Southwest personal item

Southwest’s personal item is free on every fare and must fit under the seat — Southwest publishes no official L×W×H. You also get 1 free carry-on (24 × 16 × 10 in) on all fares including Basic. Soft official-style examples: purse (including crossbody), briefcase, laptop case, backpack, pillow, blanket, small camera. Free cabin bags are not the same as Bags Fly Free® (checked fees since May 28, 2025).

Field	Southwest published value
Max dimensions (in)	Not published — under-seat fit only
Max dimensions (cm)	Not published — do not convert invented inches
Placement	Under the seat (primary rule; some fees footnotes also mention overhead — confirm if quoting)
Cost	Free — all fares (Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra)
Weight	None published
If oversized / won’t fit under seat	May not qualify as personal item; risk using the carry-on slot or gate issues — carry-on itself is still free
Carry-on contrast	24 × 16 × 10 in, free all fares; weight none published; cm ≈61 × 41 × 25 converted → carry-on size
Allowed examples	Purse / crossbody, briefcase, laptop case, backpack, pillow, blanket, small camera
Basic interaction	Basic includes free personal item + free carry-on (unlike ULCC Basic with paid overhead)
Pet carrier	Counts as carry-on or personal item (official)

Personal item: always free if it fits under the seat.

Full carry-on: always free on all fares (24 × 16 × 10 in) — including Basic.

Checked bags: paid on Basic / Choice / Choice Preferred after Bags Fly Free® ended — mainland post–Apr 9, 2026 $45 / $55; Choice Extra / status / card / military paths free. Short cross-link only — full tables on Southwest baggage fees.

• Do not invent 18×14×8 or any other inch set for Southwest’s personal item — competitors publish those; Southwest does not.
• Soft bags that won’t fit under the seat fail the practical test even if they look “small.”
• A pet carrier uses one of the two free cabin allowances.
• Checked-bag SERP confusion: free personal item ≠ Bags Fly Free®. Checked fees have applied to most fares since May 28, 2025.
• cm: none to publish for the personal item — don’t invent a conversion.

1. Pack a true under-seat bag + the free 24 × 16 × 10 carry-on when skipping checked bags.
2. Measure the packed bag against the actual under-seat space.
3. For free checked bags, use Choice Extra / loyalty / card / military — see baggage fees.
4. Don’t casually change a grandfathered pre–Apr 9 ticket if you care about the older $35 / $45 checked rates.

Soft picks for under-seat / Southwest personal-item use. Emphasize under-seat fit, not a fake Southwest inch spec — Southwest publishes no L×W×H. Prefer non-expanding backpacks and totes; measure when packed.

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AmazonCard — Under-seat backpack for Southwest
Daypack or personal-item backpack marketed for airline under-seat use. Southwest does not publish inch limits — confirm it fits under a typical airline seat when packed, and keep it as your free personal item alongside the free 24 × 16 × 10 carry-on.

AmazonCard — Slim personal-item tote / laptop bag
Structured tote or slim laptop shoulder bag aimed at under-seat fit. Useful when you want a purse-style personal item that still clears the under-seat space without expanding.

When a dedicated BagRule guide goes live, start at /guides/best-personal-item-bag/ — until then, prioritize under-seat fit and verify yourself.

What is the Southwest personal item size?

Southwest does not publish L×W×H. The personal item must fit under the seat. Examples include a purse, briefcase, laptop case, or small backpack.

Is a personal item free on Southwest Basic?

Yes — every fare includes one free personal item plus one free carry-on (24 × 16 × 10 in).

Does Southwest allow a backpack as a personal item?

Yes if it fits under the seat when packed (and you’re not also counting a pet carrier as the personal item).

What’s the difference between Southwest personal item and carry-on?

Personal item: under seat, no published dimensions, free. Carry-on: 24 × 16 × 10 in including wheels/handles, overhead, also free on all fares. Full carry-on detail: Southwest carry-on size.

Can I bring a personal item and a carry-on on Southwest?

Yes — one of each, free, on Basic through Choice Extra.

Do American or Frontier personal-item rules differ?

Short compare: American and Frontier publish inch limits (e.g. 18 × 14 × 8); Southwest does not — under-seat fit only. See American, Frontier, Delta, and United personal-item pages.

Confirm sizes and fees on southwest.com before travel. BagRule is not affiliated with Southwest Airlines.