Carry-on restrictions vary by airline. The average limitation is 22x16x10. But what other restrictions are there for carry-on bags? The good news is that airlines aren’t too strict about carry-on size requirements.
Carry-on Size Restrictions for Popular Airlines
Most airlines require carry-on luggage to be under 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm). But it depends on each airline.
| Airline Name | Carry-on Size (Inches) | Carry-on Size (Cm) |
| Alaska Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 56 x 36 x 23 cm |
| Allegiant Air | 22 x 16 x 10 in | 56 x 41 x 25 cm |
| American Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 56 x 36 x 23 cm |
| Delta Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 56 x 36 x 23 cm |
| Frontier Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in | 61 x 41 x 25 cm |
| JetBlue | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 56 x 36 x 23 cm |
| Lufthansa | 21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 in | 55 x 40 x 23 cm |
| Southwest Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in | 61 x 41 x 25 cm |
| Spirit Airlines | 22 x 18 x 10 in | 56 x 46 x 25 cm |
| United Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 56 x 36 x 23 cm |
Most Airlines Don’t Care if Your Carry-On Is 1 Inch Too Big
Unless your carry-on is extremely large, the airline employees at the gate most likely won’t ask to measure it. Airlines are usually a bit stricter in Europe and Asia than in the United States. But even in these areas, they only measure carry-ons for passengers whose bags look way oversized. If your carry-on is oversized (and doesn’t physically fit inside the overhead compartments) or you encounter a strict airline employee, they will ask you to check it in at the gate.
Airlines Are Less Strict About Carry-on Luggage Weight Restrictions
If a carry-on is vastly oversized, airline employees can tell just by looking at it. But there’s no way for them to determine its weight without using a scale. And weighing each passenger’s bag takes too much time. Usually, they ask you to weigh your carry-on only if it looks oversized.
But it depends on which airport and airline you’ll be flying with. For example, the Rome Fiumicino airport in Italy is notorious for strictly following the size and weight rules for baggage, while most other airports don’t pay much attention to it.
| Airline Name | Carry-On Weight (Lbs) | Carry-On Weight (Kg) |
| Alaska Airlines | None | None |
| Allegiant Air | None | None |
| American Airlines | None | None |
| Delta Airlines | None | None |
| Frontier Airlines | 35 lbs | 15.9 kg |
| JetBlue | None | None |
| Lufthansa | 17.6 lbs | 8 kg |
| Southwest Airlines | None | None |
| Spirit Airlines | None | None |
| United Airlines | None | None |