Southwest Airlines vs American Airlines carry-on size
Standard economy fare · checked 28 September 2026
Southwest Airlines offers the larger cabin allowance of the two on the standard economy fare. Southwest Airlines includes a 24×16×10 in cabin bag and a personal item, while American Airlines includes a 22×14×9 in cabin bag and a 18×14×8 in personal item. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines were last checked against their official pages on 28 September 2026.
Side by side
| Rule | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | All fares | All fares |
| Cabin bag | Included: 24×16×10 in | Included: 22×14×9 in |
| Personal item | Included: size not published | Included: 18×14×8 in |
| Weight limits | Not published | Not published |
| Last checked | 28 September 2026 | 28 September 2026 |
What is different
- Southwest Airlines' cabin bag limit allows 5.1 cm more on the length than American Airlines': 61 cm against 55.9 cm.
- Southwest Airlines' cabin bag limit allows 5.1 cm more on the width than American Airlines': 40.6 cm against 35.6 cm.
- Southwest Airlines' cabin bag limit allows 2.5 cm more on the depth than American Airlines': 25.4 cm against 22.9 cm.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) bag fits, with at least 2.5 cm (1 in) to spare on every side at Southwest Airlines, and matches the limit exactly (0 cm margin) at American Airlines.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) bag fits, but with only 0.6 cm (0.3 in) to spare on the width at Southwest Airlines, and is 4.4 cm (1.7 in) too big on the width at American Airlines.
- Southwest Airlines and American Airlines both list United States and Mexico among their main markets, so on routes to these countries the two sets of rules can be compared directly.
- Southwest Airlines publishes one fare for cabin baggage, with the cabin bag included; American Airlines publishes one fare for cabin baggage, with the cabin bag included.
One bag for both
Cabin bag
- A cabin bag of up to 55.8 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in) is within the size limits of both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines.
Personal item
- A personal item of up to 45.7 × 35.5 × 20.3 cm (18 × 14 × 8 in) is within the size limits of both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines.
- Southwest Airlines publishes no size for this bag.
Every fare
Both airlines publish other fares with different bags. See every Southwest Airlines fare and every American Airlines fare.
Southwest Airlines vs American Airlines: questions
- Is the Southwest Airlines cabin bag allowance bigger than American Airlines'?
- Yes: on the standard economy fare, Southwest Airlines is more generous. Southwest Airlines' cabin bag limit allows 5.1 cm more on the length than American Airlines': 61 cm against 55.9 cm.
- Which bag fits both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines?
- A cabin bag of up to 55.8 × 35.5 × 22.8 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in) is within the size limits of both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Our checker turns your own bag in every direction and tests it on Southwest Airlines and American Airlines at once in trip mode.
Official sources
Southwest Airlines
- https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/article/carryon-baggage-policy — checked on 28 September 2026
American Airlines
- https://www.aa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-baggage.html — checked on 28 September 2026