Suitcase Size Chart: What Size Do I Need?
The suitcase size for your trip, and which airlines take it.
A 7-day trip
For 7 days: small checked — 24 × 17 × 10.5 in is a standard checked bag on 18 of 21 airlinesBéis: 4 to 7-day trips.
- Example size
- 24 × 17 × 10.5 in
- Linear
- 51.5 in
- Volume
- about 70 L outside
Also suits this trip
Airline by airline
Sizes and trip lengths: Calpak, Delsey and Béis’s own size guides. Airline limits: each airline’s own page, from the Airline Bag Size Checker.
By the luggage makers’ own guides: a carry-on (22 × 14 × 9 in) for 2 to 5 days, a small checked bag (24 in) for 4 to 7, a medium (24–27 in) for 7 to 14 days, and a large for longer. But a 32-inch large bag measures 68 linear inches: oversize on 16 of 21 airlines.
How to use it
Enter how many days you will be away. The chart picks the smallest suitcase size the makers suggest for that trip, shows its size in inches and centimetres, and checks it against 21 airlines’ own limits: under the seat, in the cabin, as a standard checked bag, or oversize. Tap a size to see it for your trip anyway. For a bag you already own, measure it and use the Airline Bag Size Checker.
What the makers say
There is no official suitcase size, so the chart gives each maker’s own words. Calpak: “Carry-On Luggage: 16″–22″”. Delsey: “Carry-Ons 2-5 Days”, “Medium Suitcases 1-2 Weeks”, “Large Suitcases 2+ Weeks”, and “A medium suitcase typically measures 24 to 26 inches tall”. Béis: “Small checked bag: 24x17x10.5 inches; ideal for 4 to 7-day trips”, “Medium checked bag: 27×18.5×14 inches; ideal for 7 to 10-day trips”, “Large checked bag: 32x22x14 inches; ideal for 7 to 14-day trips”.
The airlines set the other limit. Béis: “Many airlines cap standard checked bags at 62 linear inches, meaning length, width, and height added together.” Of the 21 airlines here, 13 publish exactly that.
Suitcase size chart
| Size | Example (in) | Example (cm) | Linear | Trip (makers) | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underseater (personal item) | 18 × 14 × 8 | 46 × 36 × 20 | 40 in | 1–2 days | 18 in the cabin |
| Carry-on | 22 × 14 × 9 | 56 × 36 × 23 | 45 in | 2–5 days | 14 in the cabin |
| Small checked | 24 × 17 × 10.5 | 61 × 43 × 27 | 51.5 in | 4–7 days | 18 checked |
| Medium checked | 27 × 18.5 × 14 | 69 × 47 × 36 | 59.5 in | 7–10 days; 7–14 days | 18 checked |
| Large checked | 32 × 22 × 14 | 81 × 56 × 36 | 68 in | 7–14 days; 14 days or more | 16 oversize |
The example sizes are Béis’s, and the airline count is out of 21; an airline that publishes no limit for that kind of bag is not counted.
Worked examples
A 3-day city break. A carry-on. At 22 × 14 × 9 in it goes in the cabin on 14 airlines, but is too long for Air Canada, Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines and Aer Lingus, whose cabin limits are shorter.
Ten days in Italy. A medium checked bag: 27 × 18.5 × 14 in comes to 59.5 linear inches, under the usual 62.
Three weeks away. A large bag, but the 32-inch size is oversize almost everywhere; only two airlines take it as a standard checked bag: Allegiant Air, British Airways (British Airways limits a checked bag by its sides, 90 × 75 × 43 cm, not their total). Two medium bags, or a 29–30-inch one (the top of Calpak’s large range), stay within the limits.
Common mistakes
- Measuring the body only. Airlines count wheels and handles; a “22-inch” bag is often longer.
- Buying the biggest bag. Past 62 linear inches most airlines charge an oversize fee on top of the bag fee.
- Taking a US carry-on to Europe. Several European airlines’ cabin limits are shorter than 22 inches.
- Forgetting the weight. A large bag fills past the usual 50 lb (23 kg) limit easily; weigh it before you leave.
Pack it
Read the carry-on packing list, packing tips for vacation, cabin crew’s favorite luggage and the Italy packing list. Then build your list with the Packing List Generator, find one bag for every airline, and price it with the baggage fee calculator.
FAQ
What size suitcase do I need for a week?
A small or medium checked bag. Béis puts a small checked bag at “4 to 7-day trips” and a medium at “7 to 10-day trips”; Delsey says “Medium Suitcases 1-2 Weeks”. Packing light, a carry-on can do it.
What size is a carry-on suitcase?
22 × 14 × 9 inches on most US airlines, wheels and handles included. Calpak: “Carry-On Luggage: 16″–22″”. Some European airlines allow less; check yours above.
What size is a medium suitcase?
Delsey: “A medium suitcase typically measures 24 to 26 inches tall” and “On average, medium suitcases offer 60 to 80 liters of packing space.” Calpak’s medium runs 23 to 27 inches.
What size is a large suitcase?
Calpak: “Large Checked Luggage: 27″–30″”. Béis’s large is 32x22x14 inches, which at 68 linear inches is oversize on most airlines.
What is the maximum size for a checked bag?
Usually 62 linear inches (158 cm): “Many airlines cap standard checked bags at 62 linear inches, meaning length, width, and height added together.” Allegiant allows 80.
How many liters is a carry-on?
A 22 × 14 × 9 in bag is about 45 liters measured outside, wheels and handles included; the packing space inside is less.