Choosing the best carry-on bag for Ryanair got more complicated in September 2025, when the airline changed its free bag rules. The underseat allowance is now 40×30×20cm, not the 40×20×25cm that still appears on most comparison sites. That matters, because bags designed for the old policy are now technically 5cm too deep under the new rules.
This guide covers the best carry-on bags for Ryanair in 2026: what actually fits the free allowance, what works if you have Priority, and which bag gives you the most flexibility. We have kept the Osprey Daylite Plus as our top overall pick, with an honest note on how it performs under the current rules.
For the full breakdown of every item allowed on board, see our guide to Ryanair’s hand luggage allowance in 2026. Flying more than just Ryanair? Compare cabin bag rules across every major carrier in our hand luggage size guide for UK airlines.
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Daylite Plus | 46×26×20cm | 0.49kg | 20L | £65 | Best overall |
| Cabin Max Manhattan 24L | 40×30×20cm | 0.7kg | 24L | £35 | Best free bag |
| Aerolite 40×30×20 | 40×30×20cm | 0.5kg | 25L | £25 | Budget exact fit |
| Cabin Max Metz 20L | 40×20×25cm | 0.45kg | 20L | £20 | Soft pack |
| AmazonBasics underseat | 33×23×17cm | 0.7kg | 15L | £20 | Lightest option |
| Fjällräven Kånken Mini | 29×17×12cm | 0.29kg | 7L | £65 | Minimalist/style |
Key: Green = fits free 40×30×20cm allowance · Pink = Priority boarding required (55×40×20cm)
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.
| Ticket type | What you get | Priority bag? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | 1 underseat bag: 40×30×20cm No weight limit | Not included |
| Priority add-on | Underseat + overhead cabin bag Overhead: 55×40×20cm, max 10kg | From £6 per journey at booking |
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.
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Osprey Daylite Plus
Best overall — 4.8★ · 7,000+ reviews
The Osprey Daylite Plus is the bag we recommend most. At 20 litres and 46×26×20cm, it sits just outside Ryanair’s 40cm length limit for the free underseat allowance. That 6cm sounds alarming. In practice, it is a very soft pack, and if you do not overfill it the bag compresses into the gate sizer without difficulty. For anyone who does not mind that soft risk, this is the best carry-on bag for Ryanair.
Where it excels is as a Priority bag. The 55×40×20cm overhead allowance suits it perfectly, with room to spare on height and width. Osprey built the bag to exactly 20cm on the depth dimension, so there is no compression needed for the overhead locker.
Features are practical: a padded laptop sleeve for most 15-inch laptops, a front mesh organiser pocket, a side water bottle pocket, and a breathable back panel. The top grab handle and sternum strap are useful for longer walking days at the destination.
Best for: Travellers who want one bag that works across the free and Priority allowances, and doubles as a day pack at the destination.
Honesty: At 46cm long it is technically over the 40cm free-bag limit. It passes in practice when not overpacked, but if you want certainty on the free allowance, 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 of 40×30×20cm on both height (43 vs 40cm) and width (33 vs 30cm). It will not pass the gate sizer for the free personal item allowance.
With Priority boarding it fits the 55×40×20cm overhead allowance with room to spare on all three dimensions. The expandable compartment adds 6 litres and pushes depth to around 20cm, which still sits within the Priority limit when not over-packed.
Verdict: A good Ryanair bag, but only with Priority boarding. Without it, you risk a gate charge.
Cabin Max Manhattan 24L
Best free-allowance bag — 4.5★ · 2,100+ reviews
The Cabin Max Manhattan 24L is the most direct replacement for the old Ryanair free-bag standard. It is built to exactly 40×30×20cm, which is the current free allowance to the millimetre. At 24 litres it holds more than the Osprey Daylite Plus (20L) while fitting under the seat with no ambiguity at the gate. Price is around £35 on Amazon UK.
It has an internal frame that keeps its shape, a laptop sleeve, and a zip-around opening that makes packing easier than drawstring alternatives. For a long weekend with a change of clothes and a wash bag, 24 litres is enough. If you want certainty on the free allowance without any risk at the sizer, this is the one.
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 are packing light, it does everything required.
Best for: Travellers who want a confirmed-fit bag without spending much. No frills, no compromise on dimensions.
Cabin Max Metz 20L
Soft pack with caveats — 4.6★ · 1,466 reviews
The Cabin Max Metz 20L was the definitive free-bag recommendation for years. It was designed for the old 40×20×25cm allowance and passed every gate sizer reliably. With the September 2025 rule change, the Metz at 40×20×25cm is now 5cm over the depth limit. The width allowance increased (from 20cm to 30cm), but the depth tightened from 25cm to 20cm, and the Metz does not meet that.
Because it is a soft pack, most passengers find it still compresses into the sizer. For anyone already owning one, it remains a practical choice. For a new purchase, the Manhattan 24L or Aerolite are the correct options under the current rules.
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 is a practical option. At 33×23×17cm it fits the 40×30×20cm free allowance comfortably with room to spare in all dimensions. It will not win style points, but it is reliable and light.
The main compartment holds more than you might expect: a change of clothes, wash bag, and tech essentials for a two-night trip. A front zip pocket takes documents and a phone. The trolley sleeve pairs it with larger luggage when connecting from a checked-bag flight.
The trade-off is capacity. At roughly 15 litres it is smaller than the Osprey or Cabin Max options. For a day trip or overnight stay it is sufficient. For anything longer, you may find yourself wishing for more space.
Best for: Day trips, overnight stays, and 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 easily. At 7 litres it is a style choice as much as a practical one, better suited to a day trip or a city break where you are travelling very light. The Vinylon F fabric is water-resistant and holds its shape, and the bag looks good enough that you will use it long after the flight.
Best for: Minimalist packers and city breaks. Not the choice if you need to pack a change of clothes.
Also worth considering
Duffel bags are worth considering for their flexibility. A soft duffel such as the Under Armour Undeniable Duffel compresses into the gate sizer more readily than a structured backpack. Check dimensions carefully before buying, as not all duffels sit within the 40×30×20cm free allowance.
Packing tips for Ryanair
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The best carry-on bag for Ryanair: our verdict
For most passengers, the Osprey Daylite Plus is the best overall choice: 7,000+ reviews, genuinely practical features, and a bag you will use on every trip. If you want absolute certainty on the free allowance without buying Priority, the Cabin Max Manhattan 24L at £35 is the right call.
On a tight budget, the Aerolite 40×30×20 at around £25 is the simplest answer. It is built to the exact free limit and does the job without fuss.
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. Our guides to KLM’s carry-on bag size and Wizz Air’s hand luggage allowance cover both separately, worth checking if your trip involves more than one airline.
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.
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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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