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American Airlines Carry-On Size 2026 22 x 14 x 9"

By Caden SorensonVerified Oct 2026Sourced from the official American Airlines policy

Exact American Airlines carry-on dimensions, weight limits, and fees for 2026.

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On this page
  1. Quick answer
  2. American Airlines dimensions
  3. Weight limit
  4. Carry-on fee
  5. Bag fit matrix
  6. Fare class breakdown
  7. Overhead bin size
  8. Avoiding gate-check
  9. What counts as a personal item
  10. Common mistakes
  11. Gate-check process
  12. vs Delta Air Lines
  13. Checked bag fees
  14. Special items
  15. Basic economy
  16. Bag through-check partners
  17. FAQ
  18. Sources

Quick answer

American Airlines carry-on bags can be up to 22 x 14 x 9" (56 x 36 x 23 cm), with no published weight limit, and no carry-on fee on any fare, including the Basic Economy fare.

  • Carry-on size: up to 22 x 14 x 9" (56 x 36 x 23 cm)
  • Weight limit: no published weight limit
  • Carry-on fee: free on every fare, including the Basic Economy fare
  • Personal item: up to 18 x 14 x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm), free on every fare
  • Gate-check risk: Medium
  • Last verified: Oct 2026
American Airlines carry-on maximum size, 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm)22" (56 cm)9" (23 cm)14"(36 cm)LHW
American Airlines maximum carry-on dimensions, including wheels and handles.

Carry-On Bag

Max dimensions (in)
22 x 14 x 9"
Max dimensions (cm)
56 x 36 x 23 cm
Weight limit
No published limit
Fee
Free
Gate-check risk
Medium

Dimensions include handles and wheels. Basic Economy includes a full carry-on plus a personal item (American restored the transatlantic Basic Economy carry-on; the prior personal-item-only restriction no longer applies).

Personal Item

Max dimensions (in)
18 x 14 x 8"
Max dimensions (cm)
45 x 35 x 20 cm
Included
Yes, free
Weight
Not published

Must fit under the seat. Diaper bags and medical devices do not count.

See checked bag fees & more

Does your bag fit on American Airlines?

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American Airlines carry-on dimensions and bag size

The maximum American Airlines carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, or 56 x 36 x 23 cm as American Airlines publishes it. These measurements include wheels, handles, and any external pockets, so a bag marketed as "22 inch" can go over if its wheels push the total past 22 inches. Always measure your bag packed, not empty.

American Airlines carry-on weight limit

American Airlines does not publish a specific carry-on weight limit for domestic travel. Our guidance: pack it light enough that you can lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself.

Does American Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. American Airlines includes a free carry-on bag plus a free personal item on every fare, including the Basic Economy fare.

What bags fit as an American Airlines personal item

Common bag types compared against the American Airlines personal item limit. Sizes are typical retail dimensions and vary by brand.

Bag typeTypical sizeOn American Airlines
Standard backpack
Everyday daypack, laptop backpack
18 x 13 x 8"Fits
Tote bag
Canvas or leather tote
15 x 14 x 5"Fits
Laptop bag
Messenger or slim briefcase
16 x 12 x 4"Fits
Small duffel
Gym or weekender
18 x 11 x 11"Too big
Purse
Handbag or crossbody
12 x 10 x 5"Fits
Under-seat roller
Mini wheeled bag
16 x 14 x 8"Fits

American Airlines carry-on by fare class

FareCarry-onPersonal itemNotes
Basic EconomyIncludedIncludedFull carry-on allowed, but boards last in Group 9 so bin space is tight.
Main CabinIncludedIncludedStandard one carry-on plus one personal item.
Main Plus / PreferredIncludedIncludedEarlier boarding group improves overhead bin odds.
First Class (domestic)IncludedIncludedGroup 1 priority boarding.
Flagship Business / FirstIncludedIncludedPriority boarding with dedicated widebody bin space.

American Airlines overhead bin size by aircraft

American Eagle regional jets including the Embraer ERJ-145 and Bombardier CRJ-200 have overhead bins too small for a standard 22x14x9 roller. On those flights, any bag larger than the 18x14x8 personal item is valet-tagged at the jet bridge and returned planeside at no cost. Mainline 737, A319, A320, A321, A321neo, 777 and 787 aircraft accept the full carry-on.

