Lufthansa allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 21.7×15.7×9.1 in55x40x23 cm | 17.6 lb8 kg | Economy gets one cabin bag plus a personal item, but Economy Basic on short and medium haul is personal item only. Premium Economy, Business and First get two cabin items, though from the USA and India the second must be checked. |
| Personal item | 15.7×11.8×5.9 in40x30x15 cm | No stated limit | One personal item is allowed in every class, including Economy Basic. |
| Checked bag | 62 in158 cm | 50.7 lb23 kg |
Lufthansa checked bag fees
We have not verified this airline's baggage fees against the carrier yet. Rather than guess, we have left it blank — check the airline before you fly.
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Lufthansa Baggage Rules.
Lufthansa extra baggage charges only show up as a real dollar figure in one place: a second checked bag on flights out of the United States. That rate is 90 USD. Past that one line, Lufthansa prices almost every other extra bag through a calculator tied to your route and fare, not a printed table.
Economy includes one checked bag up to 23 kg on Lufthansa operated flights, per the Lufthansa baggage record. A second bag in that same weight band is the one Lufthansa extra baggage charge stated outright on its own fees page. Everything past it is a number the airline will not commit to print.
The one number Lufthansa publishes
| Item | Fee | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| First checked bag, up to 23 kg | Included in Economy fare | Lufthansa operated flights |
| Second checked bag, up to 23 kg | 90 USD | Flights departing the United States |
| Third and later bags | Priced per route | Baggage purchase tool or airport counter |
| Overweight, 23 to 32 kg | Priced per route | Not published as a flat fee |
| Oversize, over 158 cm total | Not accepted as checked baggage | Must ship as cargo instead |
That table is what the current fees page actually states. It is not a full price list.
Lufthansa does not publish a flat fee for a third bag. It does not publish one for an overweight bag either.
Why there is no flat table
A bag from Frankfurt to Chicago and the same bag from Frankfurt to Nairobi cost different amounts to fly. Fuel, distance and local rules all move the price. So Lufthansa keeps the real number behind your booking reference instead of a public chart.
This is common among the big European network carriers. British Airways works the same way. The number you see for Lufthansa extra baggage charges depends on where you are flying, not just how heavy the bag is.
The carrier’s own baggage record notes this directly. Excess baggage is priced per route through the calculator rather than one global rate. Do not trust any site that prints a flat table for Lufthansa third bags or overweight bags, because Lufthansa itself does not.
Add the bag before you check in
Lufthansa lets you buy up to five extra bags during online check-in. That window opens more than two hours before departure.
Bags over 23 kg or over the size limit cannot be added this way. Those go to the airport counter instead.
Once you pay for a bag online, the charge is final. It is not refunded if you skip checking that bag after all. The airport price is always higher than paying ahead, even without a published number to compare it against.
Decide what you are checking the night before, not at the kiosk. There is no walking a Lufthansa extra baggage charge back once the counter agent rings it up.
Overweight and oversize bands
Lufthansa caps every checked bag at 32 kg and 158 cm total dimensions across every cabin. That figure comes from the carry-on and checked baggage page linked from the record.
A bag over 32 kg is not accepted as checked luggage at all. It has to move as air cargo instead.
Lufthansa does not post a dollar figure for the 23 to 32 kg overweight band on its public pages. That number has to come from the calculator or the counter agent on the day. Do not guess it and do not trust a number from anywhere but Lufthansa’s own tool.
Bring your own baggage cost estimate and a scale rather than a guess. A digital luggage scale costs far less than a single overweight fee. It tells you which side of 23 kg you are on before you leave the house.
What waives the fee
Premium Economy, Business and First fares carry a higher included checked allowance than Economy on Lufthansa, per the record’s fare notes. Lufthansa’s own fee pages list no credit card that waives a second bag. That detail is left out here rather than guessed.
Star Alliance and Lufthansa frequent flyer status can raise your free piece count. Check your tier at booking before you assume a fee applies.
Packing to skip the fee entirely
The simplest way to dodge Lufthansa extra baggage charges is to stay under one bag and 23 kg. A packing cube set makes that easier, since compressed clothes take up less room than clothes stuffed loose. Weigh the bag before you leave for the airport, not after the agent does it for you.
Travelers who check a second bag out of habit are the ones who pay the 90 USD rate most often. A carry-on and a personal item already cover most short trips. Lufthansa’s Economy fare includes both at no extra cost.
How it compares to nearby carriers
British Airways runs the same kind of per route calculator instead of a flat table. The comparison here is about process, not one number against another. See the live British Airways baggage fees record for the same pattern.
KLM sits near Lufthansa in the same alliance network. Its own KLM baggage page is worth a look if your itinerary touches Amsterdam instead of Frankfurt. Checking the live calculator for your exact dates beats comparing headline numbers between any two airlines.
For general habits that cut a fee before it starts, see the guide on how to avoid baggage fees. The wider page on overweight and oversize baggage fees covers the same bands Lufthansa uses, in general terms. The site’s own baggage fees hub lines Lufthansa up against every other carrier on this list.
The bottom line
The cheapest honest way to fly Lufthansa with bags is to stay inside the one free 23 kg bag Economy already includes. If a second bag is unavoidable, add it during online check-in rather than at the airport. Lufthansa’s own conditions make clear the airport price only goes up from there.
Past that, treat the calculator as the only real source for Lufthansa extra baggage charges. Lufthansa itself will not commit a number to print, so nobody else should either.
Common questions
Does Lufthansa charge for a second checked bag on flights from the United States?
Yes, Lufthansa lists a flat 90 USD fee for a second checked bag up to 23 kg on flights departing the United States.
Why does not Lufthansa list a price for overweight or oversize bags?
Lufthansa prices excess baggage per route through its own calculator rather than a fixed table, since the cost depends on the flight, not just the bag.
Can I add an extra bag during online check-in on Lufthansa?
Yes, up to five extra bags can be added during online check-in once it opens, as long as the bag is under 23 kg and within the size limit.
What is the maximum weight Lufthansa accepts for a checked bag?
Lufthansa caps every checked bag at 32 kg across every cabin, and anything heavier has to ship as air cargo instead.
Does a Lufthansa credit card waive the second bag fee?
Lufthansa’s own fee pages do not list a credit card that waives a second checked bag fee.
Is it cheaper to pay for an extra bag online or at the Lufthansa airport counter?
Paying online during check-in is cheaper, since Lufthansa’s own conditions show the airport price is always higher than a fee paid ahead of time.
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