18x11x11 Pet Carriers: Reviewing the 13 Best + Options for Dogs That Don’t Fit in Airline Approved
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Have you been wondering about the best 18 x 11 x 11 Pet Carriers for Extra Large small dogs? I’ve got you covered!
As an experienced pet owner and fellow travel enthusiast, I understand the struggle of finding the perfect carrier for our medium and XL small dogs. My 23 lb Border Terrier, Sam, is quite the adventurer. However, he has long legs and a 16-inch tall back and stands 22 inches tall at his head. He doesn’t fit in the typical 18″ L x 11″ W x 11″ H airline-approved pet carriers, and trust me, I’ve tried many.
This buying guide will compare some top soft-sided crates, backpacks, and carriers for your pet so you can find the best one to meet your needs.
For those of us with medium or extra-large small dogs or cats, like Sam, it’s crucial to find a carrier that accommodates their unique size while still meeting the requirements of airlines, buses, trains, etc. We want our beloved pets to travel comfortably and stress-free but often feel frustrated with limited options.
If you see “Airline Approved” next to a carrier bigger than the 18x11x11 dimensions, it is often either false advertising or the label applies to the small and medium-sized models, but all the sizes are described using the same language. One feature of the soft-sided crates is many are engineered to have the top be able to squish under the airline seat.
So, what do we do if our pets don’t fit in the standard size? As a fellow pet owner who’s been in your shoes, I’ve thoroughly researched and tested various carriers. I’ll share my reviews of carriers many of which I’ve personally tested and explain the best use of that particular model.
My Top 3 Picks: BEST Pet Carriers for Dogs and Cats That Don’t Fit in the 18x11x11 Airline-Approved Options
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SturdiBag Pro 2.0 Pet Carrier XL
✅ 20″L x 12″W x 16″H
✅ Holds pets up to 35 Pounds
✅ High-quality engineering and material
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Peanut -Tahoe Expandable Backpack
✅ 17″H x 14.4″W x 9″ D (Since 2 of the 3 measurements fit the airline requirements, it’s a good option to try) Expands to add an extra 13 inches of depth
✅ Holds pets up to 24 Pounds
✅ Clever design and quality material
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Natuvalle 6-in-1 pet carrier L
✅ L20” x W14” x H10”
✅ Holds pets up to 22 Pounds
✅ Creative design allows for 6 different ways to carry or stow
Best Extra Large Pet Carriers
How strict are airlines about the dog/cat carrier size?
Sam is too tall and heavy to fit in many of the airline-approved bags.
Every airline has a different policy, but the most standard size accepted by many US domestic carriers including United, American and Delta is 18x11x11 and 8 kgs or 17.5 lbs is the most common weight limit on US and international airlines.
The reason is the airlines require the bag to fit under the seat in front of you, so the bag needs to be short and narrow enough to fit under the seats on their airplanes.
In my pet traveler groups and forums, I see these questions constantly, “How strict are airlines’ dog carrier size requirements?” or “My dog fits the weight limit but has long legs” etc. Unless you have a true small dog or an average-sized cat, your furry friend will likely be at least a little too big for the crate allowances.
Since I have one of these larger small dogs or medium-sized dogs, I have scoured every piece of information I possibly can about this question as well. Oddly, it is actually very difficult to find resources to help us.
I also want to be very clear, our pets likely do not meet airline requirements. If you want to take the chance, you will want a backup plan in case you get turned away at the airport.
There are alternatives if your pet can’t fly in the cabin. My information about flying with a big dog will guide you through the various options
I also see hundreds of people asking about which airline is the least strict about the size limits. Unfortunately, my informal study indicates it isn’t about the airline. It’s about the individual person working the counter.
There are plenty of other places where a pet carrier will come in handy other than a plane. Pets that can fit inside bags are welcome on buses and trains in many cities in the US and in Europe. They can also enter stores where leashed dogs can’t go. Additionally, you may want a safe comfy place for your pet to sit while at a restaurant or other busy location.
We were looking for a bag for Sam that could work in all those environments not just on the plane.
1. SturdiBag Pro 2.0 Pet Carrier XL
⭐️ HIGH RATINGS AND MOST FREQUENTLY RECOMMENDED BY FLYERS WITH XL SMALL DOGS
✅ Dimensions of 20″ L x 12″ W x 16″ H
✅ Accommodates pets up to 35 lbs (15.8 kg)
My Take: The SturdiBag has an incredible Design. Every part of this bag from the quality material to the smooth zippers to the placement of the openings has been carefully thought out.
The base of the bag provides a lot of stability, so your pet has a solid place to lie down even if they are being carried or wheeled around.
