How much does a carry-on weigh empty?

Updated 2026-09-24. Researched from airline pages and published specifications.

Quick answerListed empty weights of the carry-ons in our catalog run from 5.1 lb to 11.9 lb, with a median of 7.72 lb. On a 7 kg (15.4 lb) Economy cap, as at Emirates, Qatar and Qantas international, a 11.9 lb case leaves only 3.5 lb for everything inside.

Limits change; confirm with your airline before you fly. Every figure here links to the airline page it came from.

Weights are the figure each listing gives. Where a listing's weight could not be the bag (a hardside case listed at 1 lb), it is left out.

Carry-on	Listed weight	kg	Left on a 7 kg cap	Budget
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-On Luggage Spinner	5.1 lb	2.3	10.3 lb	Under $250
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-On Luggage Upright	5.4 lb	2.4	10 lb	Under $250
Amazon Basics 18" Medium Carry-On Softside Expandable Suitcase with	5.51 lb	2.5	9.9 lb	Under $100
Travelers Club Chicago Hardside Expandable Spinner Luggage	5.61 lb	2.5	9.8 lb	Under $50
Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.13 lb	2.8	9.3 lb	Under $250
Samsonite Carry-On Soft-Sided Expandable 21-Inch Element Suitcase	6.17 lb	2.8	9.2 lb	Under $250
Coolife Carry On Luggage Airline Approved with Wheels Hard Shell Suitcase	6.3 lb	2.9	9.1 lb	Under $100
Traveler's Choice Pagosa Hardshell Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.3 lb	2.9	9.1 lb	Under $100
Coolife Lightweight Luggage with TSA Lock,Carry On Wine Red	6.31 lb	2.9	9.1 lb	Under $100
Coolife Carry On Luggage Hardside Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, 20in	6.38 lb	2.9	9 lb	Under $100
Wrangler 22" Hardside Spinner Carry-On Luggage	6.4 lb	2.9	9 lb	Under $100
Wrangler Hardside Spinner Luggage	6.4 lb	2.9	9 lb	Under $100
Wrangler Smart Spinner Hardside Luggage, 22-Inch Carry-On	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $100
CENSIEN 20 Inch Carry On Luggage 22×14×9 Airline Approved with Front Pocket	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $100
Wrangler ATG Outland Expandable Hardside Luggage	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $100
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $250
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $250
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.5 lb	2.9	8.9 lb	Under $250
Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.61 lb	3	8.8 lb	Under $250
Coolife Luggage, Lightweight and Durable Hardshell, 20 in, white grid new	6.7 lb	3	8.7 lb	Under $100
Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage with Spinner Wheels	6.7 lb	3	8.7 lb	Under $250
DELSEY PARIS Helium DLX, 20 Inch Carry-On Softside Luggage	6.7 lb	3	8.7 lb	Under $250
Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage with TSA Lock	6.78 lb	3.1	8.6 lb	Under $100
Coolife Carry On Luggage 22x14x9 Airline Approved Hardside PC+ABS Suitcase	7 lb	3.2	8.4 lb	Under $100
Briggs & Riley Baseline Cabin Softside Spinner Carry-On	7.05 lb	3.2	8.4 lb	Under $1,000
TUMI Ventra Expandable Luggage, 21.8" Carry-On	7.13 lb	3.2	8.3 lb	Under $1,000
Traveler's Choice Pagosa Hardshell Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	7.26 lb	3.3	8.1 lb	Under $250
American Tourister Stratum 2.0 Expandable Hardside Luggage with Spinner Wheels	7.28 lb	3.3	8.1 lb	Under $100
Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Frequent Flyer Carry-On	7.28 lb	3.3	8.1 lb	Under $1,000
American Tourister Stratum 3.0 Carry-On Spinner	7.3 lb	3.3	8.1 lb	Under $100
American Tourister Stratum 3.0 Carry-On Spinner	7.3 lb	3.3	8.1 lb	Under $100
Monos Carry-On Plus Luggage 21 Inch Hardside Spinner Suitcase	7.38 lb	3.3	8 lb	Under $500
American Tourister 4 KIX 2.0 Expandable Softside Luggage with Spinner Wheels	7.5 lb	3.4	7.9 lb	Under $100
Away The Carry-On Luggage, 22-inch Lightweight Hardside Spinner Suitcase	7.5 lb	3.4	7.9 lb	Under $500
Wrangler 22" Outrider Hardside Carry-On Luggage	7.72 lb	3.5	7.7 lb	Under $50
Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage with Spinner Wheels	7.72 lb	3.5	7.7 lb	Under $100
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Luggage Spinner	7.72 lb	3.5	7.7 lb	Under $500
Monos Carry-On Pro Luggage 20 Inch Hardside Suitcase	7.8 lb	3.5	7.6 lb	Under $500
Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Frequent Flyer Plus Carry-On	7.9 lb	3.6	7.5 lb	Under $1,000
Briggs & Riley ZDX Essential Softside Carry-On Spinner	7.94 lb	3.6	7.5 lb	Under $1,000
DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	8 lb	3.6	7.4 lb	Under $250
Traveler's Choice Maxporter II Polycarbonate Hardside Trunk with Spinner	8.1 lb	3.7	7.3 lb	Under $250
Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Carry-On Luggage	8.1 lb	3.7	7.3 lb	Under $500
LEVEL8 Wide Handle Carry on Luggage, 20 Inch Hardshell Suitcase	8.16 lb	3.7	7.2 lb	Under $500
TUMI 19 Degree Large Expandable Carry-On, 21.8" X 15.8" X 9.0"	8.16 lb	3.7	7.2 lb	Under $1,000
TUMI Voyageur Leger 4 Wheeled Luggage	8.16 lb	3.7	7.2 lb	Under $1,000
Monos Carry-On Pro Plus Luggage 21 Inch Hardside Spinner Suitcase	8.38 lb	3.8	7 lb	Under $500
DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	8.4 lb	3.8	7 lb	Under $250
DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels	8.52 lb	3.9	6.9 lb	Under $250
Away Bigger Carry-On Luggage, 23-Inch Lightweight Hardside Spinner Suitcase	8.55 lb	3.9	6.9 lb	Under $500
ISLAND ELEPHANT 20IN Expandable Carry On Luggage-All Black	8.6 lb	3.9	6.8 lb	Under $100
TUMI Tegra Lite Front Pocket Expandable Carry On	8.72 lb	4	6.7 lb	Under $1,000
LEVEL8 Zipperless Carry On Luggage with Aluminum Frame,20",Light Green	8.8 lb	4	6.6 lb	Under $250
SwissGear Sion Carry-On Spinner Luggage	8.8 lb	4	6.6 lb	Under $250
Coolife Expandable Luggage with TSA Lock Carry On Green	9 lb	4.1	6.4 lb	Under $100
LEVEL8 Carry on Luggage Airline Approved, 20" Expandable Carry on Suitcase	9 lb	4.1	6.4 lb	Under $250
Traveler's Choice Carry-On Softside 8-Wheeled Spinner Garment Bag Luggage	9.5 lb	4.3	5.9 lb	Under $250
LUGGEX All Aluminum Carry On Suitcase	9.7 lb	4.4	5.7 lb	Under $250
ALPHA CAMP 20 Inch Aluminum Frame Carry-On Luggage with Front Opening	9.9 lb	4.5	5.5 lb	Under $250
LEVEL8 Zipperless Carry On Luggage Airline Approved Suitcase 20 Inch Black	9.9 lb	4.5	5.5 lb	Under $250
LEVEL8 Zipperless Carry On Luggage Hardshell Suitcases with Wheels 20" Grey	9.9 lb	4.5	5.5 lb	Under $250
LEVEL8 Carry On Luggage Airline Approved Zipperless Hardside Suitcase Blue	9.9 lb	4.5	5.5 lb	Under $250
Briggs & Riley Global 21" Carry On Expandable Spinner	9.9 lb	4.5	5.5 lb	Under $1,000
Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry On Expandable Spinner	10 lb	4.5	5.4 lb	Under $1,000
LEVEL8 Aluminum Zipperless Luggage 20 Inch	10.14 lb	4.6	5.3 lb	Under $500
TUMI Aerotour 4 Wheel Expandable Carry-On, 21.75"	11 lb	5	4.4 lb	Under $1,000
TUMI Alpha International Office 4 Wheeled Carry-On	11.24 lb	5.1	4.2 lb	Under $1,000
Briggs & Riley 21" Carry-On Wheeled Garment Spinner	11.9 lb	5.4	3.5 lb	Under $1,000

