China Eastern Airlines allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 22 x 16 x 8 in (all cabins) in55 x 40 x 20 cm (all cabins) cm | 17.6 lb Business, 22 lb First; no weight limit published for Economy or Premium Economy lb8 kg Business, 10 kg First; no weight limit published for Economy or Premium Economy kg | One carry-on bag in Economy and Premium Economy with no published weight limit, only the 55x40x20cm size box. Business and Premium Business get two bags at up to 8 kg each. First gets two bags at up to 10 kg each. |
| Personal item | 13.8 x 12.6 x 7.1 in in35 x 32 x 18 cm cm | No stated limit | One free personal item, any fare, any cabin: handbag, laptop bag, or camera bag. |
| Checked bag | 62 in total (length + width + height) in158 cm total (length + width + height) cm | 51 lb Economy and Premium Economy, 70 lb Business/Premium Business/First, on Americas routes lb23 kg Economy and Premium Economy, 32 kg Business/Premium Business/First, on Americas routes kg |
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at China Eastern Airlines Baggage Rules.
The China Eastern carry-on dimensions are 55 x 40 x 20 cm, or 22 x 16 x 8 in, in every cabin. That box is two inches wider than the US standard but a full inch shallower.
A bag built for a US 22 x 14 x 9 in bin fits on length and width. It fails on depth.
The China Eastern Airlines record holds the allowance table. This page is about living inside that box. The weight rules by cabin, the personal item, what happens to an oversize bag, and which bags clear 20 cm of depth.
What the China Eastern carry-on dimensions mean at the sizer
China Eastern’s carry-on baggage page states the limit as A 55 cm, B 40 cm, C 20 cm. It does not list a separate rule for wheels and handles, which in practice means they count. A sizer frame does not care what is a wheel and what is a shell.
The 20 cm depth is the dimension that catches US travelers. Most US carry-ons are sold at 22 x 14 x 9 in, and 9 in is 22.9 cm. On paper that is nearly 3 cm too deep for the China Eastern carry-on dimensions, before the bag is packed.
The site’s guide to measuring a carry-on explains why the sold size and the real size differ. Measure the packed bag at its fattest point, wheels included, and compare against 55 x 40 x 20.
Pieces and weight by cabin
First Class passengers may bring 2 pieces at up to 10 kg each. Business and Premium Business get 2 pieces at up to 8 kg each. Premium Economy and Economy get 1 piece, and the published table prints no separate weight figure for it.
Treat that gap carefully. A missing Economy figure does not mean the bag is not weighed.
Chinese carriers routinely weigh cabin bags at check-in and sometimes at the gate. Keep an Economy bag under the 8 kg Business figure and no agent has a reason to stop you.
The rules are identical on domestic and international flights. The carry-on weight limit guide covers how the weighing happens and what to move into your pockets.
The personal item
Every passenger also gets one free item under the seat in front: a handbag, a briefcase or a laptop bag. China Eastern gives a reference size of 35 x 32 x 18 cm.
That is about 13.8 x 12.6 x 7.1 in. That is smaller than most US personal item allowances, and a full size backpack will not pass as one.
The personal item versus carry-on guide explains how the two allowances interact. On China Eastern the practical answer is a slim laptop bag or a tote, not a second backpack.
What happens when the bag is over
China Eastern’s rule is blunt: anything that exceeds the carry-on limits in weight, quantity or volume must be checked. The page names no gate fee, which is not the same as no cost. If the checked bag is beyond your free allowance, the checked baggage charges on the China Eastern fees page apply.
On Americas routes that means a first extra bag priced in RMB, not a token gate charge. The guide to gate check and sizers covers what to pull out before handing the bag over. Batteries, medication and anything valuable come out first.
Bags that fit the 55 x 40 x 20 cm box
Depth is the constraint. The bags that clear the China Eastern carry-on dimensions are mostly the ones built for European cabin limits, not US ones. Manufacturers rarely publish wheel inclusive figures, so the table gives the class each bag is built to.
| Bag | Built to | Against 55 x 40 x 20 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Max Metz 40L backpack | The 55 x 40 x 20 cm European cabin limit | Made for exactly this box; fits when not overstuffed |
| Delsey Paris Helium Aero 19 inch | International carry-on class, tighter than the US 22 in box | Length and width fit; measure the depth with wheels, it is the tight side |
| Osprey Farpoint 40 | One bag travel, 40 liters, stowable harness | Fits when packed flat; a stuffed pack bulges past 20 cm |
| Matein travel laptop backpack | 17 inch laptop backpack | Fits the carry-on box easily; too big for the 35 x 32 x 18 cm personal item |
| Any US 22 x 14 x 9 in spinner | The US domestic bin | An inch too deep on paper; expect to check it |
The Cabin Max is the safest pick because the maker cut it to this exact limit. Customer reviews commonly mention using it on the strict European carriers that share the box. Soft bags win here generally; a soft pack squashes into a 20 cm slot and a hardside does not.
A self locking tape measure settles the question at home. The carry-on size checker shows the China Eastern result next to the airlines you connect with.
Connecting on a partner airline
China Eastern is a SkyTeam carrier, and a US trip often starts on Delta. Delta’s bin is the 22 x 14 x 9 in box.
A bag that fits Delta can fail China Eastern on the onward leg. Pack for the smallest box on the itinerary, which is almost always the China Eastern one.
The carry-on size chart lines up every carrier’s box side by side. For a Shanghai connection, 55 x 40 x 20 cm is the number to pack to.
The bottom line
The China Eastern carry-on dimensions are 55 x 40 x 20 cm, or 22 x 16 x 8 in. The weight cap is 10 kg in First and 8 kg in Business, with no printed figure in Economy. The personal item is a small 35 x 32 x 18 cm laptop bag or handbag.
US spinners are too deep for this box. Bring a European sized bag or a soft pack that squashes to 20 cm, and keep it under 8 kg. Measure before you leave, because an oversize bag is checked, not waved through.
Common questions
What size carry-on does China Eastern allow?
55 x 40 x 20 cm, or 22 x 16 x 8 in, in every cabin and on both domestic and international flights. The 20 cm depth is the tight dimension for bags built to the US 22 x 14 x 9 in standard.
How much can a China Eastern carry-on weigh?
Up to 10 kg per piece in First Class and 8 kg per piece in Business and Premium Business. The published table prints no separate figure for Economy, so keep an Economy bag under 8 kg to be safe.
How many carry-on bags can I bring on China Eastern?
Two pieces in First, Business and Premium Business, and one piece in Premium Economy and Economy, plus one small personal item that fits under the seat.
What counts as a personal item on China Eastern?
A handbag, briefcase or laptop bag with a reference size of 35 x 32 x 18 cm, about 13.8 x 12.6 x 7.1 in. A full size backpack is larger than that and counts as the carry-on.
What happens if my carry-on is too big for China Eastern?
The airline’s rule is that anything over the carry-on limit in weight, count or volume must be checked. If it falls outside your free checked allowance, the normal checked baggage charges apply.
Will a US carry-on suitcase fit China Eastern's overhead bin?
Usually not on paper. A US 22 x 14 x 9 in case is about 23 cm deep against a 20 cm limit, so it fits on length and width but fails on depth unless it measures smaller than its sold size.
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