Ryanair changed its free bag rules in September 2025. 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 prominently featured, 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.
Ryanair’s bag allowance in 2026
Ryanair gives every passenger one free underseat bag. An overhead cabin bag requires Priority, which costs extra.
| Ticket type | What you get | Priority bag included? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | 1 underseat bag: 40×30×20cm | Not included |
| Priority add-on | Underseat + overhead cabin bag | Included |
The free underseat bag has no weight limit. Ryanair checks size, not weight, for the personal item. The Priority overhead bag is different: it has a hard 10kg limit and staff do weigh it at some airports. Priority is cheapest when added during booking; adding it at the airport is significantly more expensive, often £50 or more.
The bags at a glance
All prices are approximate Amazon UK listings. Click through for live pricing.
| Bag | Dimensions | Fits free? | Fits Priority? | ~Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Daylite Plus | 46×26×20cm | Usually Soft fit | Yes Yes | £65 |
| Cabin Max Manhattan 24L | 40×30×20cm | Exact fit Exact | Yes Yes | £35 |
| Cabin Max Metz 20L | 40×20×25cm | Often Soft fit | Usually Soft fit | £20 |
| AmazonBasics underseat | 33×23×17cm | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | £20 |
| Aerolite 40×30×20 | 40×30×20cm | Exact fit Exact | Yes Yes | £20–30 |
| Fjällräven Kånken Mini | 29×17×12cm | Yes Yes | Yes Yes | £65 |
Our top pick: Osprey Daylite Plus
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. We have used this bag on dozens of Ryanair flights and it has never been refused. For those who don’t mind that risk, we think it’s 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. The 20cm depth is right on the limit, and because Osprey built the bag to exactly 20cm on that dimension, there is no compression needed for the overhead locker.
The features are clearly practical rather than just listed: a padded laptop sleeve that fits most 15-inch laptops, a front mesh organiser pocket, a side water bottle pocket, and a breathable back panel that makes it comfortable to carry through an airport and around a city. 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 below is the right choice.
Best bags for Ryanair’s free allowance: 40×30×20cm
Since September 2025, only bags measuring 40×30×20cm or under qualify for the free underseat allowance. These are the bags built to that exact limit.
Cabin Max Manhattan 24L
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) and the old Metz (20L) while still 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.
Aerolite 40×30×20cm
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 £20–30 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.
Cabin Max Metz 20L
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.
If you have Priority: getting the most from 55×40×20cm
Ryanair’s Priority overhead allowance is 55×40×20cm with a 10kg weight limit. The 20cm depth is the dimension that catches people out. Most standard cabin trolleys are 23–25cm deep and will fail the Ryanair sizer.
For Priority passengers who want a trolley rather than a backpack, look specifically for bags advertised as “Ryanair cabin bag 55×40×20cm”. Cabin Max, American Tourister, and Samsonite all make models built to this exact size. Prices run from around £40 to £90 depending on the brand. Check Amazon UK for current options.
If you prefer a backpack to a trolley, both the Osprey Daylite Plus (46×26×20cm) and the Cabin Max Manhattan 24L (40×30×20cm) sit comfortably within the Priority overhead limit. The Osprey is our top overall pick; the Manhattan gives you a bit more packing space at a lower price. The Cabin Max Metz is not suitable here: its 25cm depth exceeds the Priority sizer’s 20cm limit, which is the same problem it has with the free bag allowance.
Budget pick: AmazonBasics underseat bag
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 fit without difficulty. 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. For a long weekend or city break where you are packing light, 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.
Also worth considering
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. Not the choice if you need to pack a change of clothes.
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 the dimensions carefully before buying, as not all duffels are 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 (jeans, jumpers) 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 is a practical approach that costs nothing.
Add Priority at booking. Priority is cheapest when added during the booking process. If you are planning to bring a full cabin bag, buy it then. Adding it after booking, or at the airport, is nearly always more expensive. The gate rate is sometimes more than the flight itself.
Keep documents accessible. Security at European airports is slower than at UK departures. Having your boarding pass, passport, and charger in the top pocket means you do not need to open the main compartment at the tray. A small organiser pouch works well for this.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ryanair’s free underseat bag allowance is 40×30×20cm (length × width × depth) as of September 2025. This changed from 40×20×25cm. There is no weight limit for the free bag — Ryanair checks size only, not weight, for the personal item under the seat.
A 40×20×25cm bag technically exceeds Ryanair’s current free allowance by 5cm on the depth dimension. The limit is now 40×30×20cm, so the third measurement must be 20cm or under. A soft bag at 25cm deep will often compress to fit the gate sizer. A rigid bag of those dimensions is more likely to fail. Ryanair’s gate sizer is the final judge.
The 40-minute rule is the airport check-in and bag-drop deadline. Ryanair’s check-in desks close strictly 40 minutes before departure. Miss that and you may be refused boarding. For online check-in, the deadline is two hours before departure. The rule is strictly enforced on most routes, particularly at busy UK airports.
The Osprey Daylite Plus measures 46×26×20cm, which puts it 6cm over Ryanair’s 40cm length limit for the free underseat allowance. Because it is a soft pack, most passengers find it compresses into the sizer if not overfilled. For Priority passengers, it fits the 55×40×20cm overhead allowance comfortably. If you want certainty on the free allowance, choose a bag built to exactly 40×30×20cm.
Yes, provided it fits within 40×30×20cm and fits under the seat in front. Ryanair does not restrict the type of bag, only the dimensions. A backpack, tote, or soft case that meets the size limit could travel for free on any Ryanair fare. Bags going in the overhead locker require Priority.
If Ryanair gate staff find that your bag does not fit the sizer, you will be charged for Priority at the gate. The gate rate is significantly higher than the advance price, often £50 or more per bag per journey. If your bag is borderline, the safest options are to buy Priority in advance, or to avoid overfilling a soft bag so it could compress at the sizer.
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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