Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Airlines allows most passengers to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item at no additional charge, including passengers traveling on Basic Economy tickets. The main carry-on can measure up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches, while the personal item can measure up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches.
American does not publish a general weight limit for standard carry-on bags. However, every item must fit in the airport bag sizer and be stored safely in an overhead bin or under the seat. Aircraft size, available bin space, security rules, and the operating airline can also affect what is accepted onboard.
Quick Answer
American Airlines permits one carry-on bag up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches and one personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches. Handles and wheels count. There is no general published carry-on weight limit, but your bag must fit in the sizer and an approved storage area.
Key Takeaways
- You may bring one carry-on bag and one personal item in all cabins, including Basic Economy.
- The carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including handles, wheels, pockets, and other protruding parts.
- The personal-item limit is 18 x 14 x 8 inches, and the item must fit completely under the seat.
- American Airlines does not publish a general weight limit for a standard carry-on bag.
- Power banks, spare lithium batteries, medications, identification, keys, and valuables should remain with you if your bag is checked at the gate.
American Airlines Carry-On Rules at a Glance
At a Glance
| Standard Allowance | 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item |
| Carry-On Size | 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including handles and wheels |
| Personal Item Size | 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and able to fit under the seat |
| Weight Limit | No general published limit for standard carry-on bags |
| Basic Economy | Includes 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item |
| Soft Garment Bag | Up to 51 total linear inches (length + width + height) |
| Regional Flights | A standard carry-on may need to be valeted free of charge on some American Eagle aircraft |
These rules apply to American-operated flights. Check the operating airline’s baggage policy when an itinerary includes a flight operated by a partner airline because that carrier may use different size, weight, or item limits.
Maximum Carry-On and Personal-Item Dimensions
Carry-on bag
Your main carry-on bag cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm). The outside measurement includes wheels, handles, exterior pockets, protective feet, and any part that protrudes from the bag.
The bag must fit in the American Airlines sizer at the airport and in an overhead bin or under the seat. Expandable luggage should be measured after it has been packed because an expanded pocket can push it beyond the limit.
Personal item
Your personal item cannot exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and must fit completely under the seat in front of you. Common personal items include:
- A small backpack
- A purse or handbag
- A briefcase
- A laptop bag
- A compact duffel bag
A backpack can be your personal item when it stays within the personal-item dimensions and fits under the seat. A larger backpack may count as your main carry-on instead.
Does Basic Economy include a carry-on bag?
Yes. American Airlines currently allows Basic Economy passengers to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item. The same published size requirements apply to customers in other cabins.
You can verify the latest allowance on the American Airlines Basic Economy page.
Weight Restrictions for Carry-On Luggage
American Airlines does not publish a general numerical weight limit for a standard carry-on bag. The article’s previous 40-pound limit was incorrect.
Although there is no standard published weight cap, your bag must still be suitable for cabin storage. Avoid packing a carry-on so heavily that it cannot be handled safely or could injure someone if it shifts or falls from an overhead bin.
Warning: The FAA recommends placing heavy items under the seat rather than in an overhead bin. Never force a heavy or swollen bag into a compartment, and follow instructions from the gate and cabin crew.
Special items can have their own weight restrictions even when ordinary carry-on luggage does not. For example, an instrument secured in a separately purchased seat is subject to different requirements.
How to Measure Your Carry-On Correctly
Measure your bag after packing it. A soft bag can expand, and an overfilled exterior pocket may change the final dimensions.
- Place the bag upright on a flat floor.
- Measure the height from the floor, including wheels, to the highest point of the handle or case.
- Measure the width across the widest side of the bag.
- Measure the depth from front to back, including exterior pockets and bulges.
- Compare each measurement separately with the 22 x 14 x 9-inch limits.
- Measure the personal item separately and confirm that it can fit under a seat without blocking the aisle or foot space required for safe stowage.
Do not add the three standard carry-on measurements together. American lists three separate maximum dimensions. Adding length, width, and height is relevant to its soft-sided garment-bag rule, which permits up to 51 total linear inches.
Pro Tip: Leave about half an inch of margin when choosing a bag. Manufacturer dimensions may exclude wheels or handles, and a fully packed soft-sided bag can become deeper than its listed size.
Tips for Packing Efficiently
Packing cubes can organize clothing and make it easier to remove one category of items without emptying the entire suitcase. Compression bags can save space, but they do not reduce weight and may make a soft bag bulge beyond the permitted depth.
Rolling casual clothing can reduce wrinkles and use small spaces efficiently. Place socks, charging cables, or other soft items inside shoes, and choose clothing that can be mixed and matched across several outfits.
Keep dense items low in the bag and avoid overfilling exterior pockets. Your carry-on still needs to close properly and fit in the airport sizer.
For additional organization ideas, see these packing-cube options for a more organized trip.
