American Airlines Personal Item Size: 18 x 14 x 8 Inches

Where these numbers come from

American's personal item limit is 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches deep, which is about 45 x 35 x 20 cm. The bag must slide under the seat in front of you. It is free on every fare, and the measurement includes handles, pockets, wheels and anything that bulges outward. A bag that is 7.5 inches deep when empty but 9 inches when stuffed will not pass.

The 8-inch depth is the number that trips most people. Many backpacks advertise 18 x 12 x 6 inches empty but swell past 8 inches when packed with a laptop and a jacket. Soft-sided bags that compress are safer than rigid ones, because a soft bag can be pushed into the space under a seat. A hard-shell case at the limit will not bend.

Worked example: a backpack measures 17 x 13 x 7 inches empty. Filled, it reaches 17 x 13 x 9. The width and length pass, but the 9-inch depth is one inch over. Removing a hoodie to get back to 8 inches keeps it free. The alternative is moving the bag to the carry-on slot, where 22 x 14 x 9 inches is allowed, if your carry-on is otherwise empty.

Basic Economy has no separate personal item rule on American. The carry-on page says a passenger may bring one personal item and one carry-on, and the fee page confirms Basic Economy gets a carry-on and personal item in every cabin. Only checked bags pay more on Basic, at $55 for the first bag or $50 online since May 18, 2026. Your personal item is unaffected.

Some items are extra, not counted. A diaper bag for each child, a breast pump, a small soft cooler with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices all travel beyond the standard allowance. A purse or small handbag qualifies as the personal item itself. Plan which bag goes under the seat before you reach the gate, since the agent may ask you to use the sizer.

To measure, use a soft tape on the packed bag, placing the tape on the outside edges at the widest points. Test the bag in the does my bag fit finder, then price any checked bag in the American baggage fees guide. Cabin sizes across the airline are covered in the American baggage rules.

Sources

• American carry-on baggage
• American optional service fees
• DeepArrival: American baggage fees

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.