Personal Item Size Checker

Does your backpack, tote, or laptop bag count as a personal item? Compare published limits for every major airline, kept current by a human.

Looking for full carry-on rules instead? Open the Carry-On Size Checker. Comparing checked bag fees?

Does your bag fit as a personal item?

Pick a common bag type or enter your own dimensions. We'll highlight which airlines accept it as a personal item.

Length Width Height

Jump to a specific airline

Aer Lingus

EI · Ireland

Personal item: 13 x 9.8 x 7.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Aeromexico

AM · Mexico

Personal item: 15.7 x 13.7 x 7.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Air Canada

AC · Canada

Personal item: 13 x 17 x 6"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Air France

AF · France

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Air New Zealand

NZ · New Zealand

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

AirAsia

AK · Malaysia

Personal item: 15.7 x 9.1 x 13.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Alaska Airlines

AS · United States

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Allegiant Air

G4 · United States

Personal item: 16 x 15 x 7"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

American Airlines

AA · United States

Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

ANA All Nippon Airways

NH · Japan

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Austrian Airlines

OS · Austria

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Avianca

AV · Colombia

Personal item: 17.7 x 13.7 x 9.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Breeze Airways

MX · United States

Personal item: 17 x 13 x 8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

British Airways

BA · United Kingdom

Personal item: 16 x 12 x 6"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Cathay Pacific

CX · Hong Kong

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Delta Air Lines

DL · United States

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

easyJet

U2 · United Kingdom

Personal item: 17.7 x 14.1 x 7.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Emirates

EK · United Arab Emirates

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: No
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Etihad Airways

EY · United Arab Emirates

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Finnair

AY · Finland

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Frontier Airlines

F9 · United States

Personal item: 14 x 18 x 8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Hawaiian Airlines

HA · United States

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Iberia

IB · Spain

Personal item: 15.7 x 13.8 x 9.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

IndiGo

6E · India

Personal item: 13.8 x 9.8 x 5.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Japan Airlines

JL · Japan

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

JetBlue

B6 · United States

Personal item: 17 x 13 x 8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KL · Netherlands

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Korean Air

KE · South Korea

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

LATAM Airlines

LA · Chile

Personal item: 13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Lufthansa

LH · Germany

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Porter Airlines

PD · Canada

Personal item: 16 x 12 x 6"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Qantas

QF · Australia

Personal item: 15.7 x 13.8 x 3.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Qatar Airways

QR · Qatar

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Ryanair

FR · Ireland

Personal item: 15.7 x 9.8 x 7.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

SK · Sweden

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Singapore Airlines

SQ · Singapore

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Southwest Airlines

WN · United States

Personal item: 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Spirit Airlines

NK · United States

Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Sun Country Airlines

SY · United States

Personal item: 17 x 13 x 9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

SWISS International Air Lines

LX · Switzerland

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

TAP Air Portugal

TP · Portugal

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Thai Airways

TG · Thailand

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Turkish Airlines

TK · Turkey

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

United Airlines

UA · United States

Personal item: 17 x 10 x 9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Virgin Atlantic

VS · United Kingdom

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Virgin Australia

VA · Australia

Personal item: Under seat, no strict limit
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Carry-on allowed

See bag types & rules

Volaris

Y4 · Mexico

Personal item: 17.7 x 13.7 x 9.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Vueling

VY · Spain

Personal item: 15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

WestJet

WS · Canada

Personal item: 16 x 13 x 6"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Wizz Air

W6 · Hungary

Personal item: 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9"
Included: Yes, free
Basic economy: Often personal item only

See bag types & rules

Every entry is manually verified against the airline's own published baggage policy. 16 of 50 airlines don't publish strict personal item dimensions; their bag must simply fit fully under the seat in front of you. Rules change, so always double-check with your carrier before flying, especially on Basic Economy fares.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a personal item on a plane?

A personal item is a small bag that fits fully under the seat in front of you, such as a backpack, purse, tote, laptop bag, or small duffel. Most US airlines allow a personal item for free on every fare, with a typical size limit around 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). Limits vary by airline, and 34 of the 50 airlines in this checker publish strict dimensions.

Does my backpack count as a personal item?

A standard daypack or laptop backpack (roughly 18 x 13 x 8 inches) fits under the seat on almost every airline and counts as a personal item. Larger hiking or travel backpacks often exceed the personal item limit and will be treated as a carry-on, which matters on basic economy fares that only include a personal item.

What happens if my personal item is too big?

Gate agents may ask you to place an oversized personal item into the carry-on sizer. If it does not fit, you will be charged a checked bag or gate-check fee, which can exceed $60 on budget airlines. On basic economy fares where only a personal item is included, an oversized bag is the most common reason travelers get hit with a surprise fee.