Cabin Luggage Size by Airline: 2026 Guide to Carry-On Limits
Quick answer: There's no single cabin luggage standard. The most common limit in Europe is 55 × 40 × 23 cm and 8 kg, used by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, SAS, Finnair, and Turkish Airlines. Air France and KLM are narrower at 55 × 35 × 25 cm. British Airways and EasyJet are more generous at 56 × 45 × 25 cm. US airlines use 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in). On Ryanair and Wizz Air, only a 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat bag is free – the larger cabin bag needs Priority.
Last verified: October 2026
A cabin bag that sails through at one airline can cost you a gate fee at the next. This guide covers the cabin luggage size and weight limits of 28 airlines, explains the difference between a cabin bag and a personal item, and shows which Horizn cabin luggage fits each one.
Horizn Studios cabin luggage
H5 Essential & H5 Pro 55 × 40 × 20 cm · 2.9 kg
H5 Air 55 × 37 × 20 cm · 2.1 kg
M5 Essential & M5 Pro 55 × 40 × 23 cm · 3.4–3.5 kg
How cabin luggage size limits work
Most airlines set a maximum for each side of your cabin bag: height × width × depth. All three have to fit, and they include wheels, handles, and external pockets. A bag that's 1 cm too wide fails, even if it's well under the limit everywhere else.
A few airlines use a total instead. Singapore Airlines, for example, allows 115 cm in total (height + width + depth). On top of the cabin bag, most airlines allow a smaller personal item that goes under the seat in front of you.
How to measure your cabin bag
- Measure the height from the floor to the top of the retracted handle, wheels included.
- Measure the width at the widest point, side handles included.
- Measure the depth at the deepest point, front pockets and expansion zips included.
- Compare each number to the airline's limit. Width is the one that catches most travellers out.
Cabin luggage size and weight limits by airline (2026)
Sizes are height × width × depth. Weights are the Economy limit for the cabin bag – some airlines include the personal item in that weight.
| Airline | Cabin bag | Weight | H5 | H5 Air | M5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa Group | |||||
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SWISS | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Austrian Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brussels Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eurowings | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (not on BASIC) | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Other European full-service airlines | |||||
| Air France | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 12 kg | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| KLM | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 12 kg | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | 23 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Iberia | 56 × 40 × 25 cm | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ITA Airways | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TAP Air Portugal | 55 × 40 × 25 cm | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SAS | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Finnair | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turkish Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Condor | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Low-cost airlines (large cabin bag) | |||||
| Ryanair | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (Priority) | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wizz Air | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (Priority) | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| EasyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm (paid) | 15 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vueling | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Volotea | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Transavia | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 10 kg | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Norwegian | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (not on LowFare) | 10 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Long-haul and US airlines | |||||
| Emirates | 55 × 38 × 22 cm | 7 kg | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Qatar Airways | 50 × 37 × 25 cm | 7 kg | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Singapore Airlines | 115 cm total | 7 kg | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Delta | 56 × 35 × 23 cm | No limit | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| United Airlines | 56 × 35 × 23 cm | No limit | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| American Airlines | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | No limit | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
H5 = H5 Essential and H5 Pro. M5 = M5 Essential and M5 Pro. Rules change, sometimes several times a year – always check your booking and the airline's baggage page before you fly.
Cabin bag vs personal item: what's the difference?
Your cabin bag goes in the overhead locker. Your personal item – a handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack – goes under the seat in front of you. Most full-service airlines allow both, and using the personal item well gives you noticeably more space without paying extra.
- Lufthansa Group: 40 × 30 × 10 cm
- Air France and KLM: 40 × 30 × 15 cm
- British Airways: 40 × 30 × 15 cm
- EasyJet: 45 × 36 × 20 cm
- Ryanair and Wizz Air: 40 × 30 × 20 cm – the only free bag on the cheapest fares
Low-cost airlines: what's free and what isn't
On most low-cost airlines, the cheapest fare includes only a small under-seat bag. The full-size cabin bag is an add-on.
- Ryanair: 40 × 30 × 20 cm free. The 55 × 40 × 20 cm cabin bag (10 kg) needs Priority or a Plus fare.
- Wizz Air: 40 × 30 × 20 cm free. The 55 × 40 × 23 cm trolley (10 kg) needs WIZZ Priority.
- EasyJet: 45 × 36 × 20 cm free. The 56 × 45 × 25 cm large cabin bag is paid or included in higher fares.
- Vueling, Volotea, and Transavia: a small bag is free. The larger cabin bag depends on your fare.
