Lufthansa in-cabin pet policy — and the carriers that fit
Lufthansa allows small pets in the cabin in a carrier up to 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 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. In-cabin fee: Charged once per flight direction (again for return flights and stopovers over 24 hours). 2 of the 15 carriers we track clear that published limit.
The Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small) leaves the most room — 0.6" on its tightest dimension, against just 0.1" for the Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile). Lufthansa's 9.1" height ceiling sits mid-pack among the 77 airlines we track (shared with airBaltic, Austrian, Brussels, Discover, Edelweiss, Eurowings, ITA, SAS Scandinavian, Swiss International, Turkish): Aegean, Air Europa, Air France and Air Transat allow more, while EL AL Israel allows only 7".
Will your carrier fit Lufthansa?
Measure the outside of your carrier (bulges included) and enter it below. The check uses Lufthansa’s published 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in limit — height is checked strictly, the footprint may rotate.
Carriers that clear Lufthansa (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 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 0.6" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb · over Lufthansa's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Fits 0.1" spare | Not available on Amazon right now |
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Lufthansa pet rules
| Max carrier size (published) | 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in |
| Soft-sided required? | Yes |
| In-cabin fee | Charged once per flight direction (again for return flights and stopovers over 24 hours); the price depends on the route and Lufthansa publishes no single figure — pay at check-in or the Lufthansa service counter (assistance dogs travel free) · compare all airlines → |
| Species allowed | small dogs, cats |
| Weight | 8 kg (17.6 lb) including the transport container |
| Pets | Max 1 transport container per passenger; normally 1 animal per container, with exceptions allowing 2 animals (two young animals of comparable size min. 12 weeks, two fully grown animals of comparable size, or a mother with one young animal 0–6 weeks) — so max 2 animals per passenger |
| Booking | Register the animal on Lufthansa's pet page ("Register animal now"); Lufthansa checks availability and books it no later than 72 hours before departure. Bring two signed printouts of the cabin-animal form to check-in · what to book, buy and pack → |
| Routes & cargo | Until further notice Lufthansa takes new bookings for dogs flying to the USA only into Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Philadelphia and Washington DC, and you must also file the CDC Dog Import Form. Lufthansa may refuse pets on some routes, the UK and Ireland among them, and cannot carry large animals in the hold to certain destinations. |
Source: official Lufthansa pet policy · verified 2026-08-25 · how Lufthansa ranks on fee and space →
Carriers that fit Lufthansa
Matched to Lufthansa's published 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in limit (height checked strictly; footprint may rotate). See the full Lufthansa 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 Lufthansa’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 0.6" spare | See on Amazon → |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Mini (Low-Profile) up to ~15 lb · over Lufthansa's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 9 in | Fits 0.1" spare | Not available on Amazon right now |
Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Standard (Expandable) up to ~20 lb · over Lufthansa's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 18 × 11 × 10 in | Flexes — 0.9" over | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Medium) up to ~16 lb · max pet 16″ long × 9.5″ tall · over Lufthansa's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 17 × 11 × 10.5 in | Flexes — 1.4" over | See on Amazon → |
Sherpa Original Deluxe (Large) up to ~22 lb · max pet 18″ long × 10.5″ tall · over Lufthansa's 17.6 lb limit once the bag is counted | 19 × 11.75 × 11.5 in | Flexes — 2.4" over | See on Amazon → |
SturdiBag Pro (Large, Flexible Height) pet size not published | 18 × 11.5 × 11.5 in | Flexes — 2.4" over | Not available on Amazon right nowIn stock and fits the same airlines: Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) |
9 carriers too big for Lufthansa
Petmate Soft-Sided Kennel Cab (Medium) up to ~10 lb | 17 × 10 × 10 in | Too tall (10" > 9.1") | View on Amazon |
Diggs Passenger pet size not published · Diggs discontinued this carrier — link goes to similar carriers | 17 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 9.1") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
ibiyaya JetPaw Expandable Backpack up to ~17 lb | 18 × 12 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 9.1") | View on Amazon |
Sleepypod Atom up to ~12 lb | 17 × 8.5 × 10.5 in | Too tall (10.5" > 9.1") | View on Amazon |
Away The Pet Carrier pets up to ~18 lb | 18.7 × 10.8 × 10.75 in | Too tall (10.75" > 9.1") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Petsfit (Medium) Expandable Soft-Sided up to ~13 lb | 17 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 9.1") | View on Amazon |
Bergan Comfort Carrier (Small) pet size not published | 16 × 8 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 9.1") | View on Amazon |
Frisco Premium Airline-Compliant Carrier up to ~22 lb | 18 × 11 × 11 in | Too tall (11" > 9.1") | Compare similar on Amazon → |
Sleepypod Air up to ~18 lb | 22 × 10.5 × 10.5 in | Too big | View on Amazon |
How to confirm your actual under-seat space
Lufthansa'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 Lufthansa to confirm under-seat dimensions for that aircraft, or
- Choose a collapsible / flexible-height carrier that adapts to a tighter space.
More airlines: Air Canada · Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Breeze Airways · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines · Ryanair · SAS Scandinavian Airlines · Saudia · all →
Common questions
What size pet carrier does Lufthansa allow in the cabin?
Lufthansa's recommended maximum in-cabin carrier is 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in. It must fit fully under the seat in front of you. Source: the Lufthansa pet policy.
How much does Lufthansa charge for an in-cabin pet?
Charged once per flight direction (again for return flights and stopovers over 24 hours); the price depends on the route and Lufthansa publishes no single figure — pay at check-in or the Lufthansa service counter (assistance dogs travel free). Always confirm the current fee on the official Lufthansa pet page before you fly.
Which pet carriers fit Lufthansa?
2 of the 15 carriers we track clear Lufthansa's published 21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in. The roomiest is the Sherpa Original Deluxe (Small), with 0.6" to spare on its tightest dimension. The heaviest pet any carrier that clears Lufthansa is rated for is 15 lb. Full shortlist: /fits/lufthansa/.
Does Lufthansa require a soft-sided pet carrier?
Yes — Lufthansa requires a soft-sided carrier in the cabin. Height is what rules carriers out: Lufthansa publishes 9.1", against 13" at the most generous airline we track.
How many pets can I bring in the cabin on Lufthansa?
Max 1 transport container per passenger; normally 1 animal per container, with exceptions allowing 2 animals (two young animals of comparable size min. 12 weeks, two fully grown animals of comparable size, or a mother with one young animal 0–6 weeks) — so max 2 animals per passenger. Species accepted: small dogs, cats. Weight limit: 8 kg (17.6 lb) including the transport container. Register the animal on Lufthansa's pet page ("Register animal now"); Lufthansa checks availability and books it no later than 72 hours before departure. Bring two signed printouts of the cabin-animal form to check-in