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Air Canada Carry On Size (2026)

Air Canada allows a 23 × 40 × 55 cm standard carry-on plus a 33 × 43 × 16 cm personal item. Economy Basic on select routes allows the personal item only.

Quick answer

Air Canada’s standard carry-on (standard article) is max 23 × 40 × 55 cm (9 × 15.5 × 21.5 in, depth × width × height), including wheels and handles. The personal item is max 33 × 43 × 16 cm (13 × 17 × 6 in). On Standard, Flex, Comfort, Latitude and higher cabins (and on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express), you normally bring both. Economy Basic tickets purchased on or after January 3, 2025 allow only one personal item when traveling within Canada, to or from the U.S. (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico), or to or from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The standard carry-on must be checked before security. If you connect onward to an international destination on Basic, Air Canada still allows one standard carry-on and one personal item. No weight limit is published for carry-on, but you must lift it into the overhead bin unassisted. Oversize at the gate: credit card pre-authorization of gate handling fees of $65 to $78 in Canadian or US dollars (tax included). Check the latest on aircanada.com before you fly.

Last verified:

Official sources:

How we check: We only publish what these official pages say. See How we verify fees.

Table

Cabin sizes

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Bag Official max (D × W × H) Weight Where it goes Included when Source
Standard article or carry-on 23 × 40 × 55 cm (9 × 15.5 × 21.5 in) No published kg; must be light enough to lift into the overhead bin without help Overhead bin Standard policy: 1 standard and 1 personal item on Air Canada, Rouge and Express. Exception: Economy Basic on select routes (below) Carry-on baggage; Baggage Fees and Optional Services
Personal item or personal article 33 × 43 × 16 cm (13 × 17 × 6 in) No published kg Under seat (typical) Included on standard policy and on Basic (select routes) Carry-on baggage
Small purse (extra, not a second allowance piece if within size) Max 25 × 30 × 14 cm (10 × 12 × 5.5 in) Not published With you Listed under Additional items; larger purses count in carry-on allowance Carry-on Additional items; FAQ
Wheels and handles Included in maximum dimensions Not published Not published Measure packed Carry-on
Infant on lap 1 additional standard article for child’s belongings (for example, a diaper bag) No limit Cabin Free with lap infant Carry-on
Star Alliance Gold (itinerary with more than one airline) Two carry-on bags (Air Canada sizes apply on Air Canada flights) No limit Cabin Across two or more member carriers Carry-on: Star Alliance note
Automated sizers Before security, before boarding, or both Not published Not published Bags that don't comply are checked, and fees apply Carry-on; Day of travel

Common reorder (same bag, not a second official size): travelers often say 55 × 40 × 23 cm (H × W × D). Air Canada’s printed order is D × W × H: 23 × 40 × 55.

Cabin bag fees

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Situation Cost Source
Standard and personal item within size (fares other than Basic, or routes outside the exception) Free Carry-on; Products and services
Basic on select routes: personal item only; a standard carry-on must be checked Fees for checked bags apply (see our Air Canada baggage fees page) Carry-on Economy Basic; Economy Basic reminder
Gate handling fee pre-authorization (online or kiosk check-in when a carry-on may be checked at the gate) $65 to $78 in Canadian or US dollars (tax included) Carry-on Economy Basic section
Basic reminder notice: gate fee wording $65 plus tax Economy Basic reminder; compare it with the $65 to $78 inclusive range on the carry-on page, and go by the carry-on page

