Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Your seat choice can make a short flight feel easy or cramped. Southwest Airlines publishes passenger seat widths from 15.5 to 17.8 inches, depending on the aircraft and exact seat, while Standard and Preferred seat pitch ranges from 31 to 33 inches. Checking the aircraft, fare, and seat type before booking gives you the clearest picture of the space you will receive.
Quick Answer
Southwest’s published seat-width range is 15.5 to 17 inches on the Boeing 737-700 and 15.5 to 17.8 inches on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8. Standard or Preferred pitch is 31 to 33 inches, while Extra Legroom seats provide 34 to 36 inches, depending on the aircraft.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest lists a 15.5-inch narrowest seat width across its fleet, with widest-seat measurements of 17 inches on the 737-700 and 17.8 inches on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8.
- Standard and Preferred seats have the same legroom. Preferred seats are mainly closer to the front of the cabin.
- Extra Legroom seats add pitch, not width: 35 to 36 inches on the 737-700 and 34 inches on the 737-800 and MAX 8.
- Assigned seating began for flights departing January 27, 2026. EarlyBird Check-In and the old Upgraded Boarding product are no longer available.
- Travelers who need two adjacent seats should review Southwest’s Customers of Size policy and reserve the extra seat before travel.
What’s in This Article
- Understanding Seat Width on Southwest Airlines
- How Southwest Seat Width Compares to Other Airlines
- Tips for Choosing the Best Seat on Southwest Airlines
- How Seat Width Affects Passenger Comfort
- Who May Find Southwest Seats Too Narrow
- Southwest Airlines Policies on Seat Width and Extra Space
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Sources
Southwest was incorporated in Texas in 1967 and began service in 1971. It operates an all-Boeing 737 passenger fleet with one aisle and a 3-3 seating layout. If you also need travel paperwork after your trip, see our Southwest receipt guide.
Southwest moved from open seating to assigned seating for flights departing January 27, 2026, and later. The airline now labels seats as Standard, Preferred, or Extra Legroom. Your fare, Rapid Rewards status, cardmember benefits, and any paid seat purchase determine what you can select.
Understanding Seat Width on Southwest Airlines
The most accurate way to describe Southwest seat size is as a range. Southwest’s official aircraft specifications list both the narrowest and widest passenger seats for each aircraft type.
| Aircraft | Passenger capacity | Standard/Preferred pitch | Extra Legroom pitch | Published seat-width range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-700 | 137 | 31-33 inches | 35-36 inches | 15.5-17 inches |
| Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 | 175 | 31-32 inches | 34 inches | 15.5-17.8 inches |
The 15.5-inch figure does not mean every Southwest seat is only 15.5 inches wide. It is the airline’s published narrowest-seat measurement. The exact usable space can vary by seat position, armrest design, bulkhead location, and aircraft configuration.
Seat Width vs. Seat Pitch
Seat width is the side-to-side space at the seat. Seat pitch is the distance from one point on your seat to the same point on the seat in front. Pitch is not the same as open knee room because the seatback shape, tray table, literature pocket, and recline can change how much room you feel.
Southwest cabins use one aisle with three seats on each side. That 3-3 layout is common on Boeing 737 aircraft and can feel close when the flight is full, especially in a middle seat where both armrests are shared.
On Southwest, Extra Legroom changes the seat pitch, but it does not create a separate wider-seat cabin.
How Southwest Seat Width Compares to Other Airlines
Southwest’s figures overlap with the published economy measurements on comparable Boeing 737-800 aircraft at American and Delta. The airlines report seat dimensions differently, so compare both the nominal seat width and any published minimum-to-maximum fit range.
| Airline | Standard economy pitch | Published width information |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | 31-32 inches | 15.5-inch narrowest; 17.8-inch widest |
| American | 30 inches in Main Cabin | 16.6-17.8 inches in Main Cabin |
| Delta | 31-32 inches in Main Cabin | 17.3-inch listed width; 16.2-inch minimum fit-guide width |
These numbers put Southwest in the same general range as other major U.S. carriers on similar aircraft. Southwest’s 737-800 and MAX 8 offer a wider published maximum than its 737-700, but the exact seat matters more than the airline-wide headline number.
