The Ultimate Guide to Carry-On Weight Limits

Heading out on a journey with just your carry-on luggage can be liberating—no waiting at the baggage carousel, no fears of lost bags—but there are still size and weight restrictions you need to follow.

Carry-on weight limits might seem like a nuisance, but if you don’t pay attention to them, you could be stuck with a nasty fee to check your bag.

Most domestic airlines don’t have any specific carry-on weight limits. International airlines, on the other hand, often have very strict restrictions, usually ranging from 11 to 26 lbs.

Carry-on weight limits vary widely between airlines, and the time to find out your flight’s restrictions is before your trip, not when you’re at the gate.

I researched the carry-on weight limits for 175 of the largest and most popular airlines worldwide to create a one-stop resource for you to determine how heavy your bag can be.

Why Carry-On Weight Limits Matter

You should pay attention to carry-on weight limits so you aren’t forced to check an overweight bag.

Of course, there’s more to it than that. Airlines have carry-on weight limits so they can balance the aircraft correctly, and massively heavy bags could be dangerous if they fall out of the overhead bin.

Plus, hauling around a 70 lb carry-on bag is no one’s idea of a good time. Even if your flight doesn’t have specific weight limits, it’s a good idea to keep the weight down so you don’t have to struggle to heft your bag into the overhead bin.

Carry-On Weight Limits By Airline

Carry-On Weight Limit by Airline

Every airline sets its own restrictions on luggage size and weight, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why it’s important to research airline-specific weight limits before you fly.

To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of domestic and international airlines and their carry-on weight limits.

Most major airlines in the US don’t place a limit on your carry-on’s weight. The airlines that do have weight limits are pretty generous, allowing you 25 to 40 lbs in your carry-on.

Fly outside the US, and the rules get a tad tighter. International airlines typically have weight limits between 11 and 26 pounds, so your carry-on may need to slim down for overseas trips.

It’s always a good idea to double check the restrictions and weigh your luggage beforehand. The table below shows the carry-on weight restrictions for 175 airlines worldwide.

