Ryanair Baggage Policy 2026 – Sizes, Fees & Tips to Avoid Charges
The complete guide to Ryanair baggage in 2026 — new personal item size, gate fees, staff bonus scheme, EU regulation shake-up, and every trick to keep your low-cost flight low-cost.
Ryanair is famous for its low fares, but it is equally famous for its strict baggage rules. If you aren't careful, that cheap £19.99 flight can quickly turn into a £100 expense before you even board the plane.
Navigating the rules for 2026 is critical. With recent updates to personal item dimensions and strict gate enforcement, knowing exactly what you can bring is the only way to avoid those dreaded "gate bag" fees.
The European Union has just moved to force airlines and booking platforms to display ticket prices with the essential cabin bag allowance included from the start. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Norwegian will all be affected. This is likely to reshape how low-cost fares are advertised across Europe over the coming year — but until it takes effect, the current Ryanair rules below still apply exactly as written.
Quick Summary: Ryanair Baggage Rules at a Glance
Before we dive into the fine print, here is the essential information every traveler needs for 2026. We've added US units (inches / lbs) alongside the metric limits so American readers don't have to do the math.
| Baggage Type | Max Dimensions (cm) | Max Dimensions (in) | Max Weight | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Personal Bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 in | Must fit under seat | FREE (All fares) |
| 10kg Cabin Bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 in | 10 kg / 22 lb | £/€6 – £/€36 (Priority) |
| 10kg Checked Bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 in | 10 kg / 22 lb | £/€9.49 – £/€44.99 |
| 20kg Checked Bag | 80 x 120 x 120 cm | 31.5 x 47.2 x 47.2 in | 20 kg / 44 lb | £/€18.99 – £/€59.99 |
| Excess Baggage | N/A | N/A | Overweight | £/€13 per kg |
Note: Fees vary based on route and travel dates. Purchasing bags at the airport is significantly more expensive than booking online.
1. Free Hand Luggage (The "Small Personal Bag")
Every single passenger, regardless of fare type, is entitled to bring one small personal bag on board for free.
The 2026 Size Update
In mid-2025, Ryanair adjusted the baggage sizes and policy to officially allow bags up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm (roughly 15.7 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches). This is a slight increase from previous years (formerly 40x25x20cm), giving you a bit more breathing room for packing.
Rules for the Free Bag:
- Must fit under the seat: It cannot go in the overhead bin.
- Examples: A laptop bag, a small backpack, or a handbag.
- No weight limit: While there is no official weight limit listed for the small bag, you must be able to carry it comfortably, and it must not bulge to the point where it cannot fit in the sizer.
When the EU introduced a common minimum size for a free personal item, the agreed benchmark was 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Ryanair's 40 x 30 x 20 cm is 5 cm deeper — a small but real advantage over airlines that stick to the EU floor. Michael O'Leary put it plainly at the time: he wanted Ryanair's free bag bigger than the EU standard, but the deal is one free bag only, not two.
2. Priority & 2 Cabin Bags
If you want to bring a wheeled suitcase on board, you must purchase "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags." You cannot bring a wheelie bag on board with a standard basic fare.
What You Get:
- Small Personal Bag: (40 x 30 x 20 cm) to go under the seat.
- 10kg Cabin Bag: (55 x 40 x 20 cm) to go in the overhead locker.
- Priority Boarding: You board the plane first via the Priority queue.
The Cost:
Prices fluctuate based on demand and route. Expect to pay between £/€6 and £/€36 if you add this at the time of booking. If you try to add it later, the price can jump to £/€20 – £/€60.
Priority often sells out. It is capped at 95 passengers per flight (about half the plane). If it is sold out, you will have to check your bag in.
3. Checked Baggage Options
For longer trips where a carry-on isn't enough, Ryanair offers three main tiers of checked luggage.
10kg Checked Bag
This is a budget-friendly option for those who have liquids over 100ml or simply don't want to drag a suitcase through security.
- Drop-off: You must drop this at the check-in desk before security.
- Fee: Between £/€9.49 and £/€44.99 online.
20kg Checked Bag
The standard option for a week-long holiday.
- Allowance: Up to 3 bags per passenger.
- Fee: Between £/€18.99 and £/€59.99 per bag, per flight.
23kg Checked Bag
A newer addition to the policy, specifically for those needing just a little extra weight.
- Availability: Must be purchased at the time of booking.
