Ryanair Baggage Allowance 2026: All Fares, Fees and Gate Rules
Ryanair’s baggage policy is simple enough in theory and surprisingly confusing in practice. I’ve flown Ryanair dozens of times — including one memorable Stansted gate experience I’d rather not repeat — so here’s everything you need to know before you book.
What Bag Do You Get Free on Ryanair?
Every Ryanair passenger gets one free underseat bag on every fare. As of August 2025, the dimensions are 40 x 30 x 20 cm. That’s roughly the size of a large backpack or small holdall.
The key word is underseat. Your free bag must fit under the seat in front of you. It does not go in the overhead locker. There is no weight limit on the free bag, which is genuinely useful — pack a 7 kg bag in those dimensions and no one will say a word.
What changed in August 2025: Ryanair increased the free bag from 40 x 25 x 20 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. That’s an extra 5 cm in depth — not huge, but it adds usable volume. If you’ve seen older articles quoting 40 x 25 x 20, they’re out of date.
How to Get Overhead Locker Access on Ryanair
To use the overhead locker, you need Priority Boarding. This comes with a larger cabin bag allowance: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, maximum 10 kg.
Priority Boarding costs anywhere from £6 to £36 per person per flight, depending on how early you book and your route. For most UK-Europe routes, expect to pay around £12–20 each way.
What happens when Priority sells out? Ryanair caps Priority at around 95 passengers per flight. On popular summer routes, it genuinely sells out. If that happens, your only overhead bag option is gone. Your best fallback is to add a 10 kg checked bag (which goes in the hold but gives you more total volume) and manage with the underseat allowance in the cabin.
Is Priority Worth Buying?
For a long weekend with just a backpack, probably not. For a week away where you’re trying to avoid checked bag fees, almost certainly yes. Do the maths: Priority at £20 each way (£40 return) versus a 20 kg checked bag at £30–60+ each way. If you can manage in 55 x 40 x 20 cm, Priority usually wins on cost.
Ryanair’s Fare Bundles — What’s Actually Included
This is where most people get caught out. The fare names sound intuitive but the baggage logic is counterintuitive.
| Fare | Underseat Bag | Priority + Overhead Bag | Checked Bag | Seat Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | ✅ 40x30x20 | ✅ 55x40x20 (Priority included) | ❌ | — |
| Plus | ✅ 40x30x20 | ❌ | ✅ 20 kg | Included |
| Flexi Plus | ✅ 40x30x20 | ✅ 55x40x20 (Priority included) | ✅ 20 kg | Included |
The counterintuitive bit: The Regular fare includes Priority Boarding (overhead locker access), but not a checked bag. The Plus fare includes a 20 kg checked bag but not Priority Boarding. If you buy Plus thinking you’re getting everything, you’ll still be queuing at the back of the gate without access to the overhead locker.
Ryanair Checked Bag Fees
If you need a hold bag, here’s what to expect:
| Bag | Online (booked in advance) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kg checked bag | From £10–25 | Significantly cheaper than airport |
| 20 kg checked bag | From £25–50 | Significantly cheaper than airport |
Always add bags online. Adding at the airport costs substantially more — and adding at the gate costs more still.
Excess weight: If your checked bag is over the limit, you pay £11 per kg over on most Ryanair routes. A bag that’s 3 kg over costs £33 extra on top of the bag fee.
The Time Saver Bundle
Worth knowing about, rarely mentioned. The Time Saver bundle combines Priority Boarding, 2 cabin bags (your free underseat bag plus Priority overhead), rows 1–5 seat selection, and Fast Track security. If you’re already paying for Priority and Fast Track separately, check whether the bundle works out cheaper on your specific booking — the price varies by route.
What Happens at the Gate: The Reality
Ryanair enforces its bag policy harder than almost any other UK airline. A few things worth knowing:
The sizer. There’s a metal cage at most Ryanair gates. If your bag doesn’t drop in freely, it doesn’t pass. Hard-shell suitcases fail more often than soft bags because 1 cm over the nominal dimension is common with moulded cases. A soft holdall with the same volume usually passes without issue.
Staff incentives. Since November 2025, Ryanair gate staff earn €2.50 per non-compliant bag they catch, with no monthly cap on earnings. This is a direct financial incentive to enforce — and it shows. Don’t arrive at the gate assuming they won’t look.
Gate fees. If your bag is flagged and doesn’t comply, you’ll pay £70 to check it in there and then. That’s significantly more than adding a bag online before flying.
Duty-free exception. If you buy duty-free at the airport, that bag travels free in addition to your normal allowance, regardless of fare type. Keep it in the original shop bag — it doesn’t count against your free bag or Priority allowance.
Ryanair vs Jet2 and British Airways: The Real Cost
It’s tempting to book Ryanair based on headline fares. But once you add Priority, the comparison shifts.
For two adults flying London to Barcelona return, each needing overhead locker access:
- Ryanair: Base fare + Priority (£12–20 each way) x 2 passengers x 2 legs adds up quickly
- Jet2: Free overhead bag included on every booking, no Priority fee
- British Airways: Economy Classic includes an overhead cabin bag and a 23 kg hold bag per person
Which? research has confirmed that on certain European routes, BA is cheaper than Ryanair once bags are factored in. The comparison depends heavily on the route and dates — but it’s worth running before you assume the cheapest headline fare is cheapest overall.
Key Tips for Flying Ryanair
- Measure your bag including any exterior pockets. A backpack with full side pockets can exceed 20 cm in depth without looking obviously oversized.
- Add bags online, not at the airport. The price difference is significant.
- Book Priority early. It sells out on busy routes.
- Pack valuables in your underseat bag. If your Priority cabin bag gets gate-checked on a full flight, it goes in the hold and won’t be accessible in-flight.
- Duty-free is always free. Don’t cram it in your bag — carry it separately in the shop’s bag.
- Soft bags pass the sizer more reliably than hard-shell. A structured backpack at exactly 40 x 30 x 20 cm has more tolerance than a rigid case of the same nominal size.
Ryanair Baggage FAQ
Does Ryanair weigh the free underseat bag?
No. There is no weight limit on the free 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag. They check size at the gate, not weight.
Can I take a handbag as well as my free bag?
No. Ryanair allows one bag per passenger on the free allowance. A handbag counts as your bag.
What if Priority is sold out?
You can still fly with your free underseat bag. The overhead locker access is gone. Consider adding a 10 kg checked bag for hold luggage if you need more space.
Does the free bag have to go under the seat, or can I use the overhead if there’s space?
Officially, the free bag is underseat only. Overhead lockers are for Priority passengers. In practice this varies, but do not rely on overhead space without Priority.
What is the Ryanair gate fee in 2026?
£70 for a non-compliant cabin bag caught at the gate.
