What Size Luggage Can You Carry On A Plane?

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Traveling with only a piece of carry-on luggage can save you a lot of trouble and money.

For instance, there are no fees for luggage, no possibility of having your bags misplaced, and long delays at the baggage carousel.

So, in order to guarantee that you will be able to bring your luggage on the plane with you have to know what size luggage can you carry on a plane.

What Size Luggage Can You Carry On A Plane?

The standard dimensions for carry-on luggage that most airlines permit are 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

In centimeters, the dimensions stand at 56 centimeters by 36 centimeters by 23 centimeters.

This is the allowable size for any luggage including the wheels, side pockets, and all handles.

List Of The Luggage Size And Weight Limit:

It is important to list down the allowed luggage size for all the airline companies worldwide. But, listing down a few might give you a good idea. 

So, here is a list of allowable luggage sizes in famous airplanes continent-wise.

Continent	Airline	Size limit	Weight limit
North America	American Airlines	22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm)	No limit
North America	Alaska Airlines	22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm)	No limit
North America	Aeromexico	1.5 x 15.7 x 10 inches (55 x 40 x 25 cm)	22 lb./33 lb.
North America	Air Canada	21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm)	No limit
Europe	British Airways	56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 inches)	23 lb.
Europe	Air France	55 x 35 x 25 cm (22 x 14 x 10 inches)	26 lb.
Asia	Air Asia	56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches)	15 lb.
Asia	Japan Airlines	55 x 40 x 25 cm (22 x 16 x 10 inches)	22 lb.
Asia	Qatar Airways	50 x 37 x 25 cm (20 x 15 x 10 inches)	15 lb.
Oceania	Jetstar	56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches)	15 lb.
Oceania	Virgin Australia	56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches)	15 lb.

Note: Always, remember that the luggage rules can change every now and then.

So, make sure you get the needed information from the airline company before you fix your carry-on luggage.

What Is The Best Carry-On Luggage?

It’s advisable to select luggage that complies with the requirements of the airlines you’ll be flying on.

It will ensure that you will be able to bring your bag onto the airplane with you.

However, the type of luggage you have also matters a lot. So, you can opt for:

Backpack: 

A backpack is the most ideal option there is. It is also the safest in case you are a bit higher than the allowed size.

If you decide to take a backpack with you, look for a backpack in the 30 to 45 liters range. Side by side, check the dimensions of the backpack as well.

But be mindful that overpacking might cause the bag to expand beyond the specified dimensions if you’re going on a long trip.

Suitcase:

A backpack might just not be your thing. So, choosing a suitcase isn’t a bad option either.

In most cases, you can easily board the plane without having to check the luggage. But some airlines may ask you to have the luggage checked.

So, it is better to be very careful about the size and weight of the suitcase. 

Note: There is not much space in the plane for luggage. So, there can be a pile-up of luggage.

If you want to travel with fragile stuff, consider investing in hard-shell baggage. 

It may be more secure than soft-sided luggage, which is more susceptible to being torn apart. Even more safe is baggage made of aluminum.

Measure The Luggage Size:

You must be aware of two distinct sorts of size constraints.

There are three dimensions to consider: depth, height, and breadth. The dimensions may exceed the allowed limit after packing things.

So, pack your things and measure the bag beforehand. 

The bag should be 22 x 14 x 9 inches even after loading things.

Also, most airlines provide measurement boxes in airports so passengers can see if their luggage fits.

Linear inches are the second measurement. In terms of checked luggage, linear inches refer to the whole sum of the height, breadth, and depth of a piece of luggage.

It should not be more than 62 inches.

How To Measure: 

You can measure the bag by placing it against a wall using a measuring tape.  Take anything that sticks out of the bag including wheels, and handles into the calculation.

Remember that fabric luggage can expand when filled to the highest capacity. So, measure your suitcase’s width at its widest point before taking any measurements.

Personal Items Vs Carry-On Luggage:

As a general rule, carry-on luggage must be placed in the overhead compartments.

But personal goods can be kept under the seat in front of each passenger. We call personal goods bags the “underseat” luggage sometimes.

Any type of bag can be a personal item bag. Totes, backpacks, duffle bags, briefcases, regular shopping back, etc.

can be your personal items bag. There is a size limit for it as well.

You should keep your necessary things, e.g., phone, laptops, medicines, etc. in your personal items bag.

You can access personal items anytime, but not carry-on luggage.

Weight Restrictions Of The Luggage:

When it comes to carry-on bags, weight restrictions vary per airline.

Carry-on luggage weight restrictions typically range from 15 to 35 pounds depending on the airline.

In the United States, domestic airlines do not often enforce weight limitations on carry-on bags; however, certain cheap airlines, which is common in the US, do impose hand baggage weight restrictions.

But this is not the case in other parts of the world. Most of the planes outside the US have some sort of weight restrictions.

Are Airlines Strict With Carry-On Luggage Size?

Our research and experience say that most airlines aren’t extremely concerned about carry-on luggage’s exact dimensions.

In fact, everyday travelers don’t bother measuring their luggage all the time. They just pack one based on experience and pack it.

Consequently, it may go beyond the allowed size sometimes. The companies do understand that.

So, most of the airlines will let you board without any issue.

If you are using backpacks on your journey, you are safer. They are less noticeable to airline workers than suitcases, which has helped.

Board The Plane Early: 

Even inexpensive airlines don’t ensure that there will be room in the overhead bins for your cabin bags.

So, if you are late and your bag is oversized, that could be an issue. So, you should board early to avoid any trouble.

Priority boarding is available on many low-cost airlines; if you’re concerned, though, you may wish to spend the extra money.

We find it totally worth the money. It eliminates the anxiety of not knowing if your suitcase will make it onto the airline.

It also saves you from the trouble of waiting the time it takes to board the plane.

Note: Check out the list of permitted sizes above this page for further information. Also, contact the airline company to be sure. 

FAQs about what size luggage can you carry on a plane:

Final Words:

Make sure your luggage is the proper size because otherwise, you’ll wind up paying extra fees or having a lot of wasted room.

If you’re a first-time traveler, I recommend investing in a compact backpack. If you opt for a suitcase, keep it within the standard size, which is 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

However, only luggage of a specific size and weight is permitted.

It is imperative that you be aware of the limits imposed by the airline on what size luggage can you carry on a plane.