Ryanair 2024 Baggage Allowance - Everything you need to know

There are plenty of reasons why we often choose to travel only with hand luggage. You save money not paying to put a bag into the hold; you save time not waiting for your luggage to emerge on the carousel on arrival, and then there’s the obvious benefit of having less to carry.

But with so many airlines, especially the lower cost carriers like Ryanair, having such varied and strict restrictions on the size and weight of the bag you’re allowed to take with you into the cabin, how do you avoid being caught out? We take a look at the Ryanair's baggage allowance to find out what the guidelines are.

All information in this blog post is correct at the time of writing, which is January 2024. 

Ryanair Cabin Baggage Size

If you’re planning a flight with Ryanair, you're allowed one piece of carry-on baggage and this must be within 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. For the tiny tots under two without their own seats, they'll have to share your baggage allowance. 

Ryanair's 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' Fare

For those who like a bit extra, the 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' fare is just the ticket. You get to bring two bags onboard – one small, one not-so-small (up to 10kg, to be precise). Just make sure the larger one sticks to its 55cm x 40cm x 20cm limits. It’s like getting a VIP pass for your luggage.

Ryanair Checked Baggage

For grander adventures, you can check in up to three pieces of luggage although there are of course fees attached. Pack wisely – keep your treasures and tech out of the checked bags, and don’t forget to tag them with your name.

Ryanair Excess Baggage

Carrying more than your share? Excess baggage fees are there to keep things fair. This includes your golf clubs, skis, and guitars.

Ryanair Baggage Fees

With so many pricing options, it can be confusing on what you need to pay for your Ryanair luggage. To make things simple, see our table below for a breakdown of fees, correct as of January 2024:

Ryanair Hand Luggage FAQs

Which Antler bags fit this free Ryanair hand luggage allowance?

We have a selection of cabin bags that best fits Ryanair’s hand luggage allowance, such as Stamford Mini Crossbody (18cm x 14cm x 8cm), available in transparent, black, khaki and putty.

Which Antler cabin cases fit this Ryanair priority boarding hand luggage allowance?

The Antler cabin luggage that fit the ‘Priority & 2 Cabin Bags’ allowance from Ryanair include:

• This Clifton hard-shell cabin case with four, 360-degree double spinner wheels
• The Brixham four-wheeled soft-sided cabin that’s light yet extremely durable
• The Prestwick cabin, a classic choice that’s built to last, available in black, navy, grey and khaki

What If My Cabin Bag Is Overweight/ Oversized?

Found your cabin bag has had a bit too much to eat? If it tips the scales or stretches beyond Ryanair’s size limits, it'll have to go in the hold. This unexpected change in travel plans for your bag comes with a fee of €/£69.99 (plus VAT).

For the Non-Priority travellers, if your free small bag exceeds the size limit, there's a €/£45.99 fee at the gate.

Is it possible to pay nothing for Ryanair hand luggage?

In short, yes. If you’re flying Ryanair, and you’re not paying for priority boarding, you can take a small, soft-sided bag that measures 25 x 40 x 20cm, but it must fit under the seat in front of you. Any combination of those measurements are fine, so your bag could be 40cm tall, 25cm wide, and 20cm deep. Or it could be 25cm tall, 40cm wide or 20 cm deep.

That’s not much capacity to play with if you’re going on a few days away, but if you pack light, it’s totally possible to travel for a couple of days and pay no extra charges for your Ryanair hand luggage.

Check the airline’s website here to find out more about Ryanair’s luggage cost if you want to take extra.

Can I take a cabin sized suitcase on Ryanair without paying a fee?

No, you can’t take a wheeled case with you into the cabin unless you pay extra for priority boarding (more on that below). So, you’ll have to pack extremely light to ensure it fits a small travel or lifestyle bag, like a backpack or holdall, measuring 25 x 40 x 20cm.

What are the hand luggage rules when traveling with infants?

Little travellers under two? They’ll need to snuggle into your baggage allowance, as they don’t get their own. And remember, the skies favour the well-prepared – follow EU security requirements to a tee, especially with liquids and the like. Tech aficionados, take note: up to 15 electronic devices and 20 lithium batteries are allowed, but do check the dos and don’ts before packing.

Can you pay in advance with Ryanair to take on a cabin sized suitcase as hand luggage?

Yes, and this is included in Ryanair’s luggage cost. Priority boarding costs between £6 – £14 and it’s not refundable. This means you can take a cabin sized suitcase on board with you into the cabin but look out for Ryanair’s specific cabin bag size and weight restrictions. Also, cabin size suitcases come in different sizes so you’ll need to check your specific suitcase will fit.

What size cabin suitcase can I take if I pay for Ryanair priority boarding?

If you pay for priority boarding, you can take a wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase with you without checking it into the hold. Ryanair’s hand luggage size must be no more than 55 x 40 x 20 cm.

There is also a weight restriction—it can’t be more than 10kg but that’s a decent amount of weight, so if you pack a cabin case sensibly then you should be fine.

Am I allowed to take a small bag or handbag with me as well as my cabin case?

Yes, with priority boarding you can take what Ryanair calls a ‘small personal bag’ measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, which is the same size as the bag you could take for free (if you don’t want to pay for priority boarding). There is more information about Ryanair’s luggage cost on their website in the section called ‘Priority & 2 Cabin Bags’.

Are there any other benefits to paying for Ryanair priority boarding?

Paying for Ryanair’s priority boarding means that you’ll also be able to board via the Priority Queue, though bear in mind a large number of other passengers will be doing the same thing, so it won’t necessarily get you on first.