- Note: You can only buy one 23kg bag per booking.
4. Ryanair Bag Pooling: How to Combine Allowance on the Same Booking NEW
One of Ryanair's least-advertised rules is also one of the most useful for families and couples. If several passengers are on the same booking reference and have paid for checked bags, you are allowed to distribute the total weight across your suitcases however you like — as long as no single bag exceeds the 32 kg absolute limit that ground handlers can lift safely.
In plain English: if two of you have paid for 20 kg checked bags each (40 kg total), one bag can weigh 25 kg and the other 15 kg. You will not be charged an excess weight fee, because the combined weight is still within the paid allowance.
✅ What You Can Do
- Move weight between bags on the same booking
- Redistribute at the check-in desk before drop-off
- Pack one heavy suitcase for a couple / family group
- Balance a lighter passenger's bag with a heavier one
❌ What You Cannot Do
- Combine allowance across separate bookings
- Exceed 32 kg in any single bag (hard airport limit)
- Share a Priority cabin bag with someone else
- Move weight between checked and carry-on to dodge the sizer
A family of four flying to Malaga book two 20 kg bags between them (a total of 40 kg allowance). At check-in, one suitcase weighs 26 kg and the other weighs 14 kg. Because both bags are under 32 kg individually and both fall under the same booking, Ryanair accepts them without charge. Booking two bags on one PNR — instead of one bag each on separate PNRs — is what unlocks this.
5. Oversized and Excess Baggage Fees
This is where travelers often get caught out. Ryanair's airport fees are punitive, designed to encourage you to follow the rules or book online in advance.
The "Gate Bag" Fee
If you arrive at the boarding gate with a bag that is too large, or if you have a 10kg wheelie bag but did not pay for Priority, you will be charged a gate fee.
- Fee: £/€70 – £/€75.
- The bag will then be placed in the hold of the aircraft.
Excess Weight Fee
If your checked bag weighs more than your allowance (e.g., your 20kg bag actually weighs 22kg), you will be charged per kilogram.
- Fee: £/€13 per kg.
- Example: Being 3kg over the limit will cost you £39 at the desk.
6. Why Ryanair Enforces So Strictly: The €2.50 Staff Bonus NEW
If you've ever felt that Ryanair gate staff scan cabin bags with unusual enthusiasm, you're not imagining it. There's a real financial reason.
Since late 2025, Ryanair has been paying ground handling staff a bonus for every non-compliant cabin bag they catch at the boarding gate. And that bonus has just been sharpened.
| Detail | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus per oversized bag caught | €1.50 | €2.50 (~67% increase) |
| Monthly bonus cap per staff member | €80 | No cap — unlimited |
| Passenger fee if caught | Up to £/€70–75 gate fee | Up to £/€70–75 gate fee |
Ryanair itself says only about 0.1% of its 200 million yearly passengers are caught with an oversized bag — but that still works out to around 200,000 people a year. Every one of those bags is now worth more to the staff member spotting it.
I want our ground handling people to be catching people who are scamming the system. I am still mystified by the number of people with rucksacks who still think they're going to get through the gate, and we won't notice the rucksack. We will — and you will be paying for the rucksack.
Ryanair's sizers are rigid metal frames — the staff member does not decide whether your bag "looks close enough." If it doesn't drop cleanly into the sizer, they earn €2.50 and you pay up to €75. Removing that monthly cap means there's now no point in a shift where a staff member gets "bored" of enforcing. Every bag counts, all shift, all month.
7. Special Items: Sports & Music
Ryanair does allow you to travel with bulky items, but they must be booked into the hold. You cannot bring large instruments or sports gear into the cabin unless you buy an extra seat for them (e.g., for a cello).
| Item | Online Fee | Airport Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Bicycle | £/€60 | £/€75 |
| Large Sports Item | £/€55 | £/€65 |
| Skis | £/€45 | £/€50 |
| Golf Clubs | £/€30 | £/€40 |
| Musical Instrument | £/€50 | £/€65 |
Note: Bicycles have a weight limit of 30kg; most other sports items have a limit of 20kg.
8. Infant Baggage Rules
Traveling with a baby? The rules are slightly different.
Lap Infants
Babies aged 8 days to 23 months sitting on an adult's lap do not get a cabin bag allowance.
Baby Bag
However, the accompanying adult can bring a "baby bag" up to 5kg (45x35x20cm) in addition to their own cabin bag.
