Best carry-on bag for Ryanair: UK guide for 2026

Last updated: August 2026

The best carry-on bag for Ryanair matches the airline’s current free allowance, not the old one. Ryanair’s free bag rules changed in September 2025: the underseat allowance is now 40×30×20cm, not the old 40×20×25cm, so bags built for the old policy can be 5cm too deep. Our top overall pick for 2026 is the Cabin Max Manhattan 24L, built to the exact free allowance with no risk at the gate. The Osprey Daylite Plus is the pick if you’re flying with Priority. For the full breakdown, see our guide to Ryanair’s hand luggage allowance in 2026.

Ready to check the allowance? Go straight to Ryanair’s official baggage policy for the exact dimensions and prices.

If the case you want is bigger than the free 40 x 30 x 20cm slot, compare the cost of Priority against a checked bag before you buy: our guide to the Ryanair baggage allowance has both sets of prices.

Once the bag itself is sorted, what you pack inside it is the next thing security checks. Our Ryanair liquids rules guide covers the 100ml limit, the UK airports now allowing more, and what’s banned outright.

Cabin Max Manhattan 24L

Best overall, 4.6★ · 1,417 reviews

The Cabin Max Manhattan 24L is the most direct replacement for the old Ryanair free-bag standard, built to exactly 40×30×20cm, the current free allowance to the millimetre. At 24 litres it holds more than the Osprey Daylite Plus while fitting the sizer with certainty. An internal frame keeps its shape and a zip-around opening makes packing easier than drawstring alternatives. For a long weekend it is enough, and if you want zero risk at the sizer without buying Priority, this is the one.

Osprey Daylite Plus

Best for Priority boarding, 4.8★ · 7,000+ reviews

The Osprey Daylite Plus is the bag we recommend most for Priority flyers. At 20 litres and 46×26×20cm, it sits just outside Ryanair’s 40cm free-allowance limit, but the 55×40×20cm Priority overhead allowance suits it perfectly, with room to spare. Features are practical: a padded laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket and a breathable back panel. It’s technically over the free-bag limit and passes in practice only if you don’t overpack it. If you want certainty on the free allowance instead, the Cabin Max Manhattan 24L is the right choice.

Does the Osprey Daylite 26+6 fit Ryanair?

At 43×33×16cm, the Osprey Daylite 26+6 exceeds Ryanair’s free underseat limit but fits comfortably within the 55×40×20cm Priority overhead allowance. It is a good Ryanair bag, but only with Priority boarding. Without it, you risk a gate charge.

Aerolite 40×30×20cm

Budget exact fit, 4.3★ · 800+ reviews

Aerolite makes a range of bags specifically designed for Ryanair’s dimensions. The 40×30×20cm backpack is the budget option in this guide, typically £20–25 on Amazon, lightweight, and built to the exact free allowance. Features are basic, but for a day trip or a short break where you’re packing light, it does everything required, at a confirmed fit and no compromise on dimensions.

Cabin Max Metz 24L

Updated to the new allowance, 4.6★ · 1,638 reviews

Cabin Max has updated the Metz to match Ryanair’s current 40×30×20cm underseat allowance, replacing the older 40×20×25cm version that no longer fits. The new 24-litre build keeps the soft-pack compression straps and front organiser pocket, with a padded sleeve for an iPad or travel documents. At £29.95 it undercuts the Manhattan 24L while offering similar capacity. It’s a solid budget alternative for anyone who wants the Metz name without the old sizing risk.

AmazonBasics underseat bag

Best budget pick, 4.4★ · 3,000+ reviews

For occasional Ryanair travellers who do not want to spend much, the AmazonBasics underseat bag at £20 fits comfortably. The main compartment holds a change of clothes, wash bag and tech essentials for a two-night trip, with a front zip pocket for documents. At roughly 15 litres it is smaller than the Osprey or Cabin Max options, so it suits day trips and overnight stays best, for travellers who want to avoid bag fees without spending on a premium pack.

