Lufthansa carry-on size is 55 x 40 x 23 cm, with an 8 kg limit per permitted overhead bag. The personal item limit is 40 x 30 x 15 cm. European Economy Basic normally includes only that smaller item, so a correctly sized suitcase may still need a paid allowance.
The fare name matters as much as the tape measure. Start with your booking’s baggage line, then check the outside dimensions and packed weight. That order prevents the most expensive kind of surprise: a suitcase that fits but isn’t included.
Lufthansa cabin baggage: the useful numbers
| Category | Maximum size | Weight | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | 40 x 30 x 15 cm; approximately 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches | No separate numeric cap in the published cabin allowance table | Under the seat ahead |
| Standard carry-on | 55 x 40 x 23 cm; approximately 21.7 x 15.7 x 9.1 inches | 8 kg per bag; approximately 17.6 lb | Overhead, when included or purchased |
| Folding garment bag | 57 x 54 x 15 cm | 8 kg | Replaces an allowed cabin piece |
The centimeter figures are the working limits; the inch figures are rounded conversions. A label saying “22 inches” does not establish compliance. Lufthansa’s official cabin baggage policy also distinguishes piece count from size.
For shopping, compare full outside measurements rather than the suitcase shell. Our carry-on luggage guide explains that distinction before you spend money.
Which fares include an overhead bag?
| Lufthansa fare or cabin | Standard cabin pieces | Personal item |
|---|---|---|
| European Economy Basic | Not included by default | One |
| European Economy Light, Comfort, Comfort Green and Flex | One | One |
| European Business | Two | One |
| Long-haul Economy and Premium Economy | One | One |
| Long-haul Business and First | Two | One |
Aircraft and national restrictions can reduce the cabin piece count. In particular, Lufthansa says passengers departing from the USA must check any second standard carry-on before the security checkpoint. Its premium cabin allowance does not override that departure restriction.
That matters if you pack two small rollers for Business Class. Plan the journey from the first departure airport, rather than assuming the larger premium allowance works everywhere. Keep essential items in the smaller bag that will stay with you.
The October 2026 European Basic expansion
Economy Basic first appeared on selected European routes for travel from May 19, 2026. A wider rollout is now bookable. The Group’s European fare overview specifies bookings from October 6 for travel from October 27, 2026.
The expansion covers flights within Europe, with an exception for certain journeys originating in Italy. These are Rome Fiumicino flights to Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna or Brussels, including qualifying return journeys. As of October 17, the wider travel date is still ahead.
Keep the route context attached to the fare name. Lufthansa separately says its long-haul Economy Basic includes a personal item, a standard carry-on and a checked bag. “Basic” does not describe one worldwide baggage package.
Adding a carry-on to European Economy Basic
You can add one standard cabin bag before travel, subject to the booking conditions. Lufthansa’s Economy Basic instructions give a deadline of two hours before departure. A cabin bag cannot be purchased at the airport.
The public pages mention online booking and Service Center assistance. Use My Bookings early, confirm the allowance appears, and save the receipt. Don’t leave the purchase until you are standing beside the gate.
For the Basic carry-on add-on, each direction counts as one route, including a connection. Return travel is a separate direction. Check the offered total for both halves of the trip before choosing Basic over Light.
HON Circle, Senator and Star Alliance Gold benefits can include one cabin bag on eligible European Basic flights. Add the frequent flyer number to the reservation. Frequent Traveller or Star Alliance Silver status should not be treated as the same benefit.
Check size, weight and entitlement separately
A suitcase can pass two checks and fail the third. Treat Lufthansa carry-on size as one part of a packing decision, rather than a single approval stamp. Here is a practical sequence you can repeat at home.
- Read the allowance. Identify the operating airline, fare, cabin pieces and any purchased baggage.
- Pack normally. Fill pockets, close zips and put the handle in its travel position.
- Measure the outermost points. Include wheels, handles and anything bulging beyond the shell.
- Weigh the finished bag. Include the luggage itself, charger and any last additions.
- Check every flight. A smaller partner allowance can change the whole packing plan.
Worked example: the familiar 22 inch roller
Hypothetical example: your packed roller measures 22 x 14 x 9 inches and weighs 16 lb. Its longest side converts to 55.88 cm. That exceeds 55 cm, even though the weight is below 8 kg.
This isn’t a prediction of what an agent will overlook. It is a comparison against the published limit. A smaller case, verified full measurements or a checked bag plan removes that uncertainty.
Worked example: the laptop eats the weight budget
Hypothetical example: a case weighs 2.6 kg empty, and your laptop weighs 1.5 kg. Together, they use 4.1 kg. That leaves 3.9 kg for everything else inside an 8 kg cabin piece.
A light case can be more useful than a larger interior. Compression cubes save space, but they don’t subtract weight. Weigh again after adding souvenirs on the return journey.
What about a heavy personal item?
The published table does not establish a combined 8 kg allowance for the roller and personal item. It also does not give the personal item a separate numeric cap. That is different from permission to use a second large travel backpack.
Measure the backpack after fitting the laptop and charger. Rigid back panels do not shrink, and packed front pockets add depth. Our underseat bag guide helps you compare shape as well as capacity.
