# Personal item size by airline: under-seat limits for 25 airlines

> OneBag Kit · https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-size-by-airline/  
> Updated: 2026-10-08 · Published: 2026-10-08

A soft bag that measures no more than 40 × 30 × 15 cm packed is our pick. It passes the printed personal-item limit on 14 of the 18 airlines below that give one, Lufthansa's Economy Basic, British Airways, KLM and Ryanair among them. It fails on United, which allows 25 cm of width, and on Singapore Airlines, Scoot and AirAsia, which allow 10 cm of depth. What you give up is space: about 18 litres, where easyJet's allowance holds 32.

## Why 40 × 30 × 15 cm is the size to aim for

Line a bag up against a limit by size order: its longest side against the longest number, the middle against the middle, the shortest against the shortest. A soft bag goes into a sizer whichever way fits, so the order an airline prints its numbers in doesn't change the answer. Sorted like that, all five European full-service airlines in the table print the same box, 40 × 30 × 15 cm (Iberia writes it 30 × 40 × 15). Ryanair, Wizz Air, ANA and Air India add 5 cm of depth, at 40 × 30 × 20 cm. American, JetBlue, Frontier and easyJet go bigger in every direction: 45 × 35 × 20 cm, 43.2 × 33 × 20.3 cm, 45.7 × 35.6 × 20.3 cm and 45 × 36 × 20 cm. Air Canada's 43 × 33 × 16 cm is longer and wider than the European box but only 1 cm deeper.

A bag that fits the European box fits every one of those. Four airlines break it. [United's limit](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/baggage/carry-on-bags.html) is 9 × 10 × 17 in (22 × 25 × 43 cm), long and deep enough for it, but a 30 cm-wide bag is 5 cm too wide, and a packed soft bag rarely squeezes 5 cm narrower. Singapore Airlines, Scoot and AirAsia cap the under-seat bag at 40 × 30 × 10 cm. [Singapore Airlines](https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/baggage/cabin-baggage/) adds that a bag over 80 cm in total (length, width and height added up) counts as your main cabin bag, and 40 + 30 + 15 comes to 85.

Clearing all 18 takes 40 × 25 × 10 cm or less, a 10-litre box, which is a sling or a large pouch. We'd carry the 18-litre bag instead, pack it thin for the three 10 cm airlines and book a United fare that includes a carry-on.

The cost of the pick shows on the airlines with bigger allowances. easyJet's free under-seat bag is 45 × 36 × 20 cm, a 32.4-litre box by multiplication, and American's 45 × 35 × 20 cm works out to 31.5 litres. An 18-litre bag leaves about 14 litres unused on both. A [poster in r/unitedairlines](https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uzx51t/basic_economy_personal_bag/) asking about a small Basic Economy bag got the same point from [one reply](https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uzx51t/basic_economy_personal_bag/oyan4gz/): "You're giving up almost 40% of the volume you're allowed by using that bag." If every flight on your trip is easyJet or American, size the bag to their limits instead and skip the 15 cm one.

"Fits under the seat" is the test a 40 × 30 × 15 cm limit replaces. A [poster in r/Lufthansa](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1vi0a91/got_charged_70_eur_for_a_bag_that_fits_under_the/) was charged 70 EUR for a bag marked "Easy Jet compatible". As [one commenter](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1vi0a91/got_charged_70_eur_for_a_bag_that_fits_under_the/p29z2db/) put it, a personal item there "is NOT measured by 'fits under the seat', but by actual measurements in cm (40x30x15 cm)." [Another](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1vi0a91/got_charged_70_eur_for_a_bag_that_fits_under_the/p29munm/) pointed out that Ryanair and Wizz Air "allow an extra 5 cm of depth" on their cheapest fares. Measure your bag packed, the way [how to measure a carry-on bag](https://onebagkit.com/how-to-measure-a-carry-on-bag/index.md) sets out, before you compare it with anything below.

## Personal-item limits for 25 airlines

Each airline's name links to its own baggage page. All 25 were read on 8 October 2026. Inches are the airline's own figures unless the cell says converted.

