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Carry on luggage size restrictions can vary between airlines and regions, but there are common standards that many airlines adhere to. Here’s our ultimate guide to ensure your luggage is the right size to be stored in the overhead bin or fit under the seat in front of you without issues.

Airline Carry On Luggage Size Restrictions

Carry on and luggage size standards can vary depending on the airline and travel class. Typically, for domestic flights in the United States, carry on luggage dimensions are around 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including handles and wheels.

International flights may have slightly different requirements, so it’s best to check with your specific airline. Additionally, weight restrictions often apply, commonly ranging from 15 to 22 pounds (7 to 10 kg). It’s important to verify these details before packing to avoid any issues at the airport.

Carry On Suitcase Dimensions

A lot of readers ask this question, what size should a carry on suitcase be? When traveling with a carry on, it’s crucial to make sure that your bag will fit the size requirements so it won’t have to be checked.

As a general rule, opt for a carry on no larger than 45” (length + width + height). This is small enough to fit into the overhead compartments on most airlines.

Let’s further break this down the details with our handy suitcase sizing guide:

21 – 22” Domestic Carry On: This is the most popular size of carry on luggage and we guarantee you can travel anywhere with a suitcase this size—here’s a step by step guide to how! Here are more carry on luggage for travel!

18 – 20” International Carry On: Considered the international carry on size, this is ideal if you’re using budget European airlines like EasyJet or Ryanair. They have incredibly strict rules. Here is the best international carry on luggage!

Carry On Luggage Weight

The weight limit for carry on luggage can vary depending on the airline and the class of travel. Here are some general guidelines:

Domestic Flights (within the same country): Many airlines allow carry on luggage weighing up to 15 to 22 pounds (7 to 10 kg). This weight limit includes both the bag and its contents.
International Flights: For international travel, weight limits can also range from 15 to 22 pounds (7 to 10 kg) for carry-on luggage. However, some airlines may have different weight restrictions, especially for smaller aircraft or regional flights.
Business and First Class: Passengers traveling in business class or first class often have a higher weight allowance for carry-on luggage compared to economy class passengers. It’s not uncommon for premium cabins to allow carry on bags up to 26 pounds (12 kg) or more.
Variances by Airline: It’s crucial to check with your specific airline because policies can vary. Some airlines may enforce stricter weight limits or charge additional fees for overweight carry on bags.
Personal Items: In addition to your main carry-on bag, most airlines allow passengers to bring one personal item (like a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack) that usually doesn’t have a specified weight limit as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.

Since airlines are becoming increasingly strict about baggage allowances, use a luggage scale to always ensure you meet weight requirements. Always verify the carry on luggage weight limits and any other restrictions directly with your airline before your flight to avoid surprises and ensure a smooth travel experience.

At the airport with the Away The Carry On and the Lo & Sons O.G. Tote Bag!

Best Luggage Brands for Travel

Choosing the best luggage brand for travel depends on several factors, including durability, functionality, design, and price.

Here are some highly regarded luggage brands known for their quality and popularity among travelers:

Samsonite: A well-established brand known for durable and reliable luggage, including both hard-sided and soft-sided options. They offer a range of sizes and styles suitable for different types of travel.
Travelpro: Particularly favored by frequent flyers and professionals, Travelpro is renowned for its lightweight and durable luggage, often featuring innovative features like spinner wheels and expandable compartments.
Briggs and Riley: This brand is highly regarded for its lifetime warranty, which covers repairs regardless of the cause of damage. Briggs and Riley’s luggage is known for its durability, organization features, and smart design.
Monos: A hardside luggage brand that’s been increasingly popular with our readers. Built with an unbreakable polycarbonate shell, their other features are ultra-sturdy telescopic handle, whisper-quiet wheels, and all-premium materials.
Away Luggage: Known for its minimalist design and built-in battery packs for charging devices, Away offers a range of hard-sided and soft-sided luggage options. They’re popular among younger travelers and digital nomads.
Tumi: Tumi luggage is known for its high-quality materials, stylish designs, and innovative features such as expandable compartments and integrated TSA locks. It’s a favorite among business travelers and frequent flyers.
Delsey: Delsey offers a wide range of affordable luggage options, from hard-sided to soft-sided. These options are known for their durability and practical features, such as expandable compartments and TSA-approved locks.
Osprey: A well-regarded brand known mainly for its outdoor gear, including backpacks, travel packs, and luggage. They are particularly popular among hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts for their durable and functional designs.
July: Offers innovative travel bags and suitcases and produces some of the most lightweight suitcases in the industry.
IT Luggage: Focused on designing luggage that meets the needs of every traveler. They are known to offer the lightest luggage and also have a great warranty (10 years) on all of their cases.

