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British Airways Cabin Baggage Allowance
Hand luggage size and weight limits for British Airways, from the airline's official policy (checked 30 October 2026).
| Personal item | 1 hand bag or laptop bag, max 40 x 30 x 15 cm; must fit under the seat in front of you and is guaranteed in the cabin |
| Cabin bag | 1 cabin bag, max 56 x 45 x 25 cm including wheels and handles; you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker unassisted |
| Notes | British Airways allows two bags in the cabin on all fares: a hand bag plus a cabin bag. Cabin dimensions verified on the official BA baggage essentials page on 30 October 2026; BA does not publish a separate cabin weight figure on that page, so none is shown. Checked bags: max size 90 x 75 x 43 cm per bag. |
Will your bag fit on British Airways?
Use the Will My Bag Fit? checker — enter your suitcase dimensions once and compare every airline, including British Airways, on one screen.
Cabin bag limits on other airlines
| Airline | Max cabin bag size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10.0 kg |
| Emirates | 55 × 38 × 22 cm | 7.0 kg |
| Qatar Airways | 50 × 37 × 25 cm | 7.0 kg |
| IndiGo | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 7.0 kg |
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8.0 kg |
| KLM | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 12.0 kg |
| easyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | 15.0 kg |
| Malaysia Airlines | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 7.0 kg |
| Air India Express | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 7.0 kg |
| Philippine Airlines | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 7.0 kg |
How British Airways cabin limits are enforced
Cabin limits are checked twice: by size, in the metal sizer at the gate or check-in, and by weight, on the desk scale — and a bag only has to fail one of them. Wheels, handles and stuffed outer pockets all count towards the size, which is why a case sold as cabin-size can still be refused. On busy flights, crew can also require cabin bags within the limit to be gate-checked when the lockers fill; British Airways's published limits above are the boundary the staff work to either way. If your bag is borderline, the cheapest test is at home: measure it packed, weigh it packed, and compare with the British Airways line in the fit checker.
Frequently asked questions
What are the British Airways hand luggage size and weight limits?
Cabin bag: 1 cabin bag, max 56 x 45 x 25 cm including wheels and handles; you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker unassisted Personal item: 1 hand bag or laptop bag, max 40 x 30 x 15 cm; must fit under the seat in front of you and is guaranteed in the cabin British Airways allows two bags in the cabin on all fares: a hand bag plus a cabin bag. Cabin dimensions verified on the official BA baggage essentials page on 30 October 2026; BA does not publish a separate cabin weight figure on that page, so none is shown. Checked bags: max size 90 x 75 x 43 cm per bag.
Will a standard 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin bag fit on British Airways?
Yes. The official British Airways cabin bag limit is 56 x 45 x 25 cm, so a standard 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin bag is within the size limit.
Can I bring a personal item as well as a cabin bag on British Airways?
Yes — the official policy includes a personal item: 1 hand bag or laptop bag, max 40 x 30 x 15 cm; must fit under the seat in front of you and is guaranteed in the cabin
Policy checked: 30 October 2026. Airlines change allowances and fees — confirm on the official page before you travel.
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