, the allowance is one carry-on plus one personal item with a combined weight of up to 10 kg. That is a total for both pieces, not 10 kg for each item. ANA’s carry-on dimensions can vary with aircraft seating capacity, so check the aircraft-specific rule shown for your flight.
Air Canada’s no-cap example
Air Canada states that it has no carry-on weight limit. It still requires the passenger to be able to place the bag in the overhead bin without assistance. This is a practical stowage requirement rather than a numerical allowance. A heavy bag can therefore create a problem even when its dimensions comply.
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Carry-on versus personal item
Many fares allow one overhead carry-on and one smaller personal item. The personal item normally goes under the seat in front of you, while the carry-on goes in an overhead compartment. The number of pieces, their dimensions and whether the fare includes both can differ.
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ANA personal-item dimensions
For flights boarding on or after July 1, 2026, ANA lists a maximum personal-item size of 40 × 30 × 20 cm. The personal item remains part of ANA Group-operated flights’ combined 10 kg allowance. A laptop bag, small backpack or handbag must fit within that space when packed.
Storage location matters
Do not plan to put a personal item in the overhead bin when the carrier requires under-seat storage. Keep medication, travel documents, valuables and anything needed during the flight in the item that will remain accessible. Seat assignments, exit-row restrictions and cabin design can affect where an item may be placed.
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Operating airline and codeshare rules
Your ticket may show one airline’s flight number while another airline operates the aircraft. Treat each operating sector as a separate compliance check. A connection can involve a different aircraft, cabin layout, baggage sizer or weight policy, even when the itinerary was purchased as one booking.
- List every flight number and identify the airline operating each sector, not just the marketing carrier shown first on the ticket.
- Open the operating carrier’s current baggage page for each sector.
- Select the exact cabin and fare where the site asks for them; basic or restricted fares may have fewer pieces.
- Record the maximum external height, width and depth, the number of allowed items, and any weight rule.
- Apply the strictest requirement to a bag that will travel through the whole itinerary, or plan separate bags for sectors with materially different rules.
- Check the policy again close to departure because airlines can update dimensions, fares or aircraft assignments.
Both Air Canada and ANA warn that operating-carrier rules can apply on partner flights. Delta likewise identifies partner differences in its baggage guidance. A codeshare is therefore not a reason to assume the marketing airline’s allowance follows you everywhere.
Airline examples compared
| Airline or source | Published detail | How to use the example |
|---|---|---|
| IATA general guidance | Many airlines use 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in), including wheels and handles. Airlines that impose weight limits often start around 5 kg (11 lb). | Use only as a reference; it is not a universal allowance. |
| ANA Group-operated flights | One carry-on plus one personal item; combined weight up to 10 kg. Personal item up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm for flights boarding on or after July 1, 2026. Carry-on size varies by aircraft seating capacity. | Check the aircraft and count both pieces toward the combined limit. |
| Delta | One carry-on plus one personal item. Storage capacity may require additional restrictions, and partner flights can use different rules. | Confirm the operating carrier and be prepared for limited overhead space. |
| Air Canada | No published carry-on weight limit, but the passenger must be able to stow the bag overhead without help. Partner flights may follow the operating carrier. | Pack to a manageable lifting weight even without a stated kilogram limit. |
| FAA broad guidance | Most airlines’ maximum carry-on is described as 45 linear inches (height + width + depth). | Treat it as general U.S. guidance, not a guarantee for your airline. |
How to verify your bag before leaving home
1. Build an itinerary rule sheet
Write down each operating airline, flight sector, cabin, fare and aircraft if shown. Add columns for carry-on dimensions, personal-item dimensions, piece count, weight method and storage location. This prevents a generous rule on the first flight from hiding a stricter connecting sector.
2. Measure the bag in its travel configuration
Fill the bag with the items you intend to carry, close every zipper and expand no gusset unless the carrier permits expansion. Measure the greatest outside points, including wheels and handles. Measure a personal item while it contains the laptop, charger, jacket and other items that might make it bulge.