Tips for Choosing the Best Seat on Southwest Airlines
| Factor | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Fare and seat benefit | Choice includes an available Standard seat at booking. Choice Preferred includes an available Preferred or Standard seat. Choice Extra includes any available seat, including Extra Legroom. Basic normally receives a Standard seat at check-in unless another benefit applies. |
| Aircraft type | The 737-800 and MAX 8 have a published widest-seat measurement of 17.8 inches. The 737-700 tops out at 17 inches. |
| Seat location | Seats over the wing often feel steadier in turbulence. Front seats can make deplaning faster. Seats near lavatories may have more foot traffic and noise. |
| Legroom | Extra Legroom seats provide 35-36 inches of pitch on the 737-700 and 34 inches on the 737-800 and MAX 8. Seat width does not increase automatically. |
| Boarding group | Southwest now uses Groups 1 through 8. Earlier boarding can improve access to overhead bins, but it no longer determines which seat you get because the seat is assigned. |
| Child restraint fit | Compare your car seat’s base width with Southwest’s published 15.5-inch narrowest-seat figure. Southwest prefers approved child restraints in a window seat and does not allow them in an aisle or exit-row seat. |
With assigned seating, most travelers select a seat during booking based on the fare purchased. Basic-fare passengers normally receive a Standard seat at check-in or at the gate, although eligible tier members and certain cardmembers may have earlier selection benefits. Available seats can also be purchased separately before the sales cutoff.
Pro Tip: Check the seat map when you book and again before departure. An aircraft swap can change the layout, seat pitch, and available seat numbers even when your route stays the same.
Note: EarlyBird Check-In and the former Upgraded Boarding product ended when assigned seating began on January 27, 2026. Southwest now sells Priority Boarding for earlier cabin access, but Priority Boarding does not replace your assigned seat.
How Seat Width Affects Passenger Comfort
Seat width affects shoulder, hip, and armrest space. Many travelers find Southwest seats workable on short flights, while others feel restricted in a full middle seat or on a longer route. Your body shape, clothing, seat location, and neighboring passengers all change how the published measurement feels in practice.
Cushioning, seatback design, pitch, and recline also matter. A seat with more pitch can reduce knee pressure even when it is not wider. Likewise, a wider listed seat can still feel tight if a fixed armrest or tray-table housing reduces usable space.
Southwest is adding redesigned cabins, larger overhead bins, and in-seat USB-A and USB-C power to new aircraft and selected existing planes. These features are not yet identical across the full fleet, so charge your device before boarding and check the aircraft details rather than assuming every plane has power.
Who May Find Southwest Seats Too Narrow
The 15.5- to 17.8-inch published range may feel too narrow for travelers who need more hip or shoulder space, passengers who cannot comfortably lower the armrest, and anyone whose mobility needs make transferring across a fixed armrest difficult.
- Travelers who need two seats: Review the Customers of Size policy before booking so adjacent seats can be reserved.
- Passengers with disabilities: Ask Southwest for a seating accommodation that matches the disability-related need, such as a movable aisle armrest, adjoining seat for an assistant, or greater legroom when required.
- Tall travelers: Focus on pitch rather than width. Extra Legroom seats provide the largest improvement for knees and lower legs.
- Families using a car seat: Measure the restraint at its widest point and compare it with the airline’s narrowest published seat width.
An aisle seat does not become physically wider. It may feel less enclosed, but the armrest remains the boundary between seats under Southwest’s Customers of Size policy.
Southwest Airlines Policies on Seat Width and Extra Space
Customers of Size Policy
Southwest’s Customers of Size policy says travelers who encroach on a neighboring seat may need two adjacent seats. The airline treats the armrest as the boundary between seats and strongly recommends purchasing the additional seat before travel so adjacent space is available.
If you arrive without an extra reservation and adjacent seats are unavailable, Southwest may rebook you on another flight with adjacent seating. Buying the extra seat in advance reduces that risk.
