Pet carrier size guide: maximum cabin carrier dimensions by airline
October 20, 2026
Choosing the right pet carrier size is the first step of any cabin trip. For this reason, we checked the official limit of every airline we track.
The carrier is where most pet trips go wrong. Airlines measure it, weigh it with your pet inside and turn it away at the gate if it doesn’t fit under the seat. Here are the maximum cabin carrier sizes for every airline we track, plus one size that fits them all.
The one-size-fits-all carrier
If you want one pet carrier size that works almost everywhere, this is it.
If you fly different airlines, look for a soft-sided carrier of about 40 × 25 × 20 cm. That size is within the cabin limits of every airline in the table below, including the strictest ones (SAS at 40 × 25 × 23 cm and TAROM at 42 × 26 × 20 cm). Soft carriers also squeeze into tight under-seat spaces, which is why Air Canada, Transavia and Eurowings, among others, accept only soft-sided bags in the cabin.
The catch: your pet must still be able to stand up, turn around and lie down naturally inside. If a 40 × 25 × 20 cm bag is too small for your pet, pick the airline first and buy the carrier to its limit.
Maximum pet carrier size by airline
European airlines (A–K)
First, the European airlines from A to K.
| Airline | Maximum carrier | Weight limit (pet + carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (40 × 25 × 25 cm on DH8 and ATR) | 8 kg |
| Air Europa | 40 × 30 × 30 cm, soft and ventilated | 10 kg |
| Air France | soft carrier that fits under the seat (about 46 × 28 × 24 cm) | 8 kg |
| Air Serbia | sum of dimensions max 94 cm, mesh ventilation | 8 kg |
| airBaltic | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg |
| Austrian Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, soft, no frame or wheels | 8 kg |
| Brussels Airlines | must fit under the seat in front | 8 kg |
| Condor | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (some pages say 23 cm high) | 8 kg |
| Croatia Airlines | sum of dimensions max 118 cm (some pages say 115 cm) | 8 kg |
| Eurowings | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, soft bag | 8 kg |
| Finnair | 55 × 40 × 23 cm soft, or 35 × 30 × 20 cm hard | 8 kg |
| Iberia | 45 × 35 × 25 cm (max 105 cm total) | 8 kg |
| ITA Airways | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, soft | 8 kg |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 46 × 28 × 24 cm, closed bag or kennel | 8 kg |
European airlines (L–Z)
Next, the rest of Europe.
| Airline | Maximum carrier | Weight limit (pet + carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| LOT Polish Airlines | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (45 × 30 × 20 cm on Embraer) | 8 kg |
| Lufthansa | approved pet carrier that fits under the seat | 8 kg |
| Norwegian | 43 × 31 × 20 cm (or soft enough to compress to it) | 8 kg |
| Pegasus Airlines | 50 × 32 × 32 cm, sturdy and lockable | 8 kg |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | 40 × 25 × 23 cm, soft | 8 kg |
| SWISS | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (118 cm total), soft, leak- and odor-proof | 8 kg |
| TAP Air Portugal | 45 × 30 × 23 cm, soft | 8 kg |
| TAROM | 42 × 26 × 20 cm, hard-shell or closed soft bag (soft bag only on ATR) | 8 kg |
| Transavia | 40 × 30 × 24 cm, soft fabric bag only | 8 kg |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 × 30 × 23 cm soft bag | 8 kg |
| Volotea | 50 × 40 × 20 cm, soft approved bag | 10 kg |
| Vueling | 45 × 39 × 21 cm, non-rigid | 10 kg |
Pet carrier size on airlines in the Americas
In North America, by contrast, the pet carrier size often matters more than the weight.
| Airline | Maximum carrier | Weight limit (pet + carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroméxico | rigid or soft carrier | 9 kg |
| Air Canada | soft-sided only: 43 × 40 × 20 cm (17 × 16 × 8 in) on most jets; 55 × 40 × 27 cm on regional aircraft | size only |
| Alaska Airlines | soft-sided only, 43 × 28 × 24 cm (17 × 11 × 9.5 in) | size only |
| American Airlines | soft 46 × 28 × 28 cm (18 × 11 × 11 in, all flights); hard 48 × 33 × 22 cm mainline, 40 × 30 × 20 cm Eagle | size only |
| Avianca | 55 × 35 × 25 cm, soft | 10 kg |
| Copa Airlines | 46 × 28 × 28 cm (18 × 11 × 11 in), soft | 10 kg |
| Delta Air Lines | soft-sided; depends on the aircraft, recommended 46 × 28 × 28 cm (18 × 11 × 11 in) | size only |
| JetBlue | soft or hard, max 43 × 32 × 22 cm (17 × 12.5 × 8.5 in) | size only |
| LATAM Airlines | fits under the seat in front | 7 kg |
| Southwest Airlines | up to 47 × 22 × 34 cm (18.5 × 8.5 × 13.5 in) | size only |
| United Airlines | soft 45 × 27 × 27 cm (18 × 11 × 11 in) or hard 44 × 30 × 22 cm (17.5 × 12 × 9 in) | size only |
| WestJet | 41 × 25.4 × 21.5 cm (16 × 10 × 8.5 in); counts as your personal item | size only |
Middle East, Asia and Africa
Finally, the airlines further east and south.
| Airline | Maximum carrier | Weight limit (pet + carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| Air India | 43 × 25 × 23 cm (17 × 10 × 9 in), soft kennel | 10 kg |
| EGYPTAIR | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 8 kg |
| EL AL | fits under the seat; up to 2 pets per carrier | 9 kg |
| Ethiopian Airlines | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 8 kg |
| Etihad Airways | 40 × 40 × 22 cm (50 × 43 × 50 cm if you buy the next seat) | 8 kg |
| Korean Air | must fit under the seat; designated pet seats | size only |
| Royal Air Maroc | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (115 cm total), ventilated | 8 kg |
| Royal Jordanian | 50 × 40 × 26 cm | 7 kg |
| Saudia | 52.5 × 32.5 × 40 cm, 1 pet per cage | 5 kg |
How to measure your pet carrier size
- Height matters most. Under-seat space is low. Most limits are 20–24 cm high; length and width are more forgiving.
- Check the aircraft, not just the airline. Smaller regional jets have smaller limits: LOT allows 45 × 30 × 20 cm on Embraer jets and Aegean 40 × 25 × 25 cm on DH8 and ATR aircraft.
- Ventilation on at least three sides, a leak-proof base and a secure zip are standard requirements.
- Weigh the carrier empty. A heavy hard-shell carrier can eat 2–3 kg of an 8 kg allowance.
- Practice at home. IATA recommends getting your pet used to the carrier weeks before the flight. A familiar blanket inside helps.
Pets too big for the cabin
When your pet outgrows the largest allowed pet carrier size, look beyond the cabin.
If your pet and carrier are over the limit, the hold is the next option on most full-service airlines. Hold kennels are rigid, IATA-compliant crates with much larger size limits. Read our guide to flying with a large dog.
For the official way to size a crate, see the IATA container requirements for cats and dogs (PDF).
Check which airlines take your pet
Rules checked against each airline’s official page on 15 October 2026. Airlines change their pet policies often, so always confirm with the airline before you book.