![Nested outlines of airline personal-item limits: 10 cm deep for Singapore Airlines, Scoot and AirAsia; 15 cm, highlighted as our pick (18 L), for Lufthansa, BA, Air France, KLM and Iberia; 20 cm for Ryanair, Wizz Air, ANA and Air India; easyJet's 45 × 36 × 20 cm (32 L) around them; United's narrower 25 cm box dashed, 22 cm deep.](https://onebagkit.com/img/brick-spot-personal-item-size-by-airline-640.webp)

| Airline | Under-seat limit | Weight | Fare or route rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| [American](https://www.aa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-baggage.html) | 45 × 35 × 20 cm (18 × 14 × 8 in) | Not stated | One personal item and one carry-on |
| [Delta](https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/carry-on-baggage) | No size printed: "purse, laptop bag or item of similar size" | Not stated | On Delta Connection flights with 50 seats or fewer, larger bags get a pink Gate Claim tag |
| [United](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/baggage/carry-on-bags.html) | 43 × 25 × 22 cm (17 × 10 × 9 in) | Not stated | Basic Economy: personal item only, except to South America and across the Atlantic or Pacific. CommutAir: personal item only |
| [Southwest](https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/travel-fees.html) | No size printed: "one smaller, personal type item" | Not stated | Free for all ticketed passengers, with a 24 × 16 × 10 in carry-on |
| [Alaska](https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-luggage) | No size printed: "a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag" | Not stated | One carry-on plus one personal item; at least one goes under the seat |
| [JetBlue](https://www.jetblue.com/help/carry-on-bags) | 43.2 × 33 × 20.3 cm (17 × 13 × 8 in) | No limit if you can lift it | All fares, the cheapest Base fares included, also get a carry-on |
| [Frontier](https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel/travel-info/bag-options/) | 18 × 14 × 8 in (45.7 × 35.6 × 20.3 cm, converted), including handles, wheels and straps | 35 lb | Included on every fare; size checked at boarding, and a bigger bag is charged |
| [Air Canada](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/carry-on.html) | 43 × 33 × 16 cm (17 × 13 × 6 in) | No limit if you can lift it | Economy Basic bought from 3 Jan 2025: personal item only within Canada, to and from the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean |
| [Ryanair](https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/categories/12489112419089-Bag-Rules) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | Not stated | All fares. A 10 kg, 55 × 40 × 20 cm overhead bag comes only with Priority & 2 Cabin Bags |
| [easyJet](https://www.easyjet.com/en/help/baggage/cabin-bags) | 45 × 36 × 20 cm, including handles and wheels | 15 kg | All fares. A 56 × 45 × 25 cm large cabin bag costs extra on most fares (£60 at the gate); Inclusive Plus fares include it |
| [Wizz Air](https://www.wizzair.com/en-gb/help-centre/booking-information-and-services/baggage/baggage-allowance) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm; wheels may add up to 5 cm | 10 kg | All fares. A 55 × 40 × 23 cm trolley bag needs WIZZ Priority |
| [Lufthansa](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/carry-on-baggage) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | Not stated (8 kg is the carry-on limit) | Economy Basic on short- and medium-haul flights: personal item only |
| [British Airways](https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in) | Not stated | Plus a 56 × 45 × 25 cm cabin bag; the handbag is "Guaranteed in the cabin". On flights to and from Brazil, BA's baggage calculator gives the handbag as 45 × 36 × 20 cm |
| [Air France](https://wwws.airfrance.us/information/bagages/bagage-cabine-soute) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in) | 12 kg with the cabin bag (Economy) | Economy: no cabin bag or one, depending on the fare |
| [KLM](https://www.klm.com/information/baggage/hand-baggage-allowance) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | 12 kg with hand baggage (Economy) | Economy Basic: small bag only; hand baggage can be bought in My Trip |
| [Iberia](https://www.iberia.com/us/luggage/hand-luggage/) | 30 × 40 × 15 cm | Not stated (10 kg is the cabin bag) | Iberia also includes a 10 kg, 56 × 40 × 25 cm cabin bag on its fares |
| [Emirates](https://www.emirates.com/us/english/before-you-fly/baggage/cabin-baggage-rules/) | No separate under-seat bag listed for Economy | 7 kg for the one Economy carry-on (55 × 38 × 22 cm) | Business and First add a briefcase of up to 45 × 35 × 20 cm |
| [Qatar Airways](https://www.qatarairways.com/en/baggage/allowance.html) | No size printed: "One small purse or small briefcase" | Economy carry-on is 7 kg (50 × 37 × 25 cm) | A separate laptop bag counts as carry-on baggage |
| [Etihad](https://www.etihad.com/en-ae/help/faq/baggage) | No separate under-seat bag listed for Economy | 7 kg for the one 56 × 36 × 23 cm Economy bag | Business, First and The Residence add a 5 kg bag of up to 23 × 39 × 19 cm |
| [Singapore Airlines](https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/baggage/cabin-baggage/) | 40 × 30 × 10 cm, and no more than 80 cm in total | Not stated (7 kg is the Economy cabin bag) | Over 80 cm in total, it counts as your cabin bag |
| [Scoot](https://www.flyscoot.com/en/plan/booking-your-flight/baggage) | 40 × 30 × 10 cm | 10 kg for both Economy pieces (15 kg on ScootPlus) | Two cabin pieces on every fare |
| [ANA](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/travel-information/baggage-information/carry-on/) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 10 kg with the carry-on | Dimensions include wheels and handles |
| [Air India](https://www.airindia.com/in/en/travel-information/baggage-guidelines/cabin-baggage.html) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm, and no more than 90 cm in total | 3 kg | Over 90 cm in total, it counts as your cabin bag, and one of the two must be checked |
| [Qantas](https://www.qantas.com/en-au/baggage/carry-on) | No size printed: "1 cross body bag, 1 small handbag or 1 laptop in a slim bag" | 7 kg with the overhead bag (international Economy) | Domestic flights add a 34 × 48 × 23 cm underseat bag. Flights departing India: no personal item |
| [AirAsia](https://support.airasia.com/s/article/What-are-the-rules-for-cabin-baggage-on-board) | 40 × 30 × 10 cm | 7 kg for both pieces | The second piece is a 56 × 36 × 23 cm cabin bag |

