Airline vs airline · Checked October 29, 2026

Southwest vs United: baggage rules compared

Carry-on, personal item, checked bag and check-in deadlines for Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, from each airline's own website.

The short version

Southwest's carry-on limit is roomier (24 x 16 x 10 in) than United's (22 x 14 x 9 in), about 39% more space.

	Southwest	United
Carry-on size	24 x 16 x 10 in / about 61 x 41 x 25 cm	22 x 14 x 9 in / 56 x 35 x 23 cm
Carry-on weight	No published limit	No published limit
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included	Included (Not included in Basic Economy on most routes)
Personal item	No size published, must fit under the seat	17 x 10 x 9 in / 43 x 25 x 22 cm
Checked bag size	62 in (157 cm) in total	158 cm (62 in) in total
Checked bag weight	23 kg (50 lb) per bag in economy, 45 kg (100 lb) max for any bag	23 kg (50 lb) per bag in economy, 45 kg (100 lb) max for any bag
Online check-in opens	24 hours before	24 hours before
Bag drop closes	45 min before (domestic / short-haul), 60 min before (international / long-haul)	Not published
At the gate by	10 min before	Not published
Power banks	1 (up to 100 Wh); in-flight use: allowed if kept visible; no recharging it on board	Standard 100 Wh / 160 Wh rules

Carry-on that fits both

22 x 13.8 x 9.1 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm)

The smallest limit on each side

Personal item that fits both

Under the seat

One airline doesn't publish a size

Flying both on one trip? The trip checker shows which airline sets each limit, and the gate card keeps the rules on your phone.

Measure with wheels, handles and pockets included. The order of the sides doesn't matter.

Is the Southwest carry-on bigger than United?

Southwest's carry-on limit is roomier (24 x 16 x 10 in) than United's (22 x 14 x 9 in), about 39% more space.

What carry-on size fits both Southwest and United?

A bag no bigger than 22 x 13.8 x 9.1 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm) fits both carry-on limits. Check weight limits too.