Hand luggage dimensions: Attention to detail makes all the difference at the gate

Each airline sets its own dimensions for carry-on luggage; there is no standardised rule. As a guideline, the dimensions are 55 × 40 × 20 centimetres with a weight of between 7 and 10 kilograms, but many Airlines deviate noticeably from this.

If you know your airline’s hand luggage dimensions, you can choose the right hand luggage case from the outset and travel without any surprises at the gate.

TITAN: ’s hand luggage sizes for S20 and S23

TITAN offers two sizes that cover all hand luggage requirements. Which one is suitable depends on a single figure: the depth.

Two sizes

S20 and S23: the hand luggage dimensions of TITAN

Both sizes measure 55 × 40 cm in height and width and differ only in depth. At 20 cm, the S20 remains permissible even where measurements are stricter, such as with Ryanair, Vueling or TUI.

At 23 cm, the S23 makes full use of the depth permitted by Lufthansa, Eurowings, SWISS and many other network airlines, thereby offering noticeably more packing capacity.

The table below shows which airlines allow which depths. You can use the hand luggage calculator to check your own bag in a matter of seconds.

What are the size limits for hand luggage?

The IATA (International Air Transport Association) recommends a maximum size of 56 × 45 × 25 centimetres for hand luggage; alternatively, the sum of the width, height and depth must not exceed 115 centimetres. In practice, however, most airlines impose stricter limits, often 55 × 40 × 20 or 55 × 40 × 23 centimetres, and the most common models available on the market fall precisely within this range.

How generous an airline is with its carry-on dimensions depends heavily on its business model. Traditional airlines such as Lufthansa or Swiss allow more leeway, whilst Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet apply much stricter measurements unless an additional fare has been booked. If you’re looking for the correct dimensions for your airline, you’ll find them in the overview below.

How heavy can hand luggage be?

In terms of weight, most Airlines fall within the familiar range of 7 to 10 kilograms. British Airways is a generous exception at 23 kilograms, whilst some airlines do not impose a fixed weight limit at all, provided the bag can be stowed in the overhead compartment without assistance.

As airlines are increasingly strict about checking weight limits at the gate, it’s worth checking your luggage on your bathroom scales at home before your journey even begins.

How to measure your hand luggage correctly

When it comes to the specified dimensions, it is not just the body of the suitcase that counts. Wheels, handles and external pockets are all included, and this is precisely why a suitcase sometimes fails the size test by a surprisingly narrow margin at the gate.

1. Placing your suitcase Place your suitcase on a level surface.
2. Measure at the widest point Measure the width, height and depth at their widest points, including the wheels and handle.
3. Check against the airlines’ specifications Compare the dimensions with the airlines’ specifications and allow for a 1 to 2-centimetre margin.
4. Weigh it when packed Make sure you weigh your packed suitcase as well before setting off for the airport.

By following this simple routine, you’ll be on the safe side at the gate, no matter how strict the checks are there. TITAN ’s hand luggage items already take the wheels and handles into account within the specified dimensions. What’s stated on the label therefore corresponds to the actual external dimensions at the gate, so there are no nasty surprises when they’re measured.

Hand luggage plus one personal item

In addition to the main cabin bag, most Airlines allow one smaller additional item, such as a handbag or a Beautycase. This personal item must fit under the seat in front of you and is therefore considerably more compact than the suitcase itself; typical dimensions are around 40 × 30 × 15 centimetres.

How generous this allowance is depends heavily on the fare you’ve booked. Whilst with some airlines Airlines this personal item is the only free bag included in the cheapest ticket, with others it is simply added to your regular hand luggage as a matter of course.

Overview of hand luggage dimensions by Airline

From Lufthansa to Ryanair to Singapore Airlines:: the correct dimensions for over 30 airlines at a glance.

The dimensions are given as width × height × depth, differing from the usual order of height × width × depth used in the body text. The information is correct at the time of our research and applies to the large piece of hand luggage. Airlines occasionally change their regulations and may apply different rules depending on the fare – please check your airline’s current guidelines before booking.

Can your suitcase be taken into the cabin? Check now for free

Whether your suitcase qualifies as carry-on often comes down to a matter of a few centimetres – and, with many Airlines, also depends on the fare you’ve booked. Simply enter the height, width and depth of your suitcase, and optionally the weight, and the checker will show you at a glance for each Airline: do the dimensions fit, is the weight correct, and is the large ‘ Trolley ’ included in the cheapest fare, or do you need an Upgrade?

This way, you’ll know before you book where you can fly with hand luggage at no extra cost.

Hand luggage on low-costAirlines

With Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Eurowings, it’s worth taking a closer look at the fare you’ve booked, as it’s often the fare tier that determines how much luggage you can actually take on board free of charge. The cheapest fare usually includes only one small personal item that fits under the seat in front, for example, 40 × 30 × 20 centimetres with Ryanair and Wizz Air. The actual carry-on bag in the standard size is only included with a higher fare tier or for an additional fee—with Ryanair, for example, this comes with Priority Boarding, and with Wizz Air, with the Wizz Priority package.

Eurowings now also makes a clear distinction: the Basic fare includes only one personal item, whilst the larger piece of hand luggage is only included in the Smart fare. If you’re travelling with one of these airlines – Airlines – it’s best to check before booking which ticket actually includes which luggage, as there can sometimes be a difference of several centimetres between fare categories.

The right hand luggage from TITAN

Once you know the correct dimensions, the next step is to find a piece of hand luggage that fills this space comfortably.

TITAN ’s cabin suitcases focus on well-thought-out details rather than sheer capacity:

• Y-shape strap system Keeps your clothes in place during the journey.
• Removable packing divider Creates a clear structure inside the bag.
• Lockable divider Keeps delicate items safely separate from the rest of your luggage.
• Dimensions including wheels and handles The specifications in the shop correspond to the actual external dimensions at the gate.

Frequently asked questions about hand luggage dimensions