SWISS First passengers get three checked bags at 32 kilograms each. Economy Light gets none, and that spread is the whole story of SWISS baggage rules.
Between those two ends sit four more fare levels. What you carry depends almost entirely on which one you bought.
The cabin allowance
The cabin bag is 55 by 40 by 23 centimeters, roughly 21.7 by 15.7 by 9.1 inches, at 8 kilograms. Most fares include one cabin bag plus a personal item.
The personal item is 40 by 30 by 15 centimeters and is included in every fare class.
Business gets two cabin bags rather than one. That is a real upgrade rather than a nominal one.
Economy Basic on short haul is personal item only
On short and medium haul routes, Economy Basic includes the personal item and no cabin bag. This is the Lufthansa group pattern.
US long haul fares are not affected in the same way. Standard Economy from the United States includes the cabin bag.
If your trip includes an intra European leg on a Basic fare, check that segment separately. SWISS baggage rules can differ across a single itinerary.
The checked ladder
Economy Light includes no checked bag. Standard Economy on US long haul includes one at 23 kilograms.
Premium Economy includes two. Business includes two at 32 kilograms, and First includes three at 32 kilograms.
The 158 centimeter size cap holds throughout. Only weight and piece count move as the fare rises.
Why there is no fee table here
SWISS prices excess bags through a calculator that runs against your specific itinerary. There is no flat published fee to quote.
Sites showing you a single dollar figure for a SWISS extra bag are estimating. Our verification policy explains why we do not.
Add bags during booking, where the calculator gives you the actual price for your route.
How SWISS baggage rules compare
The cabin numbers are identical to Lufthansa and Austrian. All three belong to the same group.
The one meaningful difference from Lufthansa is on premium cabins. Lufthansa requires the second cabin bag to be checked on US departures, and SWISS does not publish that restriction.
Against British Airways, the 8 kilogram limit is the main constraint. BA publishes no cabin weight limit at all.
Packing to 8 kilograms
Eight kilograms is about 17.6 pounds, which is less than most packed carry-ons weigh. Empty hard shell cases can be 3 kilograms before anything goes in.
A soft sided bag buys you a kilogram or two of usable weight. That is the single most effective change for a SWISS trip.
Move dense items into the personal item, which carries no published weight limit. Books, chargers and shoes are the usual candidates.
The bottom line
SWISS baggage rules are standard on size and steeply tiered on entitlement. Read your fare name before you pack, especially on short haul.
Confirm the dimensions in the size checker, and compare the region in our European carry-on size guide.