Ryanair Cabin Bag Size 2026: Free Bag, Priority and Gate Fees

As of October 2026, every Ryanair fare includes one free small bag of up to 40 x 30 x 20cm that fits under the seat. A 10kg cabin bag of up to 55 x 40 x 20cm needs Priority & 2 Cabin Bags or a higher fare. Oversized bags at the gate can cost up to £75 or €75.

Ryanair free cabin bag size in 2026

Ryanair’s free personal bag measures 40 x 30 x 20cm. The airline enlarged it from the old 40 x 25 x 20cm limit during summer 2025, and on 4 September 2025 it said the change had been rolled out across all 235 airports it serves, as reported by The Brussels Times.

The bag must fit under the seat in front of you. A small backpack, handbag or laptop bag usually works. Which? notes that the measurements include handles and wheels, so a small wheeled case with protruding wheels can fail the check even if its body is within the limit.

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The 2025 increase followed a commitment by Airlines for Europe, the industry group that includes Ryanair and easyJet, to guarantee a free personal item of at least 40 x 30 x 15cm. Ryanair’s 20cm depth is slightly more generous than that minimum.

What is included in Priority & 2 Cabin Bags?

Priority & 2 Cabin Bags is the add-on most travellers buy when they want a wheelie case in the cabin. It includes:

• The free small bag of up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, kept under the seat.
• A second cabin bag of up to 10kg and 55 x 40 x 20cm, which goes in the overhead locker.
• Priority boarding, so you board earlier and have a better chance of finding locker space.

The price changes by route, date and how close to departure you book, so check it in the booking flow. Buying it when you book the flight is normally cheaper than adding it later.

Some Ryanair fare bundles already include extra bags. According to Which?, the Regular fare includes the larger cabin bag, the Plus fare includes a 20kg checked bag, and Family Plus includes a 10kg cabin case, a 20kg checked bag and a small bag for each passenger.

Ryanair checked bag weights and options

If you need more than 10kg, a checked bag is the next step. Ryanair sells 10kg check-in bags, which are dropped at the bag desk, and 20kg checked bags. Each is bought per person and per flight.

A checked bag is not always the expensive choice. Which? found that on a Stansted to Alicante route in 2026, one 20kg checked bag cost £3.50 less than two 10kg cabin bags with priority boarding. On another example, four 20kg cases bought separately for a family of four on a Basic fare to Malaga came to £334.

Prices vary widely, so compare the bag options and the fare bundles side by side before you pay. For a family, a bundle can work out cheaper than adding bags to each Basic ticket.

How much are Ryanair gate bag fees?

Ryanair checks bags at the gate using a metal sizer. If your bag does not fit, you pay a fee before boarding and the bag usually goes in the hold.

Which? reported in February 2026 that the fee for an oversized small bag ranged from £46 to £60, depending on the route. A paid cabin case bigger than 55 x 40 x 20cm could cost £70 to £75. On euro routes, the fee can reach €75, according to Euro Weekly News in May 2026.

Gate staff receive a small bonus for each oversized bag they identify, so checks are frequent. The safest approach is to measure your bag at home, including wheels and handles, and not to overfill a soft bag so it bulges past the frame.

Ryanair vs easyJet vs Wizz Air cabin bag sizes compared

The three biggest low-cost airlines in Europe all include a free under-seat bag, but the sizes and weight limits differ. The table below uses figures from each airline’s official pages, with Ryanair figures confirmed against Which? reporting.

Allowance	Ryanair	easyJet	Wizz Air
Free under-seat bag	40 x 30 x 20cm	45 x 36 x 20cm, up to 15kg	40 x 30 x 20cm, up to 10kg
Larger cabin bag	55 x 40 x 20cm, 10kg	56 x 45 x 25cm, up to 15kg	55 x 40 x 23cm, 10kg
How to get the larger cabin bag	Priority & 2 Cabin Bags or a higher fare	Add a large cabin bag, or easyJet Plus and some fares	WIZZ Priority
Checked bag weights	10kg check-in bag or 20kg bag	15kg, 23kg, up to 32kg	10kg, 20kg, 26kg or 32kg
Paying at the airport	£46 to £75 at the gate (Which?, February 2026)	£60 for a large cabin bag added at the airport	Extra fees apply, amount not listed

All sizes include handles and wheels unless the airline says otherwise. Wizz Air excludes handles and wheels from its checked bag dimensions, but wheels may add no more than 5cm.

How easyJet’s cabin bag rules differ

easyJet has the largest free bag of the three, at 45 x 36 x 20cm and up to 15kg. That is enough for a weekend if you pack carefully, and you must be able to lift it yourself.

The large cabin bag of up to 56 x 45 x 25cm goes in the overhead locker. It is included for customers who add one to their booking and for easyJet Plus members who book one. easyJet says adding a large cabin bag at the airport costs £60, and dropping a hold bag at the airport desk also costs £60 per bag, so buying online is cheaper.

For hold luggage, easyJet offers 15kg and 23kg bags, with extra weight available online in 3kg steps. No single bag can weigh more than 32kg.

How Wizz Air’s cabin bag rules differ

Wizz Air’s free carry-on bag matches Ryanair’s at 40 x 30 x 20cm, but Wizz states a 10kg weight limit. A trolley bag of up to 55 x 40 x 23cm and 10kg is only included if you buy WIZZ Priority.

Wizz Air sells checked bags at 10kg, 20kg, 26kg and 32kg, with up to six checked bags per passenger. It says buying baggage at the airport carries additional fees, but its baggage allowance page does not list the amount, so add bags online in advance.

How to avoid paying Ryanair bag fees

Most gate fees are avoidable with some preparation. These steps cover the common mistakes.

1. Measure your bag at home with a tape measure, including wheels, handles and any outside pockets.
2. Choose a soft bag that is exactly 40 x 30 x 20cm or smaller, and do not overstuff it.
3. Wear your heaviest layers and shoes on the plane instead of packing them.
4. Compare Priority & 2 Cabin Bags with a 20kg checked bag for your route, since the checked bag is sometimes cheaper.
5. Book bags when you book the flight, as prices usually rise closer to departure and are highest at the airport.
6. Check your fare type on your boarding pass, so you know which bags are included before you reach the gate.

For more ways to cut costs on the continent, see our tips for budget travel in Europe. If you are planning where to go next, our guide to underrated European cities worth visiting lists places well served by low-cost routes.

Are EU cabin bag rules changing?

EU law already says hand luggage of reasonable dimensions should be included in the ticket price, but it does not set exact sizes. Consumer groups have challenged airline bag charges in court, and EU lawmakers have discussed setting common sizes for free bags.

Until any new rule is finally adopted and in force, each airline’s own policy applies. Check your airline’s baggage page a few days before you fly, as sizes and fees can change.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Which? on Ryanair bag rules (February 2026), easyJet cabin bag and hold luggage, Wizz Air baggage allowance, The Brussels Times on Ryanair’s larger free bag.