EU & UK Airline Cabin Bag Size Rules (2026): Ryanair, easyJet, Aer Lingus, BA, Wizz, Lufthansa
Short answer: on Ryanair, easyJet, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Wizz Air and Lufthansa, the free under-seat allowance is small (roughly 40 × 30 × 15–20 cm, or 45 × 36 × 20 cm on easyJet). A full cabin bag that goes in the overhead locker is usually around 55 × 40 × 20–25 cm and is often only included with certain fares or add-ons. The table below lists each airline’s published limits, with sources and the date we checked them.
Last checked: 3 October 2026, on each airline’s official baggage page (linked in the table). Airlines change these rules, sometimes with little notice, and allowances depend on your fare, route and aircraft. Always check your airline’s current rules for your booking before you fly.
EU & UK airline cabin bag size table (2026)
| Airline (official source) | Free under-seat item | Overhead cabin bag & when it’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (all fares) | 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg, with “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags” |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm incl. handles & wheels, up to 15 kg | 56 × 45 × 25 cm incl. handles & wheels, when booked or included with your fare/membership (e.g. easyJet Plus) |
| Aer Lingus | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 55 × 40 × 24 cm, 10 kg, included on Plus/Advantage and transatlantic fares. Saver fares pay to carry on (Feb 2026 update) |
| British Airways | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | 56 × 45 × 25 cm incl. handles, pockets & wheels, up to 23 kg, generally included, even on hand-baggage-only fares |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 10 kg | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 10 kg, only with WIZZ Priority |
| Lufthansa | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg, Economy Light and above (Economy Basic short/medium-haul: personal item only) |
Fine print that catches people out:
- Handles, wheels and pockets. easyJet and BA measure including handles, wheels and pockets. Wizz Air excludes handles and wheels, but wheels may add no more than 5 cm.
- Weight limits differ. Lufthansa’s overhead carry-on limit is 8 kg. Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Wizz Air use 10 kg. Weigh your packed bag at home.
- Gate sizers decide. Ryanair says bags that don’t fit its sizers are refused or put in the hold for a fee. A bag that’s soft and not over-stuffed has a better chance in the frame than a rigid one at the limit.
- Codeshares and partner flights follow the operating airline’s rules, not the one you booked with.
Personal item vs cabin bag: which one do you actually need?
The free under-seat item works for a laptop, documents and a change of clothes. For anything longer than a weekend, most people need the overhead cabin-bag allowance or a checked bag. Our baggage-fee ROI calculator helps you work out whether paying for a cabin bag beats checking one on your usual routes.
Where the Airbag Lite fits in this table
We make the Airbag Lite vacuum compression carry-on backpack, so here is the honest comparison:
- Packed size: 48 × 32 × 10 cm. That is within the published overhead cabin-bag dimensions of all six airlines above.
- It is not a free under-seat personal item on these airlines. At 48 cm long it is bigger than the 40 cm (or 45 cm on easyJet) maximum. On Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Aer Lingus Saver fares, plan to use the paid or included cabin-bag allowance.
- It expands for extra packing. Expanded depth is 15 cm. Don’t assume the expanded bag will be accepted in the cabin. Use expansion for trips where you’re checking the bag or have room to spare, and measure it against your airline’s rules first.
- Why compression helps here: you press soft clothes flat by hand, then use the included Air Pump Lite to draw out the remaining air. That way a week of soft layers fits in one cabin bag instead of a checked suitcase. Shoes, toiletries and electronics don’t compress, so pack those first.
Size questions and airline caveats are also answered in our FAQ.
Quick pre-flight checklist
- Open your booking and confirm which bags your fare includes.
- Check the operating airline’s official baggage page (links above) on the day you pack.
- Measure your packed bag, including handles, wheels and side pockets.
- Weigh it, especially on Lufthansa (8 kg) or 10 kg fares.
- Keep medication, passport, chargers and valuables in the item that stays with you.
FAQ
Is 40 × 30 × 20 cm the new standard under-seat size?
Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Wizz Air all list 40 × 30 × 20 cm for the free item as of 3 October 2026. BA and Lufthansa list 40 × 30 × 15 cm, and easyJet allows 45 × 36 × 20 cm. There is no single EU-wide size, so check your carrier.
Will a 48 × 32 × 10 cm backpack count as cabin baggage?
On the six airlines above, its packed size is within the overhead cabin-bag limits but larger than the free under-seat limit. Whether it travels free depends on your fare. Always check your airline.
Do these rules apply to connecting long-haul flights?
Not necessarily. Long-haul and transatlantic fares often include more, and partner airlines can differ. Check each operating carrier.
Sources checked 3 October 2026: Ryanair Help Centre (Bag Policy), easyJet Help (Cabin bags), Aer Lingus Baggage Information and media release of 18 February 2026, British Airways Baggage essentials, Wizz Air Help Centre (Cabin baggage), Lufthansa Carry-on baggage. PackLite Gear is not affiliated with any airline listed.
All airlines in one place: see our 2026 airline cabin bag size chart (20 EU, UK and US airlines, official sources) and the printable carry-on packing checklist.