Pack your personal item for a possible gate check
Even a correctly sized bag may be checked when overhead bins are full or the aircraft has smaller compartments. Keep the following items in your personal item or on your person:
- Identification and travel documents
- Keys and wallet
- Medication and essential medical supplies
- Phone, laptop, tablet, and other valuables
- Power banks and spare lithium batteries
- E-cigarettes or vaping devices
- Fragile items
- One change of essential clothing when practical
Liquids, Food, Medication, and Restricted Items
TSA liquids rule
For flights departing through a U.S. security checkpoint, liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes generally must be in containers holding no more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters each. The containers must fit in one clear, quart-size, resealable bag.
Container capacity matters. A partially filled 6-ounce bottle does not comply merely because it contains less than 3.4 ounces.
Medically necessary liquids, medications, creams, breast milk, and related cooling supplies may qualify for exceptions. Declare them to the TSA officer for separate screening. Review the TSA travel and liquid guidance before departure.
Food and duty-free liquids
Solid food is generally permitted through a U.S. checkpoint, although TSA officers may request that it be removed for screening. Liquid or gel foods must normally follow the 3-1-1 rule unless an exemption applies.
Certain duty-free liquids may pass through security when they remain in an approved security tamper-evident bag and meet TSA requirements. A duty-free shopping bag should not be treated as a guaranteed extra piece of cabin baggage. Consolidate purchases into your permitted bags when possible.
Power banks, batteries, and e-cigarettes
Spare lithium batteries, power banks, and portable chargers must remain in carry-on baggage. If your suitcase is checked at the gate or valeted beside the aircraft, remove these items before handing over the bag.
American Airlines currently permits no more than two portable chargers per passenger, and each charger must not exceed 100 watt-hours. While onboard:
- Keep a portable charger visible and within reach while it is being used.
- Store it in an accessible location, such as your under-seat personal item.
- Do not store it in an overhead bin.
- Do not use the aircraft’s in-seat outlet to recharge the power bank.
A 10,000 mAh power bank using a nominal 3.7-volt battery is approximately 37 Wh. American provides the formula Wh = mAh x 3.7 ÷ 1,000 when only milliamp-hours are listed.
Warning: Never leave a power bank, spare lithium battery, or e-cigarette inside a bag that is being gate checked. Protect exposed battery terminals from contact with coins, keys, or other metal objects.
Smart luggage is accepted only under specific conditions. If a smart bag must be checked or valeted, its lithium battery must be removable and carried into the cabin. American does not accept smart bags with non-removable batteries.
Check American’s current restricted-items policy and the FAA lithium-battery guidance before packing batteries or battery-powered equipment.
Sharp objects, firearms, and hazardous materials
Metal knives, box cutters, straight razors, and many other cutting instruments are not allowed in carry-on baggage. Firearms and ammunition are also prohibited in carry-on bags and have strict declaration and checked-baggage requirements.
Explosives, many flammable products, large portable power stations, pepper spray, and other hazardous materials may be prohibited entirely. Use the TSA What Can I Bring tool for item-specific screening rules.
Exceptions and Special Carry-On Items
American excludes several necessary items from the standard one-carry-on and one-personal-item count. Its published exclusions include:
- One diaper bag per child
- A breast pump
- A small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk
- Child safety seats and eligible strollers
- Medical and mobility devices
Medical and mobility devices such as canes, collapsible walkers, and CPAP machines generally do not count toward the carry-on limit when they meet safety and storage requirements. Space limitations may still require an item to be checked if it is not needed during the flight.
Jackets, umbrellas, pillows, shopping bags, and separate food bags should not be assumed to be unlimited extra items. Gate staff may ask you to consolidate loose belongings into your carry-on or personal item before boarding.
Soft-sided garment bags
A soft-sided garment bag may measure up to 51 total linear inches. Add its length, width, and height to determine the total. It serves as your carry-on item rather than an unlimited additional bag.
Musical instruments
A small musical instrument can travel as your carry-on item on a first-come, first-served basis when it fits under the seat or in an overhead bin. A larger instrument may require a separate purchased seat or checked-baggage arrangements.
American Eagle Regional Flights and Valet Bags
Some American Eagle regional aircraft have much smaller overhead bins than American’s mainline aircraft. A suitcase that meets the standard 22 x 14 x 9-inch limit may therefore need to be valeted before boarding.
For applicable regional flights, American tags the carry-on at the gate at no charge. The bag is normally returned on the jet bridge after arrival instead of at the baggage carousel. American states that Embraer ERJ-175 aircraft accept normal carry-on bags and do not offer this valet service.
Note: Valet checking on an applicable regional aircraft is different from paying to check an oversized bag. Remove power banks, spare batteries, e-cigarettes, medicine, identification, valuables, and fragile electronics before handing over a valet bag.
