Personal Item Size Limits for 75 Airlines in 2026 (in + cm)

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The personal item is where the carry-on game has actually moved in 2026. Every airline still publishes a 22 x 14 x 9 inch carry-on dimension, give or take an inch, but the personal item has fragmented into a wild range, from 14 x 8 x 8 inches on Cebu Pacific to 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches on Southwest. That gap matters more every year, because more travelers are flying personal-item-only to skip carry-on fees, and “personal item” can mean anything from a laptop bag to a small roller suitcase depending on which airline you booked.

This is the part most carry-on guides get wrong. They quote “one personal item that fits under the seat” and call it a day. That is fine if you fly the same airline every trip. If you book whatever was cheapest last Thursday, you need actual numbers, in inches and centimeters, with a per-airline source. That is what this page is.

The quick answer: The smallest published personal item size in 2026 is 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm), used by AirAsia, Scoot, and Condor. The European standard is 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches), used by most Lufthansa Group and other legacy European carriers. The most generous published personal item is Volaris at 17.7 x 13.7 x 9.8 inches (about 2,376 cubic inches). Twenty-two airlines, including Delta, Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, and Cathay Pacific, do not publish exact dimensions and use a “fits under the seat” rule instead.

If you want quick lookups for a specific airline, the Vientapps carry-on size checker holds the same data with bag-fit checks against any size you enter. The full ranking, organized by tier, follows.

How we verified this

Same methodology as our carry-on weight limits guide. Quick recap so you do not need to context-switch:

• Primary source only. Personal item dimensions come from each airline’s official baggage policy page. Each airline below links to the corresponding vientapps.com/tools/carry-on-size/ page where the source URL is recorded.
• No estimates. If an airline does not publish exact dimensions, we mark it as “no published dimensions” rather than guessing. Many of the airlines in this category use a softer under-seat rule, which we explain in that section below.
• Both inches and centimeters. Most international airlines publish in cm and US carriers publish in inches. Where airlines publish only one unit, we convert from the airline’s primary value rather than rounding twice. Where airlines publish both, we use both numbers.
• Last-verified date per airline. Every entry has a verification date attached. Personal item allowances changed at four airlines in the last 12 months (Aer Lingus tightened, Vueling reorganized fare classes, Hawaiian removed personal item dimensions, JetBlue tightened on Blue Basic), so we re-verify on a 30 to 60 day cycle.
• Volume calculation. When we sort airlines by “size,” we use the cubic-inch volume (length x width x depth) of the personal item, not just the longest dimension. A 17 x 13 x 8 bag (1,768 cubic inches) actually holds more than a 18 x 14 x 6 bag (1,512 cubic inches) even though the longer dimension is the same.

If a number on this page does not match what an airline currently publishes, email us at [email protected] and we will re-verify within 48 hours.

Smallest published personal items: under 1,100 cubic inches (9 airlines)

These are the airlines with the strictest published personal item allowances. Most are Asian budget carriers with 40 x 30 x 10 cm sizers (AirAsia, Scoot, Condor), but Aer Lingus, Cebu Pacific, and Air Arabia round out the bottom of the size scale. If you fly any of these, your “personal item” is closer to a laptop bag than a daypack.

Aer Lingus

13 x 9.8 x 7.9 inches (33 x 25 x 20 cm). About 1,006 cubic inches. The smallest personal item allowance among European legacy carriers; Aer Lingus is closer to budget carriers in personal item terms despite being IAG-owned. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Air Arabia

10 x 13 x 8 inches (25 x 33 x 20 cm). About 1,040 cubic inches. The smallest published primary dimension (10 inches) of any airline in our data set. Last verified 2026-04-22.

AirAsia

15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm). About 723 cubic inches. The 3.9-inch depth is the catch; even slim daypacks struggle to fit under that limit. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Cebu Pacific

14 x 8 x 8 inches (35 x 20 x 20 cm). About 896 cubic inches. The narrowest personal item limit (8 inches wide) of any major airline. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Condor

15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm). About 723 cubic inches. Same restrictive 10 cm depth as AirAsia and Scoot, unusual for a German leisure carrier. Last verified 2026-04-22.

EVA Air

16 x 12 x 4 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm). About 768 cubic inches. EVA’s personal item is essentially the AirAsia spec measured in inches first. Last verified 2026-04-22.