Free and paid

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Product or booking type (official names) Standard carry-on 23×40×55 Personal 33×43×16 Checked Source
Economy Basic: within Canada; to or from the U.S. (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico); to or from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; tickets bought on or after January 3, 2025 No, must be checked before security Yes, the only cabin piece Paid; see the baggage fees page. Carry-on; Products and services; Basic reminder
Economy Basic, connecting onward to an international destination Yes (1 standard and 1 personal item) Yes Per ticket Carry-on “Connecting to an international flight?”; Basic reminder
Economy Basic, other international direct flights (not on the select list) The list of select destinations suggests the standard policy may still apply outside the listed regions; check your ticket or the calculator Usually yes Depends on your ticket and fee changes Carry-on wording “select destinations”
Economy Standard Yes Yes 1st bag paid (domestic, US, Mexico and Caribbean, per the fee changes page) Products; Baggage fee changes
Economy Flex Yes Yes 1st bag free on many Economy routes (fee changes and products pages) Products; Baggage fee changes
Comfort and Latitude Yes Yes Comfort: 1st free; Latitude: 2 bags free (products page, domestic, US and Caribbean sections) Products and services
Premium Economy and Business Standard carry-on policy applies (products page: 1 standard and 1 personal item) Yes Piece counts: check the baggage calculator Carry-on; Checked baggage calculator

Basic trap: on the listed routes within North America and to sun destinations, Basic is not “hand baggage only with a trolley.” It is personal item only. A 55 cm roller on Basic means check before security or risk gate fees.

Standard and Flex: cabin rights match the standard carry-on policy (both pieces). What changes is whether a checked bag is included, not the centimeters.

Gotchas

  • Basic does not include a free trolley within Canada or to or from the U.S., Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean (tickets bought on or after January 3, 2025).

  • International connection exception: Basic connecting onward internationally still gets a standard carry-on and a personal item.

  • Wheels and handles count; unlike some EU ULCCs.

  • No published carry-on kg limit; you must be able to lift the bag yourself.

  • Small purse 25×30×14 is an additional item, not a third free backpack; larger purses eat the allowance.

  • Economy Basic: if you check in online or at a kiosk, Air Canada asks for a credit card to pre-authorize gate handling fees of $65 to $78 in Canadian or US dollars (tax included).

  • Sizers before security and before boarding; measure your bag packed.

  • Rouge and Express share the same carry-on policy language on the products and services page.

  • On codeshare or mixed itineraries, the first operating airline can change the rules.

  • Air Canada’s size is 23 × 40 × 55 cm (D × W × H), not a U.S. carrier’s inches pasted over.

  • Basic on direct international flights outside the list of select destinations: check cabin rights on your ticket or the calculator; the wording suggests the standard policy may still apply outside the listed regions.

Traveler caution: On Air Canada Basic to the U.S. or within Canada, the free cabin piece is the personal item, not the roller. Standard and Flex still get the 23×40×55. Measure wheels in. Confirm on aircanada.com before you fly.

FAQ

What is the Air Canada carry-on or cabin bag size?
Standard article: 23 × 40 × 55 cm (9 × 15.5 × 21.5 in) D×W×H, wheels and handles included. Personal item: 33 × 43 × 16 cm (13 × 17 × 6 in). No published carry-on weight limit; must fit overhead unassisted. Source: the official Air Canada carry-on page.

Does Air Canada Economy Basic include a free carry-on?
Not on select routes. Basic tickets bought on or after January 3, 2025 allow one personal item only for travel within Canada, to or from the U.S. (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico), and to or from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Other bags check before security. Connecting onward internationally: Basic still allows one standard carry-on and one personal item.

Do Standard and Flex include a carry-on trolley?
Yes under the standard carry-on policy: 1 standard article and 1 personal article (plus listed extras like a coat or small purse). Flex’s advantage is mainly checked bag inclusion, not a bigger cabin size.

Do wheels count on Air Canada carry-on?
Yes. Maximum dimensions include wheels and handles.

What if my Air Canada carry-on is too big?
Bags that don’t comply must be checked, and checked fees can apply. Online or kiosk check-in may require a credit card pre-authorization for gate handling fees of $65 to $78 in Canadian or US dollars (tax included), per the carry-on Basic section. Check current fees on aircanada.com.

Can I bring a purse plus my carry-on?
Yes, if the purse is max 25 × 30 × 14 cm (10 × 12 × 5.5 in). Larger purses count toward the carry-on allowance (official FAQ and Additional items).

Related

Disclaimer

Fees, fare bundles, and size rules change. Confirm the latest limits and live bag prices on official Air Canada pages before you travel. BagRule is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with Air Canada.