Southwest Airlines · Question
How Much Does Southwest Airlines Charge for Checked Bags?
Expert answer updated for 2026, with official sources and links to detailed guides.
Here's Southwest Airlines's complete checked baggage fee structure for 2026:
Southwest Checked Bag Fees
- First checked bag: FREE (2 checked bags included with every ticket)
- Second checked bag: FREE
- Overweight (50+ lbs): Typically $50–100+ surcharge
- Oversize: Varies, usually $50–200 for bags exceeding 62 linear inches
Southwest is one of the few airlines that includes free checked bags — a significant value compared to competitors who charge $35–45 per bag each way. On a round trip, that's $70–90 in savings.
Use our Baggage Fee Calculator to compare fees across all airlines. For official policies, see Southwest Airlines's website.