IndiGo

13.8 x 9.8 x 5.9 inches (35 x 25 x 15 cm). About 798 cubic inches. India’s largest carrier, with a personal item allowance smaller than most European legacy carriers despite a higher carry-on weight limit. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Qantas

15.7 x 13.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 35 x 10 cm). About 845 cubic inches. The 3.9-inch depth is the same restrictive cap that AirAsia uses; Qantas borrowed the spec for its 7 kg domestic cabin baggage profile. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Scoot

15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm). About 723 cubic inches. Singapore Airlines’ budget subsidiary uses the AirAsia spec almost identically. Last verified 2026-05-07.

European standard: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in) (13 airlines)

This is the closest thing to a global personal item standard. Thirteen airlines publish the exact 40 x 30 x 15 cm spec, mostly European legacy carriers and Star Alliance/SkyTeam members in Europe. About 1,093 cubic inches. A typical 13 to 14 inch laptop bag fits this; a small daypack fits this; a 25-liter ultralight backpack with a slim profile fits this.

Air France

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Austrian Airlines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Lufthansa Group sibling. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Finnair

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Iberia

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. IAG sibling alongside British Airways and Aer Lingus, but Iberia uses a more generous personal item than either. Last verified 2026-05-04.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Same allowance as Air France (joint parent). Last verified 2026-05-04.

Lufthansa

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. The de facto European personal item standard. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Pegasus Airlines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Turkey’s main budget carrier; tighter on the carry-on weight side, standard on personal item. Last verified 2026-04-22.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-05.

SWISS International Air Lines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Lufthansa Group sibling. Last verified 2026-05-04.

TAP Air Portugal

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Turkish Airlines

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Virgin Atlantic

15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). 1,093 cubic inches. Same European standard despite being a UK long-haul carrier. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Vueling

15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches (40 x 20 x 30 cm). About 1,463 cubic inches if oriented loose, but the bag must still pass through a 40 x 30 x 20 cm sizer. Vueling is the only carrier in this group that orients the published dimensions differently. Effectively similar to the European standard. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Mid-tier: 1,100 to 1,700 cubic inches (15 airlines)

This tier covers most of the airlines that fall between the strict European standard and the generous US allowance. A typical 17-inch laptop bag fits this; a 30 to 35-liter travel backpack fits this; a soft-sided “personal item roller” with a low profile fits this. This is the practical sweet spot for personal-item-only travel: enough room for 3 to 4 days of clothes plus a laptop and toiletries.

Aeromexico

15.7 x 13.7 x 7.8 inches (40 x 35 x 20 cm). About 1,678 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Air Canada

13 x 17 x 6 inches (33 x 43 x 15 cm). About 1,326 cubic inches. Note the unusual orientation: the 17-inch dimension is the width, not the length. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Air India

16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). About 1,152 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Allegiant Air

16 x 15 x 7 inches (40 x 38 x 18 cm). About 1,680 cubic inches. Free on all Allegiant fares; carry-on costs $35 to $75 separately. Last verified 2026-04-22.

British Airways

16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). About 1,152 cubic inches. BA’s personal item is much smaller than its 23 kg carry-on weight allowance would suggest. Last verified 2026-04-22.

China Airlines

16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). About 1,152 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Copa Airlines

17 x 10 x 9 inches (43 x 25 x 23 cm). About 1,530 cubic inches. Same dimensional spec as United, which is not a coincidence; Copa is a Star Alliance partner. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Norse Atlantic Airways

16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). About 1,152 cubic inches. Long-haul leisure carrier with a tighter personal item profile than its generous 22 x 18 x 10 inch carry-on would suggest. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Norwegian Air Shuttle

15 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches (38 x 30 x 20 cm). About 1,399 cubic inches. Slightly more depth than the European standard. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Porter Airlines

17 x 13 x 6 inches (43 x 33 x 15 cm). About 1,326 cubic inches. Canada’s regional premium carrier. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Ryanair

15.7 x 9.8 x 7.9 inches (40 x 25 x 20 cm). About 1,217 cubic inches. This is Ryanair’s free under-seat allowance. To bring a larger bag, you must pay for “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.” Last verified 2026-05-04.

Transavia

16 x 12 x 8 inches (40 x 30 x 20 cm). About 1,536 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-04-22.

United Airlines

17 x 10 x 9 inches (43 x 25 x 23 cm). About 1,530 cubic inches. The narrowest US legacy personal item; American and JetBlue both publish wider allowances. Last verified 2026-05-04.

