What Size Personal Item on Delta? Rules and Examples
Quick answer: What size personal item on Delta is allowed? Delta doesn’t publish exact dimensions. The rule is that your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and Delta’s examples are a purse, briefcase, small backpack, belt bag, fanny pack, camera bag, diaper bag or laptop bag. It’s free, and it comes on top of your one carry-on bag.
Most airlines give you a number. Delta gives you a seat.
That sounds vague. It is, a little, but in practice it also means a soft bag that slides under the seat in front of you is fine, whatever a tape measure says, because the test Delta describes is the space by your feet, not a ruler at the gate. Policies change, so check Delta’s carry-on page before you fly.
Delta Personal Item Rules at a Glance
| Item | How Delta treats it |
|---|---|
| Purse, briefcase, small backpack | Personal item (listed by Delta) |
| Belt bag, fanny pack, camera bag | Personal item (listed by Delta) |
| Diaper bag | Personal item (listed by Delta) |
| Laptop bag | Personal item; Delta says computers can’t be checked unless security directs it |
| Any bag of similar or smaller size | Personal item, if it fits under the seat |
| Jacket or umbrella | Free; doesn’t count toward your limit |
| Food or drink bought past security | Free; doesn’t count |
| Duty-free bag or box | Free; doesn’t count |
| Stroller, child safety seat, wheelchair, crutches | Free; don’t count |
| Booster seat, infant seat, breast pump with cooler bag | Extra free infant items, must meet carry-on size limits |
So the real size answer is “smaller than the space under a seat”. Hard numbers? Those belong to your carry-on bag.
Why Delta Doesn’t Give a Number
Delta’s carry-on page describes personal items by example and by where they go. It says to pick an item like those listed “or of a similar size to store beneath the seat in front of you during your flight.”
There’s a federal reason the rule is about stowage. Under FAA rule 14 CFR 121.589, an airline can’t let a plane take off or land unless every carry-on is stowed in an approved compartment or under a passenger seat. Delta’s baggage FAQ puts it plainly: the FAA mandates that all carry-on items fit under a seat or in an enclosed storage compartment.
A Safe Target Size If You Want One
If you like a number, here’s how I’d think about it. JetBlue, which does publish one, lists a personal item limit of 17 x 13 x 8 inches (43.2 x 33 x 20.32 cm). That’s JetBlue’s rule, not Delta’s, but I think it’s a sensible target for a bag you plan to slide under a seat on any airline.
My take: pack the bag, then ask one question. Would it slide under a seat without forcing? If you’d have to stand on it, it isn’t a personal item anymore.
What Changes the Answer
- Smaller Delta Connection planes. On flights with 50 seats or fewer, Delta says only personal items can come on board. Larger carry-ons get a pink Gate Claim/Planeside tag and ride in the cargo bin, then come back to you when you get off.
- Very full flights. Delta says gate or flight staff may further limit carry-on bags based on cabin space.
- Bulkhead seats. There’s no seat in front of you in a bulkhead row, so ask a flight attendant where your bag should go for takeoff.
- Partner airlines. If another airline operates your flight, its rules can differ. Check the operating carrier.
What Size Personal Item on Delta Works for Common Bags?
- Backpack: a small or laptop-size backpack works. A big travel pack that only fits in the overhead bin counts as your carry-on.
- Tote or purse: fine, as long as it closes and slides under the seat.
- Briefcase: listed by Delta. See suitcase vs briefcase for when to bring both.
- Small duffel: works if it’s soft and small enough to fit under the seat. For larger ones, read can a duffel bag be a carry on Delta.
You still get one full carry-on on top of this. Delta caps that at 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm), which is covered in what size carry on for Delta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Delta measure personal items?
Delta doesn’t list a measured limit for personal items. Staff can still ask you to check a bag that doesn’t fit. On full flights, the gate decides. Size-check displays at ticket counters and gates help you test a bag.
Can my personal item be a backpack on Delta?
Yes. Delta lists a small backpack as a personal item. A large travel backpack counts as your carry-on bag instead.
Does a jacket count as a personal item on Delta?
No. Delta says a jacket or umbrella doesn’t count toward your carry-on limit. Neither does food you bought after security or a duty-free bag.
Can I bring a personal item and a carry-on on Delta Basic Economy?
Delta’s Basic Economy page lists a complimentary carry-on bag, and the standard allowance is one carry-on plus one personal item. Check your booking, since fare rules change.
Last updated: November 10, 2026. Delta’s baggage policies change, so check delta.com before flying. Sources: Delta: carry-on baggage, Delta: baggage FAQs, Delta: children and infant items and JetBlue: bag calculator.
More Carry-On & Personal Items Guides
What Size Carry On for Delta? The 22 x 14 x 9 Rule Explained
What size carry on for Delta: up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm), or 45 linear inches, wheels and handles included, plus one personal item for free.