When choosing a luggage brand, consider your specific needs, such as the type and frequency of travel, budget, preferred style (hard-sided vs. soft-sided), and desired features like spinner wheels, expandability, and built-in organizational compartments. Reading reviews and considering warranties and customer service policies can also help inform your decision.

Review the best luggage brands to see ALL the reader favorites!

With the Nomad Lane Bento Bag and Monos Carry-On Pro

Find the Best Suitcase for Travel

When it comes to air travel, a great carry on is a must! Whether you’re a packing pro who loves to fit everything they need into a smaller suitcase or you want to add to your checked luggage, having the wrong suitcase could make flights difficult and stressful.

If you’re looking for resources on how to choose the best suitcase for you, these articles might be helpful:

How to Choose the Right Travel Luggage – If you’re new to traveling carry on only, this handy guide will help you determine what luggage to choose and what features to look out for.
Suitcase Recommendations: Travel Experts Reveal Top Luggage Brands – If you’re unsure what carry on luggage brands are best, readers (the experts) share the top brands to buy!
Experts Reveal the Best Carry-on Suitcases for Traveling Europe – This roundup is helpful when deciding what is the best size and type of luggage to travel around European cities that involve restrictive budget airlines, train travel, and navigating endless stairs, and the infamous cobblestone streets!
Best Lightweight Luggage Under 5lb: Avoid Overweight Baggage Fees – While the size of a carry on is vital so is the weight! An overweight bag can put a damper on your trip if you have to pay overweight fees. This article shares the best lightweight luggage out there!
Hardside vs Softside Luggage: Our Readers Weigh In on the Pros and Cons – If you’re on the fence between the two, readers offer insight into the pros and cons. Ultimately, what you choose is solely up to you!
Best Checked Luggage – If you’re taking a longer trip, traveling with others and sharing luggage, or simply just like having options, check out the best checked bags that readers swear by!

Using Lo & Sons O.G. Tote Bag as my personal item

Carry On Personal Item

Carry on personal items refer to smaller bags or items that passengers can bring onboard in addition to their main carry on luggage. These items typically include:

Purse: A small bag used primarily by women to carry personal items such as wallets, phones, and cosmetics.
Laptop Bag: A bag designed to carry laptops and often includes compartments for other accessories like chargers, a mouse, and documents.
Briefcase: Typically used for carrying documents, papers, and other work-related items.
Small Backpack: A compact backpack suitable for storing personal items like a travel umbrella, snacks, or a change of clothes.
Camera Bag: Designed to safely carry cameras, lenses, and related accessories.
Other Small Bags: Such as diaper bags (when traveling with an infant), small duffle bags, or small tote bags.

To create your perfect luggage set, read these articles for the top personal item recommendations:

Carry on personal items are usually smaller than the main carry on luggage and must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. They should not exceed the maximum dimensions specified by the airline. The exact allowance for personal items can vary between airlines, so it’s advisable to check with your specific airline to ensure compliance with their policies.

Read our ultimate guide to choosing the best personal item to learn more!

Left: Compass Rose Medium Packing Cubes | Right: Compass Rose Slim Packing Cubes

How to Organize Your Luggage?

Whether you choose a hardside vs softside suitcase, packing cubes and organizers are always recommended in order to maximize space.

You can use the fold and roll method to compress your clothing with slim packing cubes, fold larger items in a medium size, and downsize bulky items with compression cubes. Packing folders and travel clothes steamers are also popular with business travelers as they help minimize wrinkles in clothing.

Packing organizers also help you pack faster and more efficiently because each item has its own home, making it easier to put your unpacked bag back together to fly home or move on to the next stop in your travel itinerary. Using organizers such as the Compass Rose packing cubes eases the process even further because they’re numbered and color coded, helping you locate what you packed quickly.

Sharing the excitement earlier this year at Women’s Travel Fest with Deanna Debreacht, a long-time reader, who’s holding the new Medium Packing Cubes. So grateful to share this special moment with a fellow TFG!!!

And now the Compass Rose Packing Cubes are offered in two sizes: slim and medium! The slim size cubes measure 13 x 5 x 2.8, and the medium size cubes measure 2.8 x 13 x 8.5. Both fit an international carry on suitcase, and the medium size is great for bulkier items or items you may want to fold too. You can use them as the original set or mix and match them in whatever way works best for your trip! For example, you can use a slim cube and then add a medium cube for your packing purposes.

For a soft side suitcase, you can place packing cubes on top of each other, and in a hard suitcase, you can place them next to each other or stack them like shelves with the Compass Rose cubes.

In fact, check out the video below on the strategy I use with packing cubes, which allows me and thousands of women to travel carry on only!

Watch this video to start learning how to organize with packing cubes!

I also put together a five-part YouTube series showing you the different methods to use packing cubes for any kind of trip.

Tip: Pack your suitcase the night before your trip to allow things to settle overnight.

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The Ultimate Guide to Carry-On Luggage Size by Airline