United States
Full service airline, Atlanta hub Delta Air Lines baggage allowance
Delta counts pieces and charges for them on most domestic tickets. Each checked bag may weigh 23 kg in Economy and 32 kg up front, and Delta publishes no cabin weight limit, only a size of 56 x 35 x 23 cm.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | No weight limit56 x 35 x 23 cm | No weight limit56 x 35 x 23 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 158 cm | 32 kgUp to 158 cm |
Cabin baggage
What you keep with you on board. The carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, the personal item goes under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bag
- Size
- 56 x 35 x 23 cm
- Weight
- No specific weight limit (domestic US); must fit overhead bin
- Pieces
- One bag
Must fit in overhead bin.
Personal item
- Size
- 43 x 33 x 20 cm
- Weight
- Not specified
- Examples
- Must fit completely under the seat in front of you.
Liquids: containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one transparent resealable 1 litre bag. Baby food, medication and sealed duty free purchases are exempt.
Power banks and batteries
Lithium batteries travel in the cabin, never in the hold. Since 2025 most carriers also ban using or charging a power bank during the flight.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank up to 100 WhAbout 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V | Allowed | Not allowed | One per passenger, under the seat, not in the overhead bin. Do not use or charge it on board. |
| Power bank 100 to 160 Wh | Approval needed | Not allowed | Maximum two, with airline approval before the flight. |
| Power bank over 160 Wh | Not allowed | Not allowed | Cannot travel on Delta Air Lines in any form. |
| Spare laptop and camera batteries | Allowed | Not allowed | Terminals taped or in original packaging, up to 100 Wh each. |
| Devices with built-in batteriesLaptops, phones, cameras, tablets | Allowed | Switched off | Better in the cabin. If checked, fully switched off and protected from accidental activation. |
| E-cigarettes and vapes | Allowed | Not allowed | Cabin only, never used on board. |
Checked baggage
Delta counts pieces and charges for them on most domestic tickets. Each bag has its own weight and size cap, and going over either one costs extra on top of the bag fee.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $30 (domestic), Varies (international) | $40 (domestic), Varies (international) | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| First/Business | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy: Additional bags: $150+ each
First/Business: Additional bags: $150+ each Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Delta Air Lines baggage page before you pack.
Excess baggage fees
What a checked bag costs when the fare does not include one. Prices are for travel within the United States, each way.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First checked bag | $35 | Each way on domestic routes |
| Second checked bag | $45 | Each way on domestic routes |
| Medallion status or a Delta Amex card | First bag free | Extends to up to eight companions on the same booking |
Delta sells bags, not kilograms. Nothing you save by packing lighter comes off the fee, and a bag over 23 kg costs extra on top of it.
How the allowance plays out on a real booking. Fares, routes and SkyMiles status can move these numbers.
- Cabin
- One bag, 56 x 35 x 23 cm, plus a personal item. No published weight limit
- Checked
- $35 for the first bag, $45 for the second, each way
- Free bag
- Medallion status or a Delta Amex card covers the first bag, and up to eight companions
- Watch out
- A bag over 23 kg or 158 cm costs extra on top of the fee
- Cabin
- One bag plus a personal item
- Checked
- Two bags of up to 32 kg each, included in the fare
- Deadline
- Checked in 60 minutes before an international departure, at the gate by 45
- Per bag
- Delta prices per bag, so packing lighter does not reduce the fee
Before you pack
Six habits that keep you out of the excess baggage queue.
- Weigh bags at homeA luggage scale costs less than a single overweight bag fee, and it settles the argument at home rather than at the counter.
- Prepay extra weight onlineBuying through delta.com is 10 to 20 percent cheaper than paying at the counter.
- Wear the heavy itemsBoots, coats and jackets on your body do not count toward any limit.
- Use compression bagsVacuum bags cut clothing volume by up to 75 percent, which helps with the 158 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Use your SkyMiles statusHigher tiers add extra weight or an extra bag on top of the fare allowance, see status extras.