This bag is the most commonly recommended by people flying with dogs between about 18-30lbs on airlines such as Delta whose bag size requirements are 18x11x11 as well as specialty airlines such as JSX with a larger size allowance.
One reason pet travelers are able to make it work is that the rods can be removed for the flight, so the bag can potentially fit under the seat as required for take-off and landing as required by the FAA.
Pros
- The SturdiBag has both top and side entries with mesh windows and flaps, providing comfort, safety, and easy access.
- The removable rods help the top to smush so it can fit under the plane seat despite being larger than the official recommendation.
- Lightweight padding that velcro’s in place and is machine washable
Cons
There are not a lot of cons for this carrier. However, we didn’t select it because we realized a backpack would work better for us since we will be traveling on a regular basis using multiple means of transportation. If we just needed a bag for a flight, we would have selected the SturdiBag XL
- While people are often able to take the Studribag XL on planes, it is actually bigger than the allowed size, so it is possible the airline will reject your pet.
- The rods being removable is part of what makes this brilliant engineering, but if you are anything like me, keeping up with small pieces of things is not always an easy task.
OUR TOP AIRLINE CARRIER PICK
🤩 Click Here To For The Best Price On XL Suturdibag!
2. Mr. Peanut -Tahoe Expandable Backpack
⭐️ HIGH RATINGS AND ONE OF THE MOST RECOMMENDED BRANDS BY PET TRAVELERS
✅ Dimensions of 17″H x14.4″W x9″ D & Expands to 22″ D
✅ Accommodates pets up to 24 lbs (11 kg)
My Take: Mr. Peanut’s Tahoe Backpack is a fantastic concept. It feels sturdy and stable on my back and on the ground. I like how there is more room if your pet needs to stay in it for a while.
Mr. Peanut Tahoe Expandable Backpack is a little larger than the standard airline-approved limits but fits the airlines with larger allowances. Only the width is larger, so it might have a better chance of being allowed on a plane.
Pros
- The Mr. Peanut Tahoe has both top and side entries with mesh windows and flaps, providing comfort, safety, and easy access.
- The backpack is sturdy, stable, and comfortable when on your back. The weight of your dog or cat gets distributed on the padded shoulder straps, so it is easy to wear for a longer time
- Since your pet sits upright in the backpack, it will give a little more headroom than the horizontal bags. So, dogs that are taller or have longer legs will be more comfortable
- Once you are on the plane or long-distance train etc. and take off, the bag can be placed on its side and expanded providing quite a reasonable amount of space for a bigger small dog (see video).
Cons
- While people are often able to take the backpack on planes, it is actually wider than the allowed size, so it is possible the airline will reject your pet.
- There is a strap to connect the backpack to your carry-on so you can wheel your pet. It worked okay with my smaller dog, but with my bigger dog, the bag was top-heavy and the whole thing would have fallen if I hadn’t caught it
OUR TOP PET TRAVEL BACKPACK PICK
🤩 Click Here For The Best Price on the Mr. Peanuts Tahoe Backpack
3. Natuvalle 6-in-1 pet carrier L
✅ Dimensions of L20” x W14” x H10”
✅ Accommodates pets up to 22 lbs (10 kg)
My Take: The Natuvalle L Pet Carrier is a good choice for big small pets because it is roomy with the frames, but the top can be adjusted to fit under the seat of the plane. The fleece padding and tall space make this bag cozy for your pup. Solid construction as a carry bag but not comfortable as a backpack.
Pros
- The Natuvalle felt airy and spacious with openings on both sides.
- The black frames (see video) are used to provide the height and spaciousness. However, if you need to fit the bag under and airplane seat, they can be adjusted so the bag can compact a little
- There are 6 ways to carry it including putting it on your back and turning it onto its side.
- The solid base means your pet is stable even when being carried
Cons
- While people are often able to take this bag onto the plane, it is longer and taller (adjusting frames may help it to meet requirements) than the 18x11x11 allowances.
- The adjustable frames allow you to better meet airline requirements. However, it takes a bit of effort to make the adjustments. Make sure your pet is connected to the internal leash so they don’t escape while you are moving the frames
- One of the 6-in-1 uses is as a backpack, but it is uncomfortable especially on smaller people.
4. Sherpa Forma XL Pet Carrier
⭐️ SAM’S PICK
✅ Dimensions of 23″L x 16″W x 16″H
✅ Accommodates pets up to 35 lbs (16 kg)
My Take: The Sherpa Forma XL is a sturdy and spacious bag that would be perfect for taking a medium-sized dog on a road trip. If you have space in your car, you can buckle it in permanently to avoid carrying it around.
This is huge and will not work on a plane. If you look at the Amazon site, it says “airline approved”. That might be true for the medium size, but there is no way this bag will fit under a seat!
