Heading out on a journey with just your carry-on luggage can be liberating—no waiting at the baggage carousel, no fears of lost bags—but there are still size and weight restrictions you need to follow.
Carry-on weight limits might seem like a nuisance, but if you don’t pay attention to them, you could be stuck with a nasty fee to check your bag.
Most domestic airlines don’t have any specific carry-on weight limits. International airlines, on the other hand, often have very strict restrictions, usually ranging from 11 to 26 lbs.
Carry-on weight limits vary widely between airlines, and the time to find out your flight’s restrictions is before your trip, not when you’re at the gate.
I researched the carry-on weight limits for 175 of the largest and most popular airlines worldwide to create a one-stop resource for you to determine how heavy your bag can be.
Why Carry-On Weight Limits Matter
You should pay attention to carry-on weight limits so you aren’t forced to check an overweight bag.
Of course, there’s more to it than that. Airlines have carry-on weight limits so they can balance the aircraft correctly, and massively heavy bags could be dangerous if they fall out of the overhead bin.
Plus, hauling around a 70 lb carry-on bag is no one’s idea of a good time. Even if your flight doesn’t have specific weight limits, it’s a good idea to keep the weight down so you don’t have to struggle to heft your bag into the overhead bin.
Carry-On Weight Limits By Airline
Every airline sets its own restrictions on luggage size and weight, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why it’s important to research airline-specific weight limits before you fly.
To make things easier for you, I’ve compiled a list of domestic and international airlines and their carry-on weight limits.
Most major airlines in the US don’t place a limit on your carry-on’s weight. The airlines that do have weight limits are pretty generous, allowing you 25 to 40 lbs in your carry-on.
Fly outside the US, and the rules get a tad tighter. International airlines typically have weight limits between 11 and 26 pounds, so your carry-on may need to slim down for overseas trips.
It’s always a good idea to double check the restrictions and weigh your luggage beforehand. The table below shows the carry-on weight restrictions for 175 airlines worldwide.
Airline
Carry-On 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)
Air Asia
15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Astana
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Baltic
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Canada
22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Caraibes
26.5 lbs (12 kg)
Air China
11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Europa
22 lbs (10 kg)
Air France
26 lbs (12 kg)
Air India
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Macau
11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Malta
22 lbs (10 kg)
Air New Zealand
15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Niugini
22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Nostrum
22 lbs (10 kg)
Air Serbia
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Air Seychelles
15 lbs (7 kg)
Air Tahiti
11 lbs (5 kg)
Air Transat
22 lbs (10 kg)
AirAsiaX
15 lbs (7 kg)
Aircalin
22 lbs (10 kg)
Airlink
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Alaska Airlines
N/A
Allegiant Air
N/A
American Airlines
N/A
ANA
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)
Azul
22 lbs (10 kg)
Bahamasair
20 lbs (9 kg)
Bangkok Airways
15 lbs (7 kg)
Batik Air
15 lbs (7 kg)
Beijing Capital Airlines
11 lbs (5 kg)
Belavia
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Biman Bangladesh
15 lbs (7 kg)
Binter Canarias
13 lbs (6 kg)
Blue Air
22 lbs (10 kg)
Boliviana de Aviacion
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)
China Eastern
22 lbs (10 kg)
China United Airlines
22 lbs (10 kg)
Citilink
15 lbs (7 kg)
CommutAir
14 lbs (6.4 kg)
Conviasa
22 lbs (10 kg)
Copa Airlines
22 lbs (10 kg)
Croatia Air
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Czech Airlines
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Delta Airlines
40 lbs (18 kg)
easyJet
22 lbs (10 kg)
EL AL
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Emirates Airlines
15 lbs (7 kg)
Enter Air
11 lbs (5 kg)
Ethiopian Airlines
15 lbs (7 kg)
Etihad Airways
15 lbs (7 kg)
