American Airlines Carry On Size (2026)

American carry-on is 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 cm) including wheels and handles - it must fit the sizer. One carry-on and one personal item are free on every fare, including Basic Economy. Basic boards last (Group 9), so bins may be full: space risk, not a cabin-bag fee. Keep essentials in the personal item (18 × 14 × 8 in, or 45 × 35 × 20 cm). No published carry-on weight.

This page follows American’s official carry-on baggage, Basic Economy, SalesLink Basic Economy and boarding process pages, and the newsroom release confirming one free personal item and one free carry-on on Basic Economy. Size limits are the stable facts on this page; checked-bag prices (online or at the airport, and by the date the ticket was issued) are on our baggage fees page. Always re-check aa.com before you fly.

• Free with ticket: 1 carry-on that meets the size limit and 1 personal item on all fares, including Basic Economy ($0).
• Paid (checked): Checked bags (full details on our baggage fees page). Main Cabin domestic example for tickets issued on or after April 9, 2026: 1st bag $45 online or $50 at the airport; 2nd bag $55 online or $60 at the airport. Basic Economy checked bags often cost $5 more than Main Cabin for tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026.
• When bins are full or on regional flights: free gate-check, and free Eagle valet on many regional aircraft (a carry-on larger than personal-item size is tagged and returned on the jetbridge). ERJ-175: carry-on allowed, no valet.
• Status or card: waivers are covered on our baggage fees page.

1. Measure your packed bag including wheels and handles. Expanders must stay within 22 × 14 × 9.
2. Soft bags that puff past the sizer fail - zip expanders closed if they add exterior size.
3. On Basic Economy, pack a true under-seat personal item (18 × 14 × 8 or smaller) with meds and chargers in case overhead is full.
4. On American Eagle, expect free valet on many aircraft if the carry-on will not fit the bin; ERJ-175 keeps the carry-on onboard.
5. No published cabin weight - if you cannot lift it into the bin, plan to check (checked fees may apply).

1. Measure and sizer: confirm the packed bag is 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm) or smaller, wheels and handles included. Personal item 18 × 14 × 8 in or smaller, under the seat.
2. Fare and free bags: Basic Economy and Main both include a free carry-on and a free personal item. Group 9 boards last; your free overhead right is unchanged.
3. If the sizer fails or bins are full: expect to check the bag (a checked-bag fee can apply). Many Eagle flights: free valet at the gate (not ERJ-175). Full-flight bin checks are typically not a carry-on penalty fee.

• Basic Economy still includes a free carry-on and personal item. Boards last, typically Group 9. American explicitly warns overhead is usually full, so plan to check the carry-on and fly with only the personal item onboard. Special-assistance customers may ask to board early.
• The free Basic Economy carry-on still applies; the risk is bin space (Group 9), not a cabin-bag fee.
• American Eagle and regional valet: if a carry-on is larger than personal-item size on many Eagle aircraft, gate valet is free (tagged and returned on the jetbridge). ERJ-175 allows the carry-on onboard, with no valet.
• American’s language is free valet or free gate-check for Eagle valet and general bin-full checks, not a penalty gate fee for an otherwise allowed carry-on.
• Carry-on weight is unpublished.
• American’s cm width is 36 (not Delta’s 35).
• Size check or sizer at the airport: the bag must fit the overhead or under the seat.
• The soft-sided garment bag limit of 51 inches (130 cm) total is separate, and American does not use a 45 linear inch total as its main carry-on rule.

1. Stay at or under 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm); measure including wheels and handles.
2. On Basic, pack essentials (meds, chargers, valuables) in the 18 × 14 × 8 in (45 × 35 × 20 cm) personal item in case bins are full.
3. For checked bags, see baggage fees; the date your ticket was issued decides which fee table applies.
4. American’s free Basic Economy carry-on is not the same as United Basic Economy (personal-item only on most routes); see United carry-on size or United baggage fees.

These are loose suggestions only: measure your packed bag before travel. Look for bags marketed as airline carry-on or “22×14×9” compliant that stay at or under American’s published 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm) including wheels and handles. Under-seat companions should stay at or under 18 × 14 × 8 in (45 × 35 × 20 cm). Measure when packed; the airport sizer is the rule. Do not treat any bag as guaranteed to fit.

What is the American Airlines carry-on size limit in 2026?

American publishes 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 cm) including handles and wheels. The bag must fit the airport sizer and go in the overhead or under the seat. Soft-sided garment bags have a separate limit of 51 inches (130 cm) or less in total length, width and height. American does not publish a cabin carry-on weight on its carry-on page.

Does Basic Economy include a free carry-on on American?

Yes. Basic Economy includes one free carry-on and one free personal item - same cabin allowance as other fares. You typically board in Group 9, so overhead may already be full; plan to keep essentials in the personal item (18 × 14 × 8 in). That is space risk, not a carry-on fee.

Do wheels and handles count in the American sizer?

Yes. The 22 × 14 × 9 limit includes handles and wheels. Measure the packed exterior the way it will sit in the sizer.

What if my bag doesn’t fit or bins are full on American?

If it fails the sizer, expect to check it (checked-bag fees can apply unless waived). On many American Eagle flights with limited overhead, a carry-on larger than personal-item size is tagged for free gate valet and returned on the jetbridge. ERJ-175 allows carry-ons and does not offer valet.

What is American’s personal item size?

18 × 14 × 8 inches (45 × 35 × 20 cm), under the seat, free on all fares. Soft under-seat bags should stay within that box when packed.

Does American charge a gate fee for an allowed carry-on when bins are full?

American’s published language is free valet or free gate-check for Eagle valet and general bin-full checks, not a cabin-bag penalty fee for an otherwise allowed carry-on. Checked-bag fees apply only when the bag is checked as luggage under the checked rules.

Is American’s cm width the same as Delta’s?

No. American publishes 56 × 36 × 23 cm; Delta publishes 56 × 35 × 23 cm. Both use 22 × 14 × 9 in, including wheels and handles.

What’s the difference between American Eagle valet and a normal gate-check?

On many Eagle flights with limited overhead, a carry-on larger than personal-item size is tagged for free gate valet and returned on the jetbridge. ERJ-175 allows carry-ons onboard and does not offer valet. Full-flight bin checks for otherwise allowed bags are typically not charged as a carry-on penalty fee.

• American baggage fees
• American personal item size
• Carry-on size hub
• Personal item size hub
• How BagRule checks its sources
• Delta carry-on size
• United carry-on size
• Southwest carry-on size
• JetBlue carry-on size
• Alaska carry-on size

Fees and rules change; confirm on aa.com before travel. BagRule is not affiliated with American Airlines.