Avoiding gate-check on American Airlines

American boards in nine numbered groups with Group 1 reserved for ConciergeKey, Flagship First and Executive Platinum. Holding the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select or Barclays Aviator Red card gets you Group 5 boarding, typically enough to find bin space. Basic Economy boards in Group 9, so plan to gate-check unless you hold status or a co-brand card.

What counts as a personal item on American Airlines

Allowed

  • Purse
  • Laptop bag
  • Small backpack
  • Briefcase
  • Small tote
  • Diaper bag

Counts as a second carry-on

  • Full-size roller bag
  • Duffel larger than 18x14x8
  • Large shopping bags counted as a second piece
  • Garment bag

Common American Airlines carry-on mistakes

  • Bringing a carry-on onto an Eagle CRJ-200 or ERJ-145 and expecting it to fit, it will not, the bin is too shallow.
  • Forgetting to fill out the regional jet valet tag with passenger name before handing the bag over at the jet bridge.
  • Booking Basic Economy and relying on a carry-on fitting at Group 9, bins are usually full by then.
  • Confusing American's 18x14x8 personal item with Delta's under-seat rule, American publishes specific numeric dimensions.
  • Assuming Premium Economy on international routes is the same as Main Plus, it is a distinct cabin with its own boarding.

What happens if your bag does not fit on American Airlines

On mainline flights, if a bag exceeds the sizer the gate agent can apply the standard checked bag fee and any route-specific handling surcharge. Regional valet gate-checks are free and return planeside. Mainline gate-check fee structures vary by route and fare, verify current amounts on aa.com before traveling.

American Airlines vs Delta Air Lines carry-on

American and Delta both use 22x14x9 carry-on limits and both still allow a free carry-on in Basic Economy, making them the two most forgiving legacy carriers. American publishes a specific 18x14x8 personal item dimension while Delta uses a softer under-seat definition. American Basic Economy boards dead last in Group 9, Delta Main Basic also boards last but its zone-based system often feels less punishing. Both free-gate-check on regional jets, but American has more strictly defined gate-check fee structures on mainline oversize bags.

See Delta Air Lines carry-on size
American Airlines checked baggage fees
Domestic economy
1st bag$45
2nd bag$55
Long-haul / international
1st bagNot published
Weight limit50 lb
Linear dim62 in
Overweight & oversize
51–70 lbNot published
71–100 lb$200
63–80 inNot published

Domestic fees are $45 first / $55 second bag when prepaid online, or $50 / $60 at the airport. Basic Economy pays $55 / $65 at the airport, or $50 / $60 prepaid online. AAdvantage elites and most AAdvantage credit cardholders get the first bag free. Overweight is tiered: $30 for over 50 to 53 lb, $100 for over 53 to 70 lb, $200 for over 70 to 100 lb (so no single 51-70 lb fee is listed here, because that band now spans two prices). Oversize is $30 for over 62 to 65 in and $200 for over 65 to 115 in (no single 63-80 in fee is listed here for the same reason). Bags over 115 total inches are not accepted.

Ways to skip the American Airlines checked bag fee

  1. Pack carry-on only. Confirm your bag fits the American Airlines carry-on size.
  2. Check your AAdvantage status. See whether your tier includes a free checked bag on American Airlines.
American Airlines special items & sports equipment
Ski / snowboard
As a checked bagsee details below
Golf clubs
As a checked bagsee details below
Bicycle
As a checked bagsee details below
Pet in cabin
$150
Pet as cargo
Not published

Musical instruments: Small instruments can be carried on as your carry-on item if they fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. Larger instruments can be checked (up to 150 linear in and 165 lb) at standard checked bag fees, or booked in an adjacent purchased seat.

Ski, snowboard, golf, and bike equipment count as one standard checked bag on American at the standard checked bag fee up to 50 lb, with the standard overweight fee from 51 to 70 lb; oversize fees do not apply. Pet-in-cabin fee is $150 per kennel each way within and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Pet plus carrier must not exceed 20 lb. In-cabin pet limits are 20 carriers across all cabins on mainline aircraft and 1 (premium) or 5 (main cabin) on American Eagle regional jets. Soft-sided carriers max 18 x 11 x 11 in; hard-sided 19 x 13 x 9 in on mainline and 16 x 12 x 8 in on Eagle.

