Eurostar Baggage Allowance 2026: Rules, Sizes & What to Expect at Security

The first time I took Eurostar to Paris I spent ten minutes at St Pancras digging out my toiletries bag before a security officer waved me through with a look that said: you don’t need to do that here. There’s no 100 ml liquids rule on Eurostar. No weight limit either. And every passenger gets their bags on the train for free, regardless of which class they’re travelling in. If you’ve been conditioned by airlines to expect fees, restrictions, and oversize charges at every turn, Eurostar is a different experience entirely — but there are still rules worth knowing before you pack.

Quick reference — Eurostar baggage allowance 2026

Class	Large bags	Small bag	Max length	Weight limit
Standard	2	1	85 cm (London routes) / 75 cm (other routes)	None
Plus	2	1	85 cm (London routes) / 75 cm (other routes)	None
Premier	3	1	85 cm (London routes) / 75 cm (other routes)	None
Ski train (Standard/Plus)	2 + skis or snowboard	1	85 cm	None
Ski train (Premier)	3 + skis or snowboard	1	85 cm	None

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Eurostar Travel Classes: What Changed in 2024

Eurostar rebranded its travel classes in November 2024. The old names — Standard, Standard Premier, and Business Premier — became Standard, Plus, and Premier. The baggage rules shifted at the same time.

The main practical change: Standard Premier used to include the same two-bag allowance as Standard, and Business Premier included three bags. Now:

Standard and Plus both allow two large bags plus one small hand-luggage item
Premier allows three large bags plus one small hand-luggage item

If you’re used to the old naming, Standard Premier passengers now travel in Plus, and Business Premier passengers are now in Premier. The three-bag allowance is exclusive to Premier.

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Eurostar Baggage Allowance: What You Can Bring

Standard and Plus Class

With a Standard or Plus ticket, each adult can bring:

Two pieces of main luggage, each no longer than 85 cm (on routes to or from London) or 75 cm (all other routes, including Amsterdam and Rotterdam)
One small piece of hand luggage — a daypack, handbag, or laptop bag

There is no weight limit. The only requirement is that you can carry your own bags and store them safely on and off the train. Nobody is weighing anything at the gate.

The 85 cm limit is the key number for London routes. Most standard checked suitcases — 28-inch or 70 cm rolling cases — sit comfortably under this. A 32-inch or 81 cm case is cutting it fine. Measure yours before you travel.

Premier Class

Premier passengers get the same deal as Standard and Plus, with one addition: three pieces of main luggage instead of two, plus the small hand-luggage item.

Three bags at 85 cm each with no weight ceiling is a generous allowance. In practice, very few Premier passengers use all three pieces.

The Small Bag

Eurostar uses “small piece of hand luggage” to mean what airlines call a personal item — a handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, or small daypack that fits under the seat or in the overhead rack. This is on top of your two (or three) main bags.

There are no published dimensions for the small bag. A standard laptop bag or medium daypack is fine.

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The 85 cm Rule: What It Means in Practice

The 85 cm limit applies to the longest single dimension of each bag — not the total of all three dimensions. This is different from airline linear (combined) measurements.

An 85 cm bag is large. A standard large suitcase (28 inch / 71 cm) is well within limits. A 32-inch case (around 81 cm) fits. Problems arise with unusually tall cases, oversized duffles, or surf bags that run longer than 85 cm.

On routes that don’t go to or from London — Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels to Paris, and similar cross-continental services — the limit drops to 75 cm. A standard large suitcase at 71 cm still fits, but it’s tighter, and a 75 cm rolling case is at the absolute boundary.

If you want to bring something longer than 85 cm (or 75 cm on non-London routes), Eurostar accepts oversized items on a pre-booked basis only — see the registered luggage section below.

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No Weight Limit — But You Still Need to Lift It

Eurostar does not impose a maximum weight per bag. In theory, you could check a 40 kg case if you could carry it. The catch is the boarding process itself: you handle your own bags through passport control, up escalators, and onto the train. Nobody is loading bags into a hold — they go in racks above your seat and in the luggage bays at the end of each carriage.

The end-of-carriage luggage bays take large rolling cases. The overhead racks hold hand-luggage-sized bags. If your main suitcase is heavy, it goes in the end bay, not overhead. There are no labels, no staff assistance, and no guarantee of space close to your seat.

A practical rule: if you cannot comfortably lift a bag overhead, plan for the end bay and board early. The luggage bays fill up quickly on busy departures, particularly London to Paris morning services.

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Liquids: No Restriction (But There Are Some Rules)

There is no 100 ml liquids rule on Eurostar. Pack full-size toiletries, a litre bottle of water, whatever you like. No clear bag required, no digging things out at the scanner, no limits on container size.

