Chris Raper — Retired North Carolina law enforcement (40+ years) · U.S. Air Force Security Police · NRA-certified Pistol, Rifle & Shotgun Instructor · NC DOJ-certified Concealed Carry Instructor · Founder, Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. (Elm City, NC, 2006)
Tom Givens — Founder, Rangemaster Firearms Training Services · 46,000+ students trained · Review date: October 31, 2026In addition to my own research and what my students bring into the Concealed Handgun Carry class every week, this guide was reviewed by Tom Givens of Rangemaster, whose opinion appears below. The method line at the end of the article says exactly how this guide was built.
Quick answer
Handguns fall into five practical size classes. Pocket (about 5.2–5.9″ long, 10–14 oz), micro-compact (5.8–6.1″, 17–21 oz, 10–13 rounds), subcompact (6.25–6.7″), compact (6.6–7.5″, 15–17 rounds) and full-size (roughly 7.5–8.5″ long and 25–30 oz, rarely concealed). The smallest carry guns we track are the Ruger LCP MAX (5.17 × 4.12″) and S&W Bodyguard 2.0; the smallest 9mm is the SIG P365 (5.8 × 4.3″). Use the tool below to compare any two guns side by side, to scale.
Every dimension on this page comes from the manufacturer’s own specification sheet, checked in October 2026 — not from a retailer listing. Length is overall length, height is with the flush magazine where the maker specifies it, and weight is unloaded (some makers include an empty magazine; we note that on each gun’s card in our main guide).
Compare two handguns side by side
Handgun size comparison tool
Side footprints are drawn to scale from each maker’s overall length and height (flush magazine). Orange = Gun A, dark = Gun B; width is listed in the table because it is the dimension you feel most when carrying.
Handgun size chart: all 28 guns
| # | Handgun | Class | Length (in) | Height (in) | Width (in) | Barrel (in) | Weight (oz) | Capacity | Box size (cu in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruger LCP MAX | 5.17 | 4.12 | — | 2.8 | 10.6 | 10/12 | — | |
| 2 | S&W Bodyguard 2.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 0.875 | 2.75 | 9.8 | 10/12 | 19.2 | |
| 3 | Beretta APX A1 Carry | micro-compact | 5.63 | 4.17 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 19.8 | 6/8 | 21.1 |
| 4 | Springfield Armory Hellcat | micro-compact | 6.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 17.9 | 11/13 | 24.0 |
| 5 | Glock G42 | 5.94 | 4.13 | 0.98 | 3.25 | 13.76 | 6 | 24.0 | |
| 6 | SIG Sauer P365 | micro-compact | 5.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 17.8 | 10 | 27.4 |
| 7 | Ruger MAX-9 | micro-compact | 6.0 | 4.42 | — | 3.2 | 18.4 | 10/12 | — |
| 8 | Glock G26 V | subcompact | 6.42 | 4.17 | 1.3 | 3.43 | 21.69 | 10 | 34.8 |
| 9 | Mossberg MC2sc | subcompact | 6.25 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 19.5 | 11/14 | 29.6 |
| 10 | S&W Model 642 | revolver-snub | 6.31 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 1.88 | 14.4 | 5 | 35.3 |
| 11 | Shadow Systems CR920 Elite | subcompact | 6.37 | 4.27 | 1.05 | 3.41 | 17.8 | 10/13 | 28.6 |
| 12 | Canik METE MC9 | micro-compact | 6.1 | 4.52 | 1.16 | 3.19 | 21.27 | 12/15 | 32.0 |
| 13 | S&W M&P9 Shield Plus | micro-compact | 6.1 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 17.9 | 10/13 | 30.9 |
| 14 | S&W CSX | micro-compact | 6.1 | 4.6 | 1.125 | 3.1 | 19.7 | 12/15/17 | 31.6 |
| 15 | Ruger LCR | revolver-snub | 6.5 | 4.5 | — | 1.87 | 13.5 | 5 | — |
| 16 | Kimber K6s | revolver-snub | 6.62 | 4.46 | 1.39 | 2.0 | 23.0 | 6 | 41.0 |
| 17 | Palmetto State Armory Dagger Micro | micro-compact | 6.5 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 3.41 | 15.9 | 15 | 33.6 |
| 18 | CZ P-10 S | subcompact | 6.7 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 25.0 | 10/12 | 40.9 |
| 19 | SIG Sauer P365-XL | subcompact | 6.6 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 20.7 | 10/12 | 34.8 |
| 20 | Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro | compact | 6.6 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 21.0 | 15/17 | 31.7 |
| 21 | Glock G43X MOS | subcompact | 6.5 | 5.04 | 1.1 | 3.41 | 18.55 | 10 | 36.0 |
| 22 | SIG Sauer P365-XMACRO | compact | 6.6 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 22.0 | 10/17 | 37.8 |
| 23 | S&W M&P9 Shield EZ | subcompact | 6.8 | 5.05 | 1.04 | 3.675 | 23.0 | 8 | 35.7 |
| 24 | Walther PDP F-Series | compact | 6.5 | 5.4 | 1.34 | 3.5 | 23.3 | 10/15 | 47.0 |
| 25 | Glock G48 MOS | compact | 7.28 | 5.04 | 1.1 | 4.17 | 20.6 | 10 | 40.4 |
| 26 | Glock G19 V | compact | 7.28 | 5.04 | 1.34 | 4.02 | 23.63 | 15 | 49.2 |
| 27 | Ruger RXM | compact | 7.15 | 5.31 | — | 4.0 | 23.2 | 15/17 | — |
| 28 | Walther PDP Compact | compact | 7.5 | 5.4 | 1.34 | 4.0 | 24.4 | 10/15 | 54.3 |
Sorted by length × height. Box size = length × height × width, a simple proxy for how much space a gun takes up; guns whose maker does not publish a width show “—”. Manufacturer specs, October 2026.
