Updated Nov 12, 2026 4:06 AM EST · By Emma Jackob
Under United's baggage policy, a carry-on up to 9 x 14 x 22 inches and a personal item fly free on most fares, but basic economy gets the personal item only. A first checked bag on a domestic ticket bought on or after 3 April 2026 costs $45 prepaid or $50 at the airport, and the second $55 or $60.
On domestic economy tickets bought on or after 3 April 2026, United charges $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second if you pay at least 24 hours before departure. Pay inside 24 hours or at the airport and each bag costs $5 more. The date you bought the ticket sets the fee, not the date you fly.
| Bag | Prepaid 24+ hours before departure | Within 24 hours or at the airport |
|---|---|---|
| First checked bag | $45 | $50 |
| Second checked bag | $55 | $60 |
International routes have their own fees. Rules change, so confirm the exact amount in the United app or the baggage fee calculator on the United website before you pay.
Say you fly United from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) and back with two checked bags. Prepaid, that's $200; paid at the counter both ways, $220. Our advice: add bags in the United app when you book.
Related: How Delta's bag fees compare · First checked bag fees on US airlines, compared
Yes, three times, region by region. Each increase covers tickets bought on or after its date, so two people on the same flight can pay different bag fees.
Bought a domestic ticket before 3 April 2026? United's own pages show the older fees still apply to it, starting at $35 prepaid and $40 at the airport.
A United carry-on can be up to 9 x 14 x 22 inches (23 x 35 x 56 cm), handles and wheels included, and must fit in the overhead bin. Your personal item has to fit under the seat in front of you, so its limit is 9 x 10 x 17 inches. United's carry-on page lists sizes but no weight limit.
| Bag | Maximum size | Where it goes | Free on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 9 x 14 x 22 in (23 x 35 x 56 cm) | Overhead bin | Every fare except most basic economy tickets |
| Personal item | 9 x 10 x 17 in (22 x 25 x 43 cm) | Under the seat in front | Every fare, basic economy included |
The carry-on size includes handles and wheels. Rules change, so check the carry-on page on united.com before you fly.
Measure at home with the wheels and handle on. Not sure at the airport? United has bag sizers there you can test it in.
A purse, backpack or laptop bag counts if it fits under the seat. A small purse can't come on top of your personal item and carry-on, but a few things ride free without counting toward either.
Keep medication, keys and your wallet in the personal item, as United advises, in case your carry-on gets gate-checked.
On most United basic economy tickets, no: you get one personal item and nothing in the overhead bin. Flights to South America, across the Atlantic or across the Pacific are the exception. Bring a full-size bag on a domestic basic economy ticket and you'll have to check it.
Our advice: before booking basic economy, add $45 for a prepaid bag to the fare and compare that total with standard Economy on the same flight. If the gap is smaller than the bag fee, standard Economy is the better buy.
Each checked bag can weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kg) in Economy and Premium Economy, and 70 pounds (32 kg) in Business, First and Polaris or with Premier status. A standard bag can measure up to 62 inches in total, such as 30 x 20 x 12 inches, wheels and handles included.
| Cabin or status | Maximum weight per bag |
|---|---|
| Economy, Premium Economy | 50 lb (23 kg) |
| Business, First, Polaris business class | 70 lb (32 kg) |
| Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K | 70 lb (32 kg) |
| Star Alliance Gold | 70 lb (32 kg) in business, 50 lb (23 kg) in economy |
If your cabin and status give different limits, United uses the higher one. Overweight and oversized bags cost extra; check the amount in United's baggage fee calculator. Rules change, so confirm on united.com.
United won't take a bag over 100 pounds (45 kg) or 115 inches in total, apart from musical instruments up to 165 pounds and assistive devices. Weigh your bag at home: without status, one pound over 50 in Economy adds an overweight charge to the bag fee.
MileagePlus Premier members and US military personnel and their families check bags free, and some United cardholders get a free first bag. Premier members can share the allowance with up to nine people on the same itinerary. It covers flights United and United Express operate, not partner airlines.
| Status | Within the US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America | To Europe, Asia, South America and other long-haul regions |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 1 bag | 2 bags |
| Premier Gold | 2 bags | 3 bags |
| Premier Platinum | 3 bags | 3 bags |
| Premier 1K | 3 bags | 3 bags |
Each bag can weigh 70 lb (32 kg). In United's premium cabins, every Premier level gets 3 bags. Some routes have their own rules, so check United's checked bags page.
US military personnel get 3 free bags on personal trips, each up to 62 inches and 70 pounds, and 5 bags on military orders. AP reported in April 2026 that some co-branded cardholders and premium cabin travelers also still get a free first bag. Check your card's terms before you count on it.
United Express flights have less overhead space, so carry-ons get gate-checked there most. On flights run by CommutAir, a United Express carrier, you're allowed only a personal item on board. Open your trip in the United app or on united.com to see which carrier operates each flight.
On United Express, a gate-checked bag may come back on the jet bridge as you leave the plane or at baggage claim. Ask at the gate where to collect it, so you don't wait at the carousel for a bag that's on the jet bridge.
File a report with United at the airport, then track the bag in the United app. Under the DOT's automatic refund rule, your bag fee comes back if the bag isn't delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight reaching the gate.
About this page
Written and fact-checked by the Flyingscanner team, last updated 12 November 2026. The facts in this post were checked on 12 November 2026. Airline fees and rules change, so confirm the details for your own trip with the airline before you pay. About Flyingscanner
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