Carry-on weight limits: 7 kg vs 8 kg vs 10 kg
We compared numeric cabin-bag limits from 137 airlines
Seven kilograms is common, but it is not universal. A 7 kg packed bag stayed within the numeric cabin-bag reference stored for 128 of 137airlines (93.4%). At 8 kg, that count falls to 86; at 10 kg, it falls to 51.
To compare one number per airline, we use its lowest stored numeric cabin-bag limit as a cautious reference. That does not pretend to model every fare, route or cabin variation. Another 14 airlines with a cabin-bag record publish no single numeric weight in our dataset. We treat those as unknown—not unlimited and not a failure.
Airlines with no numeric limit remain outside the denominator.
An extra kilogram loses 42 reference matches.
A generous allowance when included, but not a safe worldwide assumption.
What happens as the packed bag gets heavier
Green means the test weight is at or below the airline’s stored numeric cabin-bag reference. Grey means the reference is below the test weight. Fare, route and cabin variations must still be checked on the operating airline’s site. The 14 no-number records sit outside this chart.
The comparison tests only published numbers attached to cabin-bag records. It does not infer a limit where the airline uses a lift-it-yourself rule or where the number is absent.
| Packed weight | Within reference | Included allowance | Above reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 137/137 | 123/137 | 0/137 |
| 6 kg | 131/137 | 117/137 | 6/137 |
| 7 kg | 128/137 | 114/137 | 9/137 |
| 8 kg | 86/137 | 72/137 | 51/137 |
| 10 kg | 51/137 | 39/137 | 86/137 |
| 12 kg | 13/137 | 10/137 | 124/137 |
The useful number is payload, not the label on the case
Airlines weigh the packed bag. A 2.8 kg hard-shell case leaves only 4.2 kg for clothes and electronics under a 7 kg limit. A 1.2 kg soft bag leaves 5.8 kg—38% more payload—without changing the airline rule. The heavier case may protect fragile items better, but it spends a large share of a strict allowance before you pack anything.
| Empty bag | Payload at 7 kg | Payload at 8 kg | Payload at 10 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 kg soft bag | 5.8 kg | 6.8 kg | 8.8 kg |
| 2.0 kg light case | 5.0 kg | 6.0 kg | 8.0 kg |
| 2.8 kg hard-shell case | 4.2 kg | 5.2 kg | 7.2 kg |
| 3.5 kg heavy case | 3.5 kg | 4.5 kg | 6.5 kg |
The stored reference caps are fragmented
For each airline, this study uses the lowest numeric cabin-bag limit among the stored allowances as a cautious reference. It is not a claim that every passenger receives that allowance. The most frequent reference cap is 7 kg, appearing in 42 of the 137 numeric records.
| Stored reference cap | Airlines | Share of numeric records |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 6 | 4.4% |
| 6 kg | 3 | 2.2% |
| 7 kg | 42 | 30.7% |
| 8 kg | 34 | 24.8% |
| 9 kg | 1 | 0.7% |
| 10 kg | 37 | 27% |
| 11 kg | 1 | 0.7% |
| 12 kg | 10 | 7.3% |
| 15 kg | 1 | 0.7% |
| 16 kg | 1 | 0.7% |
| 23 kg | 1 | 0.7% |
Weight limits by dataset region
Regional averages describe the airlines in this dataset, not all flights departing that region. The average uses each airline’s stored numeric reference; the final columns count how many references are at least 7 kg or 10 kg.
| Dataset region | Numeric policies | Average reference cap | Reference ≥ 7 kg | Reference ≥ 10 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 43 | 9.1 kg | 42/43 | 19/43 |
| United Kingdom | 6 | 11.5 kg | 5/6 | 5/6 |
| United States | 2 | 13.5 kg | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| Canada | 2 | 10.0 kg | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| Latin America | 14 | 10.2 kg | 14/14 | 12/14 |
| Middle East | 17 | 7.4 kg | 16/17 | 1/17 |
| Asia-Pacific | 36 | 7.6 kg | 32/36 | 8/36 |
| Oceania | 7 | 6.9 kg | 6/7 | 0/7 |
| Africa | 10 | 8.1 kg | 9/10 | 2/10 |
Combined limits can make the headline number misleading
A 10 kg cabin-bag allowance does not always mean a 10 kg suitcase plus a separate laptop bag. Some carriers apply one total across both pieces, while others give the personal item its own allowance or publish no personal-item weight. In our maintained notes, combined or total-weight wording appears for 16 airline records, including Air Côte d’Ivoire, Air France, Aircalin, ANA (All Nippon), Azores Airlines.
