Compare 12 US airlines
Carry-on size by airline
Most major US airlines publish a 22 × 14 × 9 in box for overhead carry-ons (United lists it as 9 × 14 × 22, the same box). Larger published boxes: Southwest and Frontier 24 × 16 × 10; Sun Country 24 × 16 × 11. Wheels and handles count when the airline includes them in its exterior dimensions. Free or paid depends on fare: American, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, Hawaiian, and Southwest keep a free carry-on even on restricted fares; United Basic Economy usually does not; budget airlines (Frontier Basic and Standard, Allegiant, Sun Country, Avelo, Breeze No Flex and Flex) treat overhead as a paid add-on unless a bundle includes it.
TL;DR
- Most US majors use a 22 × 14 × 9 in overhead family (United publishes 9 × 14 × 22, same box). Larger boxes: Southwest and Frontier 24 × 16 × 10; Sun Country 24 × 16 × 11; Allegiant 10 × 16 × 22.
- Wheels and handles count. Soft bags: measure packed. The airport sizer is the rule (bag sizer guide).
- Free overhead on restricted fares: American and Delta Basic, JetBlue Main Base, Alaska and Hawaiian Saver, Southwest Basic. United Basic Economy on most domestic routes allows only a personal item (Basic Economy guide).
- Budget airline base fares (Frontier Basic and Standard, Allegiant, Sun Country, Avelo, Breeze No Flex and Flex): overhead is usually a paid add-on unless a bundle includes it. Prices come from each airline’s calculator; BagRule does not list one nationwide overhead bag price.
- Open your airline’s page in the table below for exact inches, cm, and fare notes.
At the airport (quick)
- Measure packed, including wheels, handles, and pockets, against your airline’s box (how bag sizers work).
- Check what your fare includes: free overhead, personal item only, or paid overhead (Basic Economy guide). On regional jets, bags may go valet or planeside (regional jet guide).
- If it fails or you must check, pay earlier when the ladder is cheaper (when to pay), then open your airline’s carry-on page in the table.
Each airline page has full steps, an FAQ, and its Last verified date.
Also: Personal item size · Baggage fees
Figures come from each airline's official pages. Check them before you fly.
Each airline row links to our page for that airline, with official sources and a last-verified date. How we check: /about/.
Good to know
- United Basic Economy: personal item only on most domestic flights. For tickets bought on or after April 3, 2026, a full carry-on costs $45 prepaid, $50 at the airport counter, or $75 at the gate; it is not a free gate check.
- American and Delta Basic: free carry-on (bins can fill, but there is no fee).
- Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 free on all fares; Southwest does not publish cm, so any cm shown is our conversion.
- Allegiant carry-on axis: 10 × 16 × 22 (not Frontier reordering).
- Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country, Avelo, and Breeze carry-on prices vary or come as ranges; there is no single nationwide price.
| Airline | Carry-on size (in) | cm if published | Weight if published | Free and paid | Basic and budget airline fares | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 22 × 14 × 9 | 56 × 36 × 23 | Not published | Free on all fares, including Basic Economy | Group 9 bin risk; Eagle valet free on many aircraft | View American carry-on |
| Delta Air Lines | 22 × 14 × 9 (or 45 linear in, 114 cm) | 56 × 35 × 23 | Not published | Free on all fares, including Basic | Connection jets with 50 or fewer seats: personal item onboard, free planeside check | View Delta carry-on |
| United Airlines | 9 × 14 × 22 | 23 × 35 × 56 | Not published | Free on most fares; paid or not allowed on most Basic Economy | Basic Economy exceptions: South America, transatlantic, and transpacific flights; Premier status or an eligible card may restore the carry-on | View United carry-on |
| Southwest Airlines | 24 × 16 × 10 (fees footnote also 10 × 16 × 24) | Not published (about 61 × 41 × 25 by our conversion) | Not published | Free all fares | Checked fees separate (Bags Fly Free ended for most) | View Southwest carry-on |
| Alaska Airlines | 22 × 14 × 9 or 45 linear | Not published on carry-on page | Not published (must lift into overhead) | Free on all fares, including Saver. | Saver boards in Group F, so bin space is first come, first served | View Alaska carry-on |
| JetBlue Airways | 22 × 14 × 9 | 55.88 × 35.56 × 22.86 | No weight limit if you can lift it | Free on all fares, including Main Base | Bag Calculator lists 15.56 cm width by mistake; use 35.56 | View JetBlue carry-on |
| Frontier Airlines | 24 × 16 × 10 | The Contract of Carriage's 114 cm is not the main figure; use 24 × 16 × 10 in | 35 lb | Paid on Basic and Standard; included in Economy, Premium, and Business bundles | Price varies; use the Bag Price Checker. Board First is optional | View Frontier carry-on |
| Allegiant Air | 10 × 16 × 22 | 25 × 40 × 55 | Not published | Paid on base fare | Optional Services lists $10 to $75, depending on route and timing. Allegiant prices bags by route and travel date, so check the exact price when you book or manage your trip. | View Allegiant carry-on |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 22 × 14 × 9 or 45 linear | Not published | Not published (must lift) | Free on all fares, including Saver. | Alaska and Hawaiian share baggage rules; Saver gets the same bag rules as Main | View Hawaiian carry-on |
| Sun Country Airlines | 24 × 16 × 11 | Not published | 35 lbs | Paid (overhead option) | Price varies; the gate adds $10 handling on top of airport rates | View Sun Country carry-on |
| Avelo Airlines | 22 × 14 × 9 | 55 × 35 × 22 | Not published | Paid on base | Published range for new reservations $52 to $75; higher at the airport | View Avelo carry-on |
| Breeze Airways | 22 × 14 × 9 | Not published | 35 pounds | Paid on No Flex and Flex; included in Nice, Nicer and Nicest | Bags added by airport or Guest Empowerment team members: $75 per bag | View Breeze carry-on |
American Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9
- cm if published
- 56 × 36 × 23
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Free on all fares, including Basic Economy
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Group 9 bin risk; Eagle valet free on many aircraft
Delta Air Lines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9 (or 45 linear in, 114 cm)
- cm if published
- 56 × 35 × 23
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Free on all fares, including Basic
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Connection jets with 50 or fewer seats: personal item onboard, free planeside check
United Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 9 × 14 × 22
- cm if published
- 23 × 35 × 56
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Free on most fares; paid or not allowed on most Basic Economy
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Basic Economy exceptions: South America, transatlantic, and transpacific flights; Premier status or an eligible card may restore the carry-on
Southwest Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 24 × 16 × 10 (fees footnote also 10 × 16 × 24)
- cm if published
- Not published (about 61 × 41 × 25 by our conversion)
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Free all fares
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Checked fees separate (Bags Fly Free ended for most)
Alaska Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9 or 45 linear
- cm if published
- Not published on carry-on page
- Weight if published
- Not published (must lift into overhead)
- Free and paid
- Free on all fares, including Saver.
