On United, your first checked bag runs $40 online (or $45 at the airport) for most domestic economy flights, and your second is $50. Carry-ons are free on every fare except Basic Economy, where you get only one personal item unless you're a MileagePlus elite or a United cardholder. The single fastest way to cut your cost is to pay for bags during online check-in rather than at the counter, and to know before you book whether your fare even includes a carry-on. Below is the full 2026 breakdown so you don't get surprised at the gate.
United carry-on and personal item rules
Every United fare comes with a free personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. Standard economy, Economy Plus, and higher fares also include a free carry-on bag for the overhead bin. Basic Economy is the trap: on most Basic Economy tickets you get the personal item only.
Here are the size limits United enforces:
- Personal item: 9 x 10 x 17 inches (a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack)
- Carry-on bag: 9 x 14 x 22 inches, including handles and wheels
United doesn't publish a strict weight limit for carry-ons on domestic flights the way some international carriers do, but you have to be able to lift it into the bin yourself. If your Basic Economy fare doesn't include a carry-on and you show up with one, you'll pay a checked-bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. Check it during online check-in instead and you avoid that surcharge entirely.
Who gets a free carry-on on Basic Economy
- MileagePlus Premier members (all tiers)
- Primary cardholders on select United credit cards (like the United Explorer Card)
- Star Alliance Gold members
- Passengers on transatlantic and most international Basic Economy routes (rules differ from domestic)
United checked bag fees for 2026
United prices checked bags by route and by whether you pay ahead online or at the airport. These are the standard domestic economy fees for 2026:
| Bag | Prepaid online (24+ hrs before) | At the airport |
|---|---|---|
| First checked bag | $40 | $45 |
| Second checked bag | $50 | $55 |
| Third checked bag | $150 | $150 |
The prepay discount is small but real, and it only applies if you pay at least 24 hours before departure. Fees on premium transcontinental and international routes vary, so always confirm the exact number on your itinerary page before check-in. United will show your specific bag price when you pull up your reservation.
Standard checked bags must stay within 50 pounds and 62 linear inches (length + width + height) to avoid overweight or oversize charges.
Overweight and oversize baggage charges
This is where costs explode. United's excess-size fees stack on top of the regular checked-bag fee, and they climb fast:
| Condition | Extra fee (per bag) |
|---|---|
| Overweight 51–70 lbs | $100–$200 |
| Overweight 71–100 lbs | $200–$400 |
| Oversize 63–115 linear inches | $150–$200 |
United will not accept any bag over 100 pounds or over 115 linear inches as regular checked baggage. If your suitcase is borderline, weigh it at home. A cheap luggage scale costs less than the difference between a $40 bag and a $140 overweight bag, and repacking a few items into your carry-on at the counter can save you real money.
How to avoid or reduce United bag fees
You have several legitimate ways to skip or shrink these fees:
- Get a United credit card. The United Explorer Card gives the primary cardholder and one companion on the same reservation a free first checked bag, which pays for itself in about two round trips.
- Reach MileagePlus Premier status. Premier Silver members get one free checked bag; Gold and above get two, plus companions on the same reservation.
- Fly Star Alliance Gold. Elite status on a partner airline extends free-bag benefits on United flights.
- Buy a fare above Basic Economy. If you need a carry-on, the fare difference to standard economy is sometimes less than the $25 gate charge plus a checked-bag fee.
- Pay online, not at the counter. The $5-per-bag prepay discount adds up on a family trip.
- Pack to the personal-item limit. On short trips, a well-packed backpack under the seat costs you nothing on any fare.
If you also fly Delta, the structure is nearly identical and worth comparing side by side in our Delta baggage fees 2026 guide. Budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier charge for carry-ons and even seat selection, so the "cheaper" fare isn't always cheaper once bags are added.
What United owes you if your bag is lost, delayed, or damaged
Under US Department of Transportation rules, United is liable for lost, damaged, or delayed checked baggage up to $3,800 per passenger on domestic flights (14 CFR 254.4). For international itineraries, the Montreal Convention limit applies, currently around 1,288 SDR (roughly $1,700–$1,800). These are ceilings for reimbursement of actual, documented losses, not automatic payouts.
If your bag is delayed:
- File a report before you leave the airport. Go to United's baggage service office and get a file reference number. Reports made after you leave are much harder to process.
- Keep buying essentials. United must reimburse reasonable interim expenses (toiletries, clothes) while your bag is missing. Save every receipt.
- Track it. Use the United app or the file number on united.com to follow the bag's status.
The DOT considers a bag "lost" once the airline can't find it, typically after several days. United's own policy treats a bag as lost if it isn't recovered within a set window, at which point you can claim the contents up to the liability limit. For damage, report it at the airport or within the timeframes in United's contract of carriage.
United also refunds your checked-bag fee if your bag arrives late. That's not a courtesy, it's the DOT's baggage-fee refund rule: if you paid to check a bag and it doesn't arrive on time, you're entitled to that fee back. You usually have to request it.
Important: the US has no EU-style automatic compensation for delayed bags. United owes you reimbursement for actual expenses and the fee refund, not a flat penalty payment. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
If your bag went missing because of a misconnection, the responsibility question ties into your flight itself. Our guide on a missed connection due to a delay covers who's on the hook when your bag and your plane part ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does United Basic Economy include a carry-on bag?
Not on most domestic flights. Basic Economy gives you a personal item only unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member, a qualifying United cardholder, or a Star Alliance Gold member. If you bring a full carry-on without those exemptions, you'll pay a checked-bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. On many international Basic Economy routes, a carry-on is included, so check your specific itinerary.
How much does United charge for a first checked bag in 2026?
For standard domestic economy, the first checked bag is $40 if you prepay online at least 24 hours out, or $45 at the airport. The second bag is $50 online or $55 at the airport. Prices on premium transcontinental and international routes differ, so confirm the exact fee on your reservation page before you check in.
What happens if United loses my bag?
File a report at the baggage office before leaving the airport and get a file reference number. United is liable up to $3,800 per passenger on domestic flights and roughly $1,700–$1,800 on international routes. Save receipts for essentials you buy while waiting, request a refund of your checked-bag fee for the delay, and submit a claim for the bag's contents if it's declared lost.
Can I get my United bag fee refunded if my flight is cancelled?
Yes. If United cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, the 2024 DOT refund rule requires an automatic cash refund of your fare and any bag fees you paid, back to your original payment method, no forms required. If it's a weather cancellation versus an airline-caused one, your amenities differ, though the refund of paid fees still applies. See our breakdown of weather cancellation vs airline cancellation for what else you're owed.