British Airways cabin bag size 2026: free under-seat bag and cabin bag by fare
What can I take on board for free? British Airways free bag: 40 x 30 x 15 cm under the seat
Cabin bag (overhead locker): 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 in) – free with every fare.
Official source: British Airways: Your baggage essentials · 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.
British Airways bags you can take on board
| Bag | Where | Max size | Weight | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand bag | Under the seat | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in) | not stated | Free with every fare |
| Cabin bag | Overhead locker | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 in) | not stated | Free with every fare |
Sizes in the order British Airways writes them. “≈” marks our conversion; the other figures are British Airways' own.
What British Airways' official page says
Hand bag
Hand bag:
1 hand bag
Max dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)
Must easily fit under the seat in front of you
Cabin bag
Cabin bag:
1 cabin bag
Max dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – including wheels and handles
You must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted
Official source: British Airways: Your baggage essentials · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
The allowance for each cabin on this page gives no weight limit for the hand bag or the cabin bag. The page's baggage calculator, which shows the allowance for a specific trip, also contains the line “1 handbag or backpack (45 x 36 x 20cm)” (quoted below): use the calculator or Manage My Booking to see the allowance for your flight.
Cabin bag by fare
| Fare | Under the seat | Overhead locker |
|---|---|---|
| Every cabin, including the hand baggage only (Economy Basic) fare | Included | Included |
Our short summary of the official wording below.
No checked baggage
Hand bag:
1 hand bagIf you are travelling on our hand baggage only (Economy Basic) fare, you are charged extra to put any bags into the hold as these fares do not include checked baggage.
If your bag is too big
If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re over the permitted size, you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.
Other official details
1 handbag or backpack (45 x 36 x 20cm)
Questions about British Airways cabin bags
Every answer below is quoted word for word from British Airways' official page, not written by us.
What size is the free British Airways under-seat bag?
Hand bag:
1 hand bag
Max dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)
Must easily fit under the seat in front of you
What are the British Airways cabin bag size and weight limits?
Cabin bag:
1 cabin bag
Max dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – including wheels and handles
You must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted
Is a cabin bag included in every British Airways fare?
No checked baggage
Hand bag:
1 hand bagIf you are travelling on our hand baggage only (Economy Basic) fare, you are charged extra to put any bags into the hold as these fares do not include checked baggage.
Does British Airways check the size of cabin bags?
If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re over the permitted size, you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.
Official source: British Airways: Your baggage essentials · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Liquids in your British Airways cabin bag: the 100ml rule
The liquid limit is set by the airport you go through security at, not by British Airways. 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 British Airways?
Check your own bag against British Airways and 27 other airlines with the bag size checker. Common bag sizes:
Other airlines (Europe)
Spotted a change? Tell us.
Cabin bag size by airline · EU free personal item rule · Liquids rules by airport