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Saver boards in Group F, so bin space is first come, first served
JetBlue Airways
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9
- cm if published
- 55.88 × 35.56 × 22.86
- Weight if published
- No weight limit if you can lift it
- Free and paid
- Free on all fares, including Main Base
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Bag Calculator lists 15.56 cm width by mistake; use 35.56
Frontier Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 24 × 16 × 10
- cm if published
- The Contract of Carriage's 114 cm is not the main figure; use 24 × 16 × 10 in
- Weight if published
- 35 lb
- Free and paid
- Paid on Basic and Standard; included in Economy, Premium, and Business bundles
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Price varies; use the Bag Price Checker. Board First is optional
Allegiant Air
- Carry-on size (in)
- 10 × 16 × 22
- cm if published
- 25 × 40 × 55
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Paid on base fare
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Optional Services lists $10 to $75, depending on route and timing. Allegiant prices bags by route and travel date, so check the exact price when you book or manage your trip.
Hawaiian Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9 or 45 linear
- cm if published
- Not published
- Weight if published
- Not published (must lift)
- Free and paid
- Free on all fares, including Saver.
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Alaska and Hawaiian share baggage rules; Saver gets the same bag rules as Main
Sun Country Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 24 × 16 × 11
- cm if published
- Not published
- Weight if published
- 35 lbs
- Free and paid
- Paid (overhead option)
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Price varies; the gate adds $10 handling on top of airport rates
Avelo Airlines
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9
- cm if published
- 55 × 35 × 22
- Weight if published
- Not published
- Free and paid
- Paid on base
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Published range for new reservations $52 to $75; higher at the airport
Breeze Airways
- Carry-on size (in)
- 22 × 14 × 9
- cm if published
- Not published
- Weight if published
- 35 pounds
- Free and paid
- Paid on No Flex and Flex; included in Nice, Nicer and Nicest
- Basic and budget airline fares
- Bags added by airport or Guest Empowerment team members: $75 per bag
Carry-ons that match the published max
Look for an exterior size of 22 × 14 × 9 in or smaller, including wheels and handles. Keep a softside bag within the published maximum when packed.
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Amazon Basics 21″ spinner: check it against the sizer
The listing gives 14.8 × 10 × 21.7 in overall, including wheels, which is over the common 22 × 14 × 9 published box on two sides, so keep it unexpanded and check it against your airline’s sizer.
View on Amazon
Amazon Essentials 4-piece packing cubes
Cubes help a soft bag stay inside the published sizer when packed. Measure the packed bag, not the empty listing size.
View on AmazonAirline pages
- American Airlines Carry-on size
- Delta Air Lines Carry-on size
- United Airlines Carry-on size
- Southwest Airlines Carry-on size
- Alaska Airlines Carry-on size
- JetBlue Airways Carry-on size
- Frontier Airlines Carry-on size
- Allegiant Air Carry-on size
- Hawaiian Airlines Carry-on size
- Sun Country Airlines Carry-on size
- Avelo Airlines Carry-on size
- Breeze Airways Carry-on size
Related
FAQ
- What is the most common US carry-on size?
- 22 × 14 × 9 inches (United publishes 9 × 14 × 22 for the same box). Eight of the twelve airlines on this page use that size. Southwest and Frontier allow 24 × 16 × 10; Sun Country 24 × 16 × 11.
- Are wheels and handles included?
- Yes on every carrier that publishes exterior dimensions here. Measure the packed bag including wheels, handles, and protruding pockets.
- Which airlines charge for carry-on?
- United Basic Economy on most domestic routes (personal item only). Frontier’s Basic and Standard fares, Allegiant, Sun Country, Avelo, and Breeze’s No Flex and Flex fares treat overhead as paid unless a bundle includes it. American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, and Hawaiian include a free carry-on that meets the size limit on restricted fares too.
- Does Basic Economy include a carry-on on American or Delta?
- Yes, free on both. American boards Basic last (typically Group 9) so bins may be full; Delta may gate-check free if bins are limited. That is a space risk, not a cabin bag fee.
- What is Allegiant’s carry-on size?
- 10 × 16 × 22 inches (25 × 40 × 55 cm), including wheels, handles, pockets, and decorations. It is a paid add-on; only the 8 × 14 × 18 personal item is free on the base fare.
- How should I measure before the airport?
- Measure the exterior length, width and height when packed. Soft bags expand. If your airline uses a rigid sizer, that cage is the rule, not marketing photos.
Disclaimer
Bag rules change. Confirm size, fee, and fare rules on the airline site before you travel. BagRule is a publisher site and does not sell tickets or bags.