Can I take a small handbag on Ryanair?

All our fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you. If you need additional baggage allowance, there are various options available to you.



Yes, every Ryanair passenger in 2026 is entitled to bring one small personal bag on board for free. This bag must fit under the seat in front of you and must not exceed the maximum dimensions of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. This includes items like a small handbag, a laptop bag, or a compact backpack. If you wish to bring a second, larger "overhead" bag (up to 10kg), you must purchase a "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" fare or a "Plus/Flexi Plus" bundle. Ryanair is notoriously strict about these measurements; if your handbag is oversized or if you try to bring a second small bag (like a separate shopping bag), you may be charged an "excess baggage" fee at the gate, which can range from €20 to €60. For the smoothest experience, ensure your handbag can be completely tucked away, and avoid "stuffing" it to the point where it no longer fits in the metal sizer frames located at the airport check-in and gate areas.

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All our fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you. If you need additional baggage allowance, there are various options available to you.

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Additional items you can take with you Your handbag, small backpack/rucksack, pocketbook or purse, as you would normally use it (in other words, not just being used to contain items that would otherwise be regarded as baggage). This must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.

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Ryanair's bag policy permits you to bring one personal bag for free, which must be up to 15.7 x 7.8 x 9.8 inches (40 x 20 x 25 cm) and fit under the seat in front of you. However, the number of bags you can bring onboard depends on the fare purchased.

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Famously quipped “the Ryanair size”, 40 x 20 x 25 cm (16 x 8 x 10 in) is the maximum dimensions of a cabin bag (such as a laptop bag or handbag) that ultra-cheap airline Ryanair would allow its passengers to carry into its cabin free of charge under its strict baggage allowance policy.

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Only priority boarding passengers will be permitted to take one small bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm), plus a larger cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20cm) with a maximum weight allowance of 10kg into the cabin free of charge. Non-priority customers can only bring one small bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm), that must fit into the sizer.

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All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements: Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on: 22 in x 16 in x 8 in/55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Maximum Weight of Carry-on: 22 lbs (10 kg) Maximum Dimensions of Small Bag: 14 x 8 x 8 in/35 x 20 x 20 cm.

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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.

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Size Is Everything. The IATA (International Air Transport Association) standard hand baggage allowance is 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 9.8 inches), but Ryanair allows just 25 x 40 x 20 cm (9.8 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches).

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If you would like to take a larger cabin bag size with you when flying Ryanair, you will need to pay additional fees. This option entitles you to take a wheeled case onboard, weighing up to 10kg and measuring maximum 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, wheels and handles included, as well as an additional small personal bag.

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Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.

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Yes, handbags do count as your one piece of hand luggage. The best way to get around this is to place your handbag within your cabin bag/luggage piece and remove it to use once onboard. The same rule applies to items such as laptops and items bought at the airport.

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The following are strictly prohibited on board: Guns, firearms, or similar weapons; Pointed/edged weapons and sharp objects; Blunt instruments (that is any blunt instrument capable of causing injury, this includes some sporting equipment such as tennis rackets, hurleys, and baseball bats);

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If your small bag or 10kg cabin bag does not fit in the baggage sizers, which are placed at every boarding gate, we will tag your bag and place it in the aircraft hold subject to payment of a gate bag fee.

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How strict are the airlines about luggage dimensions? Carryon dimensions are limited to the size of the overhead bin. In those cases dimensions are strict. Anything too big gets gate checked.

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The short answer: Yes, a backpack is generally considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines offer a few examples of things that fit into the “personal item” category, such as a purse, laptop bag, or a briefcase, but they don't usually include “backpack” on those lists.

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Ryanair Checked Baggage Size Allowances No ticket with Ryanair comes with an included luggage allowance. However, each passenger can buy spots for up to three checked items of baggage that weigh no more than 20 kilograms each.

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Carry-on bags are limited to 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including wheels and handles. All three measurements shouldn't add up to more than 45 inches.

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All tools (blunt or sharp) or sharp objects and even the mercury clinical thermometer must be placed in checked baggage. Only scissors and tweezers with a maximum length of 6 cm and rounded ends are allowed in the cabin . Razor blades must have a plastic frame to be transported in hand luggage.

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Ryanair Priority Boarding costs between £6 and £12. Known as Priority Booking & 2 Cabin Bags, you're also permitted to bring an additional 10kg bag (55cm x 40cm x 20cm) into the cabin for no extra cost. However, be aware that Ryanair Priority Boarding is capped at 95 out of 189 passengers per flight for space reasons.

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