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Porter Airlines Carry-On Size 2026 55 x 40 x 23 cm

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

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

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

Quick answer

Porter Airlines carry-on bags can be up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9"), with no published weight limit, and no carry-on fee except on the Basic fare, which includes a personal item only.

  • Carry-on size: up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9")
  • Weight limit: no published weight limit
  • Carry-on fee: free except on the Basic fare (personal item only)
  • Personal item: up to 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6"), free on every fare
  • Gate-check risk: Medium
  • Last verified: Oct 2026
Porter Airlines carry-on maximum size, 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches)55 cm (21.5")23 cm (9")40 cm(15.5")LHW
Porter Airlines maximum carry-on dimensions, including wheels and handles.

Carry-On Bag

Max dimensions (cm)
55 x 40 x 23 cm
Max dimensions (in)
21.5 x 15.5 x 9"
Weight limit
No published limit
Fee
Free
Gate-check risk
Medium

A standard carry-on (55 x 40 x 23 cm) is included on Standard, Flexible, Freedom, Navigate and Ultimate fares. The Basic fare allows only a personal item; a carry-on can be added through the Basic Express add-on, which starts at $50. Porter does not publish a carry-on weight limit, but all carry-ons must fit the sizing units at check-in and the gate, and oversized bags are checked at the gate for a fee.

Personal Item

Max dimensions (cm)
43 x 33 x 16 cm
Max dimensions (in)
17 x 13 x 6"
Included
Yes, free
Weight
Not published

Personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.

See checked bag fees & more

Does your bag fit on Porter Airlines?

Check it against every airline

Alliance and loyalty

Alliance
None
Loyalty program
VIPorter
Official partner airlines

Porter Airlines cabin bag dimensions and bag size

The maximum Porter Airlines carry-on size is 55 x 40 x 23 cm, or 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches as Porter 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 55 cm. Always measure your bag packed, not empty.

Porter Airlines carry-on weight limit

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

Does Porter Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. Porter Airlines includes a free carry-on bag plus a free personal item on every fare except the Basic fare, which includes a personal item only. Check your specific fare rules before you book.

What bags fit as a Porter Airlines personal item

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

Bag typeTypical sizeOn Porter Airlines
Standard backpack
Everyday daypack, laptop backpack
18 x 13 x 8"Too big
Tote bag
Canvas or leather tote
15 x 14 x 5"Too big
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"Too big

Porter Airlines carry-on by fare class

FareCarry-onPersonal itemNotes
BasicNot includedIncludedPersonal item only; a standard carry-on can be added with the Basic Express add-on.
Standard, Flexible, Freedom, Navigate and UltimateIncludedIncludedPersonal item plus one standard carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm.
PorterReserveIncludedIncludedPremium cabin on the E195-E2 with 36 inch pitch in 2-2 layout.

Porter Airlines overhead bin size by aircraft

Porter flies the Embraer E195-E2 for transcon and US leisure routes out of Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, Montreal and other bases. The Dash 8-400 Q400 turboprop still runs the regional network out of Billy Bishop (YTZ) because jets cannot operate from that airport. Both aircraft use a 2-2 layout with no middle seats, but the Q400 has smaller overhead bins than the E195-E2, so larger rollerboards often get gate-checked on turboprop flights.

What counts as a personal item on Porter Airlines

Allowed

  • Laptop bag
  • Purse
  • Small backpack that fits under the seat

Common Porter Airlines carry-on mistakes

  • Bringing a North American max-size rollerboard onto a Q400 out of Billy Bishop and having it gate-checked because the overhead bin is narrower.
  • Booking the Basic fare and showing up with a carry-on. Basic allows only a personal item unless you add Basic Express.

What happens if your bag does not fit on Porter Airlines

On Dash 8-400 flights from YTZ, expect many standard carry-ons to be valet-tagged at the jet bridge and returned planeside at arrival. On E195-E2 flights, bins are larger and gate-check is usually only needed when bins fill.

Porter Airlines vs Air Canada carry-on

Porter and Air Canada compete head-to-head on most Canadian transcon and cross-border routes, and their carry-on allowances are close but not identical. Porter caps carry-ons at 55 by 40 by 23 cm and does not publish a carry-on weight limit, and neither does Air Canada beyond being able to lift it overhead unaided. Both airlines strip the carry-on from their cheapest fare: Porter Basic allows only a personal item, and Air Canada Economy Basic on flights within Canada and to or from the US allows only a personal item as of January 3, 2025. Porter's Q400 operations from YTZ also force tighter real-world bin space than anything Air Canada flies mainline.

