Luggage Weight Calculator
Trip luggage total and overweight vs the 50 lb bag limit.
What it does
Airline scales forgive nothing. Two checked bags near the limit plus a full carry can total over a hundred pounds, with fees hiding in one heavy case.
The tool above adds the trip and checks each case past 50 lb. Forty eight plus 52 plus 15 is 115 lb total with 2 lb over on the second case. The metric match is 52.2 kg with 0.9 kg over.
The 50 lb line rules economy fares. Each checked case gets its own test, so one light case never cancels a heavy twin.
Packing shifts pounds fast. Books, shoes, and liquids move the scale more than clothes, and a home weigh-in catches the miss before the counter.
Carry counts for lifting, not fees. It rides in the trip total for backs and bins, while overage only follows checked cases.
How to use
- Pick imperial (lb) or metric (kg).
- Enter two checked bags.
- Enter carry bag.
- Read trip total first.
- Read overage next.
- Shift dense items before the airport.
Formula
- bag1
- First checked bag.
- bag2
- Second checked bag.
- carry
- Cabin bag.
Limit is 50 lb or 22.68 kg per checked bag. Carry counts in the trip total but never in overage.
Worked example
Example: 48, 52, and 15 lb
Imperial defaults: 48 and 52 lb checked with 15 lb carry. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Bags: 48 lb and 52 lb, plus 15 lb carry.
- Total: 48 + 52 + 15 = 115 lb.
- Limit: 50 lb per checked bag.
- Over: max(0, 48 - 50) + max(0, 52 - 50) = 2 lb.
- Tool shows 115 lb total, 2 lb over, Over by 2 lb.
Reference table
| Bags | Total | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 40, 40, 10 lb | 90 lb | 0 lb |
| 48, 52, 15 lb | 115 lb | 2 lb |
| 55, 45, 15 lb | 115 lb | 5 lb |
| 21.8, 23.6, 6.8 kg | 52.2 kg | 0.9 kg |
Limits
- Fee guide only. Fares vary by route and class.
- Carry limits need fare rules.
- Scale error needs home margin.
- Sport gear needs airline tables.
Common mistakes
- Weighing packed once at the airport.
- Balancing a heavy case with a light twin.
- Forgetting souvenirs on the return leg.
- Packing liquids at the top to leak.
- Lifting heavy totals with a bent back.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
40, 40, and 10 lb?
40 + 40 + 10 = 90 lb total. Each checked is under 50, so 0 lb over. Status is Under limit.
55, 45, and 15 lb?
55 + 45 + 15 = 115 lb total. Over is 5 + 0 = 5 lb. Status is Over by 5 lb.
Questions
Total and over?
Add all three, then check each checked bag past 50. Here 48 + 52 + 15 = 115 lb with 2 lb over.
What is the limit?
Fifty pounds per checked bag on many economy tickets. Carry limits vary, so read the fare rules.
How do I fix over?
Shift dense items to the light bag or the carry. Shoes and books move pounds fast.
How do I weigh?
Weigh at home on a bathroom scale: self with and without each bag. Airport scales decide, home scales warn.
Fees per pound?
Yes. Fees jump past 50 and again past 70 on many fares.
All fares covered?
No. Sport gear and international fares need airline tables.