Luggage weight: a packing checklist and how to weigh at home

Excess baggage fees are charged per kilogram and can be expensive at the airport counter. Weighing at home takes five minutes and can save a lot.

Know your allowance first

Check the ticket or the airline’s website for checked and cabin allowance. Some airlines count the allowance as a total weight across bags; others set a per-bag limit. The rule on your ticket decides how to pack.

Weighing without a luggage scale

1. Weigh yourself on a bathroom scale and note the figure.
2. Weigh yourself holding the bag, and subtract the first figure.
3. Repeat for each bag. For accuracy, use a digital hanging scale, which is inexpensive.

Home scales can differ from airport scales by a kilogram or so, so leave a small margin.

Packing tips

• Put heavy items in the bag that has the larger limit; keep a few kilograms spare in case of a last-minute gift.
• Wear the heaviest jacket and shoes through the airport if the cabin rules allow.
• Keep documents, medication and valuables in the cabin bag.
• Do not pack power banks or lithium batteries in checked bags; airlines require them in the cabin.
• Check the list of items restricted by airlines and customs at both ends before you pack food or gifts.

Cost of being over

If you are 4 kg over and the airline charges 25 per kg, the fee is 100. It is often cheaper to buy extra allowance online in advance than to pay at the airport. Our luggage weight calculator totals your bags against your allowance and shows how much excess you might pay.