Luggage Weight Checker
Check baggage allowances for 20+ airlines and pack against the limit. Add items from a pre-built weight database to track carry-on and checked bag weight.
Carry-on Limit
7 kg
Checked Limit
23 kg
Quick Add Items
Why Bag Limits Catch People Out at the Gate
A typical UK long-haul economy checked allowance is 23kg, with 7-10kg for hand luggage, but the limit varies enormously by airline and fare class. Ryanair and Wizz are the strictest in Europe, allowing only a small under-seat bag for free and charging £25-60 at the gate for anything bigger. British Airways short-haul economy includes one cabin bag plus a personal item; long-haul adds a 23kg checked bag. Emirates is generous in economy at 30kg checked. The difference between best and worst on the same European route can be 25kg of free allowance.
Pick your airline and class and the tool tells you the carry-on and checked allowance, then adds items from a pre-built weight database (laptop ~2kg, jeans ~600g, jacket ~800g, hairdryer ~600g, toiletries kit ~500g) so you can pack against the real limit before you reach the airport. Tracking carry-on and checked totals separately stops the classic mistake of being under on overall weight but over on cabin bag.
Allowances by Common Airline (Economy)
| Airline | Hand luggage | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways (long-haul) | 7kg plus personal item | 23kg included |
| Ryanair | Small under-seat bag, 10kg cabin extra fee | 20kg fee |
| EasyJet (basic) | 7kg under-seat | 15kg fee |
| Lufthansa | 8kg | 23kg fee or included by fare |
| Emirates | 7kg | 30kg included |
| United (Basic Economy US-EU) | Personal item only | 23kg, fee may apply |
Practical Weight-Saving Tactics
Wear your heaviest items on the plane. Boots and a winter coat together save 1.5-2kg from the case. Decant toiletries into 100ml bottles for cabin bags rather than packing full-size; you can buy more on arrival. Hairdryers and straighteners are usually provided in hotels above 3-star, so leaving them at home saves 600-800g. Once your list is built, compare it against the weights here and the [Packing List Generator](/packing-list-generator) to find easy wins.
If you are over the limit at home, redistribute rather than reduce. Move a heavy book or pair of shoes from the checked bag into your hand luggage if there is room within the cabin allowance. If you are still over, gate fees are 5-10x the cost of paying for extra weight in advance, so add an upgrade online before leaving for the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Ryanair and EasyJet fees so much higher?
Their core fares are unbundled, so anything beyond a small under-seat bag is an optional extra. This keeps the headline ticket price low but means baggage fees can easily double the cost of a £30 flight. Always price the bag with the ticket when comparing, not afterwards.
What happens if my bag is overweight at the desk?
You will be asked either to remove items at the counter (often into hand luggage if there is space) or pay an excess baggage fee, typically £10-15 per kilo over. This is non-negotiable on most low-cost airlines and routinely exceeds £100 for a few extra kilos.
Are limits per bag or per passenger?
Both, depending on the airline. Most European carriers use per-bag limits (no single bag over 23kg). North American carriers and many long-haul airlines use a piece concept (one or two pieces, each within a set weight). Check your specific ticket, not the airline's general policy page.
How accurate are the database item weights?
Average values for typical items, accurate to within ~30%. A pair of jeans varies from 400g (skinny denim) to 800g (raw denim). For real accuracy, weigh your packed bag using bathroom scales by weighing yourself first, then weighing yourself holding the bag.
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