Europe's full-service airlines have settled on 15 cm of depth, and its low-cost airlines on 20 cm. The Gulf carriers in the table give Economy passengers one cabin bag and no separate under-seat bag with a printed size. And the Asian low-cost airlines combine a thin 10 cm bag with one weight limit for both pieces. Lufthansa's 8 kg and Singapore Airlines' 7 kg are the limits for the main cabin bag. The two pages don't give the small bag a weight of its own.

## Worked example: one bag, three airlines, Newark to Barcelona

Take the cheapest fares, bought as three separate tickets: United Basic Economy from Newark to Frankfurt, Lufthansa Economy Basic from Frankfurt to Barcelona, then a Ryanair flight onward. Book Newark to Barcelona as one ticket and the Frankfurt leg changes: [Lufthansa says](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/europa-tarife-economy-class) its Europe fares, Economy Basic among them, don't apply to a connection from a long-haul flight on a through fare. The bag is a soft backpack that packs to 40 × 30 × 20 cm, the biggest small bag [Ryanair](https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/categories/12489112419089-Bag-Rules) takes free.

On United it fails the personal-item limit on width, 30 cm against 25. That doesn't sink it on this flight, because [United's Basic Economy rules](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/baggage/carry-on-bags.html) allow a carry-on across the Atlantic, and the 9 × 14 × 22 in (23 × 35 × 56 cm) overhead limit takes the backpack easily. On a United Basic Economy flight inside the US, the same bag isn't allowed in the cabin.

On Lufthansa it fails. Frankfurt to Barcelona is a flight inside Europe, and [Lufthansa's page](https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/carry-on-baggage) says the Economy Basic fare on short- and medium-haul flights "includes only one personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm)". The backpack is 5 cm too deep. A bag that breaks the rules goes in the hold at your expense, and the page says that fee depends on the route, from EUR 60 to EUR 110. Expect a check: a [commenter in r/Lufthansa](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1w2m1vz/hp_laptop_backpack_slightly_larger_than_lufthansa/p6tnvqc/) wrote that if you're in boarding group 5 with only a personal item, "they will screen you. Sometimes even call you to the desk before boarding."

On Ryanair it fits, with no room to spare.

Swap in a 40 × 30 × 15 cm bag and Lufthansa passes it, Ryanair passes it with 5 cm of depth spare, and United still carries it as the transatlantic carry-on. So the Lufthansa limit sets the bag size for the whole trip. If you already own the 20 cm one, you have three ways through: pack it thin enough to measure 15 cm deep at Frankfurt, add a carry-on to the Basic fare for a fee, or book Economy Light, which includes an 8 kg carry-on of up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm. On the same [Lufthansa thread about a slightly-too-big laptop backpack](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1w2m1vz/hp_laptop_backpack_slightly_larger_than_lufthansa/), [one regular](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lufthansa/comments/1w2m1vz/hp_laptop_backpack_slightly_larger_than_lufthansa/p6vrm7k/) argued that with a soft bag "the point should be how big your bag is given how full it is".