The one rule: containers must be closed and sealed. An open water bottle needs to be resealed before you go through security. That’s it.

The 100 ml rule is an aviation security protocol and does not apply at St Pancras, Gare du Nord, or Brussels-Midi. Many people who’ve flown dozens of times still reflexively reach for the clear bag at Eurostar. You don’t need it.

Alcohol on Board

The alcohol rules vary by service, and the ski train restriction catches people out every year.

On night trains and ski trains, no alcohol is permitted on board and none is sold. On trains to or from sports events, same deal. Bring it in your bag to drink at the destination, fine — but not on those services.

On standard cross-channel services, you can bring your own. On-board consumption is limited to four cans or bottles of beer, or one bottle of wine per person. Spirits are not permitted for on-board consumption, though sealed bottles in your luggage heading to your destination are allowed under customs rules.

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Eurostar Security: What Actually Happens at St Pancras

Departing from London St Pancras, the security process runs in this order:

Ticket check at Eurostar check-in
Baggage X-ray and body scanner — similar to airport security but without the liquids restriction
UK exit passport control
French (or Belgian) entry passport control — Schengen border, so your EU-entry stamps are done here before you board

Laptops do not need to be removed from bags at Eurostar security at St Pancras. The scanners used here are more advanced than older airport checkpoint technology — no need to pull electronics out. The liquids process is similarly relaxed: no removing, no bagging.

The whole process at a quiet time takes around 15–20 minutes. At peak times on a busy Friday afternoon or a December Saturday, allow 30–40 minutes. Eurostar recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure from London — check-in gates close 30 minutes before the train leaves.

Departing from Paris and Brussels

At Gare du Nord (Paris) and Brussels-Midi, the process is similar but reversed: you clear French/Belgian exit passport control and then UK entry passport control before boarding — all on French/Belgian soil, by arrangement. Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure; Eurostar’s own guidance says to be ready to board 10 minutes before.

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Eurostar vs Flying London to Paris: The Bag Comparison

The most common comparison is London–Paris. Here’s how the bag experience differs:

Factor	Eurostar	Flying (e.g., easyJet/BA)
Free bags included	2 large + 1 small (Standard)	Varies: often 1 small bag only on cheapest fares
Checked bag cost	Free (no hold, bags on train)	£0–£80+ depending on airline and fare
Weight limit	None	15–23 kg per checked bag
Liquids rule	No restriction	100 ml per container in 1-litre bag
Check-in time needed	90 min before (London)	2 hours before (recommended)
Station to city centre	St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, central	Heathrow/Gatwick to CDG/Orly, then transfer
Total journey time	Around 2 hrs 20 min city centre to city centre	4–5+ hours including airport transit and transfers

On bags alone, Eurostar wins cleanly. No checked-bag fees, no liquids faff, no weight-allowance anxiety. On a typical London–Paris trip where you’d pay £20–£50 to add hold luggage to an easyJet or Ryanair fare, Eurostar’s all-in pricing removes the variable entirely.

The trade-off is that you carry your bags through security and passport control yourself. On an airline, checked bags go in the hold and you see them again at the carousel. On Eurostar, two 20 kg suitcases are your problem through the St Pancras terminal, up the escalators, and onto the train.

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Storing Luggage on the Train

Eurostar trains have two main storage options:

End-of-carriage luggage bays — large open racks at each end of the carriage, designed for full-size rolling suitcases and large bags. These are first-come, first-served. No lock, no ticket check, no staff supervision. Your bag goes in the same bay as strangers’ bags.

Overhead racks — above the seats, sized for bags similar to airline overhead lockers. These fit a standard cabin-bag-size wheelie or a medium holdall. They do not fit a large suitcase.

Board as early as Eurostar allows — the end bays fill up on busy services, and on a packed Standard carriage on a Friday morning to Paris, you may end up walking half the train looking for space. Keep valuables in your small bag, not in the main luggage bay, because you will be seated nowhere near it. If you have two large bags and a daypack, the daypack goes overhead or under your seat; main bags go in the end bay. Premier carriages are quieter and less crammed — there’s noticeably more breathing room per passenger, which makes a difference if you’re travelling with bulky bags.

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Bikes on Eurostar

Bikes must be pre-booked and cannot be taken on without a reserved space. The rules differ by route.

London to Paris (Gare du Nord):

Your bike must be disassembled and packed in a protective bag or box when you drop it off. Assembled bikes are not accepted on this route.

London to Brussels:

Fully assembled bikes can be transported between London and Brussels — the only Eurostar route where this is permitted.

