Delta Air Lines in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Delta Air Lines allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 18 × 11 × 11 in, soft-sided, stowed under the seat in front of you. Already own a carrier? Enter its measurements below to check it against this limit. The in-cabin fee is $150 each way (within US/Canada/Puerto Rico/USVI). 9 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 1" on its tightest dimension, while the Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) only just squeaks in with nothing to spare. Delta's 11" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with Allegiant, American, American Eagle (regional, incl. Republic Airways), Copa, Frontier, JSX, United): Air Europa, Avelo, Breeze and Pegasus allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Delta Air Lines?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Delta Air Lines’s published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Carriers that clear Delta Air Lines (18 × 11 × 11 in)
Roomiest margin first. Sized to the airline’s limit, not to your pet — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
 Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
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Delta Air Lines pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 18 × 11 × 11 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | $150 each way (within US/Canada/Puerto Rico/USVI); $200 international · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | small dogs, cats, household birds |
| Minimum age | At least 8 weeks (domestic); dogs entering the U.S. must be 6 months |
| Pets | Limit per flight, not per person: Delta First (domestic) 2 · Delta Comfort/Delta Main 4 · none in Delta One, Delta Premium or international Business. Pet + carrier must fit fully under the seat |
| Booking | Call Delta Reservations to add your pet before travel · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Seating restrictions | Not in bulkhead seats, an emergency exit row, seats marked “no stowage”, flat-bed or Delta One seats, rows 46–51 on the A330-200, rows 54–59 on the A330-300, or center seats on the B757-200. |
| Routes & cargo | No cabin pets to or from Australia, Barbados, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK or the UAE, and none originating in Brazil, Colombia or the Dominican Republic. |
Source: official Delta Air Lines pet policy · verified 2026-09-04 · how Delta Air Lines ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Delta Air Lines
Matched to Delta Air Lines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Delta Air Lines carrier shortlist →
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our specs or which carriers we list.
This table ranks by Delta Air Lines’s size limit — not by your pet. The weight under each carrier is what that size is rated to hold. A bag can clear the airline and still be the wrong size for the animal, which is the most common reason one goes back — measure your pet first →
| Carrier | Size | Fit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) up to ~8 lb · max pet 13″ long × 7.5″ tall | 15 × 10 × 8.5 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Fits 1" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Fits 0.5" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | See on Amazon → |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Exact fit 0" spare | Search Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Fits collapsed | See on Amazon → |
5 carriers too big for Delta Air Lines
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too big | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Delta Air Lines's number is its published maximum, not a guarantee for your exact seat. Before you buy or fly:
- Check which aircraft operates your flight (in your booking or on a seat-map site).
- Avoid bulkhead and exit rows — bulkheads have no under-seat storage and most airlines ban pets there — and check this airline's seat rules above.
- Call Delta Air Lines to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
By animal
Delta Air Lines publishes a specific term for these — each has its own conditions:
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Etihad Airways · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Delta Air Lines allow in the cabin?
Delta Air Lines's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 18 × 11 × 11 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Delta Air Lines pet policy.
How much does Delta Air Lines charge for an in-cabin pet?
$150 each way (within US/Canada/Puerto Rico/USVI); $200 international. Always confirm the current fee on the official Delta Air Lines pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Delta Air Lines?
9 of the 15 carriers we track clear Delta Air Lines's published 18 × 11 × 11 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), with 1" to spare on its tightest dimension. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears Delta Air Lines is rated for is 22 lb (some fitting carriers publish no pet rating). Full shortlist: /fits/delta/.
Is Delta Air Lines's 18 × 11 × 11 in limit guaranteed on every aircraft?
No. Delta explicitly states under-seat space varies by aircraft and that 18×11×11 is a recommendation that fits most aircraft — not a per-flight guarantee. Check the aircraft on your specific flight. Treat the published figure as a fleet-wide maximum, not a promise for your seat, and prefer a collapsible or flexible-height carrier.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Delta Air Lines?
Limit per flight, not per person: Delta First (domestic) 2 · Delta Comfort/Delta Main 4 · none in Delta One, Delta Premium or international Business. Pet + carrier must fit fully under the seat. Species accepted: small dogs, cats, household birds. Call Delta Reservations to add your pet before travel