- Eurowings and Norwegian: the BASIC and LowFare fares include a personal item only.
Cabin luggage weight limits
Weight limits vary more than sizes do. Lufthansa Group, SAS, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, and ITA Airways allow 8 kg. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines allow 7 kg. Most low-cost airlines allow 10 kg, EasyJet 15 kg. Air France and KLM allow 12 kg combined for your cabin bag and personal item, and British Airways allows 23 kg. US airlines generally don't set a weight limit.
The weight of the bag itself counts. On a 7 kg allowance, a lighter case leaves you more room for what's inside.
Which Horizn cabin luggage fits your airline?
H5 Essential and H5 Pro: 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 2.9 kg
The H5 fits the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Iberia, TAP, ITA Airways, SAS, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, EasyJet, and Ryanair and Wizz Air with Priority. At exactly 115 cm in total, it also meets Singapore Airlines' limit. It's 5 cm too wide for Air France, KLM, and Transavia, and too wide for Emirates and US airlines.
H5 Air: 55 × 37 × 20 cm, 2.1 kg
The H5 Air is 3 cm narrower than the H5, so it also fits Emirates' 38 cm width limit. At 2.1 kg, it's the lightest Horizn cabin case – useful on 7 and 8 kg allowances. It's still too wide for Air France, KLM, Transavia, and US airlines.
M5 Essential and M5 Pro: 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 3.4–3.5 kg
The M5 adds 3 cm of depth for the front laptop pocket. It fits every airline with a 23 cm or deeper limit, including the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Iberia, TAP, Turkish Airlines, EasyJet, Wizz Air with Priority, and Norwegian. It's too deep for Ryanair, Vueling, and Volotea, where the limit is 20 cm.
How to avoid gate-check fees
- Check your fare, not just the airline. The same airline can include a full cabin bag, a small bag, or nothing at all.
- Measure with wheels and handles. Airlines measure the outside of your bag, and the gate sizer has the final say.
- Watch the width. At 35–38 cm, Air France, KLM, Emirates, and US airlines are narrower than most.
- Weigh at home. On 7 or 8 kg allowances, your packed bag can tip over faster than you'd think.
- Use your personal item. Move heavy or bulky items into it to keep your cabin bag within limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard cabin luggage size?
There's no single standard. The most common limit in Europe is 55 × 40 × 23 cm, used by the Lufthansa Group, SAS, Finnair, and Turkish Airlines. US airlines use 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in). IATA recommends 55 × 35 × 20 cm, but few airlines follow it.
How much can cabin luggage weigh?
It depends on the airline: 7 kg on Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines, 8 kg on the Lufthansa Group and Turkish Airlines, 10 kg on most low-cost airlines, 12 kg on Air France and KLM, and 23 kg on British Airways. US airlines generally don't set a limit.
Do wheels and handles count towards cabin luggage size?
Yes. Airline limits apply to the full outside size of your bag, including wheels, handles, feet, and external pockets.
What's the difference between a cabin bag and a personal item?
A cabin bag goes in the overhead locker, usually up to around 55 × 40 × 23 cm. A personal item, like a handbag or laptop bag, goes under the seat in front of you, usually up to around 40 × 30 × 15 cm. Most full-service airlines allow both.
Is a cabin bag free on Ryanair?
No. Every Ryanair fare includes a free 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat bag. The 55 × 40 × 20 cm cabin bag (10 kg) needs Priority boarding or a Plus fare.
Which cabin bag fits most airlines?
A bag at 55 × 40 × 20 cm fits most European airlines, including the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air with Priority, and EasyJet. Air France, KLM, Transavia, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and US airlines are narrower or shorter, so check their limits separately.
Does Horizn Studios cabin luggage fit airline size limits?
The H5 (55 × 40 × 20 cm) fits most European airlines, including the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, and Ryanair with Priority. The H5 Air (55 × 37 × 20 cm) also fits Emirates. The M5 (55 × 40 × 23 cm) fits airlines with a 23 cm depth limit, but not Ryanair. None of the three fits Air France, KLM, Transavia, Qatar Airways, or US airlines' stated limits.
What happens if my cabin bag is too big?
It's checked at the gate and goes in the hold, usually for a fee. Low-cost airlines charge the most and check sizes most strictly.
Pick the cabin luggage that fits how you fly
Flying mostly within Europe? The H5 covers the widest range of airlines. Flying Emirates or watching every kilo? The H5 Air is narrower and lighter. Need your laptop within reach? The M5's front pocket fits airlines with a 23 cm depth limit.
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