Eurowings
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
EVA Air
15 lbs (7 kg)
Fiji Airways
15 lbs (7 kg)
Finnair
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Flybe
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)
Gestair
22 lbs (10 kg)
Gol
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 Air
11 lbs (5 kg)
Island Air
16 lbs (7.3 kg)
ITA Airways
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Japan Airlines
22 lbs (10 kg)
Jet2
22 lbs (10 kg)
JetBlue Airways
N/A
Jetstar Airways
15 lbs (7 kg)
Juneyao Airlines
11 lbs (5 kg)
Kenya Airways
22 lbs (10 kg)
KLM
26 lbs (12 kg)
Kulula
15 lbs (7 kg)
Kuwait Air
15 lbs (7 kg)
LATAM
22 lbs (10 kg)
Liat Airlines
15 lbs (7 kg)
Linea Aerea Amaszonas
13 lbs (6 kg)
Lion Air Group
15 lbs (7 kg)
Loong Air
15 lbs (7 kg)
LOT Polish
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Lucky Air
11 lbs (5 kg)
Lufthansa
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Luxair
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Mahan Air
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)
Norse Atlantic Airways
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)
Ravn Alaska
20 lbs (9 kg)
Regional Express
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
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 Airways Express
20 lbs (9 kg)
Southwest Airlines
N/A
Spirit Airlines
40 lbs (18 kg)
Spring Airlines
15 lbs (7 kg)
SriLankan Airlines
15 lbs (7 kg)
Sun Country
35 lbs (15.8 kg)
Sun Express
15 lbs (7 kg)
Super Air Jet
15 lbs (7 kg)
Swiss Int’l Air Lines
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
TAAG Angola
22 lbs (10 kg)
TAP Portugal
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
TAROM
22 lbs (10 kg)
Thai Airways
15 lbs (7 kg)
Thomson Airways
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
N/A
Ural Airlines
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Utair Airlines
22 lbs (10 kg)
Uzbekistan Air
11 lbs (5 kg)
Vietjet Air
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)
Viva Aerobus
22 lbs (10 kg)
VivaColombia
22 lbs (10 kg)
Volaris
22 lbs (10 kg)
Volotea
22 lbs (10 kg)
Vueling
22 lbs (10 kg)
WestJet
22 lbs (10 kg)
Widerøe
17.6 lbs (8 kg)
Wizz Air
22 lbs (10 kg)
Xiamen
11 lbs (5 kg)
Tips for Packing: Maximizing Space and Avoiding Overweight Baggage
Once you’ve found the carry-on weight restrictions for your flight, it’s time to make sure your bag is under those limits. You don’t want to get to the gate only to learn your luggage is too heavy.
Here are a few packing tips to help you avoid overweight penalties.
Weigh Your Luggage
First things first, do a trial run of your packing at home. A luggage scale is the easiest way to weigh your luggage. No luggage scale? No problem. A good old bathroom scale can work in a pinch.
Our full guide on how to measure luggage walks you through the process to get an accurate weight for your suitcase using either type of scale.
Buy Lightweight Luggage
If you’re in the market for a new suitcase, shopping around for a lightweight model can help with keeping your bag within the weight limits. This is especially a good idea if you plan on flying with international airlines that have very tight restrictions.
We have a full list of the best lightweight luggage to help you find a lightweight option. I recommend checking out the July Carry-On Light. At 3.9 lbs, this is the lightest carry-on of its kind, and it’s perfectly designed for minimalist travel.
Spread the Weight Between Your Carry-On and Personal Item
If you’ve weighed your carry-on and it’s a bit over the weight limits, you don’t necessarily have to pack less.
Instead, you can move some stuff into your personal item—a purse, laptop bag, or travel daypack that fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines let you bring one carry-on bag and one personal item, so you should take advantage of both.
Take small but heavy items (like books, laptops, cameras, etc.) out of your carry-on, and put them into your personal item. This spreads the weight around and can help you get your carry-on weight under the limit.
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 cut down weight in your suitcase is to pack less.
Opt for versatile pieces of clothing that can fill multiple purposes, and choose lightweight synthetics over bulky cotton.
Less clutter means more room for memories. Packing light is the way to go!
