A hand luggage refused at the boarding gate is the extra charge that spoils the start of your journey—often more expensive than the ticket itself. The issue? Each airline has its own hand luggage dimensions, and the rules are still changing in 2026. Ryanair, easyJet, Air France, Wizz Air: we've compiled the allowed sizes and weights into one table, along with the pitfalls to know to get through without paying.
For a quick guide: a bag close to 40 × 20 × 25 cm is free almost everywhere, and a size of 55 × 40 × 20 cm covers the large hand luggage for most airlines. We detail everything airline by airline—but first, here are the models that fit these sizes.
Our Selection of Hand Luggage
Three backpacks designed for the cabin, one for each use: the versatile one that adjusts to most sizes, the large volume for a week, and the connected model with a USB port. You can also browse our entire collection of cabin backpacks or cabin bags to compare capacities.
The 40 × 30 × 15 cm Standard and the European Law 2026
In recent years, low-cost airlines have reduced the free luggage to a small bag that fits under the seat—often around 40 × 30 × 15 cm for the strictest ones. Anything exceeding this becomes paid hand luggage.
Good news: in 2026, the European Parliament is pushing to harmonise these rules and guarantee a minimum free hand luggage size for all passengers. Nothing is yet applied to the letter, and each carrier maintains its own limits in the meantime. Before you travel, always check your airline's policy and your air passenger rights in Ireland: it's the only source that holds authority.
The Hand Luggage Dimensions Table by Airline (2026)
Here are the most requested sizes, from the free small bag to the large hand luggage. Dimensions include wheels and handles—it's the detail that can get a bag "almost" the right size rejected.
| Airline | Free small bag (under seat) | Cabin luggage (large, often paid) | Max weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 20 × 25 cm | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (Priority) | 10 kg (Priority) |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm | 56 × 45 × 25 cm (Up Front / Plus) | 15 kg (large) |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 55 × 40 × 23 cm (WIZZ Priority) | 10 kg |
| Transavia | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 10 kg (total) |
| Vueling | 40 × 20 × 30 cm | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg |
| Volotea | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg |
| Eurowings | 40 × 30 × 25 cm | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | 8 kg |
| Air France | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (accessory) | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 12 kg (accessory + cabin) |
These values change regularly: take them as a guide, not a guarantee. When in doubt, a bag close to 40 × 20 × 25 cm is free on almost all airlines, and it's the safest size to travel without extra charges.
Allowed Weight and Personal Bag: What We Forget
Dimensions aren't everything: many travellers get caught out by the weight or by confusion between the two allowed bags.
- Weight matters as much as size. Most airlines cap hand luggage between 8 and 10 kg, sometimes 12 kg for traditional airlines. The small bag under the seat often has no displayed limit.
- Small bag ≠ large hand luggage. The free bag goes under the seat in front of you; the large hand luggage goes in the overhead bin—and it's almost always chargeable on low-cost flights.
- A soft bag always wins. Unlike a hard shell, a backpack compresses slightly to fit into the control frame. At equal dimensions, it forgives those few extra millimetres.
The Costly Pitfalls at the Counter
With the same announced size, it's the details that decide whether you pay or not. The three most common mistakes:
- Forgetting the wheels and handles. A "55 cm" bag that measures 57 cm with wheels will be rejected. Check the total dimension, not just the shell.
- Overloading the bag. A bag of the right size but too bulging won't fit into the metal frame. A packing cube keeps the bag flat and neat, saving you a lot of time on arrival.
- Choosing the right size… but two bags. Only one free bag: if you add a large handbag, you may be charged for the second. Consolidate everything into the allowed bag.
Packing Your Hand Luggage Well
With volume locked by dimensions, every litre counts. Two habits double the useful capacity: rolling clothes instead of folding them, and compressing bulky items. A compression bag sucks the air out of jumpers and jackets, freeing up precious space—exactly what you need when you refuse to check in a bag. Our guide to packing your travel bag details the method step by step.
Travel Clothes Compression Bag
18,90 €
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Backpack or Cabin Suitcase?
Both are allowed in the cabin; the choice depends on your trip. The backpack wins on mobility, low-cost flights, and tolerance to size (it compresses). The cabin suitcase holds the advantage for protecting rigid items and comfort on smooth surfaces. For a city break or a Ryanair flight, the backpack prevails; for a business trip with a laptop, the question arises. If you're unsure about the model, our comparison of the best cabin backpacks reviews the safest sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum weight for hand luggage? Usually between 8 and 10 kg, sometimes 12 kg on traditional airlines. The free small bag under the seat generally has no displayed limit. Always check your carrier's weight limit in addition to dimensions.
Does a 40 × 20 × 25 cm bag fit with Ryanair? Yes: it's exactly the size of the free small bag that fits under the seat. Beyond that, you need the Priority option (paid) for a 55 × 40 × 20 cm hand luggage.
What are the dimensions for easyJet? The free bag under the seat is around 45 × 36 × 20 cm. The large hand luggage (56 × 45 × 25 cm) is reserved for Up Front or Plus tickets, or as a paid option.
Do dimensions include wheels and handles? Yes, almost always. It's the total dimension of the luggage, including wheels and handles, that is checked at the frame—keep this in mind when measuring your suitcase.