Free Equipment
You can carry 2 items of baby equipment free of charge per child (e.g., a pushchair + car seat or travel cot). These are tagged at the bag drop desk or boarding gate.
9. Ryanair vs easyJet vs Wizz Air vs Jet2: Cabin Bag Comparison NEW
Ryanair is not the only low-cost airline flying the routes you're looking at. If you're on the fence, here's how the four biggest European short-haul carriers stack up on the one thing most travelers actually care about — what you can bring on board for free.
| Airline | Free Personal Bag | Larger Cabin Bag Included? | Gate Bag Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (under seat) | No — Priority only (paid) | Up to £/€75 |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm (under seat) | No — Plus fare or Up Front seat only | Up to £48 |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (under seat) | No — Wizz Priority only | Up to €80 |
| Jet2 | 10 kg cabin bag included (55 x 40 x 20 cm) | Yes — every fare | Rare — generous by default |
Choose Ryanair when…
You're flying hand luggage only, willing to travel light, and the base fare is significantly cheaper than the competition. Skip Priority if you can pack in a single underseat bag.
Choose easyJet when…
You want a slightly bigger free bag under the seat (45 x 36 x 20 cm) and the routes suit you. easyJet's underseat allowance is more generous than Ryanair's.
Choose Wizz Air when…
You're flying Central or Eastern Europe on ultra-low fares. Rules mirror Ryanair closely, so cabin bag budgeting is essentially the same.
Choose Jet2 when…
You want a full 10 kg cabin bag included at no extra cost — the most generous of the four. Often worth the higher base fare for anyone travelling more than a weekend.
Best For Overhead BagFrequently Asked Questions
What happens if my bag is 1cm too big?
Ryanair sizers are rigid metal cages. If your bag has hard wheels or a hard shell and cannot be squeezed into the sizer, you will likely be charged the gate fee. Soft-shell bags are safer as they can be squashed to fit.
Is a handbag allowed in addition to my carry-on?
Only if you have Priority Boarding. If you have a standard non-priority fare, you are allowed one bag total. Your handbag must fit inside your backpack/carry-on, or you will be charged.
How much are liquids allowed in 2026?
While some airports are introducing new scanners, Ryanair policy currently adheres to the standard rule: liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less, packed in a transparent 1-liter plastic bag. Always check the rules of the specific airport you are departing from — Dublin Airport, for example, has been rolling out newer scanners that allow larger containers, but the exception is airport-driven, not airline-driven.
Can I add bags after booking?
Yes, you can add bags up to 2 hours before departure via the app or website. However, the price is often higher than if you had added them during the initial booking.
Can I share my baggage allowance with family on Ryanair? NEW
Yes — but only across bags on the same booking reference. If you and your family have paid for multiple checked bags on the same PNR, Ryanair allows you to distribute the total weight however you like at check-in, so long as no single suitcase exceeds 32 kg. This is sometimes called "bag pooling." It does not apply across separate bookings, even for the same flight, and it does not let you share Priority cabin allowance between passengers.
What is the €2.50 staff bonus and does it affect me? NEW
Since late 2025, Ryanair ground handling staff earn €2.50 (up from €1.50) for every oversized cabin bag they identify at the gate — with no monthly cap on their earnings. The passenger impact is simple: enforcement is now sharper and more consistent than it was two years ago. The safest response is to measure your bag at home, use a soft-shell where possible, and drop it in the sizer yourself before you join the queue.
Are the EU's new cabin bag pricing rules already in force? NEW
Not yet. As of July 2026, the European Union has moved to require airlines and booking platforms to display fares with essential cabin bag allowance included from the start, rather than as a paid add-on. The final rollout timeline is still being finalized. Until it takes effect, the Ryanair fare structure explained on this page continues to apply exactly as written.
Final Thought
Double-check your dimensions, weigh your checked luggage, and print your boarding passes to ensure your low-cost flight stays low-cost.
Check the official Ryanair website for the latest real-time updates before you pack — and if you're weighing up whether Priority is worth the fee, remember: the €2.50 gate staff bonus makes it more expensive than ever to gamble at the boarding queue.
Muhammad Naeem is a travel researcher with 5+ years of experience analyzing airline rules and global travel regulations. He specializes in simplifying complex airline policies to help travelers avoid extra fees and fly with confidence. His work focuses on accuracy, clarity, and up to date information across international carriers.
