Ryanair cABIN LUGGAGE 2026
Rules, dimensions, weight and FAQs
How large a bag can you bring for free? What is included with Priority? And what happens if your bag is too large? Here are Ryanair’s cabin luggage rules, explained clearly.
One small personal bag that must fit under the seat in front of you. Ryanair does not state a separate weight limit for the small bag.
One additional cabin bag weighing up to 10 kg in the overhead bin, in addition to the small personal bag under the seat.
Without an add-on, you may bring one small bag up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm. If you also want a larger cabin bag on board, you need a ticket or add-on that includes Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.
One small bag is always included.
All Ryanair tickets include one small personal bag measuring no more than 40 × 30 × 20 cm. It must fit completely under the seat in front of you.
It can be a small backpack, purse, or laptop bag. What matters is not what the bag is called, but that it stays within the size limits and fits where Ryanair requires it to.
Ryanair’s current baggage policy does not state a separate weight limit for the small personal bag. However, you must be able to carry and handle it yourself.
Handles, side pockets, and anything that sticks out count toward the dimensions. A soft-sided bag can work well, but only if it actually fits completely inside the bag sizer.
Two bags on board – when included in your booking.
With Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, you may bring both the small personal bag and a larger cabin bag on board.
The larger cabin bag may measure no more than 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weigh no more than 10 kg. It must be placed in the overhead locker above the seats.
Priority also gives you access to Ryanair’s priority line at the gate. Availability is limited on each flight and can therefore sell out.
A 10 kg checked baggage add-on means the bag is dropped off at the bag drop before security. It cannot be brought on board as an additional bag.
The bag must fit completely inside.
At the gate, staff may ask you to place your bag in Ryanair’s bag sizer. The bag must fit inside without any part sticking out beyond the allowed space.
The video shows The Underseat 15L in Ryanair’s bag sizer. The bag measures 40 × 29 × 15 cm, which is within Ryanair’s current maximum dimensions for the small personal bag.
How you pack still matters. An overpacked soft-sided bag can become larger than its stated product dimensions.
The Underseat 15L in Ryanair’s bag sizer. Rules can change – always check your booking before departure.
The gate is not the place to take chances.
Ryanair states that you must strictly follow the baggage allowance in your booking. If the bag does not fit in the bag sizer, it may be refused at the gate or, if possible, placed in the hold for a fee.
The exact fee can change and depends on the situation and your booking. Check Ryanair’s current fee table instead of relying on an old amount from a blog or forum thread.
Four things that reduce the risk of problems.
Measure the bag when it is packed
A soft-sided bag can bulge. Check the height, width, and depth after you have finished packing.
Leave a little extra room
A bag that sits exactly at every maximum dimension leaves less room for outer pockets, uneven packing, and anything that sticks out.
Keep your essentials easy to access
Your passport, phone, charger, and liquids should not require you to empty your entire bag at security or at the gate.
Check your specific booking
Read what is actually included before you travel. A purchased add-on, fare bundle, or changed booking can affect your baggage allowance.
The Underseat 15L
Designed to work as a personal item under the seat. A thoughtfully designed interior makes it easier to pack, find, and access your essentials during the trip.
Within Ryanair’s current maximum dimensions of 40 × 30 × 20 cm for the small bag included with all tickets. The bag must always be packed correctly and used according to the airline’s rules.
They do not change what you need to follow today.
In 2026, the EU adopted updated rules on air passenger rights. Among other things, the new provisions are intended to make baggage pricing clearer at the start of the booking process.
The rules do not take effect immediately after adoption. Until then, you should follow the baggage allowance and dimensions shown in your current Ryanair booking.
It is therefore misleading to assume that all Ryanair tickets now automatically include both a personal bag and a larger carry-on bag at no extra cost.
One small personal bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm is included. An additional cabin bag measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing up to 10 kg must be included in your booking, for example through Priority & 2 Cabin Bags.
Quick answers about Ryanair cabin luggage.
How large can your free cabin bag be on Ryanair?
One small personal bag measuring no more than 40 × 30 × 20 cm is included with all Ryanair tickets. It must fit under the seat in front of you.
Can you bring both a purse and a backpack on Ryanair?
Not with the standard allowance. That includes just one item. A purse, laptop bag, or small backpack counts as the personal bag. With Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, you may also bring a larger cabin bag on board.
Does Ryanair’s small bag have a weight limit?
Ryanair’s current baggage policy does not state a separate weight limit for the small personal bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm. You must be able to carry and handle it yourself.
How much can the Priority bag weigh?
The larger cabin bag included with Priority & 2 Cabin Bags may weigh no more than 10 kg and measure no more than 55 × 40 × 20 cm.
Is a backpack allowed as a personal item?
Yes. A backpack is allowed as long as it stays within 40 × 30 × 20 cm and fits completely under the seat in front of you.
Does Ryanair always check cabin luggage?
Not every bag on every flight, but staff may check your bag at the gate. You should therefore always pack as if it will be measured.
What happens if the bag does not fit in the bag sizer?
Ryanair may refuse the bag at the gate or, if possible, place it in the hold for a fee according to the current fee table.
Does a duty-free bag count as extra cabin luggage?
Ryanair’s conditions of carriage state that a duty-free bag containing duty-free purchases may be brought into the cabin in addition to your permitted cabin luggage.
Can children bring their own cabin luggage?
Children with their own ticket have the baggage allowance that comes with that ticket. Infants traveling on an adult’s lap do not have their own standard cabin bag, but Ryanair’s policy allows one baby bag weighing up to 5 kg and measuring 45 × 35 × 20 cm, plus two pieces of baby equipment at no extra cost.
Do the same rules apply on the return flight?
Yes, if the same baggage allowance applies on both flights. Check each part of the booking, especially if the flights were booked separately or an add-on was only added to one leg.
