Do you get a free carry-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.



In 2026, Ryanair’s baggage policy remains famously strict but has seen a small adjustment. Every passenger is entitled to one small personal bag for free, such as a handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack. As of late 2025, the dimensions for this free under-seat bag were updated to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. This bag must fit entirely under the seat in front of you. If you wish to bring a standard 10kg overhead cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm), you must purchase "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags." Ryanair staff at the gate are known for rigorous enforcement; if your "free" bag does not fit into the sizer or if you try to bring a second item without paying, you can face a gate baggage fee of €45.99 to €70.00, and the bag will be placed in the hold. To maximize your free allowance, use a soft-sided bag that can be compressed to fit the sizer.

People Also Ask

You can check in up to three pieces of checked-in luggage for a fee, in line with our regulations relating to checked-in luggage. You can also take one piece of carry-on baggage onto the plane with you, free of charge, in line with our regulations relating to carry-on baggage.

MORE DETAILS

Non-priority customers who have not added a bag to their booking can still purchase a 10kg Check-in bag at the airport bag drop desk for €/£ 35.99. Non-priority customers who bring their 10kg Check-in bag to the boarding gate may check it in against payment of a fee of €/£ 46.00.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

You must adhere strictly to the baggage allowance on your booking. 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.

MORE DETAILS

If you are asked to fit it into the measuring stand and you can't squeeze it in, you will have to pay to check it in. What Ryanair is very strict on is not taking a full-size cabin bag on board unless you have paid for the right to do so.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

A bumbag/fanny pack is an accessory, like a backpack or a lady's purse/handbag, and you should be prepared for it to be treated as such. That said, Mrs DC8 always wears a bumbag when travelling and it has never been an issue on any airline including the likes of Ryanair and Easyjet.

MORE DETAILS

Excess/Overweight Baggage
The excess baggage fee is currently charged at the rate of $27 (20 euros) per kg.

MORE DETAILS

You can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item for free on most domestic and international flights.

MORE DETAILS

Many airlines will allow you to bring a carry-on bag and personal item for free. However, some airlines may only allow a personal item that fits under your seat for free. Anything larger (e.g. a bag that's too big to fit under the seat but can fit into the overhead compartment) may require extra payment.

MORE DETAILS

Is toothpaste considered a liquid by the TSA? Yes, toothpaste must adhere to the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and gels. Toothpaste can be brought through TSA security in your carry-on as long as it is 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and placed in a 1-quart bag.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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);

MORE DETAILS

It's easy to determine the size of a 20kg bag in Ryanair, since they have a very specific policy. Ryanair's maximum checked bag size is 55 x 40 x 20 cm including handles and wheels. It also has a maximum weight of 20kg. So as long as your bag adheres to these measurements, it should be accepted as a 20kg bag.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The budget airline Ryanair is introducing a new bag policy which now charges flyers who want to bring a wheelie bag or similar on to flights. Until now the airline has allowed bags that didn't exceed 10 kilograms or dimensions of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm into cabins for free.

MORE DETAILS