United Carry On Size (2026)

United’s published carry-on size is 9 × 14 × 22 in (23 × 35 × 56 cm), including handles and wheels, the same footprint people search as “22×14×9.” Most fares include 1 carry-on and 1 personal item free. Basic Economy on most domestic and short-haul routes is personal item only (no free overhead bag). Exceptions: Basic Economy gets a free carry-on on South America, transatlantic and transpacific routes. Bring a full carry-on on Basic Economy anyway and the gate fee is $75 for tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026.

Based on United’s official carry-on bags and Basic Economy pages, plus the baggage hub. Carry-on dimensions are stable. The $75 Basic Economy gate check (tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026) and the prepaid and standard checked-bag prices are summarized below; the full domestic fee table is on our United baggage fees page. Always re-check united.com before you fly: your ticket purchase date can lock in older fee tables.

Free with most tickets: one carry-on within the size limit (9×14×22 in, or 23×35×56 cm) plus one personal item (9×10×17 in, or 22×25×43 cm).

Basic Economy (most routes): cabin allowance is a personal item only. A full overhead carry-on is not included. If you bring one (or your personal item does not fit under the seat), United will check it. For tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026, that is typically $45 prepaid, $50 at airport check-in or $75 at the gate. Older Basic Economy tickets used lower prices ($35 prepaid, $40 at airport check-in, $65 at the gate); those apply only to tickets bought before April 3, 2026.

Basic Economy exceptions with a free carry-on: itineraries to South America, across the Atlantic, or across the Pacific. Canada tickets bought before May 28, 2025 also keep the free Basic Economy carry-on under United’s published wording.

Premier status, a qualifying MileagePlus co-brand card or Star Alliance Gold may restore 1 free carry-on on Basic Economy; check that your card is eligible. Gateway and MileagePlus Select do not qualify for the Basic Economy carry-on benefit. Card benefits generally require booking with the eligible card plus Priority Boarding; the card benefit can cover multiple travelers on the same reservation (United publishes up to 8 for the card case; check current terms).

Military: free checked-bag counts and size and weight tiers are on United’s military page and our United baggage fees page.

Checked bags: see United baggage fees for a domestic Economy sample (prepaid versus standard) and overweight or oversize add-ons. International and Asia changes by ticket date: use United’s Checked Bag Fee Calculator (check each itinerary; free-bag markets vary).

• United Basic Economy is not the same as Delta Basic. United usually blocks a free overhead bag on Basic Economy; Delta Basic still includes a free carry-on. Comparing “Basic” fares without checking cabin bags is a common way to overpay.
• Gate check is not free on Basic Economy. For tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026, the gate charge is $75 if you bring a full carry-on or an oversized personal item. This is not a free planeside check.
• Personal item that does not fit under the seat on Basic Economy: same $75 gate charge.
• United Express: CommutAir allows a personal item only onboard; other Express carriers may allow a carry-on but have limited bin space. Pickup may be at the jet bridge or baggage claim.
• Size in centimeters: 23×35×56 cm. An older image on United’s baggage page showed a 22 cm height; go by the size in United’s written rules.
• International “1st bag free” markets and co-brand card benefits vary; use the official calculator and card terms.
• United publishes carry-on as 9 × 14 × 22 in (23 × 35 × 56 cm), the same box as common “22×14×9” searches; wheels and handles included; no published carry-on weight.
• Most fares: free carry-on and free personal item. Most domestic Basic Economy: personal item only (no free overhead bag).
• Basic Economy exceptions with a free carry-on: South America, transatlantic and transpacific (Canada if the ticket was bought before May 28, 2025; check United’s Basic Economy page).
• Tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026: a full carry-on or a personal item that does not fit is checked for about $45 prepaid, $50 at airport check-in or $75 at the gate (the gate charge is a $25 handling fee plus the applicable checked-bag fee). The older $65 gate price no longer applies to new tickets.
• Premier status or an eligible card may restore the Basic Economy carry-on; Gateway and Select cards do not.

