Southwest Airlines carry-on size 2026: personal item and carry-on by fare
What can I take on board for free? Southwest Airlines free carry-on: 24 x 16 x 10 in in the overhead bin
Personal item: allowed with every fare, but Southwest Airlines publishes no size for it (see the official wording below).
Official source: Southwest Airlines Help Center: Carryon bags and personal items · 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.
Southwest Airlines bags you can take on board
| Bag | Where | Max size | Weight | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carryon bag | Overhead locker | 24 x 16 x 10 in (≈ 61 x 40.6 x 25.4 cm) | not stated | Free with every fare |
Sizes in the order Southwest Airlines writes them. “≈” marks our conversion; the other figures are Southwest Airlines' own.
What Southwest Airlines' official page says
Carryon bag
Carryon bag
Goes in the overhead bin.
Size limit: 24” (length) × 16” (width) × 10” (height).
Wheels, handles, and any attachments count toward these dimensions.
Official source: Southwest Airlines Help Center: Carryon bags and personal items · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Cabin bag by fare
| Fare | Under the seat | Overhead locker |
|---|---|---|
| Every passenger | Personal item (no size published) | 1 included |
Our short summary of the official wording below.
You may bring one carryon bag and one personal item onboard.
If your bag is too big
If your bag is too large to carry on or you're bringing more than one carryon or personal item, be sure to check item(s) at the ticket counter before you head to your departure gate.
Questions about Southwest Airlines cabin bags
Every answer below is quoted word for word from Southwest Airlines' official page, not written by us.
What is the Southwest Airlines carry-on size limit?
Carryon bag
Goes in the overhead bin.
Size limit: 24” (length) × 16” (width) × 10” (height).
Wheels, handles, and any attachments count toward these dimensions.
Is a carry-on bag included in every Southwest Airlines fare?
You may bring one carryon bag and one personal item onboard.
Does Southwest Airlines check the size of cabin bags?
If your bag is too large to carry on or you're bringing more than one carryon or personal item, be sure to check item(s) at the ticket counter before you head to your departure gate.
Official source: Southwest Airlines Help Center: Carryon bags and personal items · checked on 18 October 2026 (read in a browser)
Liquids in your Southwest Airlines cabin bag: the 100ml rule
The liquid limit is set by the airport you go through security at, not by Southwest 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 Southwest Airlines?
Check your own bag against Southwest 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