## Airlines that don't print a size

Seven of the 25 don't give under-seat dimensions. Delta, Southwest and Alaska describe the personal item by example (a purse, a briefcase, a laptop bag), and Delta adds that it has to fit underneath the seat. Qatar Airways allows "One small purse or small briefcase" and counts a separate laptop bag as your carry-on. Qantas lists "1 cross body bag, 1 small handbag or 1 laptop in a slim bag" for international Economy, inside the 7 kg total. Emirates and Etihad give Economy passengers one 7 kg cabin bag and don't list a second item at all.

With no number, a gate agent's eye does the measuring. In the r/unitedairlines thread, [one reply](https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1uzx51t/basic_economy_personal_bag/oyd2pfv/) said agents "don't need to measure; you get very good at eyeballing bag size." On Delta, Southwest and Alaska, our default is still the 40 × 30 × 15 cm bag: it is smaller than the printed limits of American, JetBlue and Frontier. On Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, a daypack carried next to a full-size cabin bag is a second bag. Pack it flat inside the main bag for the flight, or check one of the two.

A [poster in r/onebag](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1mejuey/how_small_do_i_need_to_go_to_guarantee_a_bag_will/) wanted a bag guaranteed to pass as a personal item on any airline, fully stuffed. [One reply](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1mejuey/how_small_do_i_need_to_go_to_guarantee_a_bag_will/n6a0c75/) warned that "Some airlines, especially in southeast Asia, define a personal item as a purse or a laptop sleeve." [Another](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1mejuey/how_small_do_i_need_to_go_to_guarantee_a_bag_will/n6a4pzh/) named the narrowest limit they had come across: "Smallest width I've seen is United at 17x10x9." In our table it still is: every other airline's middle number is 30 cm or more. United's 25 cm width and the Asian 10 cm depth are the two numbers that push a universal bag down to pouch size.

## Weight limits on the small bag

In Europe and the US, the under-seat bag has a size limit, and where it has a weight limit too, the number is high. easyJet allows 15 kg in it, Wizz Air 10 kg and Frontier 35 lb. Air France and KLM count the small bag inside a 12 kg Economy total with the cabin bag.

Asia and Australia weigh the pair. ANA allows 10 kg for the carry-on and personal item together, Scoot 10 kg for its two Economy pieces, and AirAsia 7 kg for both. Qantas puts international Economy at 7 kg for the overhead bag and personal item. Air India has the tightest number in the table: 3 kg for the personal item on its own, on top of a 7 kg Economy cabin bag. In the [r/onebag thread on personal-item-only travel](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1u60z4z/is_the_personal_item_only_backpack_mostly_a/), [one commenter](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1u60z4z/is_the_personal_item_only_backpack_mostly_a/orrqw07/) found that Asian low-cost airlines "seem to be strictly more about weight than the dimensions", and [another](https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1u60z4z/is_the_personal_item_only_backpack_mostly_a/ort25ki/) wrote that a relative flying to Japan "didn't know about the weight limit for personal items until they got to the gate."

So in Asia the pick needs one more step. On Scoot, AirAsia and Singapore Airlines, the bag has to pack down to 10 cm deep, and on Scoot and AirAsia it shares one weight limit with your cabin bag, so weigh the two together. For the whole-trip version of that, [packing a trip in only a personal item](https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-only-packing/index.md) covers what to cut, and [personal item vs carry-on](https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-vs-carry-on/index.md) covers what goes in which bag when you have both.

## Related OneBag Kit guides

- [How to measure a carry-on bag (and does squishing work?)](https://onebagkit.com/how-to-measure-a-carry-on-bag/index.md): measuring the bag packed, and how much squishing helps at the sizer
- [How to pack with only a personal item](https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-only-packing/index.md): fitting a whole trip into the bag on a fare like Lufthansa's Economy Basic
- [What goes in your personal item vs carry-on?](https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-vs-carry-on/index.md): what to keep under the seat if the carry-on gets gate-checked
- [How to pack under a 7 kg carry-on limit](https://onebagkit.com/carry-on-weight-limit-7kg/index.md): the AirAsia, Qantas and Gulf limits, where the scale matters more than the sizer

HTML: https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-size-by-airline/