Airline Carry-On Weight Limit
Aegean Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Aer Lingus 22 lbs (10 kg)
Aeroflot 22 lbs (10 kg)
Aerolineas Argentinas 22 lbs (10 kg)
Aeromexico 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Asia 15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Astana 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Baltic 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Canada 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Caraibes 26.5 lbs (12 kg)
Air China 11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Europa 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air France 26 lbs (12 kg)
Air India 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Macau 11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Malta 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air New Zealand 15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Niugini 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Nostrum 22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Serbia 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Seychelles 15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Tahiti 11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Transat 22 lbs (10 kg)
AirAsiaX 15 lbs (7 kg)
Aircalin 22 lbs (10 kg)
Airlink 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Alaska Airlines N/A
Allegiant Air N/A
American Airlines N/A
ANA 22 lbs (10 kg)
Asiana Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Austrian 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Avianca 22 lbs (10 kg)
Azerbaijan Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Azul 22 lbs (10 kg)
Bahamasair 20 lbs (9 kg)
Bangkok Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Batik Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Beijing Capital Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Belavia 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Biman Bangladesh 15 lbs (7 kg)
Binter Canarias 13 lbs (6 kg)
Blue Air 22 lbs (10 kg)
Boliviana de Aviacion 22 lbs (10 kg)
British Airways 51 lbs (23 kg)
Bulgaria Air 22 lbs (10 kg)
Cambodia Angkor Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Cathay Pacific 15 lbs (7 kg)
Cayman Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Cebu Pacific 15 lbs (7 kg)
Chengdu Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
China Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
China Eastern 22 lbs (10 kg)
China United Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Citilink 15 lbs (7 kg)
CommutAir 14 lbs (6.4 kg)
Conviasa 22 lbs (10 kg)
Copa Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Croatia Air 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Czech Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Delta Airlines 40 lbs (18 kg)
easyJet 22 lbs (10 kg)
EL AL 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Emirates Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Enter Air 11 lbs (5 kg)
Ethiopian Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Etihad Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Eurowings 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
EVA Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Fiji Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Finnair 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Flybe 22 lbs (10 kg)
flydubai 15 lbs (7 kg)
Flynas 15 lbs (7 kg)
Frontier Airlines 35 lbs (15.8 kg)
Garuda Indonesia 15 lbs (7 kg)
Gestair 22 lbs (10 kg)
Gol 22 lbs (10 kg)
Gulf Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Hainan Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Hawaiian Airlines 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
Hong Kong Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Horizon Airlines 40 lbs (18 kg)
Iberia 22 lbs (10 kg)
Icelandair 22 lbs (10 kg)
Indigo 15 lbs (7 kg)
Iran Air 11 lbs (5 kg)
Island Air 16 lbs (7.3 kg)
ITA Airways 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Japan Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Jet2 22 lbs (10 kg)
JetBlue Airways N/A
Jetstar Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Juneyao Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Kenya Airways 22 lbs (10 kg)
KLM 26 lbs (12 kg)
Kulula 15 lbs (7 kg)
Kuwait Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
LATAM 22 lbs (10 kg)
Liat Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Linea Aerea Amaszonas 13 lbs (6 kg)
Lion Air Group 15 lbs (7 kg)
Loong Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
LOT Polish 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Lucky Air 11 lbs (5 kg)
Lufthansa 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Luxair 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Mahan Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Malaysia Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Mango 15 lbs (7 kg)
Mesa Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Middle East Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Norse Atlantic Airways 22 lbs (10 kg)
Norwegian 22 lbs (10 kg)
Oman Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Onur Air 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Pakistan International 15 lbs (7 kg)
Peach 22 lbs (10 kg)
Pegasus Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Philippine Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Porter Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Qantas Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Qatar Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Ravn Alaska 20 lbs (9 kg)
Regional Express 15 lbs (7 kg)
Royal Brunei Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Royal Jordanian 22 lbs (10 kg)
Ryanair 22 lbs (10 kg)
S7 22 lbs (10 kg)
SAS Scandinavian 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Scoot 15 lbs (7 kg)
Shandong Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Shanghai Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Shenzhen Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Sichuan Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Singapore Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Sky Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
South African Airways 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Southern Airways Express 20 lbs (9 kg)
Southwest Airlines N/A
Spirit Airlines 40 lbs (18 kg)
Spring Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
SriLankan Airlines 15 lbs (7 kg)
Sun Country 35 lbs (15.8 kg)
Sun Express 15 lbs (7 kg)
Super Air Jet 15 lbs (7 kg)
Swiss Int’l Air Lines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
TAAG Angola 22 lbs (10 kg)
TAP Portugal 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
TAROM 22 lbs (10 kg)
Thai Airways 15 lbs (7 kg)
Thomson Airways 22 lbs (10 kg)
Tianjin Airlines 11 lbs (5 kg)
Transavia Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Turkish Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Turkmenistan Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Ukraine International 15 lbs (7 kg)
United Airlines N/A
Ural Airlines 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Utair Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Uzbekistan Air 11 lbs (5 kg)
Vietjet Air 15 lbs (7 kg)
Vietnam Airlines 22 lbs (10 kg)
Virgin Atlantic 22 lbs (10 kg)
Virgin Australia 15 lbs (7 kg)
Vistara 15 lbs (7 kg)
Viva Aerobus 22 lbs (10 kg)
VivaColombia 22 lbs (10 kg)
Volaris 22 lbs (10 kg)
Volotea 22 lbs (10 kg)
Vueling 22 lbs (10 kg)
WestJet 22 lbs (10 kg)
Widerøe 17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Wizz Air 22 lbs (10 kg)
Xiamen 11 lbs (5 kg)

Tips for Packing: Maximizing Space and Avoiding Overweight Baggage

Tips for Packing

Once you’ve found the carry-on weight restrictions for your flight, it’s time to make sure your bag is under those limits. You don’t want to get to the gate only to learn your luggage is too heavy.

Here are a few packing tips to help you avoid overweight penalties.

Weigh Your Luggage

First things first, do a trial run of your packing at home. A luggage scale is the easiest way to weigh your luggage. No luggage scale? No problem. A good old bathroom scale can work in a pinch.

Our full guide on how to measure luggage walks you through the process to get an accurate weight for your suitcase using either type of scale.

Buy Lightweight Luggage

If you’re in the market for a new suitcase, shopping around for a lightweight model can help with keeping your bag within the weight limits. This is especially a good idea if you plan on flying with international airlines that have very tight restrictions.

We have a full list of the best lightweight luggage to help you find a lightweight option. I recommend checking out the July Carry-On Light. At 3.9 lbs, this is the lightest carry-on of its kind, and it’s perfectly designed for minimalist travel.

Spread the Weight Between Your Carry-On and Personal Item

If you’ve weighed your carry-on and it’s a bit over the weight limits, you don’t necessarily have to pack less.

Instead, you can move some stuff into your personal item—a purse, laptop bag, or travel daypack that fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines let you bring one carry-on bag and one personal item, so you should take advantage of both.

Take small but heavy items (like books, laptops, cameras, etc.) out of your carry-on, and put them into your personal item. This spreads the weight around and can help you get your carry-on weight under the limit.

Pack Less Stuff

Let’s be honest, do you really need five pairs of shoes for a weekend getaway? The simple truth is that the easiest way to cut down weight in your suitcase is to pack less.

Opt for versatile pieces of clothing that can fill multiple purposes, and choose lightweight synthetics over bulky cotton.

Less clutter means more room for memories. Packing light is the way to go!

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