| Airline | Max L (cm) | Max W (cm) | Max H (cm) | Max Weight (kg) |
|---|
Understanding Carry-On Limitations
Every airline sets rules governing the size and weight of items allowed in the cabin. These restrictions stem from the physical volume of overhead bins, safety regulations, and the desire to board passengers efficiently. Travelers often measure their suitcases with a tape only to discover an inch too many, leading to unexpected gate fees or checked baggage. This calculator provides a quick comparison between your bag and typical limits of major carriers, empowering you to decide whether to repack, check the bag, or switch airlines.
The linear dimension, sometimes called the total of length, width, and height, is a simple metric used by many carriers. It is expressed mathematically as . While the value alone does not guarantee compliance—since any single measurement might exceed its individual limit—it offers a quick heuristic for bag designers and travelers alike. Another useful derived quantity is volume , which helps illustrate how tightly a suitcase packs when optimizing space.
This tool compares your bag against a small but representative sample of airline policies. The included carriers span North America and Europe, highlighting differences across markets. For example, Southwest allows slightly larger dimensions because it operates a single aircraft type with roomy bins, whereas Ryanair favors a compact allowance that encourages ancillary revenue from priority boarding or checked options. Many more airlines exist, but the patterns here showcase the range of restrictions a traveler might encounter.
Suppose you enter a bag measuring 55 cm × 35 cm × 23 cm and weighing 8 kg. For American, Delta, and United, these dimensions fit within all limits. The calculator will display a reassuring message confirming compliance. The table below simultaneously lists the maximum dimensions for each carrier, letting you visually compare your measurements to the threshold. If the bag exceeded one dimension—say, a height of 28 cm—the output would flag which measurement is over the limit, enabling quick decisions about redistribution or compression.
Weight limits are another source of surprise. U.S. legacy airlines rarely weigh carry-on luggage, but many European carriers enforce strict caps. Ryanair permits only 10 kg, and EasyJet 15 kg. Our calculator explicitly checks weight for each airline. If a weight entry is left blank, which some carriers effectively do by not publishing a limit, the tool treats it as unlimited. This approach keeps the interface flexible while mirroring real-world procedures.
Policies change frequently; thus the numbers provided here should be considered typical, not guaranteed. Always verify with the airline before traveling. Nevertheless, the calculator’s structure makes updates straightforward. The size thresholds reside in a small JavaScript object near the bottom of this file. Should an airline revise its allowance, editing the entry instantly adapts the results, making the tool useful for travel bloggers or corporate travel coordinators who track policy changes.
The impact of carry-on size extends beyond personal convenience. Aircraft loading relies on assumptions about the number and size of bags per passenger. Oversized items clog aisles, slow boarding, and may even require gate agents to offload luggage, delaying departures. The simple inequality (and analogs for width, height, and weight) captures the concept: every dimension must fall within the airline’s published maximum. Our script evaluates these inequalities and reports pass or fail in plain language.
Another nuance is the definition of “length.” Some airlines measure from wheel to handle, while others expect protrusions like wheels and pockets to be included. To stay safe, travelers should measure the farthest extremities of their luggage. A soft-sided duffel that squeezes into the sizer might still technically exceed the numeric limits, but agents often exercise discretion. The calculator cannot account for human judgment, yet by highlighting borderline cases it encourages packing decisions that err on the side of caution.
Though cabins vary, overhead bin volumes typically range from 50 to 60 liters per passenger on narrow-body jets. Using the volume expression above, a 55 × 35 × 23 cm suitcase occupies about 44 liters, leaving room for the bin's curvature and latches. Should you carry a musical instrument or specialized equipment, volume becomes particularly salient. While instruments may receive exemptions under laws like the U.S. FAA Modernization Act, travelers still benefit from understanding how their cases fit compared to standard suitcases.
Our comparison table doubles as a reference chart for trip planning:
| Airline | L × W × H (cm) | Weight Limit (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| American | 56 × 36 × 23 | 18 |
| Delta | 56 × 35 × 23 | 18 |
| United | 56 × 35 × 22 | 18 |
| Southwest | 61 × 41 × 28 | — |
| Ryanair | 40 × 25 × 20 | 10 |
| EasyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 | 15 |
The dash for Southwest’s weight indicates that the airline does not publish a strict limit; the calculator treats this as unlimited. The diversity of allowances underscores why a “one size fits all” suitcase rarely lives up to its name. Frequent travelers might choose a smaller, more universally accepted bag to avoid hassle across different airlines.
Beyond compliance, efficient packing can improve travel comfort. The surface area of your suitcase, given by , correlates with the amount of material needed for soft-sided luggage. Larger surface areas often mean more fabric and thus more weight before any items are packed. Knowing the surface area may guide decisions about minimalist travel gear, though our calculator focuses on fitting rather than optimizing materials.
Like all tools, this calculator simplifies reality. Bin shapes are irregular, soft bags squish, and gate agents vary. Yet providing a quantitative baseline demystifies the rules and reduces anxiety. Travelers can screenshot the confirmation message or the table as a quick reference at the airport, showing they attempted to follow guidelines in good faith. When enough people adhere to limits, boarding proceeds smoothly, seating searches diminish, and the entire flying experience improves.
To foster transparency, the JavaScript powering the calculator is intentionally short and readable. Below the explanations you will find a data object named limits. Each key corresponds to an airline, and the nested values specify the maximum length, width, height, and weight. The script compares your input to these numbers and writes a table summarizing the policies. Because all computation happens in your browser, no personal data leaves your device.
Even if you rarely fly, understanding carry-on standards proves useful for overnight trains, buses, or rideshares that mimic airline limits. Luggage manufacturers also reference these dimensions when advertising bags as “cabin approved.” By bookmarking this calculator, you can double-check marketing claims before purchasing a new suitcase, ensuring it truly fits the carriers you frequent. With a little planning informed by simple math, trips become less stressful and more predictable.