Best Personal Item Bags of 2026
A personal item is the one bag most airlines let you bring for free. On budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier it's often your only free bag, so every inch counts. We compare under-seat bags by their published outside measurements and check them against each airline's limit.
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Compare at a glance
Sizes include wheels and handles. The stub shows how many US airlines' personal-item limits each bag meets; see each bag for every airline we track.
- Fits
- Tight, may be gate-checked
- Too big
- No published limit
- Our pick
Travelpro Platinum Elite UnderSeat Tote
Travelpro · Mid-range · Best for budget airlines
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Size in
- 16.5 × 10.25 × 7.5
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Our score
- 7.6/10
Fits 7 of 7 US airlines with a published limit- AA: fits
- DL: no published limit
- UA: fits
- WN: fits
- B6: fits
- AS: no published limit
- NK: fits
- F9: fits
- G4: fits
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Rolling Underseat Bag
Travelpro · Mid-range · Best for occasional trips
- Weight
- 5.5 lb
- Size in
- 17.5 × 14.5 × 8.5
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Our score
- 6.1/10
Fits 0 of 7 US airlines with a published limit · tight on 1- AA: tight fit
- DL: no published limit
- UA: too big
- WN: too big
- B6: too big
- AS: no published limit
- NK: too big
- F9: too big
- G4: too big
Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port
Samsonite · Mid-range · Best for occasional trips
- Weight
- Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec)
- Size in
- 16.5 × 13.8 × 9
- Warranty
- Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec)
- Our score
- 6.1/10
Fits 0 of 7 US airlines with a published limit · tight on 2- AA: tight fit
- DL: no published limit
- UA: too big
- WN: tight fit
- B6: too big
- AS: no published limit
- NK: too big
- F9: too big
- G4: too big
Our picks
Travelpro Platinum Elite UnderSeat Tote
A light, structured tote sized for the under-seat space on major US airlines, with Travelpro's lifetime warranty.
Best for: Budget airlines
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Size in
- 16.5 × 10.25 × 7.5
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Shell
- Soft
- Our score
- 7.6/10
- AA: fits
- DL: no published limit
- UA: fits
- WN: fits
- B6: fits
- AS: no published limit
- NK: fits
- F9: fits
- G4: fits
Why we like it
- Only 2 lb
- Fits Spirit and Frontier's 18 × 14 × 8 in personal item
- Lifetime warranty
- No wheels
Our scores
Filter all 3 bags
By airline and features
Travelpro Platinum Elite UnderSeat Tote
Travelpro · Mid-range · Best for budget airlines
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Size in
- 16.5 × 10.25 × 7.5
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Our score
- 7.6/10
- AA: fits
- DL: no published limit
- UA: fits
- WN: fits
- B6: fits
- AS: no published limit
- NK: fits
- F9: fits
- G4: fits
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Rolling Underseat Bag
Travelpro · Mid-range · Best for occasional trips
- Weight
- 5.5 lb
- Size in
- 17.5 × 14.5 × 8.5
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Our score
- 6.1/10
- AA: tight fit
- DL: no published limit
- UA: too big
- WN: too big
- B6: too big
- AS: no published limit
- NK: too big
- F9: too big
- G4: too big
Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port
Samsonite · Mid-range · Best for occasional trips
- Weight
- Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec)
- Size in
- 16.5 × 13.8 × 9
- Warranty
- Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec)
- Our score
- 6.1/10
- AA: tight fit
- DL: no published limit
- UA: too big
- WN: tight fit
- B6: too big
- AS: no published limit
- NK: too big
- F9: too big
- G4: too big
Nothing matches those filters. Try loosening one.
How to choose personal items
Measure the outside, stuffed
Airlines measure the bag as you bring it to the gate. A soft backpack that's 8 in deep when empty can bulge to 10 in when full. Leave a little room.
Wheels cost space
An under-seat roller is easier on long walks, but wheels and the handle use up 20-30% of the packing space.
Check the strictest airline you fly
US personal-item limits range from about 16 × 13 × 8 in to 18 × 14 × 8 in, and European budget airlines are stricter still. Buy for the smallest limit you'll face.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a personal item?
It depends on the airline. Common US limits are 18 × 14 × 8 in (Spirit, Frontier, American) and 17 × 13 × 8 in (JetBlue). Some airlines like Delta publish no size and only require it to fit under the seat.
Can a backpack be a personal item?
Yes, as long as it fits the airline's personal-item size. A 20-30 L travel backpack usually works on US airlines.
Do personal items get measured?
Budget airlines often check at the gate with a sizer box. If your bag doesn't fit, you can be charged a fee to check it.