Linear Inches Calculator: Is Your Luggage Within the 62-Inch (158 cm) Limit?
Add length, width and height to get a bag’s linear inches or cm and check it against the 62 in (158 cm) checked-bag limit and carry-on sizes.
How it works
Linear inches = length + width + height (in) · Linear cm = length + width + height (cm) = linear inches × 2.54 · Checked-bag limit on most airlines: 62 in = 158 cm · Carry-on (large US airlines): each side within 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm) · Length + girth = longest side + 2 × (other two sides)
Airlines size bags by their total outside dimensions, called linear inches or linear centimetres: add the length, the width and the height. Most airlines accept checked bags up to 62 linear inches, quoted as 158 cm, without an oversize charge. Measure the outside of the bag including the wheels, handles and outer pockets, and measure soft bags packed. Carry-on and personal-item limits usually set each side separately, such as 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm) for a carry-on on large US airlines. So the calculator also compares your sides, longest to longest, as a bag can be under the total and still be too long. It shows the checked-bag size class using American Airlines’ published bands as an example (up to 62 in standard, 62–65 in slightly oversize, 65–115 in oversize, over 115 in not accepted), the bag’s box volume in litres (a rough capacity) and the length plus girth that parcel carriers use. Limits differ by airline, cabin, route and fare, and budget airlines are often stricter, so confirm your own. Unlike the overweight-baggage and luggage-weight calculators on this site, which deal with weight, this checks the size.
Worked example
A suitcase measuring 27 × 18 × 11 in has a linear size of 27 + 18 + 11 = 56 linear inches (142.2 cm), 6 inches under the 62 in checked-bag limit, so it is a standard checked bag. Its box volume is 27 × 18 × 11 = 5,346 cu in, about 88 L, and its length plus girth is 27 + 2 × (18 + 11) = 85 in. It is too big for a 22 × 14 × 9 in carry-on limit: 56 is over 45 in and each side is larger.
Sources: American Airlines: Checked bag policy (62 in / 158 cm total size) · American Airlines: Carry-on bags (22 × 14 × 9 in incl. wheels and handles; personal item 18 × 14 × 8 in) · American Airlines: Oversize and overweight bags (62–65 in, 65–115 in, over 115 in not accepted) · Omni Calculator: Linear inches calculator (30 × 12 × 20 in example)
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate linear inches for luggage?
Measure the length, width and height of the bag on the outside, including wheels and handles, and add them. A 30 × 12 × 20 in bag is 30 + 12 + 20 = 62 linear inches.
What size is 62 linear inches?
Any bag whose three sides add up to 62 in (158 cm), such as 30 × 18 × 14 in or 27 × 21 × 14 in. It is the standard maximum for a checked bag on most airlines; larger bags pay an oversize fee.
How many linear inches is a carry-on?
A 22 × 14 × 9 in carry-on, the usual limit on large US airlines, is 45 linear inches (115 cm). Carry-on rules usually limit each side, not just the total, and some airlines allow less.
Do wheels and handles count in linear inches?
Yes. Airlines measure the outside of the bag, including wheels, handles and side pockets. American Airlines, for example, says the carry-on limit includes handles and wheels.
What happens if my bag is over 62 inches?
Most airlines charge an oversize fee. American Airlines, for example, charges $30 for 62–65 in and $150–$200 for 65–115 in, and does not accept bags over 115 in. Check your own airline’s rules before you fly.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.