All other routes:

The bike must be disassembled and packed in a cover measuring a maximum of 135 x 85 x 30 cm.

Folding bikes, folding electric bikes, and children’s bikes or scooters can be taken on board without pre-booking if they are no longer than 85 cm when folded and are carried in a protective bag.

Each bike requires a reserved luggage space, booked in advance. There is a fee, and spaces are limited — book as early as possible, particularly for summer and holiday services.

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Ski Train: Rules for the French Alps

Eurostar runs a direct ski service from London St Pancras to the French Alps during winter, stopping at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-St-Maurice (with coach connections to Val Thorens, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Tignes, Méribel and Les Menuires). The 2025/2026 season runs on Saturdays from 20 December 2025 through 4 April 2026.

Ski train baggage allowance:

Standard and Plus passengers may bring their standard two-bag allowance plus one pair of skis or one snowboard. Premier passengers may bring three bags plus skis or a snowboard. The skis or snowboard do not count against your bag allowance — they are in addition to it.

Skis and snowboards must be in a protective case that fully covers the item, with straps attached. The train has dedicated areas in each carriage for ski equipment.

No alcohol is permitted on the ski train — either brought on board or purchased during the journey.

Direct ski trains to Lyon, Avignon and Marseille (running at other times of year) follow the same equipment rules for extra allocated space.

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Sports Equipment (Non-Ski)

Most sports equipment that exceeds the standard bag size goes through the same process as oversized luggage: pre-book a dedicated space in advance, and make sure the item weighs no more than 30 kg.

Surfboards, golf clubs, and similar items all need advance booking if they exceed 85 cm in length. Do not turn up at St Pancras with a surfboard on a standard ticket and hope for the best — contact Eurostar before you travel.

Camping equipment that fits inside two standard bags (each under 85 cm) travels as normal luggage with nothing extra to arrange.

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The Registered Luggage Service

Eurostar runs a Registered Luggage Service where you send bags separately, either ahead of your travel or collected after. It’s available on selected trains between London and Paris and London and Brussels only — not Ashford, Ebbsfleet, Calais, Disneyland Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, or ski destinations.

Each item must weigh 30 kg or less. You can send luggage up to a week before you travel. Items can be collected from the destination luggage office for up to 14 days after arrival. One important caveat: your bags do not necessarily travel on the same train as you, and can take up to 24 hours to arrive. Guide price is from £35 per item one-way for a London–Paris journey booked more than 48 hours in advance.

For families with a lot of bags, or anyone who’d rather walk through St Pancras with just a daypack, it’s genuinely useful. The cost is real, and so is the delay — bags arriving 24 hours after you do means no hotel luggage on day one. Factor that in before booking.

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Extra Bags: What Happens If You Bring Too Many

Eurostar’s position on excess luggage is that they may refuse bags that exceed the allowance or charge for them on the day. The published fee for an extra bag on routes to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany is €30 per additional item on the day of travel, charged at the station.

On London–Paris and London–Brussels routes, excess luggage should be pre-booked. Turning up with a third large bag on a Standard ticket is not guaranteed to work — staff can and do refuse bags at check-in if you’re over your allowance.

If you know you need more bags than your class allows, book the registered luggage service in advance. It’s predictable, bookable, and avoids the check-in conversation.

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Customs: Bringing Goods Through the Channel Tunnel

Eurostar crosses an international border. Customs officers — French, Belgian, or UK — are present on some services and carry out random checks. You are responsible for the contents of your bags.

UK customs allowances (arriving into Great Britain from France/Belgium):

Alcohol: 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of wine, 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling wine
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco (post-Brexit personal limits)
Other goods: up to £390 worth

EU/France customs allowances (arriving into France from the UK — for non-EU residents):

Alcohol: 1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, or 2 litres of drink under 22% ABV, plus 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer
Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco
Other goods: up to €300 in value

UK residents travelling to France are treated as non-EU visitors. These limits apply. You do not need to declare personal goods under these thresholds, but customs checks do happen — declaring at the red channel if you are over the limit is the correct process.

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Tips for Travelling Light on Eurostar

Eurostar removes every financial incentive to pack lightly. No checked-bag fee, no weight limit, nothing to dodge. Your bags are still your problem from the front door to your seat — through security, up escalators, and through two sets of passport control — but nobody is charging you for them.

The practical case for packing less is time. One large rolling bag and a daypack moves through the St Pancras terminal considerably faster than two cases and a carry-on. On a two-hour journey to Paris, the minutes saved at each end are more meaningful than on a long-haul flight where the whole day is already gone.

