Delta Airlines Carry-On Size, Weight & Rules (2026)
Delta Airlines is internationally appreciated for offering a generous carry-on baggage policy to make air travel comfortable for flyers. Passengers across all cabin classes can bring one complimentary carry-on bag onboard. However, the bag must not exceed 22” x 14” x 9”.
Furthermore, even though Delta is strict about the size policy, it still shows leniency towards under special circumstances. Therefore, to make the baggage policies simpler for travellers.
This blog highlights all the key guidelines, the upcoming changes of 2026, and a plethora of baggage handling tips.
What are the Carry-On Size Limits for Delta Airlines?

Delta Airlines allows passengers to bring 1 personal item and 1 carry-on bag on board for free. This rule is applicable to domestic as well as international flights. In addition, this bag should fit within the overhead bins as soon as the travellers board the flights. The complete list of weight limits and size criteria is presented here:
- The accurate size for Delta’s carry-on baggage is 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm), i.e., length x breadth x height.
- The dimensions are inclusive of all the wheels and handles of the luggage.
- Also, the size of the luggage must not exceed more than 45 inches or 114 cm.
- Delta generally does not impose a strict weight limit, but passengers must be able to lift their bag into the overhead bin.
- Most importantly, travellers should ensure that their luggage fits well in the overhead bins; otherwise, it might lead to extra charges.
In addition, for products that cannot be added as carry-on. Subsequently, such items can be shifted to checked baggage that costs around $35.
What are Delta Airlines’ Carry-On Dimensions for Connecting Flights?
Similarly, for flyers who are travelling with Delta Connection Flights or even on aircraft with 50 seats or fewer. Accordingly, they can bring one free personal item and complimentary carry-on baggage. This rule is applicable to domestic as well as international flights. The size limits for this are as follows:
- Delta’s cabin baggage size must remain 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm).
- The dimensions are inclusive of all the wheels and handles of the luggage.
- Also, the size of the luggage must not exceed more than 45 inches or 114 cm.
- But, quite importantly, these carry-on bags can’t be taken to the cabins because of the limited overhead bin space.
- So, such luggage is tagged with a pink Gate Claim/Planeside tag and is checked at the Gate.
- Subsequently, after the flights, flyers can collect their baggage while deplaning.
- Thus, only 1 personal item can be brought into the cabin by the travellers on these flights.
Additionally, for other codeshare flights of Delta, travellers must refer to the carry-on baggage policies of their respective aircraft.
Delta Airlines Carry-On Baggage Restrictions
Equally important, although Delta allows a variety of items to be brought in the carry-on baggage during the flight. Still, there are specific things that are prohibited under the carry-on luggage rules. A holistic list of those is given below:
- Aerosol Insecticides
- Alcoholic Beverages of more than 3.4oz/100 ml are not allowed
- Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol
- Any sort of Ammunition
- Axes and Hatchets
- Bang Snaps
- Baseball Bats
- Battery-powered wheelchairs and Mobility Devices
- BB Guns
- Bear Bangers
- Bear spray
- Billy Clubs
- Black Jacks (Self-Defence Weapons)
- Blasting Caps
- Bowling Balls
- Bowling Pins
- Bows and Arrows
- Box Cutters
- Brass Knuckles
- Cap Guns
- Cast Iron Cookware
- Cattle Prods
- Chlorine for Pools and Spas
- Cricket Bats
- Dynamite
- Fertllizers
- Fuels
- Gasoline
- Inflatable devices (wedges, cubes, beds)
- Knee defenders and seat recline blockers
- Foot hammocks and slings
- Window and tray table organizers
- Pods and tents
- Full-head helmets
- Inflatable toddler beds (e.g., the Fly Tot, Flyaway Kids Bed).
- Items that attach to the aircraft surfaces, such as seats, windows or tray tables
- Items that block aisles, footwells, or pose a tripping hazard
This is a comprehensive list of some of the strictly prohibited items that are not allowed on board. For more exceptions and in-depth details, passengers can explore the TSA Guidelines.
What Exceptions are made by Delta Airlines for Carry-On Baggage?
Above all, under some situations, Delta often provides a little liberty to travellers with special needs or genuine requests with their carry-ons. Some of the most prominent ones are as follows:
First and foremost, the flyers who are flying with infants and small children can carry these items as additional carry-on:
- Chiefly, the travellers who are sitting in an open passenger row can carry a Child Restraint Seat as carry-on.
- Also, the passengers who have purchased extra seats for their kids can also bring restraint seats in-flight.
- In addition, FAA-approved car or booster seats are also allowed onboard without any extra charges.
- Furthermore, the Breast Pump and associated Cooler Bag are even complimentary.
Moreover, Delta advises travellers to keep their precious possessions with them in the cabin. A glimpse of these is given below:
- Cash and Other Cash Equivalents
- Securities
- Negotiable Instruments
- Irreplaceable Documents
- Jewellery
- Silverware
- Precious Metals
- Works of arts
- Computers
- Electronic equipment
- Photographic equipment
- Medication
- Hearing aids
Likewise, for flyers with special needs, they can bring in certain medical equipment in the cabin. While others have to be kept in the checked baggage. These are some of the essentials that can be kept in a carry-on:
- Emergency Medications
- Hearing Aids
- Needles and syringes accompanied by medicines
- The collapsible personal wheelchairs onboard (The wheelchair must align with the size dimensions and weight requirements set up by Delta Airlines)
Passengers who are travelling with Delta Airlines from JFK Airport can also look for other services available there.
Thirdly, the passengers who are carrying musical instruments. So, some of them can be kept in the cabin and are as follows:
- Guitars
- Violins
- Flute
Hence, travellers should ensure that all the items that are carrying as their carry-on should be FAA-approved.
What does Delta Airlines allow as Personal Items?
Most importantly, apart from the carry-on luggage, the traveller can also bring a complimentary personal item onboard. However, these items should specifically fit underneath the seat in front of you. Some of those things are as follows:
- Purse
- Laptop Bag
- Briefcase
- Sling bag
- Camera Bags
- Diaper Bags for Infants
- Jackets
- Neck pillows and so on
Other than these items, there are several clothing and comfort items that can be kept by the passengers in-flight.
Accordingly, to navigate to the bag drop sections, travellers can visit 'Delta Airlines Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)'.