3. Weigh the complete allowance
Use a luggage scale when a carrier publishes a limit or combines pieces. Weigh the carry-on and personal item separately, then add them when the policy uses a combined maximum. Leave a margin for airport purchases, clothing changes and scale differences.
4. Check the number of pieces
Count the overhead bag, personal item and any additional permitted article exactly as the airline does. A camera bag, garment bag or duty-free package may be treated differently, but do not assume an extra item is free without a stated exception.
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5. Plan where each item will go
Put the personal item’s contents in a bag that fits under the seat. Keep passports, medication, batteries, fragile equipment and valuables out of anything that might be gate-checked. Follow the carrier’s and aviation authority’s rules for prohibited or restricted articles.
What happens when the bag is too large, heavy or numerous
At check-in or the gate
Airline staff may use a sizing frame, weigh the bag, or ask you to consolidate items. A bag that exceeds the published rule can be charged as checked baggage, repacked, refused in the cabin or sent to the aircraft hold. Fees and available options depend on the carrier and fare.
When the cabin runs out of space
Even a compliant bag may be gate-checked when overhead compartments are full. The FAA advises travelers to follow their airline’s baggage guidance, and airline staff can restrict cabin baggage based on storage capacity. Keep essential in-cabin items in the under-seat piece and remove them before surrendering an overhead bag.
At the aircraft door
Follow the crew’s stowage instructions. Do not block an aisle, emergency exit or seat area, and do not hold a bag that must be secured for taxi, takeoff or landing. If staff require a planeside check, attach the correct tag and ask where and when the bag will be returned.
Choosing a carry-on bag without assuming universal compliance
Compare a suitcase’s actual external dimensions with every airline on your itinerary. Product descriptions often quote interior capacity or a shell size that excludes wheels; neither is sufficient for a carrier’s sizer. A soft bag may fit more aircraft sizers but can become too deep when expanded. A hard case protects contents but may have less flexibility at the frame.
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- For weight-capped airlines: compare the bag’s empty weight and use a luggage scale; a light case preserves more of the allowance for contents.
- For mixed operating carriers: size the bag to the most restrictive sector rather than the largest allowance.
- For under-seat storage: verify personal-item dimensions and the bag’s ability to compress without protruding.
No suitcase can honestly be labeled universally compliant because airline rules and aircraft assignments differ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common mistakes and fixes
Relying on “standard international size”
Problem: A 56 × 45 × 25 cm reference is treated as a guarantee.
Fix: Use IATA’s figure only as a starting comparison, then verify the operating airline’s dimensions.
Checking only the first flight
Problem: The outbound marketing carrier is checked, but a regional partner operates the connection.
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Fix: Repeat the check for every operating sector and use the strictest rule.
Ignoring wheels and pockets
Problem: The shell fits, but handles, wheels or a full front pocket push the bag over the limit.
Fix: Measure the packed exterior at its largest points.
Assuming no weight number means no concern
Problem: A heavy bag cannot be lifted safely into the overhead bin.
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Fix: Keep it manageable and comply with any self-stowage requirement.
Putting the personal item overhead
Problem: The smaller bag consumes overhead capacity or violates the carrier’s storage instruction.
Fix: Pack it to fit under the seat and keep essential items there.
Quick pre-departure checklist
- Identify the operating airline for every flight and connection.
- Confirm cabin, fare and aircraft-specific baggage rules.
- Measure both bags externally while fully packed, including wheels and handles.
- Check the allowed number of pieces and the personal-item storage location.
- Verify whether weight is per item, combined or not numerically stated.
- Weigh the complete allowance when a cap applies.
- Keep medication, documents, valuables and other essentials accessible if an overhead bag is checked.
- Recheck the airline’s page near departure for updates or aircraft changes.
The dependable answer to “What are airline carry-on size and weight limits?” is therefore itinerary-specific: start with the carrier’s current policy for each operating flight, measure the packed bags on the same basis, and prepare for both weight rules and available cabin space.
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