Carry-On Size Calculator
Measure your bag's length, width and depth - wheels and handles included - and pick the airline frame you fly. The calculator returns the fits-or-too-big verdict, your tightest margin, and how likely a gate agent is to disagree.
Airline tables hide the comparison and their own variation. This one checks the shape against the four common frames at once, explains the sizer's zero-tolerance for one soft centimetre, and prices the soft-versus-hardshell difference.
How to use
- Measure the bag fully assembled - wheels, handles and feet are part of every rule.
- Pick the frame matching your airline, or check the tightest one if you fly mixed carriers.
- Read the margin: 1 cm passes soft and fails hardshell; 3 cm over is a fee with your name on it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard carry-on dimensions?
The common frames are 55×40×23 (US majors), 55×35×25 (EU typical), 56×36×23 (IATA guide) and 56×45×25 (larger allowances). Check your specific airline - budget carriers enforce hard, and aircraft type can shrink even that.
Do wheels count in carry-on size?
Yes - every dimension includes wheels, handles and feet, which is how advertised cabin bags fail real sizers. Measure the bag standing ready to fly, not the label sewn inside the lining.
What happens if my bag is slightly too big?
At the gate: a gate check, usually free on legacy carriers and a fee on budget ones - or the embarrassing frame test. A bag within 1 cm passes if soft and compressible; hardshell needs its full margin in writing.
How strict are airlines about carry-on weight?
Varies wildly: EU carriers weigh with 7-10 kg limits and charge for overage; US majors check size, not weight. The trick is wearing the heavy things aboard and letting the bag carry the light ones.