Pros
- This XL bag is quite large and has a roomy interior
- 3 mesh windows provide airflow
- Crash-tested with a strap that connects to your car seatbelt system
- Would work well to take on an outing where you want to be able to carry your dog and crate them at the park or an event etc.
Cons
- Don’t be fooled by the airline-approved rating. That’s for the S/M sizes.
- No airline will accept this bag
SAM’S TOP TRAVEL BAG PICK
He jumped in by himself, lay down, and didn’t want to get out
5. Petsfit Backpack
✅ Dimensions of 13″L x10.5″W x 17.5″H & Expands to 27.5″W
✅ Accommodates pets up to 22 lbs (10 kg)
My Take: The Petsfit Backpack is too small for the XL small dogs or medium size dogs. My terrier was too tall to fit in the backpack. However, He could stretch out nicely in the expandable portion laying down.
This backpack is a good option for smaller dogs and cats who are calm. All the ventilation is great, but the extra visibility and web fabric would be easy to break with a pet who was stressed out
Pros
- Since 2 of the 3 dimensions fit the standard airline requirement and the 3rd is just 1 inch over, this backpack is not likely not to be rejected by the airlines
- Once expanded, the flexible mesh panels provide a comfortable space for pets to lie down
- The backpack has more ventilation than most, so it could be good for brachycephalic (snub-nosed pets) who need good airflow to stay cool
- The backpack was comfortable to wear with my smaller (12lb) dog
Cons
- This bag is not actually big enough for most of our bigger small dogs
- All the extra ventilation means lots of mesh material that is less durable if a pet were to bite or scratch at it
BEST CHOICE FOR SMALLER SNUB-NOSED PETS
6. Siivton Expandable Pet Carrier
✅ Dimensions of 18″L x 11″W x 11″H & Expands to 38″ x 30″ x 11″
✅ Accommodates pets up to 14 lbs (6 kg)
My Take: The Siivton has a good concept, but the execution was a little challenging, especially with zipping and unzipping.
Sam barely fit in this bag when it was all zipped up, so he could easily be rejected at the airport for not meeting the requirements
Pros
- Airline approved – When zipped up, the bag meets the airline requirements of 18 x 11 x 11
- Once expanded, the extra space provides a comfortable area for pets to stretch out
- This bag is very affordable
Cons
- This bag is not actually big enough or sturdy enough for most of our XL small dogs.
- It was difficult to put the expandable portions back and zip them up
BEST CHOICE FOR INFREQUENT TRAVELERS WHO WANT AN AFFORDABLE BAG WHERE THEIR PET CAN STRETCH OUT
🤩 Click Here For The Best Price on the Siivton Expandable Carrier
Other XL Pet Carriers
7. Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Big Apple XL
✅ Dimensions of 20″L x 11″W x 10.4″H & Expands to 17 ” W
✅ Accommodates pets up to 20 lbs (9 kg)
8. Katziela Pet Carrier
✅ Dimensions of 19″ L x 13″ W x 15″ H
✅ Accommodates pets up to 22 lbs (10 kg)
The top can compress to meet airline height requirements
The bag comes with wheels that can be detached for the flight
9. ROVERLUND Pet Carrier
✅ Dimensions of 19″L x 11.75″W x 11.5″H
✅ Accommodates pets up to 20 lbs (9 kg)
Bag strap can double as a leash
10. Echohana Large Pet Carrier
✅ Dimensions of 20″L x 13″W x 13″H
✅ Accommodates pets up to 25 lbs (11 kg)
Conflicting information says “TSA approved” and “Not approved by the airline” Regardless, this could be an affordable bag for non-airline travel
18x11x11 Pet Carriers
If you are lucky enough to have a dog or cat that fits within the designated airline size requirements, there are tons of good options for you. I’m going to suggest 3 that have some expandable options in case your pet is right on the border and could use just that tiny bit of extra space.
11. Mr. Peanut’s Expandable Gold Tote Series
✅ Dimensions of 18″L x 11″W x 10.4″H & Expands to 17 ” W
✅ Accommodates pets up to 15 lbs (6.5 kg)
12. Mr. Peanut’s Platinum Series Double Expandable
✅ Dimensions of 18″L x 11″W x 10.4″H & Expands to 26″ W
✅ Accommodates pets up to 15 lbs (6.5 kg)
13. Petsfit Expandable Cat Carrier Dog Carriers (Med)
✅ Dimensions of 17″Lx 11″Wx 11″H & Expands to 20″ W
✅ Accommodates pets up to 13 lbs (6 kg)
They have a large version that allows for 18lbs, but it is 19″L x 12″W x 12″H
Travel With Pets: FAQs
What is the largest pet carrier you can take on a plane?