SkyMiles status extras
Medallion status waives the checked bag fee rather than adding weight, because Delta counts pieces on every route.
| Tier | Weight concept routes | Piece concept routes | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | None | None | Standard fare allowance |
| Silver | None | 1 free bag | Each bag still within 23 kg and 158 cm |
| Gold | None | 1 free bag | Each bag still within 23 kg and 158 cm |
| Platinum | None | 2 free bags | Overweight and oversize fees still apply |
| Diamond | None | 3 free bags | Overweight and oversize fees still apply |
Example: a Platinum member checks two bags at no charge, and up to eight companions on the same booking get the same benefit.
Sports equipment, instruments and infants
Special items travel with conditions. Every one of them needs advance reservation, and acceptance at the airport is not guaranteed without it.
| Item | Size or conditions | Fee estimate | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting equipment | Checked as part of your standard allowanceDelta dropped its $150 specialty sports fee in 2019. Over 23 kg an excess weight fee applies, and over 45 kg or 292 cm the item is refused outright | Counts as a checked bag | See a gate agent on arrival |
| Golf equipment | One golf bag per passengerTreated as an ordinary checked bag, so the usual bag fee applies | Counts as a checked bag | No booking needed |
| Skis and snowboards | Board bag and boot bag together count as one itemTheir combined weight has to stay inside the allowance for your cabin | Counts as a checked bag | No booking needed |
| Bicycles | Non-motorised touring or single seat racing bikesMust be in a container built for bicycles, or you sign a limited liability release | Counts as a checked bag | No booking needed |
| Surfboards | Up to two boards per bagBeyond that each bag is charged separately | Counts as a checked bag | No booking needed |
| Strollers and child car seats | No fee, and they do not count toward your baggage allowance | Free | |
| Military personnel | Special allowances |
Book special items online before travel. Airport prices are higher than the same allowance bought online, and hold space is first come, first served.
Check-in and bag drop deadlines
Counted back from scheduled departure. Miss the bag drop cut-off and the bag does not fly, even if you do.
- 24 hOnline check-in opensWeb or app
- 60 minChecked in by now on international45 minutes on domestic flights
- 45 minAt the gate on international15 minutes on domestic flights
If your bag does not arrive
Delayed and damaged bags follow a strict clock. Most claims fail because the report was made after leaving the airport.
Report before you leave the hall
Go to the Delta Air Lines baggage services desk in the arrivals baggage hall. You get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a 10 character reference. Without it there is no claim.
Track with the PIR reference
Use the reference and your surname on the Delta Air Lines baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Track a bagKeep receipts, mind the deadlines
Essentials bought while the bag is missing can be claimed. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed bag expenses within 21 days of delivery, under the Montreal Convention.
How Delta Air Lines compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
Frequently asked questions
What does a checked bag cost on Delta?
On domestic routes the first bag is 35 dollars and the second 45 dollars, each way. Delta sells bags rather than kilograms, so packing lighter does not reduce the fee.
How do I avoid the Delta bag fee?
Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card gives you the first bag free, and the benefit extends to up to eight companions on the same booking. Platinum Medallion carries two free bags and Diamond three.
What are the carry-on limits on Delta?
The cabin bag must fit 56 x 35 x 23 cm, plus a personal item under the seat. Delta publishes no weight limit for the cabin bag on domestic routes, only the size.
How heavy can a Delta checked bag be?
Each bag must stay within 23 kg and 158 cm of length plus width plus height. Going over either costs extra on top of the bag fee, so a heavy bag can be charged twice.
Does Delta charge per kilogram?
No. Delta counts pieces on every route, so the fee is per bag regardless of what is inside it. The weight limit is a separate cap, not a price.
When does Delta check-in close?
You must be checked in at least 60 minutes before an international departure and 45 minutes before a domestic one, and at the gate 45 and 15 minutes before. Some airports close earlier: Naples shuts its counters 75 minutes out.
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