Southwest Airlines Carry-On Rules 2026 24 x 16 x 10"

Southwest Airlines carry-on dimensions and bag size

The maximum Southwest Airlines carry-on size is 24 x 16 x 10 inches, which works out to 61 x 41 x 25 cm. These measurements include wheels, handles, and any external pockets. Gate sizers on Southwest Airlines match the published limits closely, so a bag marketed as "22 inch" can fail if its wheels push the total past 24 inches. Always measure your bag packed, not empty.

Southwest Airlines carry-on weight limit

Southwest Airlines does not publish a specific carry-on weight limit for domestic travel. The operational rule is that you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead bin without help. Very heavy bags can still be refused at the gate, and on some regional aircraft the crew may ask you to check an overweight bag as a courtesy.

Does Southwest Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. Southwest Airlines includes a free carry-on bag plus a free personal item on most fares. This applies across standard economy fares.

What bags fit as a Southwest Airlines personal item

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

Southwest Airlines carry-on by fare class

Southwest Airlines overhead bin size by aircraft

Southwest flies nothing but Boeing 737s: the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8. Every model in the fleet accepts the published 24x16x10 carry-on and 16.25x13.5x8 personal item, so you never need to worry about equipment swaps changing your bag situation. The MAX 8 has Boeing's Space Bins, which are roughly 50 percent larger than the older overhead bins on the 737-700. Space Bins let you stow a roller bag wheels-first, freeing up more room on full flights. If you board late on a MAX 8, you still have a reasonable shot at bin space. On a 737-700 with a full cabin, that same late boarding position often means a gate check.

Avoiding gate-check on Southwest Airlines

Southwest does not board by zones. Instead, each passenger gets a position within groups A, B, or C, and you line up in order at numbered poles near the gate. Your position depends on when you checked in (online check-in opens exactly 24 hours before departure), what fare you bought, or what status you hold. Business Select fares get positions A1 through A15, guaranteeing first access to overhead bins. EarlyBird Check-In is a paid add-on (typically $15 to $25 each way) that automatically checks you in before the 24-hour window, usually landing you in the A or early B group. Upgraded Boarding is a day-of purchase at the gate for an A1-A15 slot if any remain. A-List and A-List Preferred Rapid Rewards members also board in the A group. One important change: Rapid Rewards credit cardholders no longer get automatic early boarding, which makes the paid options more important than they used to be.

What counts as a personal item on Southwest Airlines

Common Southwest Airlines carry-on mistakes

• Assuming bags still fly free. This is the biggest one. Southwest ended its famous two-free-checked-bags policy for bookings made on or after May 28, 2025. Plenty of travelers still show up at the counter expecting to check bags for free and get surprised by a $45 charge.
• Skipping EarlyBird Check-In on a Basic fare. If you forget to check in right at the 24-hour mark, you can end up in the C group with no overhead bin room. At that point your carry-on gets gate-checked whether you like it or not.
• Packing a bag to Southwest's 24x16x10 limit and then trying to use it on a connecting flight with Delta or United. Southwest's carry-on allowance is 2 inches larger in every dimension than the industry-standard 22x14x9. A bag that fits perfectly on Southwest may not fit at all on your next airline.
• Bringing a 70-pound checked bag and expecting the older overweight fee structure. Southwest revised its overweight charges in 2025, and the fees are now $100 for bags between 51 and 70 pounds.
• Relying on Companion Pass or credit card perks for free checked bags. As of 2025, only A-List Preferred status holders and passengers on Choice Extra fares get two free checked bags. The credit card perks have been scaled back.

What happens if your bag does not fit on Southwest Airlines

Gate-checking happens less often on Southwest than on other US carriers, mostly because the 24x16x10 carry-on limit is already bigger than what most airlines allow. That said, on full flights (especially holiday weekends and popular leisure routes), overhead bins still fill up. If your bag doesn't fit in the sizer or the bins are full, the gate agent tags it and loads it in the cargo hold. Under the revised 2025 policy, a checked bag fee applies to gate-checked bags on new bookings. You pick up the bag at the carousel at your destination, same as any checked bag. To avoid gate-checking, the single best thing you can do is board early: EarlyBird Check-In, Business Select, or checking in at exactly T-minus 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions