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Southwest Airlines carry-on size: 24 x 16 x 10 in
Limits change; confirm with your airline before you fly. Every figure here links to the airline page it came from.
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels
23 x 15 x 10 in, wheels and handles included; 6.5 lb listed
The largest carry-on in our catalog whose wheels-included listing size meets Southwest’s limit: 23 x 15 x 10 in, exactly at the limit on its tightest side, so do not overpack the front pocket.
Under $250 Check price on Amazon
Prices change often.
What is the Southwest carry-on limit?
| Allowance | Maximum size | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on (overhead) | 24 x 16 x 10 in 61 x 40.6 x 25.4 cm (converted) | none stated | Southwest baggage page, checked 2026 |
| Personal item (under seat) | 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 in | none stated | details |
| Checked bag | 62 in total | 50 lb (22.7 kg) | details |
Southwest states 24 (length) x 16 (width) x 10 (height) inches. The carry-on is included in the standard fare.
As a box, Southwest's carry-on limit holds about 63 litres on the outside. Hardside cases lose roughly a tenth of that to the wheel wells and handle channel.
Do popular carry-ons fit Southwest?
Each bag below is measured from its own listing's wheels-included size and compared with Southwest's limit in inches, the unit the airline publishes. 14 of 15 fit.
| Bag | Size with wheels | Verdict | Tightest side | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Spinner | 21.7 x 14.8 x 10 in | FITS | exactly at limit | Under $100 |
| Wrangler 22" Hardside Spinner | 22 x 14 x 9.5 in | FITS | +0.5 in | Under $100 |
| Travelpro Maxlite 5 20" Spinner | 22 x 14 x 9 in | FITS | +1 in | Under $250 |
| American Tourister Stratum 3.0 Carry-On | 22 x 15 x 9.5 in | FITS | +0.5 in | Under $100 |
| Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner | 23 x 15 x 10 in | FITS | exactly at limit | Under $250 |
| Samsonite Omni PC Carry-On | 22 x 15 x 9.5 in | FITS | +0.5 in | Under $250 |
| Delsey Helium Aero Carry-On | 21 x 14 x 10 in | FITS | exactly at limit | Under $250 |
| LEVEL8 Zipperless Aluminum Frame Carry-On | 22 x 14.9 x 9 in | FITS | +1 in | Under $250 |
| CENSIEN 20" Carry-On | 21.46 x 13.78 x 8.66 in | FITS | +1.3 in | Under $100 |
| Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Spinner | 23 x 14.5 x 9 in | FITS | +1 in | Under $250 |
| Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Spinner | 23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in | FITS | +0.5 in | Under $500 |
| Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Carry-On | 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 in | FITS | +0.5 in | Under $500 |
| LUGGEX All-Aluminum Carry-On | 21.7 x 15 x 9.4 in | FITS | +0.6 in | Under $250 |
| ASYSUIT 20" Aluminum Zipperless Carry-On | 21.3 x 13.8 x 8.3 in | FITS | +1.7 in | Under $250 |
| SwissGear Sion Softside Carry-On | 22.75 x 14.25 x 10.25 in | TOO BIG | -0.2 in | Under $250 |
How does Southwest's carry-on limit compare?
By volume, Southwest's box is larger than 23 and smaller than 2 of the 27 carry-on limits on this site. Within a centimetre on every side, it is the same box as Frontier. Spirit and easyJet publish the most generous limits. The tightest published limits are Icelandair, Ryanair and Breeze, so a bag bought for Southwest can fail there.
Carry-ons that meet Southwest’s limit
Every bag here meets the published limit by its own wheels-included listing size, spread from budget to premium.
Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels
21.7 x 14.8 x 10 in with wheels, 7.72 lbUnder $100Check price
Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels
22.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 in with wheels, 6.61 lbUnder $250Check price
Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinners
22.5 x 14.5 x 9.5 in with wheelsUnder $250Check price
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Luggage Spinner
23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in with wheels, 7.72 lbUnder $500Check price
Frequently asked questions
What are the Southwest carry-on dimensions in centimetres?
Southwest Airlines publishes 24 x 16 x 10 in, which is 61 x 40.6 x 25.4 cm (converted). Compare in the unit Southwest publishes and keep the decimals: rounding a converted limit up is how a bag that fits on paper fails the sizer.
How strict is Southwest about carry-on size?
Southwest does not publish an enforcement policy, and gate checks vary by airport and by how full the flight is, so treat 24 x 16 x 10 in as the rule rather than a guideline: a bag that goes into the sizer with wheels and handles has nothing to argue about. 14 of the 15 popular carry-ons checked on this page meet it when measured with wheels.
What is the Southwest personal item size limit?
Southwest Airlines limits the under-seat personal item to 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 in. It is a separate allowance from the carry-on; the Southwest personal item page on this site lists the bags that meet it.
What is the Southwest carry-on size limit?
Southwest Airlines’s own baggage page gives the carry-on limit as 24 x 16 x 10 in. Southwest states 24 (length) x 16 (width) x 10 (height) inches. Measure the bag with wheels and handles, standing up, and compare the longest side with the longest limit.
Does Southwest weigh carry-on bags?
The Southwest page read for this site states no carry-on weight limit. That does not mean any weight is fine: you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself, and gate agents can still check a bag that does not fit.
Will a 22 x 14 x 9 inch bag fit Southwest?
Yes. A bag measuring exactly 22 x 14 x 9 inches with wheels meets Southwest’s published carry-on limit, with 1 in to spare on its tightest side. Bags whose listed size excludes wheels are often an inch or two longer in reality, so check the wheels-included figure.
Is the Southwest carry-on included in the fare?
On the page read for this site, the carry-on is included in the standard fare. Basic or light fares at some airlines restrict the overhead bag, so confirm what your specific ticket includes before you pack.
Researched, not professional advice. Airline limits change without notice and can differ by route, aircraft and fare; the airline's own page is the final word.
