SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
United Airlines' checked bag fees vary by destination and travel class. United increased its bag fees in April 2026, with prices now starting at $45 for prepaid bags in domestic economy. With elite status or the right credit card, you may be able to avoid these fees.
Here’s what to know about United’s checked bag fees, including how much you’ll pay and how to avoid them.
» Learn more: United MileagePlus: what you need to know
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
United domestic baggage fees
Economy class passengers who don't prepay can expect to pay $50 for the first checked bag and $60 ($55 if prepaid) for the second checked bag on domestic flights. Premium economy, business and first class passengers receive up to two checked bags free of charge. A third bag is $200 regardless of cabin.
Prepaid prices apply to bags fees paid at least 24 hours before departure.
United international baggage fees
On international routes, economy passengers can check one bag for free and the second is $100. For those traveling in basic economy, the first checked bag is $75 and the second is $100.
Passengers in Premium Economy get two free checked bags.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The United app lets you check the location of your checked bag using the tag number. You can also use an Apple AirTag in the app to check its location. United Airlines carry-on baggage fees
Most flights allow passengers to bring on board a personal item and a carry-on bag. The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and the dimensions must not exceed 9 inches-by-10 inches-by-17 inches. The carry-on bag needs to fit into the overhead bin, and its dimensions can be a maximum of 9 inches-by-14 inches-by-22 inches.
Exception for basic economy tickets
Domestic basic economy tickets are an exception to the free-carry-on policy. Those traveling on domestic basic economy tickets are only allowed to bring a personal item — no free carry-on.
If you bring a carry-on bag with you to the gate, you’ll have to pay a hefty $75 to check your bag, which includes a $25 gate handling charge in addition to the $50 checked bag fee. If you’re traveling with more than just a personal item, evaluate whether a basic economy ticket truly saves you money.
However, there are some conditions under which basic economy tickets allow a carry-on free of charge:
- Flights to/from South America or across the Atlantic or Pacific.
- Elite members and companions traveling with them.
- If you pay with a qualifying United credit card.
- Star Alliance Gold elites.
You can also bring a jacket, umbrella, food purchased at the airport, mobility devices, a car seat, diaper bag or camera for free.
United Airlines overweight baggage fee
Here's the maximum allowable checked baggage weight, along with fees for overweight baggage.
- Economy and premium economy passengers, United non-elites, Star Alliance Gold elites or passengers who book with a United credit card that allows a free checked bag: If you fall into this category, your bag allowance is 50 pounds. Depending on your destination, if your bag exceeds 50 pounds but is less than 70 pounds, you may have to pay up to $100 per bag. If your bag weighs more than 70 pounds but less than 100 pounds, you may have to pay up to $200 per bag. United will not accept bags weighing more than 100 pounds.
- United Premier Elites or those traveling in premium cabins. Those who are traveling in business or first class and/or have elite status with United can check a bag up to 70 pounds for free — even on a basic economy ticket. If you’re a heavy packer and your luggage weight usually exceeds 50 pounds, you may want to consider going for United elite status.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you’re a Marriott Titanium Elite, you’ll get an automatic match to United Silver thanks to the United-Marriott partnership and be able to check a bag up to 70 pounds. » Learn more: How Marriott-United status match works
United excess baggage fee
If your checked bag measures 63 inches or more (length + width + height), you will be charged an additional checked bag fee of $200. The maximum size your checked bag can be is 115 inches (length + width + height); anything larger than that exceeds United’s allowable luggage size and will not be accepted.
There are some exceptions, though. For example, you can bring one set of golf clubs as a checked bag in a hard case. You won’t need to pay for its strange size, but you will have to pay if it is overweight.
Calculator: How to determine checked bag fees on United Airlines
Now that you’re familiar with the different baggage fees United charges, you can use United’s website to figure out what you’ll have to pay to bring a bag with you on your flight. United Airlines has its own helpful baggage fee calculator, where you can enter a destination, travel date, cabin class, credit card and elite affiliations to determine checked bag fees.
