Carry-on 2026: size, liquids & what's really allowed

Semih

Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-07-26

Reisedrop Magazine · 2026-07-26 · approx. 6 min read

Few things are more stressful at the gate than cabin baggage. Too big, too heavy, the wrong liquids inside – and all at once that 39-euro flight turns into 89 euros extra. This guide clears up the main questions: how large can your carry-on be, what is allowed in your cabin bag, what definitely is not, and how do you pack it so everything actually fits?

Carry-on size: the rules of the major airlines

There is no universal rule, and that is exactly where people get caught out. The most common allowances are: SWISS & Lufthansa 55×40×23 cm (8 kg), Eurowings 55×40×23 cm, Ryanair only 40×20×25 cm free (a bigger cabin bag costs extra), easyJet 45×36×20 cm free, Wizz Air 40×30×20 cm. Important detail: wheels and handles count towards the measurement. A «universal» 55×40×20 cm cabin trolley works for almost all legacy carriers. With low-cost airlines, though, you will often need the priority fare.

The 100 ml rule: packing liquids correctly

All liquids, gels and creams have to go into containers of max. 100 ml, and all of them together into one transparent, resealable 1-litre bag. That means toothpaste, roll-on deodorant, Nutella and cheese fondue as well (yes, really). Exceptions apply to baby food and prescription medicines. One point people regularly miss: the container size counts, not what is left inside. So the half-empty 200 ml tube gets thrown away.

What's banned from carry-on?

Clearly banned are knives over 6 cm, long-bladed scissors, tools and pepper spray. Often forgotten: power banks must go in your carry-on (never in checked luggage!), and the same goes for e-cigarettes. Lighters? Exactly one, on your body. With sports gear, tennis rackets are usually fine; hiking poles are not. If there is any doubt, security staff decide, and that is not an argument you are going to win.

The personal item trick

Almost every airline also allows a «small bag» in addition, such as a laptop bag or handbag, approx. 40×30×20 cm. People who fly a lot use it as a second piece of luggage. Heavy things like books, a laptop and chargers go into the small bag under the seat in front, while clothes go in the trolley. At the scales, it is usually only the trolley that gets weighed.

The packing list that makes everything fit

Roll instead of fold (saves 30% space), stuff shoes with socks, wear your heaviest jacket rather than pack it, cut down the toiletry bag (the hotel has shampoo), and take a maximum of two pairs of shoes. One digital trick as well: save your boarding pass and bookings offline. Your battery at the gate is always lower than you think.

Good news: the new CT scanners

More and more airports (Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam and others) now have latest-generation CT scanners. In those airports, laptops and liquids can stay in your bag, and in some cases the 100 ml limit no longer applies. But be careful: the rule depends on the airport. If you fly back from an older terminal, the old rules apply again. So it still makes sense to pack according to the 100 ml logic.

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