If you’re travelling for a few days, the Registered Luggage Service (from £35 per item) makes it possible to send a suitcase ahead and walk to the train with just a daypack. You arrive unburdened. Your bag arrives separately, potentially 24 hours later. That trade-off is worth thinking about.

One practical note: use a bag with a proper top carry handle, not just shoulder straps. The St Pancras terminal has escalators, and not every section has a nearby lift. A handle matters more than you’d think when you’re hauling a week’s worth of clothes up two flights.

Pack your passport in your small bag, not buried in your main case. You’ll be showing it twice at St Pancras and once on the train — reaching for it repeatedly in a moving queue with a suitcase behind you is avoidable.

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UK ETA and EU ETIAS: Border Changes Affecting Eurostar

From 25 February 2026, travellers from many previously visa-exempt countries need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK — including via Eurostar. Rail operators are required to verify authorisation before boarding.

From late 2026 (date subject to EU confirmation), all non-EU citizens including British passport holders will require an ETIAS (EU equivalent of the US ESTA, approximately €7) to enter most EU countries. This will apply to Eurostar passengers travelling to France and Belgium.

Check requirements at gov.uk (for ETA) and the ETIAS official site before booking or travelling. Biometric data collection at EU border crossings is also being introduced — allow extra time at passport control if you haven’t already noticed queues extending during these checks.

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Eurostar Baggage Allowance FAQ

How many bags can I take on Eurostar?

Standard and Plus passengers can take two large bags (up to 85 cm on London routes, 75 cm on other routes) plus one small piece of hand luggage. Premier passengers get three large bags plus one small piece. There is no weight limit. All bags are free — no checked-bag fee applies.

Is there a weight limit on Eurostar luggage?

No. Eurostar does not impose a weight limit per bag or in total. The requirement is that you can carry your own bags safely. If you cannot lift a heavy case, it can go in the luggage bay at the end of the carriage — but you still need to get it there yourself, through security and passport control.

Can I take liquids on Eurostar?

Yes, without restriction. There is no 100 ml liquids rule on Eurostar. Sealed containers of any size are permitted. Open containers should be sealed before going through security. You do not need a clear bag for toiletries.

Do I need to take my laptop out at Eurostar security?

No. Eurostar security at St Pancras uses scanning technology that does not require you to remove laptops or electronics from your bag. You also do not need to remove toiletries.

What is the maximum bag size on Eurostar?

85 cm on the longest dimension, on routes to or from London. 75 cm on all other routes (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and non-London cross-continental services). This applies to each individual bag. Items longer than this need to be pre-booked as oversized luggage.

Can I take skis on Eurostar?

On the direct ski train (London to Bourg-St-Maurice), you can bring one pair of skis or one snowboard in addition to your standard bag allowance. They must be in a protective case with straps. On standard cross-channel trains, skis must be booked as oversized equipment in advance and treated as an extra item requiring a reserved space.

Can I take my bike on Eurostar?

Bikes require advance booking and a reserved luggage space. London to Paris: bike must be disassembled and in a bag or box. London to Brussels: fully assembled bikes are accepted. Other routes: disassembled, packed in a cover up to 135 x 85 x 30 cm. Folding bikes under 85 cm in a protective bag can travel without pre-booking.

How early do I need to arrive at St Pancras for Eurostar?

Eurostar recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure from London. Check-in gates close 30 minutes before departure. Allow more time during peak periods (Friday afternoons, holiday weekends, and December–January). The security and passport process typically takes 15–30 minutes.

What is the Eurostar Registered Luggage Service?

A service allowing you to send bags separately from London to Paris or London to Brussels, from £35 per item. Bags do not necessarily travel on the same train and can take up to 24 hours. Items must weigh 30 kg or less. Not available for Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Calais, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, or ski destinations.

How does Eurostar baggage compare to flying London to Paris?

Significantly more generous. Eurostar includes two large bags per passenger at no charge, with no weight limit and no liquids restriction. Most budget airline fares to Paris include only a small personal item, with cabin bags and hold luggage as paid extras. On easyJet or Ryanair, a cabin bag plus one 23 kg hold bag can add £40–£80 to the headline fare. Eurostar’s total price is the total price.

Can I bring alcohol on Eurostar?

On standard cross-channel services, yes — within customs limits. On-board consumption of your own alcohol is permitted within reason (Eurostar’s policy references four cans/bottles of beer or one bottle of wine per person). On ski trains, night trains, and trains serving sports events, no alcohol is permitted on board, and none is sold.

Does Premier class get more bags on Eurostar?

Yes. Premier passengers get three large bags plus one small piece of hand luggage. Standard and Plus passengers get two large bags plus one small piece. All other baggage rules (size, no weight limit, no liquids restriction) are identical across all classes.

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