US airline carry-on sizes (2026)
Carry-on and personal item limits for ten US airlines in one table, with what is free and what you pay for.
Carry-on and personal item size by US airline
Sizes are from each airline's own website. American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska and Frontier were checked between 20 September and 27 October 2026; Sun Country, Breeze and Avelo on 5 November 2026. Sizes include handles and wheels. Where the table says "No size published" the airline only says the bag must fit under the seat in front of you.
| Airline | Carry-on (overhead bin) | Personal item (under seat) | Carry-on cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 18 x 14 x 8 in | Free |
| Delta Air Lines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | No size published | Free |
| United Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 17 x 10 x 9 in | Free, except Basic Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in | No size published | Free |
| JetBlue | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 17 x 13 x 8 in | Free, including Blue Basic |
| Alaska Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | No size published | Free |
| Frontier Airlines | 24 x 16 x 10 in (35 lb max) | 18 x 14 x 8 in | Paid add-on |
| Sun Country Airlines | 24 x 16 x 11 in (35 lb max) | 17 x 13 x 9 in | Paid add-on |
| Breeze Airways | 22 x 14 x 9 in (35 lb max) | 17 x 13 x 8 in | Paid add-on or bundle |
| Avelo Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 in | 17 x 13 x 9 in | Paid add-on, from $54 to $75 |
Airlines change their rules. Confirm with your airline close to your travel date; each airline name above links to its own page with the source.
Which airlines charge for a carry-on?
American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska include one carry-on bag and one personal item. United includes both except in Basic Economy, where only the personal item is included on most routes. Frontier, Sun Country, Breeze and Avelo include only the personal item in the base fare, and the overhead-bin carry-on is a paid add-on that is cheaper when you add it with your booking than at the airport.
The airline's own bag page decides your allowance, not TSA. TSA only screens what you carry through security: see US carry-on rules for how the two fit together.
Airlines not in the table
Spirit Airlines stopped flying on 2 May 2026 (OPB report), so it is not listed. Allegiant is not listed yet because its website blocked our check; look at Allegiant's own bag page before you fly.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard US carry-on?
American, Delta, United, JetBlue and Alaska all list 22 x 14 x 9 inches including handles and wheels. Southwest and Frontier list 24 x 16 x 10 inches and Sun Country lists 24 x 16 x 11 inches. Breeze and Avelo list 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
Which US airline has the biggest carry-on allowance?
By the sizes in the table, Sun Country (24 x 16 x 11 inches) is largest, then Southwest and Frontier (24 x 16 x 10 inches). Sun Country, Breeze and Frontier also publish a 35 lb weight limit; the big airlines in the table do not publish a carry-on weight limit on the pages we checked.
Is a carry-on free on US airlines?
On American, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska yes, and on United except in Basic Economy. On Frontier, Sun Country, Breeze and Avelo the carry-on is a paid add-on and only the personal item is free.
What is the smallest personal item allowed?
Among airlines that publish a size, United's personal item is the smallest at 17 x 10 x 9 inches. JetBlue, Sun Country and Avelo list 17 x 13 inches with a depth of 8 or 9 inches; American and Frontier list 18 x 14 x 8 inches.
Did Spirit Airlines carry-on rules change?
Spirit Airlines stopped flying on 2 May 2026, so there are no current Spirit carry-on rules.