American Airlines basic economy restrictions
Basic EconomyAmerican Airlines' lowest fare tier
Carry-on allowed
Yes
Personal item allowed
Yes
Checked bag surcharge
$55
  • No seat selection until check-in
  • Last boarding group
  • No changes or refunds
  • No upgrades
Does my checked bag transfer to American Airlines' partner airlines?

Yes, on a single ticket. American Airlines holds checked-bag interline agreements with 122 airlines, so when your itinerary is booked as one ticket your bag is through-checked to the final destination on any of those carriers. You collect it once, at the end, not at the connecting airport. If your onward flight is on a carrier not on this list, or the two legs are on separate tickets, you must claim the bag at the connection, clear customs where required, and re-check it yourself, so allow extra connection time.

Through-check partners we cover (45 of 122):

Plus 77 more partner airlines not yet profiled on this site.

American Airlines also files e-ticket interline with 113 carriers, which lets two airlines sell a single through-ticket. Through-checked bags depend on the baggage agreement above, not the e-ticket count. Interline partners verified May 2026 from ExpertFlyer, Travel Information, Interline Agreements (Premium tier).

Frequently asked questions

What is the American Airlines carry-on size limit?

American Airlines allows carry-on bags up to 22 x 14 x 9" (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels, handles, and any external pockets. There is no published weight limit.

What are the American Airlines carry-on dimensions in cm?

The American Airlines carry-on size limit in centimeters is 56 x 36 x 23 cm. American Airlines publishes the inch size as 22 x 14 x 9". Both measurements include wheels, handles, and external pockets.

What is the American Airlines carry-on weight limit?

American Airlines does not publish a carry-on weight limit for domestic travel. Our guidance: pack it light enough that you can lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself.

Does American Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. American Airlines includes a free carry-on bag plus a free personal item on every fare, including the Basic Economy fare.

What is the American Airlines personal item size?

The personal item on American Airlines must fit within 18 x 14 x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and slide fully under the seat in front of you. Must fit under the seat. Diaper bags and medical devices do not count.

Will my bag be gate-checked on American Airlines?

Our guidance rates the gate-check risk on American Airlines as Medium. It is our own rating, not a figure American Airlines publishes. Arrive early in your boarding group to improve the odds of space in the overhead bins.

Can I bring a carry-on on American Airlines Basic Economy?

Yes. American Airlines Basic Economy passengers can bring one carry-on bag plus one personal item.

Does a 22-inch suitcase fit as an American Airlines carry-on?

Usually yes. A standard 22 x 14 x 9 inch carry-on suitcase fits within the American Airlines carry-on limit of 22 x 14 x 9" (56 x 36 x 23 cm). Confirm your specific bag measures under the limit with wheels and handles included.

Does a backpack count as a personal item on American Airlines?

Yes. A standard daypack (roughly 18 x 13 x 8 inches) fits within the American Airlines personal item limit of 18 x 14 x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm). The bag must slide fully under the seat in front of you. Oversized hiking or travel backpacks will not fit and count as a carry-on.

Is there a weight limit for personal items on American Airlines?

American Airlines does not publish a weight limit for personal items. The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, within 18 x 14 x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm).

How much does a checked bag cost on American Airlines?

The first checked bag on American Airlines costs $45 for domestic economy. A second bag costs $55. International fares and premium cabins may include free checked bags.

What are the American Airlines overweight and oversize bag fees?

American Airlines charges $200 for bags weighing 71 to 100 lb. Bags over 100 lb or 80 inches are generally refused.

Will my checked bag transfer to American Airlines' partner airlines?

On a single ticket, yes. American Airlines has checked-bag interline agreements with 122 airlines, so your bag is through-checked to your final destination and you collect it only at the end. If your connecting flight is on a carrier without an agreement, or the legs are booked on separate tickets, you must claim and re-check the bag at the connection yourself.

Flying American Airlines out of these airports?

Check terminal layouts, connection times, and layover tips for major American Airlines hubs and focus cities.

American Airlines head-to-head comparisons

In-depth comparisons between American Airlines and another carrier, covering bags, seats, on-time performance, routes, and loyalty.

Sources

Facts, costs, and travel details in this carry-on guide were verified against the following sources. See our research methodology for how we vet and update data.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.

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