SWISS carry-on size and personal item rules
- Europe
- Full-service
- Star Alliance
- Verified 28 September 2026
SWISS (LX) allows one cabin bag of 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in) and 8 kg (17.6 lb) on its Economy Light, Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul) fare, plus a personal item of 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in). Verified on 28 September 2026 from the official SWISS baggage page.
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SWISS carry-on allowance by fare
| Fare | Route / class | Personal item | Cabin bag | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light, Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul)(standard) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | Not included | Not published |
| Business Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul) | All routes · Business | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Economy (long-haul) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Premium Economy (long-haul) | All routes · Premium economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Business (long-haul) | All routes · Business | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| First (long-haul) | All routes · First | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
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What to know about SWISS carry-on rules
- From ZRH and GVA, SWISS mainly connects Switzerland with Germany, United States, United Kingdom, France and Italy.
- Among the 18 verified airlines from Europe, SWISS has the 4th largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is Binter (45×35×25 cm).
- In its standard fare, SWISS applies exactly the same cabin bag, personal item and weight figures as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa, so a bag packed for one of them also passes on SWISS.
- In volume terms the SWISS cabin bag reaches about 50.6 L; 12 of the 60 airlines with published sides allow a bigger box.
- SWISS ranks 11th of 66 verified airlines by cabin bag size in the standard fare: its 118 cm (46.5 in) total is bigger than 62% of them.
- The average cabin bag of the 18 verified carriers from Europe adds up to 117.5 cm (46.3 in); SWISS's limit is 0.5 cm (0.2 in) more than that.
- Of the 17 Star Alliance airlines verified here, SWISS comes 2nd by cabin bag size; the range runs from United Airlines at 114.3 cm (45 in) to TAP Air Portugal at 120 cm (47.2 in).
- A standard US carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) is 0.9 cm (0.3 in) too big on the length when measured against SWISS's 55×40×23 cm.
- On SWISS, a typical European cabin case of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) fits exactly at the limit on the length (limit: 55×40×23 cm).
- The 7 SWISS fares on this page are not equal: 6 of the 7 include a cabin bag; Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) has no cabin bag at all.
- 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag: 23 of the 57 airlines with a published limit are stricter than SWISS, 20 are more generous.
- Exceptions noted on the official SWISS page: “Business 1 personal item max. 40 × 30 × 15 cm 2 items of carry-on baggage max. 8 kg max. 55 × 40 × 23 cm”
SWISS personal item: what fits under the seat
- On Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul), the personal item is the only free bag SWISS allows in the cabin, so it has to hold everything you take on board.
- Filled as a box, SWISS's 40×30×15 cm personal item holds about 18 litres, right at the median of 18 L across the 56 airlines that publish three personal item sides.
- Against the 26 airlines from Europe that publish a personal item size (average 87.7 cm in total), SWISS allows 85 cm, more than 0% of them.
- By volume, the 40×30×15 cm personal item on SWISS is 36% of the 55×40×23 cm cabin bag: about 18 L against 50.6 L.
- A soft 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) under-seat bag is 5 cm (2 in) too big on the depth against SWISS's 40×30×15 cm personal item limit.
- With 85 cm in total, the SWISS personal item is bigger than 9 and smaller than 28 of the 57 verified airlines that publish a personal item size.
- Among 14 Star Alliance airlines with a published personal item size, Air Canada allows the largest (33×43×16 cm) and South African Airways the smallest (30×40×10 cm); SWISS sits at 40×30×15 cm.
Our notes on SWISS
SWISS does not treat airport shopping as an extra: duty-free bought after security must fit within your normal carry-on allowance. If your bags are already at the limit, a duty-free bag can be the item that pushes you over.
The same logic applies to the special items SWISS lists. A foldable garment bag, a small musical instrument or a pocket buggy (one per infant) may come on board, but they count within your allowance, not on top of it. The garment bag may measure up to 57 × 54 × 15 cm, and instruments follow their own SWISS rules, so read that page before you pack one.
On the short- and medium-haul Economy Basic fare, the allowance is a single personal item, so none of these items comes free on that fare either.
SWISS carry-on questions
- Does the Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) fare of SWISS include a cabin bag?
- No. SWISS's Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) fare has no cabin bag, only a personal item.
- Does SWISS have a weight limit for carry-on bags?
- Yes. On the standard fare, SWISS publishes 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag.
- Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit SWISS's limit?
- Yes: against SWISS's 55×40×23 cm limit, a hard 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) case fits exactly at the limit on the length.
- How big can a personal item be on SWISS?
- SWISS allows a personal item of 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on the standard fare, stowed under the seat in front.
Airlines related to SWISS
- Austrian Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- LOT Polish Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Lufthansa carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- TAP Air Portugal carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Turkish Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Air Canada carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Official sources
- https://www.swiss.com/ch/en/prepare/baggage/hand-baggage — checked on 28 September 2026