American Airlines carry-on size 2026: personal item and carry-on by fare
What can I take on board for free? American Airlines free personal item: 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) under the seat
Carry-on bag (overhead locker): 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) – free with every fare.
Official source: American Airlines: Carry-on bags · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Airlines change their bag rules and measure bags their own way (usually in a sizer at the airport, with wheels and handles). We quote each airline's official page on the date shown; the official rule and the airline staff decide. Check your booking before you fly.
American Airlines bags you can take on board
| Bag | Where | Max size | Weight | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | Under the seat | 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) | not stated | Free with every fare |
| Carry-on bag | Overhead locker | 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | not stated | Free with every fare |
Sizes in the order American Airlines writes them. “≈” marks our conversion; the other figures are American Airlines' own.
What American Airlines' official page says
Personal item
Your personal item like a purse or small handbag must fit under the seat in front of you.
Dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm).
Carry-on bag
Cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels
Official source: American Airlines: Carry-on bags · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Cabin bag by fare
| Fare | Under the seat | Overhead locker |
|---|---|---|
| All passengers (the page does not list fare differences) | Included | Included |
Our short summary of the official wording below.
You can bring 1 personal item and 1 carry-on bag on board if they meet the requirements.
Other official details
Some airports and planes may have additional carry-on restrictions.
Questions about American Airlines cabin bags
Every answer below is quoted word for word from American Airlines' official page, not written by us.
What size personal item can I bring for free on American Airlines?
Your personal item like a purse or small handbag must fit under the seat in front of you.
Dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm).
What is the American Airlines carry-on size limit?
Cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels
Is a carry-on bag included in every American Airlines fare?
You can bring 1 personal item and 1 carry-on bag on board if they meet the requirements.
Official source: American Airlines: Carry-on bags · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Liquids in your American Airlines cabin bag: the 100ml rule
The liquid limit is set by the airport you go through security at, not by American Airlines. At most airports each container in your hand luggage must be 100ml or less; 12 of the 63 airports we track allow up to 2 litres, and some apply different limits at different checkpoints.
The rules for carrying liquids in your hand luggage depend on the airport.
At most airports, you cannot take liquids in containers larger than 100ml through security. This still applies if the container is only part full.
Quoted from Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports – Liquids · checked on 10 October 2026. Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0.
Liquid rules at 63 airports, quoted from their official pages
Does my bag fit American Airlines?
Check your own bag against American Airlines and 27 other airlines with the bag size checker. Common bag sizes:
Other airlines (North America)
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Cabin bag size by airline · EU free personal item rule · Liquids rules by airport