UK Airline Carry-On Size Comparison 2026: Every Airline’s Rules in One Place
Three different gates, three different airlines, three conversations with staff about whether my bag was going to cost me money. Here’s what I actually learned — plus a complete comparison of every major UK airline’s carry-on rules so you don’t have to find out the hard way.
The headline truth first: there is no single bag that works free across all UK airlines. The rules differ enough that what sails through easyJet’s gate won’t fit Ryanair’s free allowance, and what passes on Jet2 technically exceeds BA’s underseat slot. This guide breaks it all down.
Free Carry-On Sizes — All Major UK Airlines (2026)
| Airline | Free Carry-On Size | Weight Limit | Overhead Locker Free? |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23 kg combined (both bags) | ✅ |
| Jet2 | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 10 kg | ✅ |
| TUI | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | ✅ |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | 15 kg | ❌ Underseat only |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit | ❌ Underseat only |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg | ❌ Underseat only |
| Aer Lingus (Saver) | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 10 kg | ❌ Underseat only |
| Loganair | 40 x 35 x 18 cm | 6 kg | Varies by aircraft |
| KLM (Basic) | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 12 kg combined | ❌ Underseat only |
On easyJet: The free underseat bag (45 x 36 x 20 cm) is actually larger than Ryanair’s free bag. But easyJet does NOT include overhead locker access without a paid upgrade — the Large Cabin Bag add-on (56 x 45 x 25 cm, from around £6–63) gets you overhead access.
Paid Overhead Bag Options (Where Not Free)
| Airline | Paid Cabin Bag Size | Weight | Cost From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair (Priority) | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | £6–36 |
| Wizz Air (Priority) | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 10 kg | ~£10–52 online |
| easyJet (Large Cabin Bag) | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 15 kg | £6–63 |
| Aer Lingus (Plus+) | 55 x 40 x 24 cm | 10 kg | €9.99–35 |
Personal Item / Underseat Bag — What’s Allowed Alongside Your Main Bag
Some airlines allow both a main cabin bag AND a separate personal item. Others allow only one.
| Airline | Personal Item Allowed? | Max Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | ✅ | 40 x 30 x 15 cm |
| Jet2 | ✅ | 40 x 30 x 20 cm |
| TUI | ✅ | 40 x 30 x 20 cm |
| Ryanair | ❌ | One bag only |
| easyJet | ❌ | One bag only |
| Wizz Air | ❌ | One bag only |
The easyJet One-Bag Rule: The Gotcha Nobody Talks About Enough
easyJet is the only major UK airline that does not allow a separate personal item alongside your cabin bag. One bag is one bag.
This is not about size. If you bring a backpack and a handbag through the gate, one of them gets stopped. It doesn’t matter if both would fit comfortably in the overhead or under the seat — easyJet’s rule is one item per passenger, full stop.
This is the most commonly misunderstood rule in UK budget air travel. Other airlines allow a small personal item on top of your main bag. easyJet doesn’t. Pack accordingly — a larger single bag up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm, rather than two smaller items.
What Changed in 2025 — Policies Many Articles Are Still Getting Wrong
Ryanair free bag size increase (August 2025): The free underseat bag grew from 40 x 25 x 20 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. If any source quotes 40 x 25 x 20 as Ryanair’s current free bag size, it’s out of date.
Wizz Air free bag size decrease (November 2025): The free bag shrank from 45 x 35 x 20 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Passengers who bought a 45 x 35 cm bag specifically for Wizz Air now need Priority to get it on board free. A meaningful change.
Ryanair staff incentive increase (November 2025): The per-bag enforcement bonus for gate staff increased from €1.50 to €2.50, with the monthly earning cap removed. Practical effect: enforcement at Ryanair gates has tightened.
Flybe: Ceased all operations on 28 January 2023 and was formally dissolved in March 2024. Any article or comparison chart listing Flybe as an active airline should be disregarded.
How Strictly Do Airlines Actually Enforce Bag Rules?
Dimension tables are useful. What happens when you get to the gate is more useful. Here’s a ranked enforcement guide, strictest to most lenient:
1. Ryanair — Strictest
Metal bag sizer at most gates. If your bag doesn’t drop in freely, it doesn’t pass. Gate staff earn €2.50 per non-compliant bag caught, with no monthly cap (since November 2025). Hard-shell suitcases fail the sizer more often than soft bags — a moulded case at exactly 40 x 30 x 20 cm often measures 41 or 42 cm in practice due to the casing. Soft holdalls have more tolerance.
Gate fee for a non-compliant bag: £70.
2. Wizz Air
Bag sizer used at gates. Weight enforced — they do weigh bags that look heavy. Gate fee: €65 (approximately £55–57). Hard-shell cases are most at risk. Don’t assume you’ll slip through.
3. easyJet
Orange bag sizers deployed at Gatwick, Luton, and Stansted. Gate fee for a non-compliant large cabin bag: £48. The one-bag-only rule is enforced — a backpack plus a handbag will be caught. Less theatrical than Ryanair but enforcement is real.
4. TUI
The 10 kg cabin bag limit is now actively enforced — TUI had a reputation for leniency that no longer holds. Gate penalty: equivalent to hold bag rates plus £14/kg excess. Not as aggressive as Ryanair but no longer a free pass.
5. Jet2
No routine bag sizer. Weight can be checked on suspicion. Friendlier reputation and culture than the low-cost carriers. Real consequences if you significantly exceed limits, but the gate experience is considerably less stressful.
6. British Airways
Enforcement increasing in 2026 on busy routes. Size checks more common than before. The personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) is rarely checked at the gate. The main cabin bag gets more scrutiny on full flights, particularly at Heathrow and Gatwick.
