Southwest Airlines Carry-On Size 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 40.6 x 25.4 cm. 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 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. Our guidance: pack it light enough that you can lift the bag into the overhead bin yourself.

Does Southwest Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

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

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, 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 moved to assigned seating on January 27, 2026, ending its decades-long open-seating model. The old A, B, and C boarding positions, the numbered poles at the gate, and paid EarlyBird Check-In are all retired. Customers now have a specific seat: Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra fares select a seat at booking, while Basic fares have a seat assigned at check-in. Boarding is by numbered groups based on the fare bundle, Rapid Rewards tier and/or credit cardmember status, and seat location. Choice Extra customers and A-List Preferred members board first (before Group 1), A-List members board in Group 1, and Extra Legroom seats board in Groups 1 to 2. Extra Legroom and Preferred seats are available for purchase when not already included with the fare.

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 tickets booked on or after April 9, 2026 the first checked bag is $45 and the second is $55. Plenty of travelers still show up at the counter expecting to check bags for free and get surprised by the charge.
• Treating Southwest like it still has open seating. Since January 27, 2026 every fare has an assigned seat (selected at booking on Choice fares and up, assigned at check-in on Basic), and boarding is by numbered group based on fare, status, and seat location. The old A/B/C boarding positions and paid EarlyBird Check-In are gone.
• 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 current 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, board earlier by buying a Choice Extra fare or an Extra Legroom or Preferred seat, or by holding A-List status, since boarding group now follows your fare, status, and seat location rather than check-in time.

Frequently asked questions