If you’re flying with Lufthansa, it’s essential to understand their hand luggage rules, which are different from many other airlines. Our Lufthansa cabin bag size guide makes it a cinch to understand baggage allowance rules – will help you avoid extra fees and other hassles.
Cabin bag details.
- Cabin bag: Max size 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches), max weight 8 kg (17 lbs) – stricter than most UK airlines.
- Personal item: Always allowed, no weight limit – must fit under the seat.
- Economy & Premium Economy: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item (note: from spring 2026, Economy Basic on European routes includes personal item only).
- Business/First: 2 cabin bags + 1 personal item.
- Pro tip: Use seat-back hooks for jackets and keep essentials in your personal item in case your cabin bag gets checked.
Heads up: New Economy Basic fare policy.
Lufthansa’s new economy basic fare on short- and medium-haul European flights doesn’t include a standard cabin bag. Passengers on this fare will only be allowed one small personal item.
If you’re booking a European route, check your fare type carefully before assuming a cabin bag is included.
In this article
- What is the official Lufthansa carry-on bag size?
- What extra items can I bring on Lufthansa flights?
- Lufthansa’s policy for carry-on items for babies.
- Lufthansa carry-on tips for your next flight.
- Lufthansa carry-on FAQs.
What is the official Lufthansa cabin bag size?
| Standard cabin bag | Foldable garment bag | Personal item | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max dimensions | 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches) | 57 x 54 x 15 cm (22.4 × 21.3 × 5.9 inches) | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches) |
| Max weight | Up to 17 lbs | Not specified | Not specified |
Free hand luggage on Lufthansa flights consists of one cabin bag for Economy Light, Economy, and Premium Economy fares, and two cabin bags for Business or First Class fares. Passengers in all cabins are also allowed one personal item in addition to their larger piece of hand luggage.
All hand luggage must fall within specific size requirements, which are outlined below:
As noted in the table, keep in mind that Lufthansa’s 17 kg weight allowance for cabin bags is lower than most other airlines operating in Europe. You may be required to check in your hand luggage at the gate – perhaps for a fee, which is higher than online or at the check-in counter – if it exceeds the weight allowance.
To stay within Lufthansa’s weight allowance, it’s crucial to pack your cabin bag strategically. Choose a lightweight cabin bag, purchase travel-sized toiletries (or just buy them at your destination), and consider wearing your heaviest and bulkiest clothing and footwear to save space and weight.
In addition to a larger cabin bag, you can also bring an additional personal item (a laptop bag, rucksack, or handbag, for example). As is the case with other airlines, your personal item should not exceed the specified dimensions and should fit underneath the seat in front of you.
Shopping bags also count as a personal item, so be sure to keep that in mind while browsing airport shops or duty free shops.
A foldable garment bag is a flat, collapsible bag designed for suits or dresses; it qualifies for the larger 57 x 54 x 15 cm (22.4 × 21.3 × 5.9 inches) allowance instead of the standard cabin bag dimensions.
New economy basic fare policy.
Lufthansa recently made headlines saying that they were getting rid of free cabin bags. However, that isn’t quite true. The fact is that they did introduce a new fare, called “economy basic”.
This fare is available on selected European short- and medium-haul routes. It’s aimed at travellers who don’t need flexibility, want to pay the lowest price possible and don’t mind giving up a cabin bag. In economy basic, you’re only allowed a personal item, like a rucksack or a handbag.
If you’re flying within Europe, check your fare type carefully before assuming a cabin bag is included.
Important: If you want to buy an extra cabin bag in Economy Basic, you can do so, but only online and not at the airport.
How strict is Lufthansa with hand luggage size?
Like many other carriers, Lufthansa is enforcing its hand luggage rules more rigorously, as more passengers attempt to avoid paying checked bag fees. Lufthansa gate staff have been known to weigh bags and check to see if they fit in the sizing devices prior to boarding.
Still, whether you’ll be singled out depends on factors like how full the flight is and the discretion of individual employees (some may be more lenient than others).
However, to make your travel experience as smooth as possible, it’s highly recommended to follow the carrier’s rules.
