Luggage Size Chart: Carry-On Limits by Airline 2026

Will your bag fit the airline?

On the defaults — a 22 × 14 × 9 in bag, 45 linear inches — the bag fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United and Frontier and exceeds only Spirit, whose length limit is 18 in. The 22 in length is the standard carry-on, and it is the one number that decides most trips: five of the eight airlines in the table cap the length at 22 in, Southwest and Frontier allow 24 in, and Spirit allows only 18 in.

Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the total linear inches are the three sides added — 22 + 14 + 9 = 45 linear inches. Second, a bag fits an airline only when every one of its three dimensions is at or under that airline’s limit — one side over is enough to fail. Third, the length is usually the deciding side: 22 in passes five airlines, 24 in passes two, and 18 in passes all eight. Fourth, the checked-bag rule is separate: 62 linear inches total and 50 lb, so a 45 linear inch bag is 17 under the checked cap. And fifth, the limits come from the airlines’ own websites, accessed October 2026 — and they change, so check before you fly; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: 22 in long, 14 in wide, 9 in tall.

Line 1 — total linear inches. The total is 22 + 14 + 9 = 45 linear inches.

Line 2 — the fit check. 22 ≤ 22, 14 ≤ 14 and 9 ≤ 9, so the bag fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue and United; 22 ≤ 24, 14 ≤ 16 and 9 ≤ 10, so it fits Southwest; 22 ≤ 24, 14 ≤ 18 and 9 ≤ 10, so it fits Frontier.

Line 3 — the miss. 22 > 18, so the bag exceeds Spirit — the length is the only dimension that fails.

Line 4 — the checked comparison. 45 linear inches is 17 under the 62 linear inch checked-bag cap.

Line 5 — the flip. At 18 in long the same bag is 18 + 14 + 9 = 41 linear inches and fits all 8 airlines, including Spirit.

Table 1 — Carry-on maximum dimensions by airline

Limits from the airlines’ own websites, accessed October 2026. Measure the full outside of the bag — wheels and handles included — because that is what the airline measures at the gate. The checked-bag rule every airline shares is 62 linear inches total and 50 lb. Limits change: always check the airline’s own site before you fly, and remember that a bag that fits the dimensions can still be too heavy — carry-on weight limits vary by airline and are not in this table.

Every branch, checked

24 × 16 × 10 in: Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit — At 24 × 16 × 10 in the bag is 50 linear inches and fits Southwest and Frontier only — the length rules out the five 22 in airlines and Spirit.

18 × 14 × 8 in: Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines — At 18 × 14 × 8 in the bag is 40 linear inches and fits all 8 airlines — the smallest bag that still holds a weekend.

26 × 18 × 12 in: Bag 26 × 18 × 12 in (56 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — At 26 × 18 × 12 in the bag is 56 linear inches and exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — check it.

22 × 14 × 9 in: Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 22 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 45 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — only Spirit’s 18 in length limit rules it out.

24 × 18 × 10 in: Bag 24 × 18 × 10 in (52 linear in): fits Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Spirit — At 24 × 18 × 10 in the bag is 52 linear inches and fits Frontier only — Southwest’s 16 in width limit rules it out.

20 × 14 × 9 in: Bag 20 × 14 × 9 in (43 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 20 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 43 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — only Spirit’s 18 in length limit rules it out.

18 × 14 × 9 in: Bag 18 × 14 × 9 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 18 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 41 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — Spirit’s 8 in height limit rules it out.

The reverses, worked backwards

smallest whole length that exceeds Spirit’s 18 in limit: The smallest whole length that exceeds Spirit’s 18 in limit is 19 in (exact 19). At 19 in the figures are Bag 19 × 14 × 8 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 20 × 14 × 8 in (42 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit.

airlines that allow a 24 in bag length: The airlines that allow a 24 in bag length is Southwest, Frontier (exact Southwest, Frontier). At Southwest, Frontier the figures are Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 23 × 16 × 10 in (49 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 25 × 16 × 10 in (51 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits.

the checked-bag cap is 62 linear inches: The the checked-bag cap is 62 linear inches is 62 linear inches (exact 62). At 62 linear inches the figures are Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 21 × 14 × 9 in (44 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 23 × 14 × 9 in (46 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit.

largest whole length that still fits Southwest: The largest whole length that still fits Southwest is 24 in (exact 24). At 24 in the figures are Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 23 × 16 × 10 in (49 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 25 × 16 × 10 in (51 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits.

smallest whole height that exceeds Spirit’s 8 in limit: The smallest whole height that exceeds Spirit’s 8 in limit is 9 in (exact 9). At 9 in the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 9 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 10 in (42 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit.

