Southwest Airlines allows a carry-on up to 24 x 16 x 10 in, measured including wheels and handles. Put your own bag's measurements in below — it opens with Southwest Airlines's own limit filled in.
| Carry-on maximum | 24 x 16 x 10 in (including wheels and handles) |
| Personal item | No numeric size published — it must fit under the seat |
| Cabin weight limit | None published |
| Is the carry-on free? | Yes, included with your fare |
| If it does not fit | Must be checked at the ticket counter before the gate; checked-bag fees apply. |
Southwest's 24 x 16 x 10 carry-on allowance is the most generous of the major US carriers. Wheels, handles and attachments count toward the dimensions.
Southwest Airlines's 24 x 16 x 10 in works out to about 3840 cubic inches (62.9 litres) of cabin allowance, which ranks 1 of 22 among the airlines we have verified, about 30% more than the median carrier.
The same 24 x 16 x 10 in limit is used by 1 other airline here — Frontier Airlines. A bag bought to that spec travels widely, which is exactly why it is the size most luggage is sold in.
Nothing we track allows a larger carry-on, so a bag that fits here is at the generous end of what any airline permits.
Common bag sizes measured against Southwest Airlines's published limit. Every figure includes wheels and handles, which is where most bags lose.
| Bag | Size | On Southwest Airlines | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin-max spinner | 22 × 14 × 9 in | Fits, 1 in spare | The standard US carry-on, sold as “22-inch” |
| Compact 21-inch | 21 × 14 × 9 in | Fits, 1 in spare | A common step down |
| European cabin bag | 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in | Only just — 0.3 in spare | Sized to 55 x 40 x 20 cm |
| Underseat tote | 17 × 13 × 8 in | Fits, 2 in spare | Typical personal-item size |
| Oversized “carry-on” | 24 × 16 × 10 in | Only just — 0 in spare | Sold as carry-on, larger than most limits |
If it does not fit, the bag gets checked — and on Southwest Airlines a first checked bag costs $45 each way, with another $100 if it is over 50 lb. On a return trip that is $90 for a bag you meant to carry on.
Southwest Airlines does not publish a numeric personal-item size — the rule is simply that it fits under the seat in front of you. Any exact figure you find quoted elsewhere is someone's inference rather than Southwest Airlines's stated limit, which is why we do not repeat one.
Southwest Airlines allows a carry-on up to 24 x 16 x 10 in, measured including wheels and handles. Southwest's 24 x 16 x 10 carry-on allowance is the most generous of the major US carriers. Wheels, handles and attachments count toward the dimensions.
No — a full-size carry-on is included with your fare, alongside a personal item.
Must be checked at the ticket counter before the gate; checked-bag fees apply.
Southwest Airlines publishes no cabin weight limit for the main carry-on on most fares, though staff can still refuse a bag you cannot lift into the locker yourself.
Southwest publishes NO numeric personal-item size — its policy page lists examples (purse, briefcase, laptop case, backpack) and requires the item to fit under the seat in front of you. Figures circulating online are not Southwest's published limit.
Yes. Southwest Airlines measures the bag including wheels, handles and any external pockets, which is why a bag sold as “22 inch” can still measure over.