If you’d like to see how United stacks up against other carriers, you can use NerdWallet’s calculator below to compare checked bag fees across multiple airlines. It’s especially helpful if you’re considering booking basic economy tickets and want to understand how additional fees could add up.
Note that this calculator only applies to domestic itineraries; international baggage fees are more complicated.
How to avoid United Airlines baggage fees
Credit cards that waive checked bag fees
The simplest way to avoid United checked bag fees is to pay for your flight with a credit card that automatically entitles you to a bag-fee waiver. United and its issuing partner, Chase, offer five such cards — three consumer cards and two small-business cards.
In each case, the benefit applies to the primary cardholder and one travel companion booked on the same reservation. It’s valid only on United-operated flights, and cardholders must add their MileagePlus number to the reservation and pay for it using one of the qualifying credit cards:
United cards and baggage perks
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .
$350.
$695.
$150.
$695.
Checked bag benefit
First checked bag free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First checked bag free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
Still not sure?
If you’re trying to avoid paying checked bag fees and are considering one of these cards, the United℠ Explorer Card is a strong option given its reasonable annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150. Even after the first year, if you check one bag on at least four United economy flights per year, you’d otherwise pay about $45 per bag when prepaid ($180 in total), meaning the card can effectively pay for itself.
Three legacy United credit cards (the United MileagePlus® Awards Card, United Presidential Plus Card and United Presidential Plus Business Card) also offer free checked bags. These cards are no longer open to new applicants, but existing cardholders still receive the benefit.
» Learn more: Benefits of United Airlines credit cards
You can avoid United checked bag fees by paying more to travel in premium economy, business or first class. Passengers in these cabins receive two free checked bags on domestic flights. Those flying in business or first class have a 70-pound baggage allowance.
If you plan on checking two bags, it’s a good idea to compare economy and premium economy fares to see if the free baggage allowance you get with premium economy could be worth the higher ticket price.
» Learn more: United Polaris business class: what to know
Free checked bags for elite members
United MileagePlus elite members receive additional free checked bags on top of the standard allowance for their ticket, with the exact allowance depending on the status and route:
- Premier Silver: One additional free checked bag in economy.
- Premier Gold: Two additional free checked bags in economy.
- Premier Platinum and Premier 1K: Up to three additional free checked bags in economy.
Checked bags for Premier elite members can weigh up to 70 pounds each, even when traveling in economy, compared with the standard 50-pound limit for most passengers.
On routes where economy passengers already receive a free checked bag, elite members can bring additional bags based on their status. For example, if a route includes one free checked bag, a Premier Silver member can check two bags for free, while a Premier Gold member can check three.
When traveling in premium cabins, elite members can check up to three bags for free.
Free checked bags for military members
Active-duty U.S. military personnel and their accompanying dependents qualify for free checked bags when traveling on United Airlines. Up to five bags can be checked per person while traveling on official business and three bags for personal travel.
This benefit also applies to dependents when traveling without the military member for relocation or on official orders.
» Learn more: Ways to score military travel discounts
Credit cards that cover airline incidentals
You may already have a card in your wallet that covers checked bag fees. If you have the American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you receive an annual $200 airline fee credit.* Terms apply; enrollment required.
To redeem airline incidental credits through American Express, you will need to designate United as your airline of choice every year. You’ll then receive a statement credit when you pay for checked bags (or other airline incidentals) with one of these credit cards. You can change your selected airline once per year.
If that sounds too restrictive, you might want to opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ , which comes with a $300 annual travel credit applicable to all travel purchases.
If you book your United flight in the Capital One travel portal with your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can pay upfront for checked luggage and your $300 annual travel credit will kick in to cover those charges.
The bottom line
United Airlines’ checked bag fees vary based on route, cabin and payment method. Still, there are several ways to avoid these charges. Frequent United flyers may benefit from holding a co-branded credit card, while those who aren’t loyal to one airline can use a credit card that offers an annual travel or airline incidental credit.
If you plan ahead and understand how the fees work, you can minimize or eliminate baggage costs altogether.
The information related to the United Club℠ Business Card ($695 annual fee) has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
*More from American Express
American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
