Emirates vs Etihad Airways carry-on size
Standard economy fare · checked 28 September 2026
Emirates and Etihad Airways trade off size and weight on the standard economy fare: neither is more generous on every point. Emirates includes a 55×38×22 cm, 7 kg cabin bag, while Etihad Airways includes a 56×36×23 cm, 7 kg cabin bag. Emirates and Etihad Airways were last checked against their official pages on 28 September 2026.
Side by side
| Rule | Emirates | Etihad Airways |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | Economy Class | Economy |
| Cabin bag | Included: 55×38×22 cm, 7 kg | Included: 56×36×23 cm, 7 kg |
| Personal item | Not published | Not published |
| Weight limits | cabin bag 7 kg | cabin bag 7 kg |
| Last checked | 28 September 2026 | 28 September 2026 |
What is different
- Emirates' cabin bag limit allows 2 cm more on the width than Etihad Airways': 38 cm against 36 cm.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) bag is 0.9 cm (0.3 in) too big on the length (and 1 other limit) at Emirates, and fits, but with only 0.1 cm (0 in) to spare on the length at Etihad Airways.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) bag is 2 cm (0.8 in) too big on the width at Emirates, and is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the width at Etihad Airways.
- Emirates and Etihad Airways both list United Arab Emirates, India, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and United States among their main markets, so on routes to these countries the two sets of rules can be compared directly.
- Emirates includes the cabin bag on all 4 of its published fares; Etihad Airways includes the cabin bag on all 3 of its published fares.
Our notes on Emirates and Etihad Airways
Emirates and Etihad both allow one cabin bag of 7 kg in Economy, but their size limits are not the same box. Emirates asks for 55 × 38 × 22 cm; Etihad for 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A bag that is exactly at Etihad's limit is 1 cm too long and 1 cm too deep for Emirates, and one at Emirates' limit is 2 cm too wide for Etihad.
To fly both from Dubai and Abu Dhabi with one bag, stay within 55 × 36 × 22 cm. Emirates adds route rules: a 115 cm total for passengers boarding in India, and 10 kg on flights from Brazil. In Business, Etihad allows two bags with a combined 12 kg, or one bag on flights to or from the U.S.
One bag for both
Cabin bag
- A cabin bag of up to 55 × 36 × 22 cm (21.6 × 14.1 × 8.6 in) is within the size limits of both Emirates and Etihad Airways.
- Keep it to 7 kg (15.4 lb), the lower weight limit, set by Emirates.
Personal item
- Emirates publishes no size for this bag.
- Etihad Airways publishes no size for this bag.
Every fare
Both airlines publish other fares with different bags. See every Emirates fare and every Etihad Airways fare.
Emirates vs Etihad Airways: questions
- Is the Emirates cabin bag allowance bigger than Etihad Airways'?
- Not on every point. Emirates' cabin bag limit allows 2 cm more on the width than Etihad Airways': 38 cm against 36 cm.
- Which bag fits both Emirates and Etihad Airways?
- A cabin bag of up to 55 × 36 × 22 cm (21.6 × 14.1 × 8.6 in) is within the size limits of both Emirates and Etihad Airways. Our checker turns your own bag in every direction and tests it on Emirates and Etihad Airways at once in trip mode.
Official sources
Emirates
- https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/baggage/cabin-baggage-rules/ — checked on 28 September 2026
Etihad Airways
- https://www.etihad.com/en-us/help/faq/baggage — checked on 28 September 2026