Checked August 2026

Alaska Airlines carry-on size: 22 × 14 × 9 in

Alaska Airlines allows a carry-on up to 22 × 14 × 9 inches including wheels and handles. It must also stay under 45 linear inches — length plus width plus height combined. No weight limit is published, but you have to lift it into the bin yourself. It is free on every fare.

Got a bag already? Let’s check it.

Measure the outside, wheels and handles included — that’s what they measure at the gate.

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6 bags that fit

Measured against 22 × 14 × 9 in — every dimension from the manufacturer.
6 of 16 fit — 4 with room to spare, 2 borderline.

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bag vs limit
FitsBest carry-on

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Compact Spinner 20"

22 × 14 × 9 in
Softside spinner·38L·5.1 lb

Exactly 22 × 14 × 9 overall — genuinely legal with the wheels counted, which almost no other "20-inch" bag can claim. Lightest in this group, and it expands two inches.

bag vs limit
FitsMaximum legal size

Tortuga Travel Backpack Lite 40L

22 × 14 × 8 in
Travel backpack·40L·3.5 lb

Built to maximum-legal geometry on purpose. The flat 22 × 14 × 8 box wastes almost no sizer volume, and it’s the only backpack here strictly inside 22 × 14 × 9 on all three axes.

bag vs limit
FitsLightest

Osprey Daylite Duffel 45

21 × 14 × 9 in
Duffel, converts to backpack·45L·1.4 lb

A pound and a half for 45 litres inside a legal carry-on footprint, and it converts to a backpack. Nothing else here comes close on weight.

bag vs limit
Fits

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 40L Duffel

22 × 12.5 × 9 in
Duffel, converts to backpack·42.5L·1.81 lb

A ripstop bomber duffel with lockable zips and stowable backpack straps that packs down into itself. The durability pick.

bag vs limit
0.1" overBest travel backpack

Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Pack

21.7 × 13.8 × 9.1 in
Travel backpack·40L·3.27 lb

The reference point for one-bag travel. Suspended mesh backpanel, stowaway harness, a proper hipbelt, clamshell opening.

Read this first

9.1" depth is a hair over the nine-inch box, but it’s soft and compresses. Legacy S/M and M/L versions still circulate with different specs.

bag vs limit
0.1" over

Osprey Fairview 40 Travel Pack

21.7 × 13.8 × 9.1 in
Travel backpack, women’s fit·40L·3.4 lb

The women’s-fit sibling to the Farpoint. Identical outer dimensions, different harness and torso geometry.

Looking at the other size too? See Alaska personal item sizes, the full Alaska baggage guide, or our picks for the best Alaska bags. Flying with a camera? 13 camera bags fit — see the camera bag guide.

What each fare actually includes

The carry-on only — fares change more often than sizes do.
Cheapest fare Included. Alaska does not strip the carry-on from its lowest fare.
Main cabin and above Included.
Elite status / co-brand card No change — it was already free.
Published by Alaskachecked August 2026

Regional jets and aircraft type

Where the aircraft, not the airline, decides.

Alaska Airlines publishes no aircraft-specific carry-on rule — the same limit is stated for its whole fleet. Only Delta, United and American publish rules that change with the aircraft, and we are not going to invent one for the others.

Wondering how big the bins actually are? Nobody publishes that — see what is actually known about overhead bin sizes.

Common questions

What is Alaska Airlines’ carry-on size limit?

22 × 14 × 9 inches including wheels and handles. It must also stay under 45 linear inches total. No weight limit is published.

Does Alaska Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

No. Free on every fare — Saver fares still include a full carry-on.

Do wheels count toward Alaska Airlines’ carry-on size?

Yes. The outside of the bag is measured, so wheels, handles and external pockets all count. A suitcase sold as a "20-inch carry-on" is often 22 inches overall.

What happens if my carry-on is too big on Alaska Airlines?

It usually gets gate-checked, which is free. You collect it at the jet bridge or baggage claim.

How we measure

Manufacturers publish dimensions inconsistently, and a “20-inch” spinner is almost never 20 inches once you count the wheels. Where a brand states dimensions including wheels and handles, that’s the number we use. Where it only publishes the case, we say so on the card. Airlines measure the outside of your bag — wheels, handles, straps and all. Anything marked borderline is down to the gate agent, and remember that a soft bag squashes into a sizer while a hard shell won’t.

Affiliate disclosure

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links on this page are affiliate links and cost you nothing extra.

Sources

Limits verified August 2026 against each carrier’s published policy. Airlines change these without notice — always confirm before you fly. Spirit Airlines ceased operations on 2 May 2026 and is no longer listed.

Airline Bag Size Checker v1.0.15 · last updated 2026-08-12