WestJet

16 x 13 x 6 inches (40 x 33 x 15 cm). About 1,248 cubic inches. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Wizz Air

15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches (40 x 30 x 20 cm). About 1,463 cubic inches. The free under-seat allowance; the larger Wizz Priority bag is a paid upgrade. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Generous: 1,700 to 2,000 cubic inches (9 airlines)

These airlines publish noticeably larger personal item allowances than the European standard. A 40-liter travel backpack fits this; a true small roller suitcase fits this; the kind of bag that on a Lufthansa flight would be your carry-on becomes your personal item here. The US ULCC tier (Frontier, Spirit, etc.) sits one level higher; this tier is mostly mid-tier US legacy and Latin American carriers plus a few European budget exceptions.

Avianca

17.7 x 13.7 x 7.9 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). About 1,916 cubic inches. The most generous Latin American legacy personal item, alongside LATAM. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Breeze Airways

17 x 13 x 8 inches (43 x 33 x 20 cm). About 1,768 cubic inches. Same allowance as JetBlue (founded by the same person). Last verified 2026-04-22.

easyJet

17.7 x 14.1 x 7.9 inches (45 x 36 x 20 cm). About 1,971 cubic inches. The most generous personal item among European budget carriers, by a wide margin. easyJet positions this as the free underseat allowance, which is unusually generous compared to Ryanair or Wizz Air. Last verified 2026-05-05.

Eurowings

15.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inches (40 x 30 x 25 cm). About 1,815 cubic inches. Same length and width as the European standard but much deeper (25 cm vs 15 cm). Last verified 2026-05-07.

ITA Airways

17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 inches (45 x 36 x 20 cm). About 1,985 cubic inches. The successor to Alitalia, with a markedly more generous personal item than most European legacy carriers. Last verified 2026-05-07.

JetBlue

17 x 13 x 8 inches (43 x 33 x 20 cm). About 1,768 cubic inches. Free on Blue and above; Blue Basic restricts you to this personal item only. Last verified 2026-05-05.

LATAM Airlines

17.8 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). About 1,939 cubic inches. South America’s largest carrier; nearly identical to Avianca’s spec. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Sun Country Airlines

17 x 13 x 9 inches (43 x 33 x 23 cm). About 1,989 cubic inches. Just under the 2,000 cubic inch threshold. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Virgin Australia

17.7 x 13 x 7.9 inches (45 x 33 x 20 cm). About 1,816 cubic inches. Notably more generous than Qantas (845 cubic inches), reflecting Virgin Australia’s positioning as a friendlier alternative on domestic routes. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Most generous: over 2,000 cubic inches (7 airlines)

Seven airlines publish personal item allowances that are essentially full-size carry-ons by European standards. This tier is dominated by US ULCCs that charge for overhead bin access, paired with a generous “free” personal item to make the fare look attractive. American Airlines and Saudia are the legacy outliers in this group.

American Airlines

18 x 14 x 8 inches (46 x 36 x 20 cm). About 2,016 cubic inches. The most generous US legacy personal item, paired with a 22 x 14 x 9 carry-on, gives you essentially two full-size bags free of charge. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Frontier Airlines

14 x 18 x 8 inches (36 x 46 x 20 cm). About 2,016 cubic inches. Same volume as American Airlines, oriented differently. Free on all fares; carry-on costs $59 to $75. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Saudia

18 x 14 x 8 inches (46 x 36 x 20 cm). About 2,016 cubic inches. The only Middle Eastern legacy carrier in this generous tier; most of its peers (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) do not publish personal item dimensions at all. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Southwest Airlines

18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inches (47 x 22 x 34 cm). About 2,123 cubic inches. The unusual 13.5-inch depth is from Southwest’s published “underseat” definition, which assumes a tall, narrow shape rather than the typical flat-and-wide spec. Last verified 2026-05-04.

Spirit Airlines

18 x 14 x 8 inches (46 x 36 x 20 cm). About 2,016 cubic inches. Free on all fares; carry-on costs $65 to $99. Spirit’s strategy is to publish a large personal item so the no-carry-on base fare still feels usable. Last verified 2026-04-22.

Viva Aerobus

18 x 14 x 8 inches (46 x 36 x 20 cm). About 2,016 cubic inches. Mexico’s other major budget carrier; same dimensional spec as Spirit and Frontier. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Volaris

17.7 x 13.7 x 9.8 inches (45 x 35 x 25 cm). About 2,376 cubic inches. The largest published personal item allowance of any airline in our data set. The 9.8-inch depth is unusual; most airlines cap personal item depth at 7 to 8 inches. Last verified 2026-05-05.

No published dimensions: under-seat rule (22 airlines)

Twenty-two airlines do not publish exact personal item dimensions and instead use a “must fit completely under the seat in front of you” rule. In practice, the under-seat space on most modern aircraft fits a bag roughly 17 x 14 x 9 inches, but the exact space varies by aircraft model and seat row (exit row, bulkhead, and window seats often have different under-seat configurations).