An extra seat purchased for a Customer of Size may qualify for a refund after travel. Southwest’s current refund rules require all of the following:
- The flight departed with at least one open seat or with passengers traveling on space-available passes.
- Both seats were purchased in the same fare class.
- The refund request is submitted within 90 days of travel.
- The itinerary did not include a partner carrier, because extra seats on partner itineraries are nonrefundable.
Warning: Do not budget as though the second-seat refund is guaranteed. Eligibility depends on the flight’s final load and the other policy conditions.
Disability-Related Seating and Assistance
Customers of Size and disability accommodations are separate policies. Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, qualified passengers with disabilities may be entitled to specific seating accommodations in the same class of service, including a movable aisle armrest, an adjoining seat for certain assistants, a bulkhead or other suitable seat, or greater legroom for a fused or immobilized leg. Review the DOT’s Seating Accommodation Guide and contact Southwest before travel when a specific accommodation is needed.
Southwest’s aircraft page lists movable aisle armrests on all rows of the 737-700 and on all rows except the front bulkhead on the 737-800 and MAX 8. Passengers who need transfer assistance, preboarding, or a seatbelt extension should tell the airline or gate staff. Do not assume a single-aisle aircraft lavatory will meet every accessibility need; confirm details with Southwest before the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the width of the seats on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest publishes a 15.5- to 17-inch range for the Boeing 737-700 and a 15.5- to 17.8-inch range for the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8. These are narrowest and widest measurements, so the exact seat can differ within the same aircraft.
Are Southwest Airlines seats comfortable for larger passengers?
Comfort depends on the exact seat and the traveler’s body dimensions. A passenger who cannot sit within one seat with the armrest lowered should review Southwest’s Customers of Size policy and reserve an adjacent extra seat before travel.
Does Southwest offer seating options for passengers who need extra space?
Yes. Extra Legroom seats provide more pitch, while the Customers of Size policy covers travelers who need two adjacent seats. Disability-related seating accommodations are handled under a separate accessibility process.
Can passengers request a wider seat on Southwest Airlines?
Southwest does not sell a separate wider-seat cabin. You can select a seat on an aircraft with a higher published maximum width, purchase Extra Legroom for more pitch, or reserve an adjacent extra seat when one seat is not enough.
Which Southwest aircraft offer the widest published seats?
The Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 have a published widest-seat measurement of 17.8 inches. The 737-700 has a published widest-seat measurement of 17 inches. All three list a 15.5-inch narrowest seat.
Are Southwest Extra Legroom seats wider?
Not necessarily. Extra Legroom describes added seat pitch. It provides 35 to 36 inches on the 737-700 and 34 inches on the 737-800 and MAX 8, but it does not create a separate wider-seat class.
Is EarlyBird Check-In still available on Southwest?
No. EarlyBird Check-In and the old Upgraded Boarding product ended when Southwest changed to assigned seating on January 27, 2026. Priority Boarding is now the paid option for earlier boarding, subject to availability.
Plan Around the Numbers Before You Book
Southwest’s official width range is broader than the common 17- to 17.8-inch summary suggests. The narrowest published seat is 15.5 inches across the fleet, while the widest measurement is 17 inches on the 737-700 and 17.8 inches on the 737-800 and MAX 8.
Check the aircraft and seat map, choose Extra Legroom when knee space matters, and review the Customers of Size or disability-accommodation rules when a standard seat will not meet your needs. A few minutes of planning before checkout can prevent a much less comfortable experience onboard.
If your trip continues outdoors after the flight, our guide to the best ultralight tent for backpacking can help you plan the next part of your journey.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines Seat Specifications – official seat width, pitch, capacity, armrest, and lavatory data.
- Southwest Assigned Seating – current Standard, Preferred, Extra Legroom, fare, and boarding information.
- Southwest Customers of Size Policy – armrest boundary, adjacent-seat rules, and advance-purchase guidance.
- U.S. Department of Transportation Seating Accommodation Guide – disability-related seating rights and accommodation types.
- American Airlines Aircraft Specifications – Boeing 737-800 economy width and pitch comparison.
- Delta Boeing 737-800 Specifications – Main Cabin width, pitch, and fit-guide comparison.
