Porter Airlines is the third-largest airline in Canada. As with all major Canadian airlines, customers who use Porter must be aware of the rules and regulations pertaining to the size of carry-on baggage.
Porter Airlines Carry-On Rules For 2026 At A Glance
Porter Airlines allows for carry-ons with a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches). There are no weight limits for carry-ons with Porter, though we recommend bringing a carry-on that you can lift into the overhead compartment yourself without assistance (though Porter staff are typically happy to help people with physical limitations stow away their carry-on baggage).
Porter also recommends bringing a bag that is slightly smaller than its maximum carry-on limits to ensure that your bag will fit in its overhead compartments. Other rules we will cover in this article include:
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Additional allowances for people travelling with children and infants
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Additional allowances for mobility aids and medical devices
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Other additional allowances, including duty-free purchases
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Personal item allowances
Porter Airlines Carry-On Size And Personal Item Dimensions Explained
Porter allows:
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One personal item with all Basic Fare flights
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One personal item and one standard carry-on bag with all Standard, Flexible, Freedom, Navigate, and Ultimate Fare flights
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Personal items have a maximum size of 33 x 43 x 16 cm (13 x 17 x 6 in)
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Standard carry-ons have a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in)
There are no weight limits for personal items or carry-ons, but you should be able to carry both items and stow your carry-on away into the overhead bin without assistance (unless you have physical limitations which impede you from being able to do so, even with a reasonably weighted bag).
Porter recommends keeping your bags below the maximum allowable dimensions; as you pack, your bags can increase in size (especially with soft-sided luggage). Always measure your bags before going to the airport.
What You Can Pack In Your Porter Carry-On Bag
As with all airlines, Porter has limitations on what can be packed within your carry-on baggage. These limitations are not imposed by Porter itself, but by government agencies like CATSA in Canada and the TSA in the United States. You should always review the items you can pack before packing your carry-on or checked baggage.
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CATSA (Canadian Flights): What Can I Bring?
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TSA (US Flights): What Can I Bring?
Porter also reminds its customers that there are limits on the liquids, gels, and aerosols that you may bring in your carry-on baggage or personal item. From its website:
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All liquids, gels, aerosols, pastes, lotions, creams, drinks and other items of similar consistency must be in containers with a capacity no greater than 100 ml (3.4 oz).
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Containers must be packed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre.
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Only 1 bag is allowed per traveller, and it must be taken out of carry-on baggage for inspection at airport security.
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Exemptions will be made for medications, special dietary requirements and baby food in reasonable quantities. Duty-free purchases such as cigarettes, alcohol and perfume are also permitted in reasonable quantities, provided that they have been sealed at the point of purchase in a Security Tamper Evident Bag with the receipt inside.
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Containers larger than 100 ml will not be accepted, even if they are only partially filled.
Additional Items & Exemptions
In some circumstances, you may be allowed to bring more than your standard carry-on; you may also be allowed to bring items in your carry-on that are normally inadmissible. These additional items and exemptions include:
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Additional items when travelling with infants and children under 2:
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A diaper bag
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Baby food, breast milk, formula, and other baby items. These items are allowable in quantities greater than the typical 100 ml limit; gel or ice packs are also allowed to keep those products cool. Products must be presented to security during screening.
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Toys (but no toys that look like weapons, and no remote-controlled toys; remote-controlled toys must be packed as checked baggage)
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A car seat
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A stroller (if it is collapsible and weighs less than 22.7 kg / 50 lbs)
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Prescription and essential non-prescription medications (may be larger than 100 ml)
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Mobility aids and medical devices
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Coats and jackets
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An umbrella
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Cremated remains
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A container carrying life-sustaining items
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Duty-free purchases of more than 100 ml if they have been sealed at the point of purchase in a Security Tamper-Evidence Bag with a receipt
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Duty-free items in reasonable quantities do not count towards your carry-on baggage allowance on your next flight.
How Porter Airlines Baggage Policies Compare With Other Canadian Airlines
Porter Airlines has a relatively standard baggage policy, competitive with other Canadian airlines. Its allowable dimensions are exactly the same as Air Canada’s. West Jet allows for slightly longer (56 cm/22”) but slightly stouter (36 cm/14”) baggage.
Though we don’t consider pets to be baggage, it’s important to understand Porter’s pet policy. When travelling with Porter, if you pay to travel with a pet, their kennel is considered to replace your carry-on. This policy differs from WestJet (which allows you to bring a pet instead of a personal item, for a fee) and Air Canada (which allows you to bring a pet in addition to your personal item and carry-on, for a fee).
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Porter Airlines Carry-On Size Guide 2026 FAQ
What is the Porter Airlines carry-on size limit in 2026?
Porter Airlines has the following size limits:
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Standard carry-ons have a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in).
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Personal items have a maximum size of 33 x 43 x 16 cm (13 x 17 x 6 in).
Does Porter Airlines allow a personal item in addition to a carry-on?
It does. Personal items are available on all flights.
How strict is Porter Airlines about carry-on size and weight?
Porter has a reputation for being somewhat laid back about carry-on size. We always recommend you measure your carry-on before getting to the airport, just in case, but it doesn’t tend to be as zealous about carry-on sizes as ultra-low-cost airlines. There are no strict limits for weight, but you should be able to place your carry-on into the overhead bin yourself.
Can you bring a backpack or laptop bag on Porter Airlines?
Absolutely. Some backpacks and laptop bags can even be considered personal items. You may have to remove your laptop from your bag when going through security.
What happens if your carry-on is too big for Porter Airlines?
You may be charged a fee to check your carry-on if it is too big; if there is no room, you may even need to leave items behind or ship them yourself. We always recommend measuring your bag before leaving for these reasons.
Are Porter Airlines carry-on rules the same for every fare type?
No. The Basic Fare does not come with a carry-on bag.