7. Loganair — Different Situation Entirely
Loganair operates on some of the shortest and most remote routes in the UK — island airports on Barra, Orkney, Shetland. On certain routes with small turboprop aircraft, all cabin bags go into the hold at the aircraft steps regardless of size, and are returned when you land. It’s structural, not punitive — the aircraft simply don’t have overhead compartments that fit standard bags. Pack any medication or valuables in a small item you keep on your person.
Loganair’s Unusual Rules: Worth Knowing If You’re Flying Scottish Islands
No other editorial comparison includes Loganair. It’s worth a mention for completeness.
- Cabin bag: 40 x 35 x 18 cm, maximum 6 kg — the smallest cabin bag allowance of any active UK airline
- That 18 cm depth is shallower than British Airways’ personal item slot
- On small-aircraft routes, expect your cabin bag to be placed in the hold
If you’re booking a Hebridean or Northern Isles trip, check the specific aircraft type for your route at loganair.co.uk.
Is There a Universal Carry-On Size for UK Airlines?
Honest answer: no. But here’s the clearest guide to what works where:
40 x 30 x 20 cm is the closest to a universal free bag size: it passes as the free underseat bag on Ryanair, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus Saver, Jet2 (personal item slot), and TUI (personal item). It’s smaller than easyJet’s free bag allowance, which actually gives you more room.
45 x 36 x 20 cm is easyJet’s free underseat bag size. It’s larger than Ryanair’s free allowance, so technically exceeds Ryanair’s dimension. Whether it fits physically under the seat on a Ryanair flight depends on the aircraft — don’t rely on it.
55–56 x 40–45 x 20–25 cm is the overhead bin size that works across Ryanair Priority, easyJet Large Cabin Bag, Jet2 free overhead, TUI free overhead, and BA free overhead. Getting it into the overhead on budget airlines requires paying extra.
Practical by travel pattern:
- Mostly Ryanair/Wizz: A soft 40 x 30 x 20 cm backpack as underseat. Add Priority on Ryanair when you need overhead access.
- Mostly easyJet: A soft 45 x 36 x 20 cm bag as your single item (no personal item alongside).
- Mostly Jet2/BA/TUI: Size requirements are generous. Pack under 10 kg and the overhead is yours.
- Mixed airlines: Carry 40 x 30 x 20 cm and pay for overhead access on the airlines that require it. Cheaper than buying a bag that works everywhere free (because nothing does).
Hard-Shell vs Soft: Which Is Better for Getting Through?
For budget airline travel, soft bags are safer. Here’s why:
A hard-shell suitcase labelled as “40 x 30 x 20 cm” often measures 41–42 x 31 x 21 cm in practice once you account for the moulded casing, hinges, and wheel housings. At Ryanair’s or Wizz Air’s metal sizer, that extra centimetre fails.
A soft holdall or backpack at the same nominal size compresses slightly, passes the sizer, and keeps you on the right side of the gate. If you’re carrying hard-side luggage regularly on budget airlines, measure the actual outer dimensions including every protrusion before you travel.
Total Cost Comparison: Ryanair vs Jet2 vs BA With a Carry-On
The headline fare tells you very little. Here’s a rough worked example: two adults, London to Alicante return, wanting overhead bin access.
Ryanair: Base fare + Priority per person each way (let’s say £15 x 2 x 2 = £60 in Priority costs on top of the base fare)
Jet2: Base fare, overhead bag included free — no Priority fee
British Airways: Economy Classic includes overhead cabin bag and one 23 kg hold bag per person — no add-on needed
Which? has confirmed that once bags are factored in, BA is cheaper than Ryanair on a meaningful number of European routes. Jet2 often sits between the two, depending on when you book. The point isn’t that Ryanair is bad value — with just the free underseat bag and no extras, it’s hard to beat — but the comparison changes significantly as soon as you need overhead access.
Key Tips for Carry-On Only Travel on UK Airlines
- Soft bags pass sizers more reliably than hard-shell. Compression matters at the gate.
- easyJet means one bag. A laptop bag plus a backpack is two bags.
- Weigh your bag on Wizz Air and Jet2. Weight limits are enforced, unlike Ryanair’s free bag (which has no weight limit).
- Buy Ryanair Priority early. It’s capped per flight and sells out on busy routes.
- BA’s personal item is 15 cm deep — 5 cm shallower than most other airlines. Your standard laptop backpack technically exceeds it, though enforcement of the underseat slot is rare.
- Loganair means your bag might go in the hold anyway — pack essentials in a small on-person item on island routes.
UK Airline Carry-On FAQ
Which UK airline gives the most free cabin bag space?
British Airways and Jet2 both offer 56 x 45 x 25 cm in the overhead locker, free on all fares. That’s the largest free overhead allowance among major UK airlines.
Does easyJet allow a personal item and a cabin bag?
No. easyJet allows one bag per passenger only. The one-bag rule is enforced.
What is the safest single bag size to use across UK airlines?
For a free underseat bag: 40 x 30 x 20 cm. For overhead access (paid on budget carriers): 55 x 40 x 20 cm.
Is Ryanair or Wizz Air stricter about cabin bags?
Both use sizers and enforce actively. Ryanair is widely considered the strictest due to the financial incentive structure for staff. Wizz Air is a close second.
Does Flybe still fly?
No. Flybe ceased all operations on 28 January 2023 and was dissolved in March 2024.
What is Loganair’s cabin bag size?
40 x 35 x 18 cm, maximum 6 kg — the smallest and lightest cabin bag allowance of any active UK airline. On some small-aircraft island routes, cabin bags go in the hold as standard.
