Lufthansa Carry-On Size and Weight Limits: What You Can Bring Onboard

Lufthansa’s carry-on rules are clear, but they’re also more “by-the-numbers” than most U.S. airlines—especially on weight. If you keep your cabin bag within the published size and 8 kg limit (and use a truly under-seat personal item), you’ll avoid almost all last-minute surprises.

For a quick cross-airline comparison, you can reference my airline carry-on luggage rules guide.

Lufthansa carry-on rules at a glance

• Carry-on size (overhead bin): 55 × 40 × 23 cm (about 21.7″ × 15.7″ × 9.1″)
• Carry-on weight: 8 kg (17.6 lb) max
• Personal item size (under the seat): 40 × 30 × 15 cm (about 15.7″ × 11.8″ × 5.9″)
• Cabin baggage pieces by class:
  • Economy / Premium Economy: 1 carry-on + 1 personal item
  • Business / First: 2 carry-ons + 1 personal item
• Liquids at security (most EU airports): containers ≤ 100 ml inside one clear 1-liter bag (details below)

The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and the carry-on bag must be stowed in the overhead bin.

Lufthansa carry-on size limit (overhead bin)

Lufthansa’s maximum carry-on size is:

• 55 × 40 × 23 cm (including wheels/handles/exterior pockets)

A simple way to avoid a headache: measure the bag fully packed from the outside. Overstuffed front pockets are the most common reason a “compliant” bag suddenly isn’t.

Lufthansa carry-on weight limit

Lufthansa’s carry-on weight limit is:

• 8 kg (17.6 lb) max per carry-on bag

This is one of the biggest differences vs. many U.S. carriers. If you tend to pack heavy, treat 8 kg as a real cap—because Lufthansa publishes it clearly and it can be enforced.

Lufthansa personal item rules (under-seat bag)

Lufthansa also allows one personal item with a published max size of:

• 40 × 30 × 15 cm

Think slim laptop bag, compact backpack, or small tote that slides under the seat without forcing it.

If your hand luggage is too big or too heavy, you’ll have to pay a fee, so it’s always better to know your luggage’s dimensions and the airlines’ limitations in advance.

Lufthansa carry-on allowance by travel class

Lufthansa’s cabin baggage allowance depends on your cabin:

Economy and Premium Economy

• 1 carry-on (55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg max)
• 1 personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm)

Business and First

• 2 carry-ons (each 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg max)
• 1 personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm)

If you aren’t sure what size your carry-on is, Lufthansa provides “size check templates” located at their ticketing counters. 

Recommended Carry-On Bag for Lufthansa

If you want a wheeled carry-on that’s built for international sizing (and keeps weight reasonable), the Travelpro Maxlite 5 International Expandable Carry-On Spinner (19″) is the best default option for Lufthansa-style rules.

Manufacturer dimensions:

• Overall (includes wheels and carry handles): 21.75″ H × 15.75″ W × 7.75″ D
• Case dimensions: 19″ H × 15″ W × 7.75″ D

The honest fit note for Lufthansa

Lufthansa’s published max is 55 × 40 × 23 cm. This bag is an excellent match on width and depth, and it’s designed for international carry-on constraints—but its 21.75″ height is right on the edge of the 55 cm limit (it’s approximately 55.2 cm). In practice, you’ll want to:

• Keep it unexpanded
• Avoid overstuffing the outside pockets
• If you want the lowest-risk “no questions asked” compliance, choose a bag that’s 55 cm (21.65″) or less in overall height

Carry-On Rules for Infants

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

• Children under 2 have a free checked baggage allowance of 1 piece up to 50 pounds (23 kg), excluding Economy Light fares
• A car seat, folding buggy, or baby carrier may be carried as carry-on baggage free of charge.

Stroller Check Policy

• Strollers are allowed to be used throughout the airport and will be checked before the flight and handed back immediately after arrival at your destination. One item may be checked free of charge, including a stroller, carrycot, or car seat.

Rules for Lufthansa Regional Aircraft

On certain flights with “Lufthansa Regional” or where country-specific variations apply (flights from Italy, India, and the USA), First and Business Class passengers must check in their second piece of carry-on baggage.

On nearly all Lufthansa regional flights, passengers can keep their carry-on baggage with them until boarding and get it back again immediately on disembarkation at the aircraft steps.

All carry-on baggage within Lufthansa’s size restrictions will be gate checked, free of charge, during the boarding process and returned upon deplaning.

If you want to make sure you have a bag that will fit, check out our article on the best carry-on luggage for regional jets.

Carry-On Liquids: Lufthansa Liquids Policy

Liquids are governed by airport security rules where you depart, not Lufthansa specifically. For most EU airports, the standard rule is:

• Liquids/gels/aerosols in containers ≤ 100 ml (3.4 oz)
• Packed in one clear, resealable 1-liter bag
• One bag per traveler (with exceptions for medication and baby food)

Some airports are rolling out new scanners that may allow more, but because you can’t reliably predict the lane and rules you’ll get, packing to the 100 ml / 1-liter bag standard is still the safest play.

For a plain-English walkthrough with examples and “does this count as a liquid?” edge cases, see my TSA liquids rule guide (the packing approach is the same even when you’re not departing the U.S.).

Carry-On Pet Policy

Lufthansa may not charge for your carry-on bag, but they will charge for your carry-on pet. The price depends upon the route and is charged once per flight direction.

If you’re going to bring a pet on board with you, it must be able to fit in a small, ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you.  Your pet carrier will count as a carry-on bag and cannot exceed 22″ x 16″ x 9″ and the combined weight of your pet and the carrier must not exceed 18 pounds.

Only smaller dogs and cats, who weigh no more than 8 kg including their transport container, may be transported under certain conditions as additional carry-on baggage in the passenger cabin. Larger dogs and cats and all other animal species, regardless of their weight and size, are not allowed in the cabin.

To enable you to take your pet with you into the cabin as carry-on baggage, Lufthansa will need your confirmation that the animal meets the stated requirements. For this purpose, please present two copies of the fully completed and signed form at the check-in counter: Form for transporting an animal in the passenger cabin

Summary: Lufthansa Carry-On Luggage Policy

It is important to note that Lufthansa’s baggage rules are subject to change and may vary depending on the type of ticket purchased and the route you are flying. For example, there is no free baggage allowance for economy light fares, two free bags with business class fares, and up to three free bags on international first class fares.

It’s always a good idea to review Lufthansa’s baggage guidelines before your flight and to pack accordingly to avoid any inconvenience or additional charges.

Here is a link to Lufthansa’s Carry-On page to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

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