Carry-on Baggage Dimensions per Airline (2026)

You've made it through customs and are ready to board. The staff asks you to put your bag in the bin. Turns out: it's one centimeter too wide. That means a hefty surcharge. That's why we've listed all the dimensions, weights, and extra costs for you, so you don't pay a cent extra!

Why carry-on luggage rules are so confusing

You'd expect your carry-on luggage to be acceptable on any airline, but that's not the case. Quickly measure your luggage before your flight to avoid problems at the airport. Most airlines also allow you an additional (small) accessory, in addition to your carry-on, that fits under the seat.

Handbagage afmetingen per luchtvaartmaatschappij

Kies je maatschappij en zie meteen de maximale maten, het gewicht en of handbagage in je ticket zit. Alle maten zijn in cm (hoogte × breedte × diepte). Max gewicht betreft de handbagage. Controleer altijd de actuele regels op de website van de betreffende maatschappij.

What does extra carry-on luggage cost?

With budget airlines like Ryanair, costs add up quickly. They charge €6 for Priority when booking early, but at the gate, this can rise to €50. Wizz Air charges an average of €15–€25 per flight, which already adds €30–€50 to a return flight.

Do you always want to bring overhead luggage without an extra charge? Then choose a premium airline (KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Turkish Airlines) or, with budget airlines, always buy a ticket where hand luggage is already included. That is almost always cheaper than booking it separately.

Which bag DOES fit as hand luggage?

The safest dimensions for carry-on luggage that work for almost all airlines are 55 × 35 × 20 cm. Pay attention to the depth: KLM and Air France allow 25 cm, but 20 cm is the maximum for Ryanair and TUI. Stick to luggage of no more than 55 × 35 × 20 cm and you will be safe with all the airlines on this list!

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The Legpack Cabin fits every airline with dimensions of 55 × 35 × 20 cm.

Tips to avoid baggage problems at the gate

Always measure your luggage at home first, including wheels, handles and outer pockets. Also, check your booking confirmation for the permitted dimensions. Do not overfill your bag: a soft bag of 55 × 40 × 20 cm with wheels/straps sticking out will not fit in the rack!

Hand luggage on a connecting flight

Are you flying with a connecting flight where the two flights are with different airlines? Then the strictest hand luggage rule of all flights on your route applies. If you book KLM to Amsterdam and then Ryanair to Madrid, your hand luggage must comply with Ryanair's dimensions (55 × 40 × 20 cm), even for the KLM leg. Always check this in your booking confirmation, because with codeshares, the operating airline may sometimes be different from what you expect.

How do you correctly measure hand luggage?

Use a tape measure, not a guess. Always measure at the widest point: for backpacks, this includes side pockets and external pockets. Wheels and handles always count. Also, don't overfill your bag: a soft, bulging bag won't fit into the airport luggage sizer, even if the dimensions on paper are correct.

What if your hand luggage is too large at the gate?

With premium airlines like KLM and Lufthansa, they rarely measure strictly; there's plenty of space in the overhead locker, and hand luggage is always included anyway. With budget airlines, that's a different story. Ryanair forces you to check in your bag at the gate for €50 or more. Wizz Air and easyJet charge similar amounts. Booking in advance is always significantly cheaper than paying at the gate.

Conclusion: know your airline's rules

With the table above, you know exactly what to expect. Premium airlines (KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways) provide you with space and charge nothing extra. Budget airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, Vueling) allow a free personal item but charge extra for carry-on luggage unless you book it in advance.

Never want to doubt whether your bag will be accepted again? At 55 × 35 × 20 cm, the Legpack Cabin is designed to comply with the rules of every airline on this list, without sacrificing space: 38 liters of storage, with wheels so you can roll it too.