This group is heavily Asian and Middle Eastern legacy carriers, where the typical economy fare allows one carry-on plus one personal item but combines both into a single 7 kg total weight allowance. The airline polices weight rather than personal item dimensions.

• Alaska Airlines: No published personal item dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• ANA All Nippon Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 10 kg cabin baggage total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Azul Linhas Aereas: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Bamboo Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Cathay Pacific: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg cabin baggage total. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Delta Air Lines: No published personal item dimensions; under-seat rule applies. Last verified 2026-05-04.
• Discover Airlines: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Emirates: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg cabin baggage total in economy. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Etihad Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• flydubai: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Gol Linhas Aereas: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Hawaiian Airlines: No published personal item dimensions; under-seat rule applies. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Japan Airlines: No published dimensions; combined into 10 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Jetstar Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-07.
• Korean Air: No published dimensions; combined into 10 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Air New Zealand: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-04-22.
• Qatar Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total in economy. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Singapore Airlines: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• Spring Airlines: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-04-22.
• SunExpress: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-04-22.
• Thai Airways: No published dimensions; combined into 7 kg total. Last verified 2026-05-05.
• VietJet Air: No published dimensions. Last verified 2026-05-07.

Full alphabetical comparison table

The same data, sorted A to Z. Use this for quick lookups.

Airline	Personal Item (in)	Personal Item (cm)	Volume (cu in)	Last Verified
Aer Lingus	13 x 9.8 x 7.9	33 x 25 x 20	~1,006	2026-05-07
Aeromexico	15.7 x 13.7 x 7.8	40 x 35 x 20	~1,678	2026-05-05
Air Arabia	10 x 13 x 8	25 x 33 x 20	~1,040	2026-04-22
Air Canada	13 x 17 x 6	33 x 43 x 15	~1,326	2026-04-22
Air France	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-05
Air India	16 x 12 x 6	40 x 30 x 15	~1,152	2026-05-07
Air New Zealand	No published	No published	n/a	2026-04-22
AirAsia	15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9	40 x 30 x 10	~723	2026-05-05
Alaska Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Allegiant Air	16 x 15 x 7	40 x 38 x 18	~1,680	2026-04-22
American Airlines	18 x 14 x 8	46 x 36 x 20	~2,016	2026-05-04
ANA All Nippon Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Austrian Airlines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-05
Avianca	17.7 x 13.7 x 7.9	45 x 35 x 20	~1,916	2026-05-05
Azul Linhas Aereas	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Bamboo Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Breeze Airways	17 x 13 x 8	43 x 33 x 20	~1,768	2026-04-22
British Airways	16 x 12 x 6	40 x 30 x 15	~1,152	2026-04-22
Cathay Pacific	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Cebu Pacific	14 x 8 x 8	35 x 20 x 20	~896	2026-04-22
China Airlines	16 x 12 x 6	40 x 30 x 15	~1,152	2026-05-07
Condor	15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9	40 x 30 x 10	~723	2026-04-22
Copa Airlines	17 x 10 x 9	43 x 25 x 23	~1,530	2026-05-07
Delta Air Lines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-04
Discover Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
easyJet	17.7 x 14.1 x 7.9	45 x 36 x 20	~1,971	2026-05-05
Emirates	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Etihad Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Eurowings	15.7 x 11.8 x 9.8	40 x 30 x 25	~1,815	2026-05-07
EVA Air	16 x 12 x 4	40 x 30 x 10	~768	2026-04-22
Finnair	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
flydubai	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Frontier Airlines	14 x 18 x 8	36 x 46 x 20	~2,016	2026-04-22
Gol Linhas Aereas	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Hawaiian Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Iberia	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
IndiGo	13.8 x 9.8 x 5.9	35 x 25 x 15	~798	2026-05-07
ITA Airways	17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9	45 x 36 x 20	~1,985	2026-05-07
Japan Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
JetBlue	17 x 13 x 8	43 x 33 x 20	~1,768	2026-05-05
Jetstar Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
Korean Air	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
LATAM Airlines	17.8 x 13.8 x 7.9	45 x 35 x 20	~1,939	2026-05-04
Lufthansa	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-04-22
Norse Atlantic Airways	16 x 12 x 6	40 x 30 x 15	~1,152	2026-05-07
Norwegian Air Shuttle	15 x 11.8 x 7.9	38 x 30 x 20	~1,399	2026-05-07
Pegasus Airlines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-04-22
Porter Airlines	17 x 13 x 6	43 x 33 x 15	~1,326	2026-05-05
Qantas	15.7 x 13.8 x 3.9	40 x 35 x 10	~845	2026-05-07
Qatar Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Ryanair	15.7 x 9.8 x 7.9	40 x 25 x 20	~1,217	2026-05-04
SAS Scandinavian Airlines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-05
Saudia	18 x 14 x 8	46 x 36 x 20	~2,016	2026-04-22
Scoot	15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9	40 x 30 x 10	~723	2026-05-07
Singapore Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Southwest Airlines	18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5	47 x 22 x 34	~2,123	2026-05-04
Spirit Airlines	18 x 14 x 8	46 x 36 x 20	~2,016	2026-04-22
Spring Airlines	No published	No published	n/a	2026-04-22
Sun Country Airlines	17 x 13 x 9	43 x 33 x 23	~1,989	2026-04-22
SunExpress	No published	No published	n/a	2026-04-22
SWISS International Air Lines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
TAP Air Portugal	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
Thai Airways	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-05
Transavia	16 x 12 x 8	40 x 30 x 20	~1,536	2026-04-22
Turkish Airlines	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
United Airlines	17 x 10 x 9	43 x 25 x 23	~1,530	2026-05-04
VietJet Air	No published	No published	n/a	2026-05-07
Virgin Atlantic	15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9	40 x 30 x 15	~1,093	2026-05-04
Virgin Australia	17.7 x 13 x 7.9	45 x 33 x 20	~1,816	2026-04-22
Viva Aerobus	18 x 14 x 8	46 x 36 x 20	~2,016	2026-05-07
Volaris	17.7 x 13.7 x 9.8	45 x 35 x 25	~2,376	2026-05-05
Vueling	15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8	40 x 20 x 30	~1,463	2026-05-07
WestJet	16 x 13 x 6	40 x 33 x 15	~1,248	2026-04-22
Wizz Air	15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9	40 x 30 x 20	~1,463	2026-05-04

