Lufthansa’s cabin bag limit is 55 x 40 x 23cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 9in) and 8kg (17.6lb) — a strict weight cap that’s actually enforced at the gate, unlike most US carriers. Checked baggage depends heavily on your fare: Economy Light includes none, Economy Classic and Flex include one bag up to 23kg, and Business includes two bags up to 32kg. Here’s the full breakdown, including what an extra or overweight bag actually costs by route.
| Item | Size (cm) | Size (in) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | 40 x 30 x 15 | 16 x 12 x 6 | No published cap |
| Cabin bag (Economy/Premium Economy) | 55 x 40 x 23 | 21.7 x 15.7 x 9 | 8kg / 17.6lb |
| Cabin bag (Business/First — 2 pieces) | 55 x 40 x 23 each | 21.7 x 15.7 x 9 each | 8kg / 17.6lb each |
| Foldable garment bag (alternative to cabin bag) | 57 x 54 x 15 | 22 x 21 x 6 | 8kg / 17.6lb |
| Checked bag, standard | Up to 158cm total (L+W+H) | Up to 62in total | 23kg / 50lb (Economy, Premium Economy) or 32kg / 70lb (Business, First) |
Lufthansa Baggage Allowance by Fare
Lufthansa’s Economy cabin is split into fare brands, and the fare — not just the cabin — decides whether a checked bag is included at all. This is the single biggest source of surprise fees on Lufthansa, more than size or weight.
- Economy Light: Cabin bag + personal item only. No checked bag included on most short and medium-haul routes; must be purchased separately.
- Economy Classic (sometimes shown as Economy Comfort on shorter routes) / Economy Basic Plus: Cabin bag + personal item + 1 checked bag up to 23kg.
- Economy Flex: Same baggage as Classic, plus free rebooking and refund flexibility.
- Premium Economy: Cabin bag + personal item + 2 checked bags up to 23kg each.
- Business: 2 cabin bags (8kg each) + personal item + 2 checked bags up to 32kg each.
- First: 2 cabin bags (8kg each) + personal item + approximately 2–3 checked bags up to 32kg each — Lufthansa’s First fare pages vary between 2 and 3 bags depending on route, so confirm the exact count for your itinerary.
Miles & More status members get extra checked-bag allowances layered on top of the fare — Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle tiers each add bags, so check your account before assuming you need to pay.
Lufthansa Cabin Baggage: Size, Weight and the 8kg Rule
Lufthansa’s cabin bag can be up to 55 x 40 x 23cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 9in) including wheels and handles, or you can bring a foldable garment bag up to 57 x 54 x 15cm instead of the standard case. Either way, the weight cap is 8kg (17.6lb) — and Lufthansa actually weighs bags at the gate, especially on busy morning departures out of Frankfurt and Munich, so this isn’t the honor-system weight limit US travelers are used to.
Your personal item — a laptop bag, handbag or small backpack — needs to fit under the seat in front of you, at approximately 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in); a small number of sources list a shallower 10cm depth, so treat 15cm as the safer planning figure and check your booking if your bag is close to the limit.
Economy and Premium Economy get one cabin bag; Business and First get two, each still capped at 8kg individually — you can’t combine them into one 16kg bag. If your bag is oversized or overweight at the gate, it’s checked into the hold and priced as excess baggage, which usually costs more than pre-booking a checked bag online would have.
Lufthansa Checked Baggage: Weight and Size by Cabin
Every Lufthansa checked bag must stay within 158cm (62in) of total dimensions — length plus width plus height — and no single bag is accepted at more than 32kg (70lb) regardless of cabin or fare; heavier items need to be split or shipped as cargo.
| Cabin | Bags included | Max weight per bag |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | 0 (most routes) | — |
| Economy Classic / Flex | 1 | 23kg / 50lb |
| Premium Economy | 2 | 23kg / 50lb |
| Business | 2 | 32kg / 70lb |
| First | 2–3 (route-dependent) | 32kg / 70lb |
On a transatlantic Economy Classic fare to or from the United States, adding a second checked bag typically runs about $90–$100 online — a useful anchor figure, though Lufthansa’s calculator is the only reliable source for your specific route and date.
Lufthansa Baggage Fees: Overweight, Oversize and Extra Bags
Lufthansa prices excess baggage by geographic zone rather than a single flat fee, and the difference between zones is large enough that guessing is a bad idea:
| Zone | Oversize only | Overweight only (23–32kg) | Both oversize and overweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within Europe | ~€50 / $57 | ~€50 / $57 | ~€100 / $114 |
| Medium intercontinental (e.g. Europe–US East Coast) | ~€120 / $138 | ~€120 / $138 | ~€240 / $276 |
| Long intercontinental (e.g. Europe–US West Coast, China, South America, South Africa) | ~€150 / $172 | ~€150 / $172 | ~€300 / $345 |
Treat these as approximate, representative figures rather than a locked-in price — Lufthansa’s own baggage pages describe added-bag and excess pricing as route-dependent, and the calculator on lufthansa.com is the only source that shows the exact number for your itinerary.