The reason it is so difficult to find an answer to this question is that there is no straightforward answer.
Each airline sets their own regulations on size and weight requirements. The 18x11x11 size limits are used by Delta, American and United Airlines.
Other popular airlines such as Alaska and Jet Blue have similar length requirements but ask for a reduced height of 9.5″ H.
Specialty airlines such as JSX and La Compagnie typically have the most generous policies
The main issue is that FAA regulations require the footwell of an airplane seat be free of any bags or objects, especially during landing or take-off. Your pet carrier is included in that, so it needs to be able to fit under the seat in front of you.
Soft-sided carriers including many of the XL ones are designed to be squishable. Many of the bags in this article are technically too big, but they have been engineered to provide more space and structure when not on a plane and smoosh under the seat when you are. The reality is though, that your pet can only “smoosh” so far depending on their actual size.
Pet travelers regularly take the Sturdibag XL with them on flights with the dimensions of 20″ L x 12″ W x 16″ H. It is probably the largest size carrier a person could take in the cabin of a plane.
How strict is Southwest about pet carrier size?
According to the Southwest Pet Policy:
- Pet carriers with maximum dimensions of 18.5” (L) x 13.5” (W) x 9.5” (H).
- The cat or dog must be completely inside the pet carrier and be able to stand up and move around the carrier with ease.
- Southwest does not have a specified weight limit
I’ve collected anecdotal data around to discover if one airline is more lenient than another. Southwest is more friendly to XL small dogs because they don’t have a weight limit. However, when it comes to carrier size, it really seems to depend on who is checking pets in that day.
How big of a dog can fit in a pet carrier?
All airlines have some version of this same policy. This is copied directly from Delta Airlines:
Your pet must be able to fit in a small, ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements:
- Be small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel without touching or protruding from the sides of the kennel and have the ability to move around
- The kennel must fit under the seat directly in front of you
Some breeds of dogs such as chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Yorkies should have no problem flying in the cabin on any airline.
This post reviews the best dog breeds for flying. Some breeds such as pugs, Boston terriers, and Maltese tend to have variations in size which means some individuals will have no problems. Others will be too large.
If your dog is too large to fit in the carrier, there are other options for flying with a big dog.
🐶 Thinking of getting a dog? Take our quiz to help you select the best breed for your travel style
Final Thoughts: BEST 18x11x11 Pet Carriers for XL Small Dogs
Finding the perfect carrier for our medium and extra-large small dogs is a challenging task. As you could see from my reviews, I didn’t have an easy time finding what I needed for my Border Terrier, Sam. I empathize with the struggles you face in searching for a carrier that accommodates your pet’s unique size and needs.
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge and reviews of various carriers, it’s time to make a decision. Choose the carrier that best fits your pet’s needs and your travel requirements, and give your furry friend the comfort and security they deserve. Click to buy one of the carriers that works best for you.
Despite the limitations and frustrations associated with airline-approved carriers, there is hope for pet owners like us. This buying guide offers valuable insights into alternative soft-sided crates, backpacks, and carriers, providing options that cater to your pet’s comfort while still meeting various transportation requirements.
Remember, while airline policies can be stringent, pet travel bags can prove incredibly useful in other situations, such as bus and train rides, visits to stores, and ensuring a safe space for your pet at restaurants or other busy locations.
As you embark on this journey to find the ideal carrier for your furry companion, know that you are not alone. Together, we can discover the best solutions for our beloved pets, allowing them to travel comfortably and stress-free, regardless of their size.
Get more tips about flying with dogs – in:
- Flying With a 25 lb Dog
- How Do Dogs Go to the Bathroom on a Plane?
- Dog Whining on a Plane? 10 Helpful Tips (+1 bonus) to Calm a Nervous Pet
- Airlines That Allow Snub-nosed Dogs and Cats: How to Fly With a Pug, French Bulldog, Persian Cat, or Other Brachycephalic Breeds
Resource Guide for Travel with a Dog
🧳 What’s the best carrier for my dog when traveling?
You need different carriers for different types of travel
This is my favorite carrier for a small dog – Sleepypod Air
This is my favorite car harness for medium-large dogs – Sleepypod Clickit
This is the best for a large dog on a plane – Skymate Kennel
This is my favorite backpack for a small-medium sized dog – Mr. Penuts Tahoe
You can read more about my review of types of dog carriers for travel here.
🏨 What’s the best site to find cheap pet-friendly hotels?
To find cheap hotels, I recommend Expedia
Vacation Rentals are often the best option for people with pets VRBO
Stay for free or have someone watch your pet with Trusted Housesitters!
![Is Home Depot Dog Friendly? [Official Pet Policy]](https://petsaroundtheworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Home-Depot-Sign-edited-300x240.jpg)
