A rejected cabin bag at the boarding gate is the extra charge that ruins the start of your trip—often more expensive than the ticket itself. The issue? Each airline imposes its own hand luggage size, and the rules are still changing in 2026. Ryanair, easyJet, Air France, Wizz Air: we've gathered the allowed sizes and weights in one table, along with the pitfalls to know to get through without paying.
For a quick solution: a bag close to 40 × 20 × 25 cm is free almost everywhere, and a size of 55 × 40 × 20 cm covers the larger cabin luggage for most airlines. We detail everything airline by airline—but first, here are the models that fit these dimensions.
Our Selection of Cabin Bags
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 2026 European Law
In recent years, low-cost airlines have reduced the free baggage to a small bag that fits under the seat—often around 40 × 30 × 15 cm for the strictest ones. Anything exceeding this becomes a paid cabin bag.
Good news: in 2026, the European Parliament is pushing to harmonise these rules and guarantee a free cabin bag of a minimum 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 CASA's official guidance on packing your bags: it's the only source that holds authority.
The Cabin Size Chart by Airline (2026)
Here are the most requested sizes, from the free small bag to the large cabin luggage. Dimensions include wheels and handles—it's the detail that can get a bag rejected as "almost" the right size.
| 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 guideline, 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 for travelling without extra charges.
Allowed Weight and Personal Bag: What We Forget
Size isn'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 cabin luggage between 8 and 10 kg, sometimes 12 kg for traditional airlines. The small bag under the seat often has no stated limit.
- Small bag ≠ large cabin luggage. The free bag fits under the seat in front of you; the large cabin 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 size control frame. At equal dimensions, it forgives those few extra millimetres.
The Costly Pitfalls at the Counter
With an announced identical size, it's the details that decide whether you pay or not. The three most common mistakes:
- Forgetting wheels and handles. A "55 cm" bag that measures 57 cm including 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 in 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 Cabin Bag 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
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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 size tolerance (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 wins; 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 a cabin bag? Usually between 8 and 10 kg, sometimes 12 kg on traditional airlines. The free small bag under the seat generally has no stated limit. Always check your carrier's weight limit in addition to the dimensions.
Does a 40 × 20 × 25 cm bag fit on 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 cabin bag of 55 × 40 × 20 cm.
What are the dimensions for easyJet? The free bag under the seat is around 45 × 36 × 20 cm. The large cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm) is reserved for Up Front or Plus tickets, or as a paid option.
Do the dimensions include wheels and handles? Yes, almost always. It's the total dimension of the bag, including wheels and handles, that is checked in the size frame—keep this in mind when measuring your suitcase.
