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Ryanair cabin bag size: the free bag, the Priority bag and the fees
Ryanair allows a free 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag under the seat and a 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg bag with Priority. The sizes, the fees and the cases that fit.
Ryanair lets every passenger bring one small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm free, and it has to fit under the seat in front. A second, larger cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 20 cm and up to 10 kg goes in the overhead locker, but only if you buy Priority and 2 Cabin Bags, or a fare that includes it. Turn up at the gate with a bag that does not fit the sizer and the fee is around £70, far more than the add-on would have cost. Here are the sizes, what they hold, and which of our bags fit each one.
The two Ryanair cabin bag sizes
| Bag | Size | Weight | Where it goes | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small personal bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No published limit; you must lift it | Under the seat in front | Free with every fare |
| Cabin bag with Priority | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | Overhead locker | Priority and 2 Cabin Bags, bought at booking or later |
Both sizes include wheels, handles and pockets. The sizer at the gate is a rigid box; a bag that is 41 cm tall does not go in.
Airlines change their allowances; check yours before you fly. These are the figures as we understood them in November 2026, and the allowance on your booking is the one that applies.
What fits in 40 x 30 x 20 cm
About 24 litres: a change of clothes, toiletries in 100 ml bottles, a laptop, chargers and a book. It is enough for a one or two night trip if you wear the coat. The bag has to go under the seat, so a soft bag is better than a rigid one; a backpack made to fit those dimensions is the usual choice. Our JustPack Billet cabin backpack measures 40 x 16 x 30 cm, so it sits inside this allowance, with a flat front that keeps its shape when full. A crossbody bag or small holdall also fits, with room to spare.
What fits in 55 x 40 x 20 cm
About 35 to 40 litres: a long weekend to a week with careful packing. This is the size of a 20 inch cabin suitcase, as long as the suitcase is measured honestly with its wheels on. Ours are measured that way, and these fit the Ryanair Priority allowance: Ezzyrol Grays 20 inch (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 37 litres), JustPack Curve 20 inch (55 x 40 x 20 cm), Ezzyrol Flint 20 inch (55 x 40 x 20 cm), JustPack Squares (55 x 40 x 20 cm), the Ezzyrol Inline cabin case (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 2.3 kg), the JustPack Commuter (55 x 36 x 20 cm), Grant Poplin and Tailored soft shells (55 x 39 x 20 cm) and the Ezzyrol Ocean (54 x 39 x 20 cm). The JustPack Aviate fits unexpanded at 55 x 39 x 20 cm; expanded, it does not. Our Grant Fluted, Designer and Highbred and JustPack Basket-Weave and Lattice cabin cases are too tall or too deep for this size. The full list is on our airline size guide.
How Priority works
Priority and 2 Cabin Bags is an add-on that gives you the 10 kg locker bag plus the free small bag, and boarding in the first group. It is cheapest when added at booking and dearer later; the price varies by route and date. Some fare bundles include it. Without it, the only way to bring a second bag is to pay for a 10 kg check-in bag, which goes in the hold and comes out on the belt.
At the gate
Ryanair checks sizes at the gate with a sizer and staff who do check. A bag that does not fit is put in the hold for a fee of around £70, paid there. The common failures are a backpack stuffed until it bulges past 20 cm, a suitcase sold as 55 cm that is 58 cm with its wheels, and a Priority bag plus a handbag plus a duty free bag, which is three bags. Measure at home with the bag packed: stand it against a wall and measure to the top of the wheels or handle.
Questions people ask
What size cabin bag can I take on Ryanair?
A free small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm under the seat. A 55 x 40 x 20 cm bag up to 10 kg in the locker if you buy Priority and 2 Cabin Bags.
Is a 55 x 40 x 20 bag free on Ryanair?
No. It needs Priority and 2 Cabin Bags or a fare that includes it. Only the 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag is free.
Does Ryanair weigh the small bag?
There is no published weight for the small bag; it is checked for size. The Priority cabin bag is limited to 10 kg.
Can I take a handbag as well as the small bag?
Not without Priority. The free allowance is one bag. With Priority you have two: the locker bag and the small bag.
What is the Ryanair gate bag fee?
Around £70 in November 2026 for a bag that does not fit the allowance, paid at the gate. The exact fee is on Ryanair's fees page.
Which suitcase fits Ryanair's 55 x 40 x 20?
A cabin case measured with its wheels on at 55 x 40 x 20 cm or less, which includes our Grays, Curve, Squares, Flint, Inline, Commuter, Poplin, Tailored, Ocean and unexpanded Aviate cabin cases.