You are allowed a single personal item, like a backpack, however, your Ryanair cabin bag can't be larger than 25 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Customers with Priority tickets can bring one personal item and one piece of carry-on luggage that doesn't weigh more than 10 kilograms and isn't larger than 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm.

On Ryanair, your ability to bring both a cabin bag and a backpack depends entirely on the fare you purchased. If you booked a Basic fare, you are only allowed one small personal item (max 40 x 20 x 25cm), such as a small backpack or laptop bag, which must fit under the seat in front of you. To bring a second, larger "cabin bag" (max 55 x 40 x 20cm and 10kg) to store in the overhead locker, you must purchase "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags." If you show up at the gate with two bags on a Basic fare, you will be charged a significant fee (often €/£46 or more) to have the larger bag tagged and placed in the aircraft hold. In 2026, Ryanair remains one of the strictest airlines regarding these dimensions, frequently using metal sizer boxes at the boarding gate to verify compliance, so travelers are encouraged to measure their bags carefully before leaving for the airport.