Otherwise, you may be facing an unexpected fee to check your hand luggage in (which will be higher than online or the check-in desk) and a more stressful boarding process.
What happens if your cabin bag doesn’t meet Lufthansa’s rules?
If your cabin bag doesn’t comply, Lufthansa staff can remove it at the check-in counter or at the boarding gate and transport it in the hold at your expense. The fee is significantly higher than checked baggage booked in advance – and can only be paid by credit card at the gate.
What extra items can I bring on Lufthansa flights?
Lufthansa does allow certain non-baggage items to be brought on board free of charge. However, they must fall within the size and weight limitations noted above, and they do count towards your hand luggage allowance. They include:
- Musical instruments
- Sporting gear
- Medical supplies or mobility devices, such as foldable pushchairs (however, they may be carried in addition to your allowance and must be properly folded).
- If you’re still not sure whether a specific item meets Lufthansa’s hand luggage size requirements, check out KAYAK’s Bag Measurement tool, which is featured in the KAYAK app.
Lufthansa’s policy for hand luggage items for babies.
Parents or caregivers travelling with infants on Lufthansa may bring one extra hand luggage item, such as a changing bag or infant car seat, free of charge. (However, keep in mind that if you decide to use a car seat for a child under 2, which is voluntary only if the child is travelling on your lap, you will need to purchase a child ticket for the seat.)
In addition, passengers can reserve a bassinet for free in advance, which are available for infants weighing less than 11 kg (24 lbs) and measuring less than 67 cm (26 in) in length. Bassinets are only available on long-distance flights.
Lufthansa hand luggage tips for your next flight.
from expert traveller Blane Bachelor
1. Pack light to stay under the 8 kg (17 lb) weight limit.
Passengers who don’t fly frequently with Lufthansa may be caught by surprise by its 8 kg (17 lb) hand luggage weight limit, which is notably lower than that of many other carriers. But it’s an important consideration to keep in mind while packing – and to avoid the hefty fees you may be charged for checking in an oversized bag at the gate.
2. Use seat-back hooks for coats and jackets.
Don’t worry about using up precious bin space with your coat or jacket. Instead, take advantage of the hooks behind every seat on Lufthansa aircraft. It’s a handy extra feature that I wish more carriers would implement.
3. Keep electronics in your personal item.
As with any other airline, Lufthansa prohibits items such as electronic devices and lithium batteries in checked baggage. So it’s essential to take such items on board, in case you’re forced to check your main cabin bag before boarding.
Lufthansa hand luggage FAQs.
Still have questions about Lufthansa cabin baggage size, what counts as a personal item or anything else? Read on for our expert intel.
- Economy Basic: 1 personal item only (fits under seat). Cabin bag can be added for an additional fee.
- Economy Light, Economy Comfort, Economy Green, and Economy Flex: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item.
- Premium Economy: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item.
- Business and First Class: 2 cabin bags + 1 personal item.
Requirements are the same across all cabins. The maximum cabin bag size for Lufthansa Economy Light is 8 kg (17 lbs) and 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches). With an Economy Light ticket, passengers may also check in a maximum of one extra piece of luggage (for an additional fee).
Yes, a rucksack is allowed as a personal item on Lufthansa flights as long as it satisfies the standard size dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches). Just make sure it can be stored under the seat in front of you.
It depends on your cabin class. Economy basic passengers get one personal item only (like a backpack), while economy light and above can bring both a backpack and a cabin bag.
Lufthansa’s cabin bag size limits for international flights are generally the same as for domestic flights, both for larger cabin bags and smaller personal items. Lufthansa also offers an online baggage calculator so that you can confirm requirements for your specific route, frequent flyer status, and fare class.
Keep in mind that some countries, including the UK and India, may apply additional restrictions. For example, Business and First Class passengers on certain routes may be required to check their second hand luggage item.
To avoid surprises, always verify the rules for your itinerary using Lufthansa’s online baggage calculator.
The post Lufthansa cabin bag size: rules, weight and tips. appeared first on KAYAK Blog UK.