One more wrinkle worth knowing: if a partner or codeshare airline operates your flight segment, that airline’s cabin baggage rules apply for that leg, not Lufthansa’s — always check the operating carrier shown on your ticket, especially on connecting itineraries.
Real Cost Examples: What You’d Actually Pay
- Frankfurt to New York, Economy Light, one checked bag added online in advance: approximately $90–$100 on top of the base fare — compare this against the price difference to Economy Classic, which includes the bag, before assuming Light is cheaper overall.
- Munich to Chicago, Economy Classic, second checked bag added at the airport: the zone-based excess pricing applies at the higher airport rate rather than the pre-booked online rate, so this can run noticeably more than adding the same bag through Manage Booking before departure.
- Frankfurt to Bangkok (long intercontinental), one bag both oversized and overweight: approximately €300/$345 — the combined long-haul rate, since oversize and overweight charges stack rather than replace each other.
- Business Class, Frankfurt to Tokyo, two included checked bags at 32kg each: no additional cost as long as both bags stay at or under 32kg — a meaningful cushion over Economy’s 23kg per-bag limit for travelers packing heavier gear.
Lufthansa Baggage by Status: Miles & More Tiers
Miles & More status adds checked-bag allowance on top of whatever your fare already includes, and the additions are meaningful enough to check before paying for anything:
- Frequent Traveller: typically an additional checked bag beyond the fare-based allowance on Lufthansa-operated flights.
- Senator: a higher additional allowance than Frequent Traveller, plus priority handling that generally returns bags to the carousel faster.
- HON Circle: the top tier’s allowance, layered on top of Business or First Class fare inclusions, making this Lufthansa’s most generous baggage combination.
Confirm your specific tier’s current bonus in your Miles & More account or at booking, since exact figures by tier are periodically revised.
Family and Infant Baggage
Families traveling with young children typically get a collapsible stroller and a car or booster seat checked free of charge outside the standard baggage allowance, and infants without their own seat generally don’t receive a separate checked-bag allowance the way some fare types provide for older children — confirm the current family baggage terms at booking, since specifics like whether a travel cot also qualifies can vary by route.
Skis, Golf Clubs and Other Sports Equipment
Sports equipment within your normal weight and the 158cm size limit — skis, a golf bag, most team-sport gear — typically counts as one of your standard checked bags at no extra charge, provided it’s within your fare’s weight allowance. Equipment that exceeds 158cm or 32kg is priced as an oversize or overweight item using the same zone-based fee table as an oversized suitcase, so a ski bag that’s borderline on length is worth measuring at home before you’re at the counter.
Special Items and Musical Instruments
Musical instruments within the standard 55 x 40 x 23cm cabin bag size count as your cabin bag at no extra cost. Larger instruments up to 110 x 42 x 50cm and 75kg can travel strapped into an extra purchased seat. A wheelchair or mobility aid travels free and outside your baggage allowance.
How to Avoid Lufthansa Baggage Fees
- Weigh your cabin bag before you leave home. The 8kg limit is real and enforced — an overweight cabin bag at the gate usually costs more to check than adding a bag online would have.
- Don’t book Economy Light if you’re checking a bag. Classic or Flex, which include one checked bag, is frequently cheaper than Light plus an added bag once you compare total cost.
- Add extra or expected-overweight bags online in advance, since Lufthansa’s zone-based excess fees are priced lower pre-booked than at the airport counter.
- Check your Miles & More tier before paying for anything — status members often already have the extra checked-bag allowance they’re about to purchase.
- On connecting itineraries, check the operating carrier for each segment — a Lufthansa-ticketed flight operated by a partner airline follows that partner’s cabin bag rules.
Lufthansa Baggage FAQ
What is the Lufthansa carry-on size and weight limit?
55 x 40 x 23cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 9in), max 8kg (17.6lb) — enforced by scale checks at many gates, particularly out of Frankfurt and Munich.
Does Lufthansa Economy Light include a checked bag?
No. Economy Light is cabin baggage only on most routes; a checked bag has to be added for a fee.
How much can a Lufthansa checked bag weigh?
23kg (50lb) in Economy and Premium Economy, 32kg (70lb) in Business and First. No bag over 32kg is accepted as standard checked baggage.
How much does an extra bag cost on Lufthansa?
It depends on zone: roughly €50/$57 within Europe up to €150/$172 on long intercontinental routes for a single oversize or overweight bag, doubling if a bag is both. Confirm your exact route price with Lufthansa’s baggage calculator.
Does Lufthansa allow two carry-on bags?
Only in Business and First, where two 8kg cabin bags are included per passenger. Economy and Premium Economy get one.
What happens if my Lufthansa bag exceeds 32kg?
It isn’t accepted as checked baggage at any price — you’ll need to redistribute the weight into a second bag or ship the item separately.
Last verified: August 30, 2026. Baggage rules change — always confirm on Lufthansa’s official site before you fly.