Luggage linear inches calculator
The sum of a suitcase's three sides against the airline limit.
Fill in the fields and the result will appear here automatically.
Adds three outside dimensions and compares the sum only with your entered limit. A 78×50×30 cm case and a 55×50×53 cm case both total 158 cm; that does not establish equal acceptance by an airline. Individual sides, weight, shape, route and fare are not checked.
How it works
Formula and logic
Sum S = l + w + h. Margin = limit − S; inches = S / 2.54; outer box litres = lwh / 1000. The status concerns only the entered sum limit. Removing 1 cm from any side reduces S by the same 1 cm. The sum and remaining allowance are compared using the shortest decimal representations of parsed inputs before display rounding.
Example
55×40×23 cm totals 118 cm, leaving 40 cm against an entered 158 cm, with a 50.6 L box. Exactly 62 inches is 157.48 cm; 158 cm is approximately 62.205 inches.
Fields and units
- Length — cm
- Width — cm
- Height — cm
- Airline limit — cm
How to use
- — Measure outside length, width and height in centimetres, including protruding wheels, handles and pockets.
- — Enter the sum limit from the rules for your carrier and flight; 158 cm is a starting example, not a universal allowance.
- — A negative margin exceeds the entered sum limit. The calculator does not decide fees or carriage permission.
- — Inches convert the centimetres; volume describes an outside rectangular box, not usable packing capacity.
Method and limitations
- Calculation method
- Formula and logic
- Data or methodology source
- NIST: exact definition of the inch American Airlines: an example of outside dimensions and carrier conditions American Airlines: a route-specific example of individual dimension limits
- Limitation
- Checks one manually entered restriction. It does not confirm baggage acceptance or replace the operating carrier’s current rules.
FAQ
Why a sum rather than each side?
Some rules use a sum, others individual sides, and some use both. Equal sums give equal status in this tool regardless of shape; check other requirements separately.
Do wheels and the handle count?
For outside dimensions, measure the outermost points including wheels and handles. A listed body size is not a substitute for measuring the bag.
What are 62 linear inches?
62 linear inches means the sum of the three outside sides in inches. The exact conversion is 157.48 cm. A carrier may publish the rounded policy pair “62 in /158 cm”; that is its rule, not an exact unit identity.
What to do when over?
Check your flight’s rules: repacking, a fee or refusal may apply. One centimetre removed from any side has the same arithmetic effect; the longest side has no special advantage.