TSA carry-on sizes and restrictions: What to know

If you’re taking a flight soon, it can be helpful to know luggage allowances. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and individual airlines have their own policies about carry-on bags. Before you set off on your travels, keep reading to learn how these guidelines work.

What you’ll learn:

• TSA has rules about carry-on contents. The airlines set rules about carry-on size.

• The most commonly allowed maximum size for carry-on luggage is 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches.

• TSA restricts carry-on liquid volume to a maximum of 3.4 ounces, or 100 milliliters, per container. 

• Some Capital One credit cards come with a statement credit up to $120 to cover your TSA PreCheck® application.

TSA doesn’t have bag size guidelines; it has rules about what can go inside the bag. The airlines set carry-on size guidelines.

Many airlines set a maximum size of 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches for passengers’ carry-on luggage. That includes wheels and handles. But you can check your airline’s specific policies to make sure, as there are some variations.

Many U.S. airlines don’t set official weight limits for carry-ons, focusing more on size. But even when there are no set limits, you’ll still need to lift your luggage and fit it in the overhead bin.

With international travel, carry-on weight limits are often stricter and can vary widely by airline. If your bag exceeds size or weight limits, you may need to check it.

In addition to your carry-on bag, airlines usually allow you to bring a smaller carrier. Often referred to as a personal item, they’re meant to hold in-flight essentials like medications, snacks and electronics and fit under the seat in front of you. Examples include:

• Purse or small handbag

• Laptop bag or briefcase

• Small backpack

Baggage policies are subject to change anytime. Here’s a snapshot of policies from March 2025, but you can check the airline’s website before you pack.

To measure your bag, you can:

• Use a soft measuring tape and measure from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the handle.

• Include all external pockets, zippers and attachments.

• Try the airline’s bag sizer.

Airlines decide how big your bag can be, and the TSA regulates what you can bring through security. Its rules apply no matter which airline you fly with.

TSA allows one quart-size clear bag of liquids, aerosols, gels or pastes in each carry-on. Each item can contain up to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

The rule doesn’t apply to prescription medications, baby formula and breast milk. But those items may need extra screening. Telling a TSA officer if you’re carrying these items when you go through security might help speed up the process.

The list of TSA-prohibited items​ includes:

• Firearms and ammunition

• Box cutters and razor blades

• Baseball bats and other sporting equipment

• Aerosol insecticides

• Bear spray and pepper spray

• Butane, lighter fluid and most flammable materials

• E-lighters and large lithium-ion batteries

TSA PreCheck® is a program administered by the TSA that lets travelers use an expedited screening line to get through security checkpoints more quickly.

When you pay the TSA PreCheck® application fee with your Capital One Venture, Venture X, Spark Miles or Venture X Business card, you can receive up to a $120 statement credit to cover the application fee.

The TSA has rules about what you can pack, and airlines decide how big your bag can be. Reviewing airline and TSA rules before you leave home might help make your check-in experience smoother.

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