Is my suitcase over the airline limit?
Airline limits cluster tightly around a few numbers. Put your bag on the gauge and see which side of them it lands.
Standard checked
21 kg — closest reference: standard checked bag at 23 kg.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| cabin bag limit | 7 kg | 3× | Typical, though many airlines allow 8–10 kg |
| budget checked bag | 15 kg | 1.4× | |
| standard checked bag | 23 kg | 0.913× | 50 lb — the most common limit worldwide |
| heavy-bag fee starts | 32 kg | 0.656× | 70 lb; above this most airlines refuse the bag |
Worth knowing
- 23 kg is exactly 50 lb, which is why the limit is that odd number everywhere — it is an American figure in metric clothing.
- Above 32 kg most airlines will not accept a single bag at any price, because of manual handling rules for baggage staff.
Frequently asked
What happens if my bag is overweight?
Between 23 and 32 kg you pay an excess fee, typically £40–£100 per bag. Above 32 kg the bag is usually refused outright and must be repacked or shipped as cargo.
Do airlines weigh cabin bags?
Increasingly, yes — especially low-cost carriers, where cabin-bag fees are a significant revenue line. Assume it will be weighed and sized.
How to read this
Limits vary by airline, route and fare class. This gauge shows the most common thresholds, not any particular carrier’s rules.