Cabin bag limits by airline
| Airline | Cabin bag | Personal item | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United | 22 × 14 × 9 in | 17 × 10 × 9 in | Basic Economy is generally a personal item only. |
| Delta | 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 35 × 23 cm) | One personal item | Total of 45 linear inches for the carry-on. |
| American | 22 × 14 × 9 in | 18 × 14 × 8 in | |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 cm, up to 23 kg | 40 × 30 × 15 cm, up to 23 kg | |
| Aer Lingus (to/from North America) | 55 × 40 × 24 cm, up to 10 kg | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | Within Europe the 10 kg bag only comes on board if you've paid for it or it's included; otherwise drop it at check-in for free (Aer Lingus charges €35 if it's caught at the gate). |
| Ryanair | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg (paid: Priority & 2 Cabin Bags) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm, free | Infants: 5 kg baby bag (45 × 35 × 20 cm) plus two baby equipment items free. |
| easyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm (paid large cabin bag) | 45 × 36 × 20 cm, free, up to 15 kg |
Economy allowances from each airline's website, checked 22 October 2026. Fare type matters (basic economy and budget fares often include only the personal item), and wheels and handles count toward the size.
Carry-on suitcases and packs for the grown-ups
Ridge Carry-On
German Makrolon polycarbonate shell; exterior 22.5 × 14.5 × 9 in, interior 20.5 × 14 in, per Ridge.
A tough hard-shell case with a lifetime warranty. Note the listed size is half an inch over the 22 × 14 in US guideline on two sides, so measure it against your airline's sizer if you're worried.
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
22 × 12 × 10 in; 2 lb 15 oz; water-resistant TPU-coated shell.
A backpack that opens like a suitcase. Better than a roller when you've also got a stroller or a small hand to hold. It's 10 in deep, so don't overstuff it if the airline sizer is 9 in.
Peak Design Packing Cube
Small: 4.5–9 L, 110 g; Medium: 8–18 L, 144 g; both compress to 8 cm deep.
A zip squeezes each cube down to 8 cm deep, so soft clothes take up less room. One cube per family member makes it easy to find things in a shared case.
Bellroy Travel Wallet
Leather, RFID-protected; holds a passport, 4 to 10+ cards, cash, tickets and a Micro Pen.
Keeps everyone's passports and boarding passes in one place, with the pen for landing cards. Bellroy says it fits most passports, though not German or Irish ones.
Weekend bags and a toiletry kit
Not everyone wants a roller. These come from Bespoke Post, which sells its own Line of Trade bags alongside other brands:
Line of Trade Weekender Bag (Bespoke Post)
Cotton canvas on a metal frame, leather handles, removable shoulder strap; 21 × 13 × 7 in; laptop pocket fits up to 15 in; $75 when we checked.
A tough canvas duffel that stays open while you pack. At 21 × 13 × 7 in it's inside the 22 × 14 × 9 in US carry-on limit and Ryanair's paid 55 × 40 × 20 cm cabin bag. Good for a weekend away or as the one bag for a parent on a short trip.
Line of Trade Weekender XL (Bespoke Post)
40 L; 22 × 13.5 × 10 in (excluding handle); padded 15 in laptop sleeve, zip shoe compartment, trolley loop; $125 when we checked.
The bigger version, with a separate shoe compartment and a loop that slides over a suitcase handle. It's 10 in deep, an inch over the US 9 in guideline, though it's soft-sided, so don't fill it to bursting if your airline is strict about the sizer.
Halfday Sidecar Toiletry Kit (Bespoke Post)
8.75 × 3.5 × 6.75 in; 0.68 lb; water-resistant polyester; hanging loop; reusable liquids pouch included; $48 when we checked.
Hangs on the back of a hotel door, and the included clear liquids pouch sits in a back pocket so you can pull it out at security without unpacking.
Kids' luggage
Trunki Ride-On Suitcase
1.7 kg (3.8 lb); 18 L; 46 × 20.5 × 31 cm; ages 3–6; max ride-on weight 50 kg, per Trunki.
Kids can sit on it and you tow them through the airport, which saves your back on long walks to the gate. It holds a few days of small-kid clothes plus toys. On Ryanair or easyJet it's bigger than the free under-seat bag.
Fjällräven Kånken Mini
7 L; about 29 × 20 × 13 cm; about 220 g.
A small, tough backpack that's easy for a child to carry and small enough for any airline's free under-seat bag.
How to fly carry-on with kids
- Check each flight, not just the airline. A trip that flies United to London and then Ryanair to Dublin has two very different limits.
- Pack one cube per person and roll soft clothes.
- Liquids: security rules vary by airport, so keep liquids in a clear bag you can pull out quickly. Baby milk and food are usually allowed in larger amounts.
- Wear the bulky stuff (boots and the waterproof jacket) on the plane.
- Give each child a job: their own backpack with their own snacks and entertainment.