smallest whole bag that reaches exactly the 62 in checked cap: The smallest whole bag that reaches exactly the 62 in checked cap is 30 × 20 × 12 in (exact 62). At 30 × 20 × 12 in the figures are Bag 30 × 20 × 12 in (62 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits. At the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 29 × 20 × 12 in (61 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits; at the upper neighbor the figures are Bag 31 × 20 × 12 in (63 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit. With 24 × 16 × 10 in, Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit — At 24 × 16 × 10 in the bag is 50 linear inches and fits Southwest and Frontier only — the length rules out the five 22 in airlines and Spirit.. With 18 × 14 × 8 in, Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines — At 18 × 14 × 8 in the bag is 40 linear inches and fits all 8 airlines — the smallest bag that still holds a weekend.. With 26 × 18 × 12 in, Bag 26 × 18 × 12 in (56 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — At 26 × 18 × 12 in the bag is 56 linear inches and exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — check it.. With 22 × 14 × 9 in, Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 22 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 45 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — only Spirit’s 18 in length limit rules it out.. With 24 × 18 × 10 in, Bag 24 × 18 × 10 in (52 linear in): fits Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Spirit — At 24 × 18 × 10 in the bag is 52 linear inches and fits Frontier only — Southwest’s 16 in width limit rules it out.. With 20 × 14 × 9 in, Bag 20 × 14 × 9 in (43 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 20 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 43 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — only Spirit’s 18 in length limit rules it out.. With 18 × 14 × 9 in, Bag 18 × 14 × 9 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — At 18 × 14 × 9 in the bag is 41 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 — Spirit’s 8 in height limit rules it out.. With smallest whole length that exceeds Spirit’s 18 in limit, 19 in (exact 19) — at 19 in the figures are Bag 19 × 14 × 8 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines. With airlines that allow a 24 in bag length, Southwest, Frontier (exact Southwest, Frontier) — at Southwest, Frontier the figures are Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 23 × 16 × 10 in (49 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit. With the checked-bag cap is 62 linear inches, 62 linear inches (exact 62) — at 62 linear inches the figures are Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 21 × 14 × 9 in (44 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit. With largest whole length that still fits Southwest, 24 in (exact 24) — at 24 in the figures are Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 23 × 16 × 10 in (49 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit. With smallest whole height that exceeds Spirit’s 8 in limit, 9 in (exact 9) — at 9 in the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 9 in (41 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines. With smallest whole bag that reaches exactly the 62 in checked cap, 30 × 20 × 12 in (exact 62) — at 30 × 20 × 12 in the figures are Bag 30 × 20 × 12 in (62 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits; at the lower neighbor the figures are Bag 29 × 20 × 12 in (61 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits. With 0 dimensions, Bag dimensions — enter a length, width and height greater than 0. — A bag with a 0 side is not a bag — the calculator asks for a length, width and height greater than 0.. With a 22 × 14 × 9 in bag, Bag 22 × 14 × 9 in (45 linear in): fits Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Frontier — exceeds Spirit — A 22 × 14 × 9 in bag is 45 linear inches and fits 7 of the 8 airlines — the standard carry-on.. With a 30 × 20 × 12 in bag, Bag 30 × 20 × 12 in (62 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — A 30 × 20 × 12 in bag is exactly 62 linear inches — the checked-bag cap, not a carry-on.. With a 24 × 16 × 10 in bag, Bag 24 × 16 × 10 in (50 linear in): fits Southwest, Frontier — exceeds Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit — A 24 × 16 × 10 in bag is 50 linear inches and fits Southwest and Frontier only.. With an 18 × 14 × 8 in bag, Bag 18 × 14 × 8 in (40 linear in): fits all 8 airlines — An 18 × 14 × 8 in bag is 40 linear inches and fits all 8 airlines.. With a 26 × 18 × 12 in bag, Bag 26 × 18 × 12 in (56 linear in): exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — A 26 × 18 × 12 in bag is 56 linear inches and exceeds all 8 carry-on limits.. With a 1 × 1 × 1 in bag, Bag 1 × 1 × 1 in (3 linear in): fits all 8 airlines — A 1 × 1 × 1 in bag is 3 linear inches and fits all 8 airlines — the smallest bag the table can check..

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The carry-on-only traveler: they learn a 22 × 14 × 9 in bag fits 7 of the 8 airlines — and they check the 18 × 14 × 8 in branch to see the bag that fits all 8.
• The frequent flyer switching airlines: they learn Southwest and Frontier allow a 24 in bag — and they check the 24 × 18 × 10 in branch to see the bag that fits Frontier only.
• The parent packing a family trip: they learn a 26 × 18 × 12 in bag exceeds all 8 carry-on limits — and they check the 62 linear inch reverse to see the checked-bag cap.
• The shopper buying a new suitcase: they learn the smallest whole length that exceeds Spirit is 19 in — and they check the 9 in reverse to see the height that rules Spirit out.

Accuracy & limitations

The model is the fit check: total linear inches = length + width + height, and a bag fits an airline when every one of its three dimensions is at or under that airline’s published maximum. What the table cannot do is guarantee the gate: the limits are the airlines’ commonly published carry-on maximums from their own websites, accessed October 2026 — most majors 22 × 14 × 9 in, Southwest 24 × 16 × 10 in, Spirit 18 × 14 × 8 in, Frontier 24 × 18 × 10 in — and they change, so always check the airline’s own site before you fly. Measure the full outside of the bag, wheels and handles included, because that is what the airline measures. The checked-bag rule is 62 linear inches total and 50 lb at every airline in the table. And a bag that fits the dimensions can still be too heavy: carry-on weight limits vary by airline and are not checked here — Spirit and Frontier also charge for a carry-on on some fares, which no dimension can fix.

Frequently asked questions