1. Skip Basic Economy on domestic flights if you need a free overhead bag, or compare against Delta Basic, which still includes one.
2. Or restore a Basic Economy carry-on with Premier status, an eligible MileagePlus card or Star Alliance Gold; check which cards qualify (Gateway and Select do not).
3. Measure including wheels and handles; stay within 9×14×22 in (23×35×56 cm) so you clear airport sizers.
4. On Basic Economy, pack only the 9×10×17 in personal item, or prepay to check a bag early ($45) instead of paying $75 at the gate.
5. For checked bags, prepay online at least 24 hours before departure when United offers a lower prepaid price (full details on our United baggage fees page).

Soft picks only; measure your packed bag before travel. Look for bags that stay at or under United’s published 9 × 14 × 22 in (23 × 35 × 56 cm) including wheels and handles. Under-seat bags should stay within 9 × 10 × 17 in (22 × 25 × 43 cm); the 10 in width is where most bags fail. Wheeled underseat bags often exceed 10 in width.

Basic Economy (most domestic): personal-item only. Fail the under-seat fit or bring a full carry-on and the gate charge is $75 (tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026); it is $45 prepaid or $50 at airport check-in if you check it earlier. Measure when packed; the airport sizer is the rule. A fit is not guaranteed.

See United personal item and United baggage fees.

What is the United carry-on size limit?

United publishes 9 × 14 × 22 inches (23 × 35 × 56 cm), including wheels and handles (the same footprint travelers often search as “22×14×9”). United does not publish a separate carry-on weight limit on its carry-on page.

Does United charge for carry-on bags?

Usually no on Economy and above. Basic Economy on most domestic and short-haul routes does not include a free overhead carry-on, only a personal item. If you have to check that bag on a Basic Economy ticket bought on or after April 3, 2026, expect about $45 prepaid, $50 at airport check-in or $75 at the gate.

Does United Basic Economy include a free carry-on?

On most domestic Basic Economy tickets, no. You get a free personal item (9 × 10 × 17) only. Basic Economy includes a free carry-on on United’s published long-haul exceptions: South America, across the Atlantic and across the Pacific, plus Canada if the ticket was bought before May 28, 2025. Confirm your ticket on united.com.

How much does United charge if I bring a full carry-on on Basic Economy?

For tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026, plan on about $45 if you prepaid or check early, $50 at airport check-in, and $75 at the gate (United also describes the gate charge as a $25 handling fee plus the applicable checked-bag fee). Older tickets may still show lower prices. The older $65 gate price does not apply to new tickets.

Is United Express the same as mainline for cabin bags?

Not always. On some United Express flights, including some CommutAir operations, only a personal item may be allowed onboard even when you are not on Basic Economy. Larger bags may be tagged for planeside or jetbridge return. Check the aircraft and equipment notes on your itinerary before you pack.

What if my bag doesn’t fit the United sizer?

Expect to check it; fees may apply. On Basic Economy, a gate check for an extra or oversized cabin bag costs $75 for tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026. It is not free.

What is United’s personal item size?

9 × 10 × 17 in (22 × 25 × 43 cm), free under the seat. It is the only free cabin bag on most Basic Economy tickets. Full detail: United personal item.

Is United carry-on the same as Delta or Frontier?

United and Delta share a similar footprint of about 22×14×9 (United publishes 9×14×22 in, or 23×35×56 cm; Delta publishes 22×14×9 plus 45 linear inches, or 114 cm). Frontier allows a larger published max (24×16×10) but often charges for it on Basic. The biggest surprise for travelers is United Basic Economy versus Delta Basic carry-on policy: United is usually personal item only, while Delta Basic still includes the overhead bag.

• United baggage fees
• United personal item size
• Delta carry-on size
• Frontier carry-on size

Fees, sizes, and Basic Economy rules change by ticket date and itinerary. Confirm on united.com before travel. BagRule is not affiliated with United Airlines.