How to choose a personal item bag that works on every airline you fly

If you fly only US legacy and ULCC carriers, almost any 18 x 14 x 8 bag will work. If you mix in any European legacy carrier (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, etc.), you need a bag that fits 40 x 30 x 15 cm. If you fly Asian budget carriers (AirAsia, Scoot), you need a bag that fits 40 x 30 x 10 cm, which is a 4-inch-deep slim profile bag.

The honest answer: there is no single bag that fits all 75 airlines on this list. The narrowest depth (3.9 inches on AirAsia, Scoot, Condor, Qantas) is genuinely tight. Most travelers solve this by either:

1. Pick the strictest airline you typically fly and buy to that spec. A 40 x 30 x 15 cm bag (European standard) is the sweet spot for most international travelers. It will not fit AirAsia or Scoot, but it works for everywhere else.
2. Pack the bag soft so it compresses. Soft daypacks and packable totes work better than rigid laptop bags because gate agents will let a slightly oversized soft bag pass if it visually fits the underseat space.
3. Use a smaller bag than you think you need. A 20 to 25-liter bag at 40 x 30 x 15 cm holds more than you think and avoids the “this is suspiciously oversized” problem.

For specific bag recommendations across ULCC strict-compliance and European legacy use cases, see our best personal item bags for budget airlines guide.

The bottom line

Personal item allowances span almost a 4x range in 2026, from 723 cubic inches on AirAsia to 2,376 cubic inches on Volaris. The single biggest mistake travelers make is assuming “personal item” means the same thing on every airline. It does not.

If you fly mostly within the US, you have so much room that personal item dimensions barely matter. If you fly to Europe, optimize for 40 x 30 x 15 cm. If you fly anywhere in Asia or the Middle East, optimize for the under-seat rule and prioritize bag weight (most of those carriers cap combined cabin baggage at 7 kg total). And if you fly the strictest budget carriers (AirAsia, Scoot, Condor, Qantas domestic), optimize for the narrow 3.9-inch depth, which is a real constraint not all bags meet.

For everything else, the Vientapps carry-on size checker does the lookup for you across every airline in this guide. If you want the data on your own travel blog or site, you can embed the carry-on size widget for free.

Sources and methodology

Every dimension in the table is hand-checked against the airline’s published baggage essentials page. A lastVerified date is recorded per airline; rows older than 60 days are re-checked before each guide refresh. Representative primary sources used for the major carriers include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, AirAsia, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines. Where an airline does not publish numeric personal item dimensions (24 of the 75, including Delta and Emirates), the table records “Under-seat rule only” rather than estimating.