Delta Carry On Size (2026)

Delta carry-on is 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 35 × 23 cm) including wheels and handles, and 45 linear inches (114 cm) or less. One carry-on and one personal item are free on all fares, including Basic Economy (Main Basic). Personal item: under the seat - examples only, no L×W×H. No published carry-on weight. On Connection jets with 50 seats or less, only the personal item may board; larger bags get free planeside or Gate Claim tags.

Carry-on size limits are the stable facts on this page. Checked-bag prices are on our Delta baggage fees page.

• Free with ticket: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item on all fares including Basic ($0).
• Paid (checked): Checked bags (domestic example: 1st bag $45, 2nd bag $55 for standard Main or Comfort without a waiver). Full details: Delta baggage fees.
• When bins are full or on Basic: the bag may be gate-checked free of charge.
• Delta Connection with 50 seats or less: personal item only onboard; larger bags get a pink Gate Claim or Planeside tag, ride in cargo and are returned when you deplane, free. Assistive devices exempt.
• Status or card: waivers are covered on our baggage fees page.

1. Measure your packed carry-on including wheels and handles. Stay at or under 22 × 14 × 9 and 45 linear inches.
2. Personal-item inches quoted on blogs are not Delta rules; Delta goes by under-seat fit and its official examples (such as a purse, briefcase, small backpack, belt bag or laptop bag).
3. On Basic, keep essentials in the under-seat bag in case of a free gate-check.
4. Flying Connection with 50 seats or less? Assume only the personal item stays with you; tag larger bags planeside.
5. Soft expanders that exceed 22×14×9 or 45 linear inches fail the size check displays at counters and gates.

1. Measure and sizer: carry-on 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 35 × 23 cm) or smaller and 45 linear in (114 cm) or less, wheels and handles included. Personal item must fit under the seat (no published inches).
2. Fare and free bags: Basic Economy (Main Basic) includes a complimentary carry-on and personal item, the same cabin bag rights as higher Main products for bags within the size limit.
3. If the sizer fails or bins are full: a bag that fails the sizer should be expected to go in the hold (a checked-bag fee can apply). Full bins or Basic: often gate-checked free. Connection with 50 seats or less: personal item only onboard; larger bags go planeside free.

• Size check displays sit at ticket counters and gates. Full flights may force additional gate checks even when your bag fits the published size.
• Basic Economy: Complimentary carry-on; overhead may be limited so the bag may be gate-checked free of charge. Seat assigned after check-in; checked-bag fees still apply by route.
• Delta Connection (including flights with 50 seats or less): only personal items are permitted onboard due to limited overhead; larger bags get a pink Gate Claim or Planeside tag, ride in cargo and are returned when you deplane, free. Assistive devices exempt.
• Personal item inches are NOT published: Delta gives under-seat fit and examples only. 18×14×8 is not Delta’s rule.
• Carry-on weight: none stated on the carry-on page. Cabin weight free allowances on overview are for checked bags by cabin product, not carry-on limits.

1. Stay at or under 22 × 14 × 9 in and 45 linear inches (114 cm). Measure including wheels and handles, not the empty marketing size on the tag.
2. Pack a true under-seat personal item as backup, especially if you might end up on a Delta Connection regional jet (50 seats or less means personal item only onboard).
3. For checked bags, buy ahead when it helps your trip plan, stay within standard weight and size, and use status or card waivers when you qualify. Details: baggage fees.
4. Delta’s free Basic carry-on is not the same as United Basic Economy (personal item only on most routes).

Look for rollers and soft-sided bags marketed at 22 × 14 × 9 in or smaller and 45 linear inches or less, then measure your packed bag before the airport. “Airline carry-on” labels are not a guarantee at Delta’s size check display. The airport sizer is the rule.

A small backpack, laptop bag, or tote that actually slides under a coach seat works as the personal item. Delta does not publish personal-item L×W×H, so treat “under-seat” as the rule, not a copied 18×14×8 or 17×10×9 from another carrier. Pair this with your free overhead bag on mainline flights.

No hard sell: if your current bag measures in, keep it.

What is the Delta carry-on size limit?

22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 35 × 23 cm) including handles and wheels, and 45 linear inches (114 cm) or less combined. Bags should fit the size check displays. Delta does not publish a separate carry-on weight on its carry-on page.

Does Basic Economy include a carry-on on Delta?

Yes, a complimentary carry-on and personal item on Basic Economy (Main Basic). Overhead can still be limited, so the bag may be gate-checked free. That is not a cabin-bag fee.

Do wheels and handles count for Delta?

Yes. The published 22 × 14 × 9 limit includes handles and wheels. Measure the packed exterior.

What is Delta’s personal item size?

Delta does not publish L×W×H. The item must fit securely under the seat. Official examples include purse, briefcase, small backpack, belt bag, fanny pack, camera bag, diaper bag, or laptop bag (or similar or smaller). Inch sizes quoted on blogs are not Delta policy.

What happens on Delta Connection small planes?

On Connection flights with 50 seats or less, generally only a personal item boards. Larger carry-ons get a pink Gate Claim or Planeside tag, ride in cargo, and return when you deplane, typically free. Assistive devices are exempt.

Is there a Delta carry-on weight limit?

None published on the carry-on page. Free weight allowances for checked bags are not a carry-on limit.

If Delta gate-checks my Basic Economy carry-on, do I pay?

Delta’s published Basic language allows a complimentary carry-on. When overhead is limited, the bag may be gate-checked free of charge. That is space handling, not a cabin-bag fee. (Checked bags you intended to check still follow the checked bag fee rules.)

Why does Delta list 45 linear inches and American sometimes doesn’t?

Delta publishes 22 × 14 × 9 and 45 linear inches (114 cm) or less, with 56 × 35 × 23 cm. American publishes 22 × 14 × 9 (56 × 36 × 23 cm) on the carry-on page without a primary linear total (garment bag 51 in total is separate). Each airline’s own page is the source for its limits.

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

Fees and rules change. Confirm sizes and policies on delta.com before you travel. BagRule is not affiliated with Delta Air Lines.