One avoided checked-bag or overweight fee pays for it

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Using a chart like this? The Airline Carry-On & Personal Item Fit Sheet keeps the same limits on paper with a place to write the date you checked each airline.

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Buy to the chart

A spread across the price range, so the premium options are not hidden behind the cheapest ones.

BAGAIL Digital Luggage Scale, 110lbs Hanging Baggage Scale with Backlit LCD
Under $50Check price
CENSIEN 20 Inch Carry On Luggage 22×14×9 Airline Approved with Front Pocket
21.46 x 13.78 x 8.66 in with wheels, 6.5 lb
Spec sheet and airline fit
Under $100Check price
Samsonite Carry-On Soft-Sided Expandable 21-Inch Element Suitcase
Under $250Check price
LEVEL8 Aluminum Zipperless Luggage 20 Inch
Under $500Check price

Researched, not professional advice. Airline limits change without notice; each figure links to the page it came from and shows the year it was checked.

How much does a carry-on weigh empty?

Buy to the chart

BAGAIL Digital Luggage Scale, 110lbs Hanging Baggage Scale with Backlit LCD

CENSIEN 20 Inch Carry On Luggage 22×14×9 Airline Approved with Front Pocket

Samsonite Carry-On Soft-Sided Expandable 21-Inch Element Suitcase

LEVEL8 Aluminum Zipperless Luggage 20 Inch

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