Treat that list as a prompt to read the official policy, not an exhaustive legal category. Wording differs, notes can be route-specific, and the entitlement on your ticket takes priority. Weigh every cabin piece together before leaving home when the policy uses “combined”, “total” or “in aggregate”.
Examples at 7 kg or below
These examples have a numeric cabin-bag reference of 7 kg or less in our records. They illustrate why a bag sold as “cabin size” can pass the sizer and still fail at the scale.
| Airline record | Stored reference cap | Last checked | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Aircalin | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Bangkok Airways | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| China Eastern | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| China Southern | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Enter Air | 5 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air Peace | 6 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Gulf Air | 6 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Loganair | 6 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air Arabia | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air Côte d’Ivoire | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air India | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air New Zealand | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Air Niugini | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| AirAsia | 7 kg | View policy ↗ | |
| Biman Bangladesh Airlines | 7 kg | View policy ↗ |
How to plan when your itinerary mixes limits
- 1. Find the operating carrier on every segment.A marketing airline’s baggage page may not govern a codeshare flown by another carrier.
- 2. Use the lowest applicable number.If one leg says 7 kg and another 10 kg, pack to 7 kg unless you have a documented exception.
- 3. Check whether the limit is per piece or combined.Include the personal item, duty-free bag or camera case if the policy counts them together.
- 4. Leave a scale margin.Household and airport scales can differ. Packing 0.3–0.5 kg below the cap reduces avoidable disputes.
Check dimensions and weight together
A bag must pass both tests. Enter the packed outside dimensions and weight in the checker, then confirm the result against the fare and current operating-carrier policy.
Check your bag
Enter your bag’s three dimensions to see which airlines it fits.
Methodology and source window
We analysed 137 airlines with at least one numeric cabin-bag weight in the FitsOnBoard dataset. The wider dataset contains 151 airlines; 14airlines with a cabin-bag record have no single numeric weight in the data and are excluded from percentage denominators. Missing data is never treated as unlimited weight.
“Stored reference” is the numeric cap attached to the airline’s current cabin-bag record. If multiple numeric cabin allowances are added in future, the lowest will be used so the comparison remains conservative. “Included” requires a matching cabin-bag allowance marked included in our reference record; it does not promise that every fare sold by the airline includes that bag. Fare, route and cabin differences are not inferred from a single record.
Each airline counts once, without passenger or route weighting. Underlying policy checks run from 9 Jul 2026 to 24 Sept 2026. Official airline pages are the primary sources, but policies can change without notice. See the full FitsOnBoard methodology and our weight vs size guide.
Carry-on weight FAQ
Is 7 kg the standard carry-on weight limit?+
No. A 7 kg packed bag stayed within the numeric cabin-bag reference stored for 128 of 137 airlines. It is common, but 5 kg, 6 kg, 8 kg, 10 kg, 12 kg and other limits also appear in current policies.
Is an 8 kg carry-on accepted by most airlines?+
Among airlines with a numeric cabin-bag weight in this dataset, 8 kg remained within the stored reference for 86 of 137. Airlines without a published numeric limit are excluded, not assumed to accept 8 kg.
Does the weight limit include the suitcase itself?+
Yes. The allowance applies to the packed bag: case, wheels, handles and contents. A 2.8 kg empty suitcase leaves only 4.2 kg for belongings under a 7 kg cap.
Can the personal item and cabin bag share one weight limit?+
Sometimes. Several airlines publish a combined limit for multiple cabin pieces. That can make a light-looking cabin bag non-compliant once a laptop bag is added, so check whether the official rule says per piece or total.
Does no published weight limit mean unlimited weight?+
No. It means this comparison has no single numeric cap to test. The airline may require passengers to lift the bag unaided, apply a route or cabin rule, enforce dimensions only, or state the entitlement elsewhere on the booking.