Fees for Oversized or Gate-Checked Carry-Ons
A compliant carry-on may be checked free of charge when the aircraft has limited storage space or the overhead bins become full. A regional valet bag is also handled without a checked-bag fee on applicable American Eagle flights.
A different outcome may apply when the bag exceeds the published size allowance or the passenger brings more items than permitted. In that situation, American may require the bag to be checked and may charge the applicable checked-baggage fee.
Fees vary by route, fare, cabin, ticket-issue date, loyalty status, eligible credit-card benefits, and whether payment is completed online or at the airport. For many itineraries within or between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, eligible Caribbean and Central American destinations, and Guyana, American’s published first-bag fee for tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026 is:
- Main Cabin: $45 when paid online or $50 at the airport
- Basic Economy: $50 when paid online or $55 at the airport
Other routes and premium cabins may have different allowances. Check the current American Airlines bag-fee page for the exact itinerary rather than relying on a broad fee range.
What to Do If Your Carry-On Does Not Meet the Rules
- Measure the bag again. Include wheels, handles, bulging pockets, and attachments.
- Remove nonessential items. Move only appropriate items into your personal item without exceeding its size limit.
- Collapse expandable sections. Compression straps may help the bag return to its normal dimensions.
- Consolidate loose belongings. Place small purses, shopping bags, pillows, and food packages inside one of your permitted items when possible.
- Remove cabin-only items before checking. Keep power banks, spare batteries, e-cigarettes, medicine, documents, valuables, and fragile electronics with you.
- Pay online when eligible. American may offer a lower first-bag fee online than at the airport for eligible itineraries.
- Allow extra airport time. Resolving a bag problem at the ticket counter is easier than repacking after boarding has started.
Gate agents and flight crews have final responsibility for determining whether an item can be stored safely. Even a correctly sized bag is not guaranteed overhead-bin space.
Carry-On Checklist Before Leaving for the Airport
- Carry-on measures no more than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
- Personal item measures no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches.
- Handles, wheels, pockets, and bag bulges were included in the measurements.
- Liquids comply with TSA rules or qualify for an exception.
- Power banks are limited to two and no more than 100 Wh each.
- Spare batteries have protected terminals.
- Medication, documents, valuables, and fragile electronics are in the personal item.
- Restricted items were checked with TSA, FAA, and American Airlines.
- Partner-airline rules were reviewed for codeshare or connecting flights.
- The current checked-bag fee was confirmed for the exact itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the American Airlines carry-on size?
The maximum carry-on size is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including wheels, handles, pockets, and other protruding parts.
Does American Airlines have a carry-on weight limit?
American Airlines does not publish a general numerical weight limit for standard carry-on bags. The bag must fit in the airport sizer and be stored safely in an overhead bin or under the seat.
Can I bring a personal item in addition to my carry-on?
Yes. You may bring one personal item measuring no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches in addition to your carry-on. It must fit completely under the seat in front of you.
Does Basic Economy include a carry-on bag?
Yes. American Airlines currently permits Basic Economy passengers to bring one standard carry-on bag and one personal item.
Can a backpack be my personal item?
Yes. A backpack can count as the personal item when it stays within 18 x 14 x 8 inches and fits under the seat. A larger backpack may need to count as the main carry-on.
What happens if my carry-on is too large?
American may require the bag to be checked. An applicable checked-bag fee may be charged when the bag exceeds the allowance, although operational gate checks caused by full bins or regional-aircraft limitations may be free.
Can I bring liquids in my carry-on?
Yes. At U.S. checkpoints, ordinary liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes must generally be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less and fit in one clear quart-size bag. Medically necessary liquids and certain infant-feeding items may qualify for exceptions.
Can I carry a power bank on American Airlines?
Yes, but it must remain in the cabin. American currently limits passengers to two portable chargers, each no more than 100 Wh. Do not place them in an overhead bin or recharge them from an in-seat outlet while onboard.
Why was my carry-on valeted on an American Eagle flight?
Many regional aircraft have smaller overhead bins. American may tag and valet a standard carry-on at the gate free of charge, then return it on the jet bridge after arrival. Remove batteries, medication, valuables, and fragile electronics first.
Sources
- American Airlines Carry-On Bags — official carry-on allowance, dimensions, personal-item limits, garment bags, and regional valet procedures
- American Airlines Restricted Items — portable chargers, lithium batteries, e-cigarettes, smart bags, sharp objects, and firearms
- American Airlines Bag and Optional Fees — current checked-bag charges and route-specific conditions
- TSA What Can I Bring? — security-screening rules for food, liquids, tools, sharp objects, medications, and other items
- FAA PackSafe: Lithium Batteries — carry-on requirements and safety precautions for spare batteries and power banks
- FAA Carry-On Baggage Tips — safe cabin storage, heavy-item guidance, and gate-check precautions