See Air Canada carry-on size
Porter Airlines checked baggage fees
Domestic economy
1st bagUS$50-63.25*
2nd bagNot published
Long-haul / international
1st bagNot published
Weight limit50 lb
Linear dim62 in
Overweight & oversize
51–70 lbNot published
71–100 lbNot published
63–80 inNot published

* The 1st bag price is the figure Porter Airlines publishes, in the currency it prints, and it varies by route, timing, and fare.

Porter charges checked bag fees on Basic, Standard, and Flexible fares; for reservations made on or after May 7, 2026 the first bag costs US$50-63.25 at booking on the US site edition (previously US$40-51.75). Freedom fares include 2 free checked bags. VIPorter Passport members receive free checked bags. BMO VIPorter Mastercard holders get 1 free bag on Basic fares. Max single bag 50 lb / 62 linear inches. Porter shows fees in CAD or USD depending on the site edition.

Ways to skip the Porter Airlines checked bag fee

  1. Pack carry-on only. Confirm your bag fits the Porter Airlines carry-on size.
  2. Check your VIPorter status. See whether your tier includes a free checked bag on Porter Airlines.
Porter Airlines special items & sports equipment
Ski / snowboard
As a checked bagsee details below
Golf clubs
As a checked bagsee details below
Bicycle
$50
Pet in cabin
$50
Pet as cargo
Not published

Musical instruments: Small instruments (for example a violin, flute or guitar) can fly as your standard carry-on if they are in a hard-shell case, weigh no more than 9 kg (20 lb) and fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. Seats cannot be purchased for instruments; larger instruments travel as checked baggage.

Ski, snowboard and golf equipment count as one piece of your checked baggage allowance and are exempt from oversize fees; golf bags over 23 kg (50 lb) pay overweight fees. Bicycles add a $50 handling fee per direction on top of checked bag charges. Nothing over 32 kg (70 lb) or 203 cm (80 in) linear is accepted. Pets in the cabin cost $50 CAD/USD plus taxes per direction, with a limit of two pets per flight and soft-sided carriers only; pets are not carried in the hold.

Porter Airlines basic economy restrictions
BasicPorter Airlines' lowest fare tier
Carry-on allowed
No
Personal item allowed
Yes
Checked bag surcharge
Not published
  • No carry-on bag (personal item only)
  • No free checked bag
  • No seat selection
  • No changes or refunds
  • Lower VIPorter point earning
  • Last boarding group

Frequently asked questions

What is the Porter Airlines carry-on size limit?

Porter Airlines allows carry-on bags up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9"), including wheels, handles, and any external pockets. There is no published weight limit.

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

The Porter Airlines carry-on size limit in centimeters is 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Porter Airlines publishes the inch size as 21.5 x 15.5 x 9". Both measurements include wheels, handles, and external pockets.

What is the Porter Airlines hand luggage allowance?

Porter Airlines hand luggage (the cabin bag that goes in the overhead bin) can measure up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm. A personal item that fits under the seat is included on every fare.

What is the Porter Airlines carry-on weight limit?

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

Does Porter Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. Porter Airlines includes a free carry-on bag plus a free personal item on every fare except the Basic fare, which includes a personal item only.

What is the Porter Airlines personal item size?

The personal item on Porter Airlines must fit within 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6") and slide fully under the seat in front of you. Personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.

Will my bag be gate-checked on Porter Airlines?

Our guidance rates the gate-check risk on Porter Airlines as Medium. It is our own rating, not a figure Porter 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 Porter Airlines Basic?

No. Porter Airlines Basic passengers are limited to one personal item that fits under the seat. A full-size carry-on either is not allowed or costs an extra fee.

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

No. A standard 22 x 14 x 9 inch carry-on (55.9 x 35.6 x 22.9 cm) is over the Porter Airlines limit of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9"). Longest side 55.9 cm, limit 55 cm: 0.9 cm over. Choose a bag within the limit, measured with wheels and handles.

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

Only a small one. A standard daypack (roughly 18 x 13 x 8 inches) is larger than the Porter Airlines personal item limit of 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6"). A backpack within that limit counts as the personal item, and a bigger one counts as the carry-on.

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

Porter Airlines does not publish a weight limit for personal items. The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, within 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6").

How much does a checked bag cost on Porter Airlines?

The first checked bag on Porter Airlines costs US$50-63.25. The price varies by route, travel dates, and fare. This figure comes from the official baggage information published by Porter Airlines, checked in October 2026.

Flying Porter Airlines out of these airports?

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

Porter Airlines head-to-head comparisons

In-depth comparisons between Porter 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.

Helpful guides

Gear, tactics, and packing help for your Porter Airlines flight.

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