Most major US, European, and international carriers set the same baseline for a standard economy checked bag: 50 lb (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (158 cm) — that's length + width + height added together, including wheels and handles. This baseline is set by IATA (the industry's trade association) and followed broadly enough that it's a safe default assumption, though it's always worth confirming for your specific airline and route.
Premium cabins typically raise the weight allowance to around 70 lb (32 kg). Some carriers — particularly in the Middle East and parts of Asia — offer more generous economy allowances, sometimes 55–66 lb (25–30 kg).
| Kilograms | Pounds | Commonly used for |
|---|---|---|
| 7 kg | 15 lb | Strict international carry-on (Emirates, Qatar, Singapore) |
| 8 kg | 18 lb | Lufthansa Group carry-on |
| 10 kg | 22 lb | Budget carrier bag tiers (Ryanair, Wizz Air), ANA/JAL carry-on |
| 12 kg | 26 lb | Air France / KLM carry-on |
| 20 kg | 44 lb | Budget carrier checked-bag tier |
| 23 kg | 50 lb | Standard economy checked bag (most airlines) & British Airways carry-on |
| 32 kg | 70 lb | Premium cabin checked bag; single-handler lifting limit |
For any figure not on this list, the Mass category or Imperial ⇄ Metric category on the UnitDial converter handles exact conversions.
This is where US and international travelers get tripped up in opposite directions. US legacy carriers (Delta, American, United, Alaska, Southwest) generally publish no weight limit for carry-on bags at all — only a size limit (commonly 22 × 14 × 9 in) and a "does it fit in the overhead bin" test at the gate.
Most international carriers do the opposite: they enforce a strict carry-on weight limit, often checked at the gate with an actual scale.
| Airline | Carry-on weight limit |
|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways | 7 kg (15 lb) |
| Lufthansa Group | 8 kg (18 lb) |
| Ryanair, Wizz Air | 10 kg (22 lb), strictly enforced |
| ANA, JAL | 10 kg (22 lb) |
| Air France, KLM | 12 kg (26 lb) |
| British Airways | 23 kg (51 lb) — the most generous of any major carrier |
If you're flying a US carrier domestically and then connecting internationally, pack to the strictest limit across your full itinerary — a bag that's fine for the US domestic leg can get gate-checked or hit with a fee on the international connection.
| Situation | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Checked bag, 51–70 lb (over standard, under the hard cap) | $75–$100 |
| Checked bag, over 70 lb | $200+, or refused entirely on some routes |
| Oversized (over 62 linear inches) | $75–$200 |
On many international routes — especially historically on flights to/from certain regions — airlines used what's called the weight concept: a single shared weight allowance across all your checked bags combined, e.g. 101 lb (46 kg) total, however you split it between two suitcases. Most carriers have since moved to the piece system instead, where each individual bag has its own separate weight limit and going over on one bag isn't offset by being under on another. Some routes still use the weight concept, so it's worth checking which system applies to your specific itinerary rather than assuming.
Power banks and other loose lithium batteries are prohibited in checked baggage entirely — not a fee, an outright ban, strictly enforced. They need to travel in your carry-on, where cabin crew can respond if one overheats. This applies across essentially all airlines and isn't something you can pay your way around.