Checked baggage: read the full fare name
Lufthansa’s free baggage tables show important differences within the same cabin. The standard checked size is 158 cm total: length plus width plus height. Your ticket records the actual allowance.
| Route group and fare | Included standard checked bags |
|---|---|
| European Economy Basic or Light | None |
| European Economy Comfort, Comfort Green or Flex | One, up to 23 kg |
| European Business Comfort or Comfort Green | One, up to 32 kg |
| European Business Flex | Two, up to 32 kg each |
| Long-haul Economy Light / ordinary Economy | None / one up to 23 kg |
| Long-haul Premium Economy Light / ordinary Premium Economy | One / two, up to 23 kg each |
| Long-haul Business Light / ordinary Business | One / two, up to 32 kg each |
| Long-haul First | Three, up to 32 kg each |
For context, 23 kg is about 50.7 lb; 32 kg is about 70.5 lb. “Business includes two bags” is therefore incomplete advice. The newer Light and Comfort products need their own row.
Keep each bag within its individual allowance. Two 23 kg pieces do not establish permission for one 30 kg bag and one 16 kg bag. Weigh them separately before leaving home.
Useful fee examples, with the conditions attached
The following figures are from Lufthansa’s published excess baggage schedule, checked October 17, 2026. They concern a first standard checked bag on eligible Basic or Light fares. Prices are per bag, per direction; confirm the itinerary’s offered price and applicable taxes.
| Route group | Published online price | Published check-in price |
|---|---|---|
| Within Germany | EUR 20 to 35 | EUR 55 |
| Europe | EUR 35 to 50 | EUR 65 |
| Intercontinental USA/Canada | USD 90 or CAD 90 | USD 90 or CAD 90 |
These currency amounts are published tariff figures, not exchange conversions. The departure airport’s national currency determines charging. Don’t use the European row to price a different intercontinental journey.
The same schedule treats a standard bag, an extra piece and an overweight bag as different purchases. Economy weight above 23 kg, up to 32 kg, can attract excess charges. Ordinary travel baggage over 32 kg per piece is not accepted.
Hypothetical comparison: suppose your eligible European first bag is offered at EUR 40 online. The published airport first bag figure is EUR 65, a difference of EUR 25 for that direction. Compare the full fare and baggage total before paying.
If your bag is taken at the gate
A compliant bag moved because the cabin is full differs from a bag that breaches your allowance. Lufthansa offers free check-in for qualifying compliant cabin bags when storage is tight. Noncompliant gate baggage attracts route dependent charges.
The published noncompliance range is EUR 60 to 110, CHF 60 to 110, or USD 75 to 125. Payment is by credit card. An unused checked allowance does not turn a bag brought to the gate into a free checked piece.
Before handing it over, move medication, valuables and battery devices into the bag staying with you. Check the tag and ask where to collect it. Smaller aircraft may return certain bags at the aircraft steps; ordinary checked bags can arrive at baggage claim.
Power banks need a separate plan
Lufthansa’s battery rules allow up to two power banks per passenger. The ordinary limit is 100 Wh each; above 100 Wh through 160 Wh needs airline approval. They belong in the cabin and must not go into the hold or overhead locker.
Charging and using power banks on board is prohibited, apart from approved medical device use. Keep them protected and accessible below the seat, in the seat pocket or on your person. Our power bank packing guide explains capacity labels and terminal protection.
Security screening is a separate check from airline baggage. Read the liquids guide and your departure airport’s current instructions. Passing security does not establish that your fare includes a suitcase.
Connections, children and special items
For cabin bags, use the operating airline’s policy on each flight. An LH flight number can still mean another carrier operates the aircraft. If your journey connects to United, compare United’s baggage rules before relying on the same pair of bags throughout.
Checked baggage agreements work differently from cabin storage rules. Use the allowance printed on the ticket for the actual journey. Separate tickets require separate checks and a realistic plan for collecting and dropping bags.
Children over two receive the adult checked allowance for their fare. Infants generally receive one 23 kg checked piece, but European Economy Basic and Economy Light are excluded. Confirm your child’s ticket before allocating family packing to an assumed infant bag.
The child equipment policy distinguishes free checked equipment from a pocket buggy carried within your cabin allowance. A compact stroller is not automatically an extra free cabin piece. Decide which equipment travels in the hold before counting the family’s cabin bags.
Mobility aids and medical equipment have separate carriage provisions. Arrange those needs with Lufthansa rather than removing essential equipment to meet an ordinary suitcase limit. Battery powered mobility devices need their own approval and handling discussion.
Questions people ask before packing
Does Lufthansa allow a backpack and a carry-on?
Usually, when the fare includes a standard cabin bag and the backpack fits the personal item limit. European Economy Basic normally includes only the personal item. Check any paid allowance or eligible status benefit before bringing both.
Is a 22 inch suitcase within Lufthansa carry-on size?
Not necessarily. A true outside height of 22 inches is 55.88 cm, above the 55 cm limit. Product names can describe shell size, so compare all three packed outside measurements instead.
Is the 8 kg limit shared between my two bags?
The published standard cabin allowance applies 8 kg to each permitted standard carry-on piece. It does not publish an 8 kg combined limit for that bag plus a personal item. Your smaller bag must still meet its own size allowance.
Can I buy a European Basic carry-on at the airport?
No. Lufthansa says the cabin allowance must be purchased before travel, with a deadline of two hours before departure. A noncompliant bag at the gate can be sent to the hold for a fee.
Are airport shopping bags extra?
No. Duty-free purchases count within the permitted cabin baggage allowance. Leave space inside your existing bags rather than assuming a shopping bag creates an extra piece.
A final check before you leave
- Save the fare name, baggage allowance and any add-on receipt.
- Check Lufthansa carry-on size against the packed outside measurements.
- Weigh each standard cabin piece separately.
- Confirm partner flights, return travel and departure airport restrictions.
- Keep medication, valuables and protected power banks easy to remove.
- Drop checked bags before the airport’s stated deadline.