Utility Stack
Free travel packing calculator
Estimate carry-on weight before a trip with airline presets, common packing items, custom item weights, and a live limit tracker.
Carry-on result
Choose packed items to estimate carry-on weight.
Estimate only. Airline staff may weigh bags differently, and some routes also enforce size or personal-item limits.
Select kilograms or pounds, choose an airline preset, enter the empty bag weight, check the items you plan to pack, and add custom item weights for anything unusual. The tracker compares the total with the selected airline limit and still shows both kg and lb totals.
International and low-cost airlines may enforce carry-on weight more strictly than travelers expect. A bag that fits in the overhead bin can still be overweight, especially when laptops, shoes, camera gear, gifts, and liquids are packed together.
Carry-on policies vary by airline, route, aircraft, cabin, and fare type. Use the presets as planning shortcuts, then confirm the exact limit on your ticket before flying.
| Planning limit | Approximate pounds | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|
| 7 kg | 15 lb | Strict low-cost or regional airline planning. |
| 10 kg | 22 lb | Common international carry-on planning target. |
| 12 kg | 26 lb | More flexible long-haul or premium-cabin estimate. |
Do not assume the empty bag is weightless, forget chargers, or ignore return-trip purchases. If you are near the limit, move dense items to a checked bag, wear the heavier jacket, or remove duplicate electronics before reaching the airport.
If the estimate is over the limit, remove dense duplicate items first. Shoes, camera gear, power banks, liquids, books, and heavy jackets often matter more than several lightweight shirts.
When allowed, shift nonessential dense items into a checked bag, wear the heaviest layer, or replace physical books and documents with digital copies. Keep medications, travel documents, fragile electronics, and essential items with you even if they add weight.
This calculator does not check bag dimensions, personal-item rules, lithium battery rules, liquids restrictions, cabin-class exceptions, or route-specific baggage policies.
Some airlines count a personal item separately, while others combine carry-on and personal item weight. A laptop bag, purse, camera bag, or small backpack may have its own size rule even when the carry-on suitcase is under weight.
For strict airlines, check both limits before packing. A bag can pass the weight check and still fail the size check, especially if outside pockets are full.