KLM allows a free personal item up to 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in (also included) |
| If it does not fit | On full flights KLM may ask you to check hand baggage at the gate free of charge, even if it meets the size limit. |
KLM calls it a small bag: 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
At 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in it holds roughly 1093 cubic inches, about 37% of the volume of KLM's own 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in carry-on. That is larger than 1 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 12.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against KLM's stated 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against KLM's published 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On KLM | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Fits, 0.7 in spare | A slim work bag |
| Small daypack | 17 × 12 × 7 in | Too big by 1.3 in | The commonest personal item |
| Weekender tote | 20 × 13 × 9 in | Too big by 4.3 in | Often too big for under the seat |
| Compact backpack | 16 × 11 × 6 in | Too big by 0.3 in | Fits almost anywhere |
Both bags are included in the fare on KLM, so the personal item is an addition to your 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 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.
KLM publishes a cabin weight limit of 26 lb (12 kg) — 12 kg COMBINED across the hand baggage and the small bag in Economy (18 kg in Business) — not a per-bag limit. Weight is checked far less often than size, but it is the rule most likely to catch you on a bag full of books or camera gear.
On full flights KLM may ask you to check hand baggage at the gate free of charge, even if it meets the size limit. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on KLM 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.
KLM allows a personal item up to 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every KLM fare includes one personal item.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. KLM calls it a small bag: 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
On full flights KLM may ask you to check hand baggage at the gate free of charge, even if it meets the size limit.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in, included with your fare.
Yes — KLM measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.