A luggage scale vs an overweight bag fee
We track overweight fees at every airline on this site. Here's what they actually cost, which airlines punish a heavy bag hardest, and whether a scale is worth it.
What our data says
We track baggage rules for 118 airlines on this site. Of those, 41 publish an overweight charge, averaging $72 and reaching $200 at Jeju Air. The most common checked-bag weight limit is 23 kg, and 22 of the airlines we track charge for a full-size cabin bag on their cheapest fare (averaging $33).
These figures are recalculated from our airline pages whenever the site is rebuilt — they are not estimates.
The maths is not close
An overweight bag is one of the few airline fees you can remove entirely with a one-off purchase. Across the airlines we track, the average overweight charge is $72 — and it is charged per bag, per direction, so a return trip with one heavy suitcase can cost $144.
A hanging luggage scale is typically $10–$15. At the average fee above, it pays for itself the first time it stops you at 23 kg instead of letting you find out at the desk.
The other reason to weigh at home: overweight and oversize charges stack at many airlines, and they stack on top of the normal checked-bag fee. That is how a single suitcase turns into three separate charges.
Where a heavy bag hurts most (2026)
| Airline | Weight limit | Overweight charge |
|---|---|---|
| Jeju Air | 23 kg | +$200 |
| WestJet | 23 kg | +$163 |
| JetBlue | 23 kg | +$150 |
| China Eastern Airlines | 32 kg | +$140 |
| Hainan Airlines | 23 kg | +$140 |
| Aer Lingus | 23 kg | +$100 |
| Air Canada | 23 kg | +$100 |
| Alaska Airlines | 23 kg | +$100 |
What to look for in a scale
- Reads to at least 50 kg / 110 lb — most limits sit well under this.
- A hook and strap, not a platform — you lift the bag, not balance it.
- A hold/lock function, so the reading stays after you set the bag down.
- Switches between kg and lb — limits are published in both.
That is the entire specification. Anything more expensive is buying features that do not change the number on the display.
Fees change often and vary by route, fare type, and date — the figures above are calculated from our airline pages and are a guide, not a quote. Always confirm on the airline's official site before you travel.