Ultimate Guide to Spirit Airlines Baggage Fees 2025

Spirit’s baggage fees can be a bit of a shock if you don’t plan ahead.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan.

There’s no avoiding it. Unless you plan on spending your vacation in the nude or simply purchasing a new wardrobe while abroad, baggage is an essential, albeit sometimes aggravating, part of flying. Extra baggage fees are more common than not.

However, the more you know, the greater your chances of avoiding sticker shock—especially when it comes to budget carriers like Spirit Airlines, which charges for carry-on bags. Spirit’s handy online baggage calculator, coupled with a little extra planning, can help you save significantly.

1. Understanding Spirit Airlines Baggage Fees

Spirit’s baggage fees for both carry-on bags and checked luggage up to 40 pounds vary depending on the length of the flight, the date of departure, and the method by which you purchase your flight.

Since Spirit considers any luggage over 40 pounds overweight, those extra pairs of shoes you want to bring could add hefty fees: A bag weighing 41 to 50 pounds incurs an extra charge of $50, while luggage weighing 51 to 100 pounds costs an additional $75.

2. Tips to Save on Baggage Fees

You will save the most on baggage fees if you know what luggage you’re bringing at the time you purchase your flight and book directly on Spirit’s website.

Moreover, you can save on baggage fees by joining the Spirit Saver$ Club rewards program, which offers discounts on fees for seat selection and Spirit Airlines features like Shortcut Security, Shortcut Boarding, and Flight Flex.

3. Baggage Fee Calculator: Know Before You Go

To help travelers calculate their expected baggage expenses, the Spirit Airlines website offers a tool called the “Bag-O-Tron” that details baggage fees as you plan your trip. Simply enter your departure and arrival airport along with projected travel dates, and the tool will reveal the baggage fees associated with your itinerary.

For example, testing this tool for a potential summer trip from Boston to Los Angeles showed that, for selected dates of July 14-17, a carry-on bag would cost $49, and the first checked bag would be $43 if you pay for your baggage fees when booking your flight on the Spirit Airlines website. A second checked bag costs $62.

However, if you book your trip and pay for baggage fees later—at any time before online check-in—the costs increase to $55 for the carry-on, $49 for the first checked bag, and $68 for the second. Fees escalate further if you wait to pay for baggage until the check-in process or at the gate.

If you’re a member of the Spirit Saver$ Club, each of the quoted fees decreases by $7.

As always, any bag carried on or checked must fit within the airline’s size requirements.

4. Minimizing or Avoiding Spirit’s Baggage Fees

Consequently, you can’t really avoid baggage fees unless you’re traveling with only one personal item that measures no more than 18 by 14 by 8 inches—whether that’s a laptop bag, a purse, or a shopping bag.

That’s the whole point of budget air carriers: You only pay for what you need. If you prefer to go truly bare-bones—no seat selection, no priority boarding, no checked luggage—you can. This strategy can help you save money for good eats and souvenirs at your vacation destination.