Lufthansa hand luggage size: carry-on and personal item
Enter your bag's measurements and see instantly whether it flies as Lufthansa hand luggage — free, for a fee, or not at all — against the official limits.
Your bag's measurements
The order doesn't matter — we test every orientation. Measure the widest points, including wheels, handles and packed pockets.
Lufthansa — official cabin limits
| Allowance | Max dimensions (cm — the airline's own figure) Second line: our conversion | Max weight |
|---|---|---|
| Free personal item | 40 × 30 × 15 cm≈ 15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in | Not stated |
| Cabin bag | 55 × 40 × 23 cm≈ 21.6 × 15.7 × 9.0 in | 8 kg≈ 17 lb |
How to read these numbers — Lufthansa publishes these limits in centimetres. The inch figures are our own conversion, always rounded down, never up. Airlines that print both units often print two figures that don't agree with each other — sometimes looser, sometimes stricter. When they disagree we go by the airline's own unit and round the other one down. Packing to our number keeps you inside the real limit.
What to expect
Lufthansa is relaxed on cabin-bag size compared with budget carriers — soft bags under the seat are rarely put in a sizer — but it's strict on the 8 kg (≈ 17.6 lb) weight limit. The cheapest Economy Basic fare includes only a personal item, not a full carry-on.
Soft bag vs hard case
Since Lufthansa seldom measures soft bags at the gate, rigidity is less of an issue here than on low-cost carriers. The thing to manage is weight: keep the carry-on under 8 kg (≈ 17.6 lb), because Lufthansa can and does weigh it.
Boarding tips
- Watch the 8 kg (≈ 17.6 lb) weight, not just the size — Lufthansa weighs cabin bags.
- On Economy Basic, plan to travel with the personal item (40×30×15 cm / ≈ 15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) only.
- Business and First fares allow two carry-on items plus a personal item.
- Middle and window seats have more usable under-seat room than the aisle.