Handgun size categories explained
| Category | Overall length | Height | Weight | Typical 9mm capacity | Examples | Concealment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2–5.9″ | 4.0–4.1″ | 10–14 oz | 6–12 (.380) | Ruger LCP MAX, Bodyguard 2.0, Glock 42 | Pocket, ankle, deep concealment | |
| Micro-compact | 5.8–6.1″ | 4.0–4.6″ | 17–21 oz | 10–13 | SIG P365, Hellcat, Shield Plus, CSX | Everyday IWB / appendix |
| Subcompact | 6.25–6.7″ | 4.2–5.0″ | 18–25 oz | 10–14 | Glock 26, Glock 43X, CZ P-10 S, Shield EZ | IWB with a fuller grip |
| Compact | 6.6–7.5″ | 4.8–5.4″ | 21–25 oz | 15–17 | Glock 19, P365-XMACRO, Hellcat Pro, Walther PDP | Carry plus home/range use |
| Full-size | ~7.5–8.5″ | ~5.3–5.7″ | ~25–30 oz | 17–20 | Glock 17, SIG P320 Full-Size, S&W M&P9 M2.0 (4.25″) | Duty, home defense, competition; concealable only with effort |
Ranges from the manufacturer specs of the guns we track; full-size figures are approximate. Makers apply labels loosely — Glock calls the 7.28-inch G48 a “subcompact.”
The full explanation of what separates the middle three classes is in compact vs subcompact vs micro-compact.
Glock sizes chart
| Glock | Caliber | Length | Height | Width | Barrel | Weight (oz) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock G42 | .380 ACP | 5.94 | 4.13 | 0.98 | 3.25 | 13.76 | 6 |
| Glock G26 V | 9mm | 6.42 | 4.17 | 1.3 | 3.43 | 21.69 | 10 |
| Glock G43X MOS | 9mm | 6.5 | 5.04 | 1.1 | 3.41 | 18.55 | 10 |
| Glock G48 MOS | 9mm | 7.28 | 5.04 | 1.1 | 4.17 | 20.6 | 10 |
| Glock G19 V | 9mm | 7.28 | 5.04 | 1.34 | 4.02 | 23.63 | 15 |
Glock’s carry lineup splits into the thin Slimline guns (42, 43X, 48 — about 1.1 inches wide) and the double-stack 26 and 19 (about 1.3 inches). The full-size Glock 17 and the crossover Glock 45 share the 19’s width with longer grips and slides. Which to carry is covered in best Glock for concealed carry.
Which handgun size should you carry?
- Grip height is what prints. Compare heights before lengths — a longer slide hides below the belt line in an IWB holster, a longer grip does not.
- Width is what you feel. A 1.0–1.1-inch micro-compact disappears against the body in a way a 1.3-inch double-stack does not.
- Weight decides whether you carry at all. Loaded, most micro-compacts weigh 21–24 ounces; a Glock 19 with 15 rounds is about 30.
- Smaller is harder to shoot. If you can conceal a compact, you will probably shoot it better than a micro-compact. Rent before you buy.
See which guns we recommend in each class in the best concealed carry guns of 2026 list, the smallest 9mm pistols ranking and the best pocket pistols.
FAQ
What are the different handgun sizes?
From smallest to largest: pocket pistols (about 5.2–5.9 inches long), micro-compacts (5.8–6.1 inches, 10–13 rounds of 9mm), subcompacts (6.25–6.7 inches), compacts (6.6–7.5 inches, 15–17 rounds) and full-size handguns (roughly 7.5–8.5 inches).
What makes a pistol full size?
There is no official standard, but a full-size pistol usually has a barrel of 4.5–5 inches, an overall length of about 7.5–8.5 inches, a grip that holds 17 or more rounds of 9mm, and weighs 25–30 ounces unloaded — think Glock 17 or SIG P320 Full-Size.
What is the smallest 9mm handgun?
Among the guns we track, the SIG P365 (5.8 × 4.3 inches) and Springfield Hellcat (6.0 × 4.0 inches) are the smallest 9mms with 10 or more rounds; the Beretta APX A1 Carry is the thinnest at 0.9 inch.
How do I compare handgun sizes side by side?
Use the comparison tool on this page: pick two guns and it draws both footprints to scale from manufacturer dimensions and lists length, height, width, weight and capacity next to each other.
Is a compact or subcompact better for concealed carry?
A subcompact or micro-compact is easier to hide; a compact is easier to shoot and holds more rounds. Most people who can dress around a compact shoot it better, but most people carry a micro-compact more consistently.
Keep reading
- The 20 best concealed carry guns of 2026 (full list)
- Compact vs subcompact vs micro-compact
- Smallest 9mm pistols
- Handgun calibers chart
- Best Glock for concealed carry
Chris Raper
Chris Raper is the founder and lead reviewer of Conceal & Carry Network. A retired North Carolina law-enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service and a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran, he founded Concealed Handgun Carry, Inc. in Elm City, NC in 2006 and has taught the state-approved NC Concealed Handgun Carry class there ever since. He is an NC Department of Justice certified Firearms Safety Instructor, an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer and a graduate of Massad Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute. He reviews the carry guns, holsters, safes and sight tools his students ask about every week.
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