Ryanair Cabin Bag Allowance and Priority: What You Can Take
A weekend away can be surprisingly easy to pack for, until you reach the point where your small bag will not close. With Ryanair, deciding whether to travel with the free bag or add Priority before you pack helps you choose the right case and avoid an unexpected charge at the gate.
Here is how the two cabin options work, with advice on making the most of your allowance and finding a suitable Tripp bag from our Irish range.
Travelling With Ryanair’s Free Small Bag
Every passenger can take one small personal bag up to 40 x 30 x 20cm. It must fit beneath the seat in front of you. This is the free allowance, not a full-size suitcase for the overhead locker.
For a short break, start with the essentials you know you will use. Choose clothes that work together, wear your bulkier layer on the journey and keep your travel documents easy to reach. A soft bag can make organising a small space easier, but it still needs to stay within the outside measurements when packed.
A handbag or laptop bag should fit inside your one permitted small bag unless your booking includes another cabin item. Give the zip some breathing room rather than relying on an overfilled bag to squeeze into the airport sizer.
Is Ryanair Priority Right For Your Trip?
Priority & 2 Cabin Bags lets you bring the small personal bag plus a larger cabin case up to 55 x 40 x 20cm and 10kg. The larger case travels in the overhead locker.
It can be useful when you need more outfits for a longer break or prefer the organisation of a wheeled suitcase. Your small bag then keeps your in-flight essentials close, while the case holds the rest. Compare the baggage option with what you plan to take, rather than adding it automatically to every trip.
A 10kg checked bag is a different option: it goes in the hold and does not give you the same overhead cabin allowance. Check the wording in your booking before arriving at the airport, particularly if you have added baggage after buying the flight.
When choosing a cabin case, measure its full outside size, including handles and wheels. A case that fits the Priority dimensions can still be over the 10kg allowance when packed, so weigh it before leaving home. Keep any expandable section closed if opening it would take the bag beyond the 20cm depth limit.
Priority Or A Checked Bag?
The most useful question is whether you want your larger bag with you during the flight. Priority suits a trip where your belongings fit into a 10kg cabin case and you would rather collect it from the overhead locker when you land. A checked bag is worth considering when you need more packing space or prefer to carry only your essentials through the terminal.
When comparing prices, check the baggage options offered for your actual flights. The cost can differ between the outward and return journey, so a fixed headline price is not a reliable guide to your total. Confirm that Priority & 2 Cabin Bags appears on the booking for each flight where you intend to take the larger case on board.
Getting Ready For Boarding
Keep your boarding pass and the small bag you will place under the seat easy to reach. Your handbag, laptop bag or other essentials need to sit within the number of bags you have booked, not become an unexpected third item. If you have purchased a checked bag instead of Priority, follow the bag-drop instructions before going to security.
See Ryanair’s latest bag rulesChoose A Bag That Works For Your Journey
For the free small-bag allowance, start with our Ryanair underseat bags. For Priority, our Ryanair cabin cases give you options for the larger overhead allowance.
Think about how you like to pack. A flight bag keeps a short trip simple, while a wheeled case is convenient when you are carrying more. Compartments help separate smaller essentials, and choosing a colour you recognise can make your luggage easier to spot.
Leave a little room for the return journey, too. An extra purchase can change the weight or shape of a bag that fitted perfectly on the way out. One final check of the packed measurements helps you set off with confidence.
Explore Ryanair Priority Cases
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Ryanair-ready cabin cases
Browse cabin bags for Ryanair Priority ›Ryanair Cabin-Bag FAQs
Do I get a free bag with Ryanair?
Yes. Every passenger can bring one small bag up to 40 x 30 x 20cm that fits under the seat in front.
What does Ryanair Priority include?
Priority and 2 Cabin Bags includes your small personal bag plus one 10kg cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20cm.
Can I take a cabin suitcase without Priority?
Only if your booking or add-on includes an overhead cabin bag. Check the allowance shown in your booking before packing.
Comparing bags for different flights? Our cabin luggage guide helps you choose the right size before you travel.
Baggage information checked on 1 October 2026. Always confirm your allowance with Ryanair before travelling, as fares and policies can change.
- 11th August 2022
