Luggage Guide for Germany: Suitcase Sizes and Airline Rules
⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.
The short answer
Flying from Germany? Lufthansa's checked-bag rule is simple: 23kg and no more than 158cm total (length + width + height) per bag. But the cheapest Economy Light fares include no checked bag at all — and your cabin bag is limited to 55 x 40 x 23cm and 8kg.
Checked baggage: 23kg and 158cm
- Lufthansa Economy (non-Light fares): 1 checked bag of up to 23kg, max 158cm total of length + width + height — including wheels, handles, and outer pockets.
- Economy Light: 0 checked bags included. You can add one when booking; buying at the airport costs more.
- Overweight (23–32kg) or oversize (158–292cm) bags are charged excess-baggage fees per bag. No bag over 32kg is accepted.
- Higher cabins come with higher allowances — check your ticket for the exact figures on your booking.
Cabin baggage: 55 x 40 x 23cm, 8kg
- 1 cabin bag of up to 55 x 40 x 23cm and 8kg, plus 1 personal item (handbag or laptop bag) of up to 40 x 30 x 15cm that fits under the seat in front of you.
- Lufthansa weighs cabin bags at the gate — the 8kg limit is enforced more strictly than on many airlines.
- Keep valuables, medicines, and electronics in your cabin bag, not in the hold.
Hard vs soft suitcases, and backpacks
- Hard-shell (polycarbonate/ABS): best protection for fragile items, keeps its shape in the hold; usually heavier and not expandable. Best as a checked bag.
- Soft-shell (fabric): lighter, often expandable, with outside pockets for documents. Better as a cabin bag, where every centimetre counts.
- Cabin backpacks: ideal for strict weight limits — a backpack sized to 55 x 40 x 23cm keeps you safely inside Lufthansa's 8kg rule.
- Travel backpacks (50–70L): fine as checked baggage; tuck away or cover the straps before check-in.
Packing tips
- Compression packing cubes (sold on Amazon): squeeze clothes flat and keep outfits organised — the single biggest space saver.
- Roll soft clothes, fold structured ones; wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on the plane.
- Keep valuables, medicines, and chargers in your cabin bag — never in checked luggage.
- Weigh your bag at home with a luggage scale (a bathroom scale plus subtraction works too).
Frequently asked questions
Does a 28-inch suitcase need an extra fee on Lufthansa?
Not automatically. A typical 28-inch case sits right around the 158cm total limit — sometimes just over once wheels and handles are included. Measure your exact case (length + width + height); if it is over 158cm, or your fare includes no checked bag, you will pay extra.
Does Economy Light include any checked bag?
No. Add one during booking or later in "My bookings" — it is cheaper online than at the airport.
Can I bring a backpack instead of a cabin suitcase?
Yes, as long as it fits 55 x 40 x 23cm and 8kg. A backpack that fits under the seat can also serve as your personal item (40 x 30 x 15cm).
What if my bag weighs 24kg?
It counts as overweight, and excess-baggage fees apply per bag. Shift weight into your cabin bag (within its 8kg) or into a second case.
Does the 158cm include wheels and handles?
Yes — Lufthansa measures the total of width + height + depth including anything that sticks out: wheels, handles, and outer pockets.
Sources
- Lufthansa baggage and other fees — https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/baggage-and-other-fees
- Lufthansa carry-on baggage — https://www.lufthansa.com/xx/en/carry-on-baggage
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