Fjällräven Kånken Mini

Minimalist style pick, 4.7★ · 5,000+ reviews

The Fjällräven Kånken Mini at 29×17×12cm fits the Ryanair free allowance with room to spare and doubles as an everyday bag once you land. At 0.29kg it is the lightest option in this guide, though its 7-litre capacity suits minimalist packers and city breaks rather than anyone needing a change of clothes.

Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 Medium Duffel

A soft duffel compresses into the gate sizer more readily than a structured backpack, which makes the Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 Medium Duffel worth considering if you want flexibility. Check dimensions carefully before buying, as not all duffels sit within the 40×30×20cm free allowance.

The best carry-on bag for Ryanair: our verdict

For most passengers, the Cabin Max Manhattan 24L is the best carry-on bag for Ryanair: built to the exact 40×30×20cm free allowance, so there’s no risk at the sizer. If you’re flying with Priority and want extra room, the Osprey Daylite Plus at £65 is the upgrade pick. On a tight budget, the Aerolite 40×30×20 at around £25 is the simplest answer, built to the exact free limit and does the job without fuss.

Buy to the exact allowance and you never think about it again. The Manhattan is 40×30×20cm on the nose, no gate-sizer gamble, no £6-a-flight insurance policy of adding Priority just in case.

Kate Acaster, Chief Editor

Packing tips for Ryanair

1. Roll, don’t fold. Rolling clothes compresses them better than folding and reduces creasing on softer fabrics. Start with heavier items and roll lighter ones around them. A 20-litre bag can hold three to four days of clothes this way.
2. Use packing cubes. Two small cubes sit neatly in a 20-litre pack and keep things organised. They also help a soft bag maintain its shape without bulging, which matters when it goes into the gate sizer.
3. Wear your bulkiest item. A jacket worn to the gate is not in your bag. On a carrier where every centimetre counts, wearing a heavy layer through the airport and removing it on board costs nothing.
4. Add Priority at booking. Priority is cheapest when added during the booking process. If you plan to bring a full cabin bag, buy it then. The gate rate is sometimes more than the flight itself.
5. Measure your bag before you fly. Ryanair gate staff do enforce the sizer, particularly on busy routes and at peak times. If your bag is borderline, do not overfill it. The sizer is built to the exact limit, and a stuffed bag will not compress to fit.

If you also fly easyJet, the size requirements differ slightly. We have separately tested the best bags for easyJet to find options that pass both carriers’ checks. KLM and Wizz Air both set their own cabin bag rules too, covered in our guides to KLM’s carry-on bag size and Wizz Air’s hand luggage allowance.

Ryanair’s bag allowance in 2026

Ryanair gives every passenger one free underseat bag on every fare. An overhead cabin bag requires Priority, which you add at booking. The free bag is checked by size only with no weight limit; the Priority overhead bag has a hard 10kg limit that staff do weigh at some airports.

Priority is cheapest when added during booking. Adding it after booking or at the airport is significantly more expensive, often £50 or more at the gate. See Ryanair’s bag rules for the latest details.

Frequently asked questions

What size is Ryanair’s cabin bag?

Ryanair allows one free underseat bag up to 40×30×20cm on every fare, with no weight limit. Passengers with Priority boarding can also bring an overhead cabin bag up to 55×40×20cm (maximum 10kg). The free underseat allowance changed from 40×20×25cm in September 2025.

Can I take two bags on Ryanair for free?

No. On a standard Ryanair fare you get one free underseat bag (40×30×20cm). A second bag in the overhead locker requires Priority boarding, which you add to your booking. Ryanair does not allow two bags for free in the way that Jet2 does.

Does Ryanair weigh cabin bags?

Ryanair does not weigh the free underseat bag. Size is the only check for the personal item. The Priority overhead cabin bag has a 10kg weight limit, and staff do weigh it at some airports on busy routes. Most bags in this guide weigh well under 1kg empty.

Do I need priority boarding to take a cabin bag on Ryanair?

You need Priority to take a bag into the overhead locker. The free underseat bag (40×30×20cm) is available on every fare without Priority. If you want to bring a full-sized cabin case or any bag larger than 40×30×20cm, you need to buy Priority boarding. Unlike Jet2, Ryanair does not include this in the standard fare.

Kate Acaster

Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.

Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.

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