Take a trip with just you carry-on luggage It can be liberating – no waiting at the baggage belt, no worries about lost luggage – but there are still size and weight restrictions you must follow.
Carry-on baggage weight limits may seem like an inconvenience, but if you don’t pay attention to them, you could be forced to pay a hefty fee to check your bag.
Most domestic airlines do not impose any specific weight limits for carry-on baggage. On the other hand, international airlines impose very strict restrictions, usually ranging from 11 to 26 pounds.
Carry-on baggage weight limits vary widely between airlines, and the best time to find out about your flight restrictions is before your flight, not when you’re at the gate.
I’ve researched the carry-on baggage weight limits of 175 of the largest and most popular airlines around the world to create a comprehensive resource for you to determine how heavy your bag is.
Why are carry-on weight limits important?
You should pay attention to the carry-on baggage weight limits so that you do not have to check in an overweight bag.
Of course, there’s more to it than that. Airlines have weight limits for carry-on luggage so they can balance the plane properly, and luggage that’s too heavy can be dangerous if it falls out of the overhead bin.
Plus, lugging a 70-pound carry-on bag isn’t fun for anyone. Even if your flight doesn’t have a specific weight limit, it’s a good idea to keep the weight down so you don’t have to work too hard to lift your bag into the overhead bin.
Carry-on baggage weight limits by airline
Each airline has its own restrictions on baggage size and weight, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why it’s important to research your airline’s weight limits before you travel.
To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of domestic and international airlines and their carry-on baggage weight limits.
Most major airlines in the United States do not impose a weight limit on your carry-on baggage. The airlines that do impose weight limits are very generous, allowing you to carry between 25 and 40 pounds in your carry-on baggage.
When traveling outside the United States, the rules get stricter. International airlines typically have weight limits of between 11 and 26 pounds, so you may need to reduce your carry-on weight on international flights.
It is always best to check the restrictions and weight of your baggage in advance. The table below shows the weight restrictions for carry-on baggage for 175 airlines around the world.
airline |
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) |
Asian waters |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Astana Water |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
air baltic |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Air Canada |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Caribbean waters |
26.5 lbs (12 kg) |
China Airlines |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Air Europe |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Air France |
26 lbs (12 kg) |
Air India |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
In Macau |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Air Malta |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Air New Zealand |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
New Guinea Airlines |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Air Nostrum |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Air Serbia |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Air Seychelles |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Tahitian waters |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Air Transat |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Air Asia X |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Aircalin |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Airlink |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Alaska Airlines |
Not available |
Goodwill Airlines |
Not available |
American Airlines |
Not available |
I |
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) |
Azoul |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Bahamas Airlines |
20 lbs (9 kg) |
Bangkok Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Water Batik |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Beijing Airlines |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Belavia |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Biman Bangladesh |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Painter Canary |
13 lbs (6 kg) |
blue air |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Bolivian Airlines |
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) |
Eastern China |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
United Airlines of China |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
City Link |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Commute Air |
14 lbs (6.4 kg) |
Conviasa |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Copa Airlines |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Croatia Airlines |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Czech Airlines |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Delta Air Lines |
40 lbs (18 kg) |
easyjet |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
the |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Emirates Airlines |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Take in the air |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Ethiopian Airlines |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Etihad Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Euro Wings |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Eva Air |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Fiji Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Finnair |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Flyby |
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) |
Jester |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Goal |
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 water |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Air Island |
16 lbs (7.3 kg) |
Italian Airlines |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Japan Airlines |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Jet2 |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
jetblue airlines |
Not available |
Jetstar Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Juneyao Airlines |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Kenya Airways |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Royal Dutch Airlines |
26 lbs (12 kg) |
It’s easy. |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Kuwait Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
latin america |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
See Airlines |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Amazon Air |
13 lbs (6 kg) |
Lion Air Group |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Long water |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Lots of Polish |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Lucky Air |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Lufthansa |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
luxury |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
drink water |
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) |
norsea atlantic airlines |
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) |
Alaska Raven |
20 lbs (9 kg) |
Regional Express Mail |
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 Airlines |
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 Airlines Express |
20 lbs (9 kg) |
Southwest Airlines |
Not available |
Spirit Airlines |
40 lbs (18 kg) |
Spring Airlines |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Srilankan Airlines |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Land of the Sun |
35 lbs (15.8 kg) |
Sun Express |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Super Air Jet |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
Swiss International Air Lines |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Crown of Angola |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Portugal tab |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Tarom |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Thai Airways |
15 lbs (7 kg) |
thomson airlines |
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 |
Not available |
Ural Airlines |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
utair airlines |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Uzbekistan Airways |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Vietnam Airlines |
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) |
Long live Aerobus |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Viva Colombia |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Volaris |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Volutea |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Vueling |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Westgate |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Fedro |
17.6 lbs (8 kg) |
Wizz Air |
22 lbs (10 kg) |
Xiamen |
11 lbs (5 kg) |
Packing Tips: Make the Most of Space and Avoid Overweight Luggage
Once you’ve determined your carry-on baggage weight restrictions, it’s time to make sure your bag doesn’t exceed those limits. You don’t want to arrive at the gate only to discover that your baggage is too heavy.
Here are a few of them. Packaging Tips To help you avoid overweight penalties.
Weight of your luggage
First and foremost, try the packing process at home. A luggage scale is the easiest way to weigh your luggage. Don’t have a luggage scale? No problem. An old bathroom scale can come in handy in an emergency.
Our complete guide to How to measure luggage Guides you through the process of getting an accurate weight for your bag using any type of scale.
Buy lightweight luggage
If you’re looking for a new suitcase, shopping for a lightweight model can help you keep your bag within the weight limit. This is an especially good idea if you plan to fly with international airlines that have very strict restrictions.
We have a full list of Best lightweight luggage To help you find a lightweight option, I recommend you check out: July’s light travel bagAt 3.9 lbs, this is the lightest carry-on bag of its kind and is perfectly designed for minimalist travel.
Weight distribution between your carry-on and personal luggage
If you weigh your carry-on baggage and find that it is slightly over the weight limit, you don’t necessarily have to pack less.
Alternatively, you can transfer some of the items to your personal item – a wallet, laptop bag, or Daily travel bag You can place one carry-on bag under the seat in front of you. Most airlines allow you to carry one carry-on bag and one personal bag, so you should take advantage of both.
Take small but heavy items (such as books, laptops, cameras, etc.) out of your carry-on bag and place them in your personal belongings. This distributes the weight and can help keep your carry-on weight below the maximum.
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 reduce the weight in your suitcase is to pack less.
Choose versatile clothing pieces that can serve multiple purposes, and opt for lightweight synthetic fabrics instead of bulky cotton.
Less clutter means more space for memories. So packing light is the way to go!