JetBlue personal item size

Updated 2026-08-10 · Source: https://www.jetblue.com/at-the-airport/baggage-information · Free · No sign-up

JetBlue allows a free personal item up to 17 x 13 x 8 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.

JetBlue personal item size

Personal item maximum17 x 13 x 8 in (under the seat in front)
Is it free?Yes — every fare includes one personal item
Full-size carry-on22 x 14 x 9 in (also included)
If it does not fitGate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies.

Must go all the way under the seat in front of you.

Read from JetBlue's own baggage page on 2026-08-10: https://www.jetblue.com/at-the-airport/baggage-information

How JetBlue's personal item compares

At 17 x 13 x 8 in it holds roughly 1768 cubic inches, about 64% of the volume of JetBlue's own 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on. That is larger than 12 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 4.

Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against JetBlue's stated 17 x 13 x 8 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.

Will a real bag fit under the seat?

Common small bags measured against JetBlue's published 17 x 13 x 8 in limit.

BagSizeOn JetBlueNote
15-inch laptop bag15 × 11 × 4 inFits, 2 in spareA slim work bag
Small daypack17 × 12 × 7 inOnly just — 0 in spareThe commonest personal item
Weekender tote20 × 13 × 9 inToo big by 3 inOften too big for under the seat
Compact backpack16 × 11 × 6 inFits, 1 in spareFits almost anywhere

Personal item vs carry-on on JetBlue

Both bags are included in the fare on JetBlue, so the personal item is an addition to your 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on rather than a replacement for it. The two limits are judged separately — a bag that is too big for under the seat may still be fine overhead.

JetBlue carry-on size →

How JetBlue enforces it

JetBlue publishes no cabin weight limit, so in practice the personal item is judged on whether it fits the space rather than what it weighs. You still have to be able to handle it yourself.

Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on JetBlue and therefore a much softer landing than on a carrier that charges for the carry-on.

Two practical notes that apply on any airline: the under-seat space is smaller in a row with a lifejacket box or an entertainment unit beneath the seat, and a soft bag that compresses will pass where a rigid case of identical stated dimensions will not. Measure with anything strapped to the outside included.

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FAQ

What size personal item does JetBlue allow?

JetBlue allows a personal item up to 17 x 13 x 8 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.

Is the personal item free on JetBlue?

Yes. Every JetBlue fare includes one personal item.

What counts as a personal item?

A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. Must go all the way under the seat in front of you.

What if my personal item is too big on JetBlue?

Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies.

Personal item vs carry-on on JetBlue — what is the difference?

The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 22 x 14 x 9 in, included with your fare.

Do wheels and handles count?

Yes — JetBlue measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.

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