An overweight baggage fee starts the moment a checked bag crosses 50 pounds. It climbs in steps from there. Most major US carriers use the same shape: one fee for 51 to 70 pounds, then a bigger fee for 71 to 100 pounds, then a flat refusal above that.
A separate oversize fee kicks in once the bag’s length plus width plus height passes 62 linear inches. Airlines will charge both fees on the same bag if it earns them.
Delta’s published tiers are a clean example of the pattern. A bag from 51 to 70 pounds costs $100 domestically, and one from 71 to 100 pounds costs $200. Anything at 100 pounds or more is not accepted at all.
Oversize runs a flat $200 for bags between 63 and 80 linear inches. Anything past 80 inches is refused outright, according to Delta’s baggage page.
The overweight fee tiers, 51 to 70 lb and 71 to 100 lb
The first tier begins at 51 pounds, one pound over the standard 50-pound limit. American Airlines splits this a little differently, using a smaller step near 53 pounds before the fee jumps again around 70 pounds. The exact breakpoint varies by carrier, though the overall shape matches.
The second tier, 71 to 100 pounds, always costs more than the first. On Delta it doubles from $100 to $200. Airlines treat this range as a last chance zone: pay a steep fee or repack before the counter.
If your bag is only a pound or two into a tier, move weight to a second bag or a carry-on. That almost always costs less than the overweight baggage fee itself. The rebalance tool does that math across two or more bags in seconds.
The oversize tier: over 62 linear inches
Linear inches means length plus width plus height added together, not any single side. Most airlines set the standard checked bag ceiling at 62 linear inches. A bag that goes even one inch past that line is oversize, regardless of what it weighs.
Oversize fees generally run in the $100 to $200 range for a first tier. A second, steeper tier or outright refusal follows once a bag passes roughly 80 linear inches.
Do overweight and oversize fees stack on one bag
Yes, on most carriers they do. Delta states plainly that there are separate fees for each limit you exceed. A bag that is both too heavy and too long gets charged for both problems.
That distinction matters at the counter. A traveler who braces for one fee can be surprised by a second charge on the same receipt.
A FlyerTalk thread on United’s policy described a single bag hit with both charges at once, for a combined total near $425. That is the kind of number worth knowing before you pack, not after.
American Airlines is a partial exception. Its published policy applies the higher of the two fees rather than adding them, so a bag that is both overweight and oversize can cost less there than on a carrier that stacks fees.
Always check the specific airline’s own page before assuming either rule applies to your flight.
The refusal ceiling: 100 lb
Every major US carrier draws a hard line at 100 pounds. Below it, a heavy bag is a fee problem. At or above it, it is a refusal problem.
The airline will not check the bag at any price, full stop. The same logic applies to size past roughly 80 linear inches on most carriers.
There is no fee that buys your way past either ceiling. That is the detail travelers moving instruments, sports gear, or a full set of tools most often get wrong.
Table: typical fee shape by tier
| Condition | Typical fee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 51 to 70 lb | Around $100 | Charged, bag accepted |
| 71 to 100 lb | Around $200 | Charged, bag accepted |
| 100 lb or more | None | Refused |
| Over 62 linear inches | Around $100 to $200 | Charged, bag accepted |
| Over roughly 80 linear inches | None on most carriers | Refused |
Figures vary by airline and by route. International itineraries often carry their own regional exceptions. Treat this table as a shape to expect, and confirm the exact numbers on your airline’s own page.
How to avoid the fee entirely
Rebalancing between bags is the cheapest fix. Move five or six pounds of the densest items, books, shoes, toiletries, from one checked bag into another, or into a carry-on with room to spare.
That alone can drop a bag out of the 51 to 70 lb tier for free. The rebalance tool makes the split easy to plan.
Shipping the overflow ahead of time is the second option. It usually beats the fee once a bag is deep into the 71 to 100 pound range, or oversized by more than a few inches.
A parcel carrier charging by actual weight often costs less than an overweight baggage fee for the same pounds. Run the numbers before you get to the counter, using the baggage cost tool to see what a specific bag will cost on a specific airline.
Common questions
Is there a fee for a bag that is just barely over 50 pounds?
Yes. Most airlines apply the full overweight baggage fee the moment a bag passes 50 pounds, even by a single pound. There is no grace margin at the counter.
Do overweight fees apply to carry-on bags?
No. Carry-on bags are governed by size and fit, not weight, on nearly every US carrier. Overweight fees apply to checked baggage only, and the weight limits themselves are covered in full on the checked baggage weight limit page.
Can I pay the overweight fee online before I get to the airport?
Some airlines let you prepay excess weight through their app or website, often at a lower rate than the counter price. Check your specific airline’s baggage page, since not all carriers offer this option.
What happens if my bag is overweight and I refuse to pay?
The airline will not check the bag until the weight is fixed. Travelers typically repack on the spot, moving items into another bag or a personal item, or leave items behind.
Are overweight and oversize fees the same on every airline?
No. The tiers, dollar amounts, and whether the fees stack all vary by carrier, and sometimes by route within the same airline. Confirm the numbers on the airline’s own baggage page, linked from its airline record on this site, before you fly.
Is excess baggage the same thing as overweight baggage?
No. Excess baggage usually means an extra bag beyond your free allowance, while overweight means one bag over the weight limit. The excess baggage fees page covers the extra bag charge separately.
The bottom line
An overweight baggage fee is predictable once you know the shape. Expect roughly $100 from 51 to 70 pounds, roughly $200 from 71 to 100 pounds, and a flat refusal past that.
Oversize works the same way past 62 linear inches, and on most carriers the two fees stack on a single bag rather than replacing each other. Weigh and measure before you leave the house, since moving a few pounds between bags will almost always cost less than finding out at the counter.