Kids' clothes for a UK or Ireland trip
Here's roughly what fits in a carry-on for one child in changeable, wet, cool weather. Kids' clothes are small, so a week's worth rolls into one medium packing cube. Wear the jacket and wellies on the plane. Counts are per child. The two-week column assumes one load of laundry halfway (most self-catering places have a washer, and quick-dry things dry on a radiator overnight).
| Clothes | Weekend | 1 week | 2 weeks | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tops | 3 | 5 | 6 | T-shirts or long-sleeve tops; quick-dry or merino beats cotton |
| Trousers or leggings | 2 | 3 | 4 | leggings and joggers dry faster than jeans |
| Base layers | 1 set | 2 sets | 2 sets | thermal top and leggings, for cold days, evenings and hill walks |
| Fleece or warm mid layer | 1 | 1 | 2 | the thing they'll wear every day under the jacket |
| Waterproof jacket with a hood | 1 | 1 | 1 | a real waterproof, not a showerproof windbreaker |
| Rain trousers or a puddle suit | 1 | 1 | 1 | a puddle suit (all-in-one) for toddlers; over-trousers for older kids |
| Warm hat | 1 | 1 | 1 | plus gloves or mittens from October to April |
| Sun hat | 1 | 1 | 1 | yes, really: summer days are long, and a cool breeze hides how strong the sun is |
| Pyjamas | 1 | 2 | 2 | one warm pair: old houses and B&Bs can be chilly at night |
| Socks | 4 | 8 | 8 | wool or merino; one spare pair a day, because feet get wet |
| Underwear | 4 | 8 | 8 | a couple of extra pairs for little ones |
| Waterproof shoes or wellies | 1 pair | 1 pair | 1 pair | wellies for small kids, waterproof walking shoes for older ones |
| Comfy trainers | 1 pair | 1 pair | 1 pair | for travel days, cities and when the wellies are soaked |
| Swimwear | 1 | 1 | 2 | hotel and leisure-centre pools are a lifesaver on a wet afternoon |
| A nicer outfit | 1 | 1 | 1 | for a special dinner, afternoon tea or family photos |
| Spare outfit in the carry-on | 1 | 1 | 1 | a full change per child (two for under-3s), in case the checked bag goes missing or someone spills |
Extra for babies and toddlers
- A sleep sack (or two for a baby, in case of leaks). Rooms vary a lot, so check the tog guide on the label against the room temperature.
- Extra changes: plan on two outfits a day for a baby and one spare a day for a toddler, plus extra vests or bodysuits.
- Bibs: two or three a day, or a few wipe-clean ones you can rinse in the sink.
- A warm all-in-one or fleece suit for the stroller or carrier on cold, windy days, and a puddle suit once they're walking.
Pack each child's clothes in their own packing cube, with travel-day clothes and the spare outfit on top.
Free: kids travel packing checklist
Three printable pages: what to pack by age (baby, toddler, school-age), kids' clothes with counts for a weekend, 1 week or 2 weeks, and a plane & car bag list for travel day.
Questions
What size carry-on fits every airline?
There isn't one. US airlines use 22 × 14 × 9 in for the main cabin bag, but on Ryanair the free bag is only 40 × 30 × 20 cm and has to go under the seat. If you're flying a budget European airline, pack each person's essentials in a small under-seat bag and pay for one bigger cabin bag between you.
Can my child bring a Trunki on the plane?
Usually as a cabin bag, yes: Trunki sells it as cabin-sized (46 × 20.5 × 31 cm) and publishes an airline checklist. It's bigger than the free under-seat bag on Ryanair (40 × 30 × 20 cm) and easyJet (45 × 36 × 20 cm), so on those airlines it needs a paid cabin bag allowance. Check your airline.
Are packing cubes worth it for families?
Yes, especially with kids: one cube per person (or per day) means you can find the right pajamas in a dark hotel room without unpacking the whole case. Compression cubes like Peak Design's also squeeze soft clothes down.
Does the Ridge Carry-On meet US carry-on limits?
Ridge lists its Carry-On's exterior at 22.5 × 14.5 × 9 in, which is half an inch over the common 22 × 14 × 9 in limit on two sides (and about 1 cm longer than British Airways' 56 cm). It's sold as a carry-on, but if your airline is strict about the sizer, measure it.
What's the best bag for a kid to carry?
A small backpack they can manage on their own, like the 7 L Fjällräven Kånken Mini, which fits under the seat on budget airlines. Put a water bottle, a snack, a book and a spare layer in it and let them be in charge of it.
More packing guides
Sources
- Carry-on bags (United)
- Carry-on baggage (Delta)
- Carry-on baggage (American Airlines)
- Baggage essentials (British Airways)
- Baggage information (Aer Lingus)
- Cabin bags and infant allowance (Ryanair help centre)
- Cabin bags (easyJet)
- Carry-On specs (Ridge)
- Ride-On Suitcase specifications (Trunki)
- Allpa 35L dimensions and weight (Cotopaxi)
- Packing Cube sizes and weights (Peak Design)
- Travel Wallet (Bellroy)
- Line of Trade Weekender Bag (Bespoke Post)
- Line of Trade Weekender XL (Bespoke Post)
- Halfday Sidecar Toiletry Kit (Bespoke Post)
Airline rules change, sometimes by route and fare. Check your booking before you pack. Last checked 22 October 2026.