Luggage Weight Calculator

Common Baggage Allowances

Airline baggage allowances vary enormously, and getting it wrong at the airport costs steep excess-baggage fees. Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2) typically include only a small under-seat cabin bag in the basic fare; larger cabin bags and any checked baggage cost extra and rise sharply at the airport versus when booked online (often 2–3× the price). Checked bag allowances on budget airlines are typically 10–20 kg per bag, with strict enforcement — a 21 kg bag on a 20 kg allowance can mean £15–30 extra at the airport. Legacy carriers (British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Qatar) include one cabin bag plus one checked bag of 20–23 kg in the base economy fare on most routes (though basic-economy fares now sometimes exclude checked bags too — check before booking). Business class typically allows 32 kg checked. North American carriers often charge for the first checked bag on domestic flights (typically $30–35 each way), but include them on international long-haul. Premium economy and above usually get 23–32 kg checked. Always check your specific booking — allowances vary by route, fare class, frequent-flyer status, and credit card co-branded benefits. Combining bag weights across multiple passengers (one heavier, one lighter, totalling within combined allowance) is sometimes permitted on family bookings; check the carrier's policy. The single biggest baggage saving is paying online in advance rather than at the airport — gate-side bag fees on budget airlines have been the source of much grumbling among passengers who weren't expecting them.

Hand Luggage

Cabin baggage rules are stricter than checked baggage and more rigorously enforced, because cabin space and weight matter for aircraft balance and emergency evacuation. Most European budget airlines allow one small personal item (handbag or laptop bag, roughly 40 × 20 × 25 cm) free in the base fare; a larger 'carry-on' suitcase (typically 55 × 40 × 20 cm) costs extra to bring into the cabin (around £10–25 depending on airline, route, and how far in advance you pay). Some carriers (Ryanair, Wizz Air) charge for any wheeled cabin bag; others (easyJet) include it in some fares but not the cheapest. Legacy airlines usually include a full-size cabin bag of 55 × 40 × 23 cm (plus a small personal item) in economy fares — the standard 'one bag plus one personal item' rule. Liquid restrictions are still 100 ml per container in a single resealable bag (about 1 litre total volume) for international flights, though this is starting to relax at some airports with newer scanners that can handle larger liquid volumes — check your specific airport before assuming the old rules still apply. Cabin bags are sometimes weighed (limits vary: budget airlines typically 7–10 kg, legacy carriers usually no weight limit or 12–15 kg) and almost always measured against a gauge at the gate. Overstuffed bags that don't fit are sent to the hold, sometimes with a charge. To avoid surprises: weigh and measure your cabin bag at home (with everything you're taking, including the personal item you'll add at the airport), check the specific airline's current limits, and consider that some routes/fares have stricter rules than the carrier's general policy. Heavier items go in checked baggage (or you carry on your person) to save cabin weight.

Weighing Tips

Knowing the exact weight of your luggage before you leave home prevents the most stressful and expensive airport surprise. The home weighing method: stand on a bathroom scale and weigh yourself; then weigh yourself holding the suitcase; the difference is the bag's weight. This works reliably to within a kilogram or so for most domestic bathroom scales. Don't trust the airline scales at the airport check-in desk completely — they're regularly calibrated but inaccuracies of 0.5–1 kg are not uncommon, which can push you over a strict limit. A small luggage scale (a handheld digital device that hooks onto the bag handle, costs £5–15 at travel shops) reads more precisely and is more practical for travellers who frequently fly. Weighing matters most when you're close to a limit: if your bag is 18 kg on a 20 kg allowance, you have margin; at 19.5 kg you don't. Pack heavier items closer to the wheel end of the bag so the centre of gravity is good for rolling. Wear your heaviest items (boots, coat) on the plane rather than packing them — boots in particular weigh a kilo or more each and don't pack efficiently. Use packing cubes to compress clothes, not just to organise them. For the return journey, account for purchases — souvenirs, gifts, and wine bottles add up. Many travellers pack with the outbound bag at about 80% of allowance to leave room for return-trip additions; others bring a folded duffel bag in the suitcase to use as a second bag for the return, paying the extra fee only if needed. Weigh at home, weigh at the hotel before checking out, and you'll never face the unpleasant surprise of repacking on the airport floor.

Travel Safety and Preparation

Before any international trip: check the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for your destination at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice — advisories change frequently. Register your trip with the FCDO if travelling to a high-risk destination. Take two copies of all documents (passport, insurance, bookings) — one in luggage, one left at home with a trusted contact. Share your itinerary with someone at home. Travel insurance is not optional — a single overseas medical emerge