Ryanair vs easyJet baggage allowance is the most common comparison UK travellers make when planning a short-haul flight to Europe. Both charge you extra for nearly everything, but their baggage rules differ in ways that genuinely affect how much your trip ends up costing. Here's the honest comparison.
Free allowance side by side
| Feature | Ryanair | easyJet |
|---|---|---|
| Free cabin bag size | 40x30x20cm | 45x36x20cm |
| Free cabin bag goes | Under seat | Under seat |
| Weight limit (free bag) | Not stated (must fit sizer) | Not stated (must fit sizer) |
| Overhead locker bag | Priority/Plus/Flexi only | PLUS membership or add-on |
| Overhead cabin bag size | 55x40x20cm (10kg) | 56x45x25cm (up to 15kg) |
| Overhead bag add-on cost | From ~£6-£20 | From ~£6-£45 |
| Hold bag (10kg) | From ~£9 | From ~£7 |
| Hold bag (20kg/23kg) | From ~£12 | From ~£9 |
| Gate fee (oversized/unbooked bag) | ~£70-£75 | ~£48+ |
Prices are indicative and vary by route, season, and how far in advance you book. Always check the airline's website for current figures.
The free bag: easyJet wins comfortably
Ryanair's free bag is genuinely small: 40x30x20cm. That's roughly the size of a large handbag or a compact 20-litre backpack. It must fit under the seat in front -- not in the overhead locker. In practice, this rules out most standard cabin backpacks. (Ryanair increased the depth from 25cm to 30cm in summer 2025.)
easyJet's free bag is 45x36x20cm. It's meaningfully bigger, allowing a reasonable 20-25 litre backpack or a soft duffel. Still not huge, but you can fit a weekend's worth of clothes in it if you pack carefully.
If your priority is carrying as much as possible for free, easyJet is the better choice.
The Cabin Max Metz backpack (B0C9QNYJD8) is designed to fit Ryanair's underseat free allowance. It's the bag I reach for on any Ryanair flight where I want to avoid fees. See the full range in our best cabin baggage guide.
Overhead cabin bag options
Neither airline includes an overhead locker bag for free on standard fares. Both require you to pay for Priority boarding (Ryanair) or a higher fare tier (easyJet) to bring a full-size overhead bag.
Ryanair Priority costs roughly £6-£36 depending on route and gives you cabin bag access plus early boarding. Their cabin bag can be up to 55x40x20cm and 10kg. Always check the airline's website for current Priority pricing as it varies by route and season.
easyJet allows the cabin bag as an add-on, and their limit is slightly larger at 56x45x25cm with up to 15kg -- genuinely more luggage. The add-on cost varies by route but can be higher than Ryanair's Priority.
If you regularly need an overhead bag, easyJet's higher weight limit makes it the better option, particularly for longer holidays.
Hold luggage fees compared
Both airlines have similar hold baggage pricing at the lower end. easyJet's 15kg hold bag often starts marginally cheaper than Ryanair on competitive routes. For 20-23kg, pricing is broadly comparable.
The rule for both: book hold luggage at the time of booking your flight. Adding it later costs more. Adding it at the airport or gate costs the most.
Gate enforcement and bag sizer rules
Both airlines enforce their bag policies at the gate. If your bag doesn't fit the sizer or you haven't paid for an overhead bag, you'll be charged to check it. Ryanair's gate fee for an oversized or unbooked cabin bag is around £70-£75; easyJet's equivalent is around £48.
Ryanair's bag sizers are notoriously strict. If you're carrying anything soft that could be squeezed, they may ask you to use the sizer before boarding. I've seen bags turned back that seemed fine on paper but were too rigid to compress into the plastic frame.
For practical tips on avoiding these charges, see our guide to how to avoid excess baggage fees on UK flights.
Which is better for families?
easyJet is generally more family-friendly. Children get the same baggage allowance as adults on both airlines, but easyJet's larger free cabin bag is more practical for a family with children's gear to carry on.
For pushchairs and car seats, both airlines allow these free of charge at the gate (they go in the hold). Read more in our family baggage allowance guide.
Verdict: easyJet for baggage, Ryanair for price
easyJet wins on baggage policy -- the free bag is bigger, the overhead bag limit is higher, and the overall experience is marginally less punishing.
Ryanair often wins on ticket price, particularly on competitive European routes. If you can travel with their free bag only, Ryanair can be the cheaper overall option.
My honest take: I book Ryanair when the fare difference is large enough to absorb the baggage compromise. For a city break where I want to bring a proper cabin bag without paying for Priority, I'll lean easyJet.
FAQ
Does Ryanair charge for a bag that's too big at the gate? Yes -- around £70-£75 as of 2025/2026. This is why fitting within the 40x30x20cm free allowance limit matters. A bag sizer is used at the gate and Ryanair staff are consistent in enforcing it.
Can I bring a backpack and a personal item on easyJet? On standard fares, easyJet allows one underseat bag only. A second bag (such as a laptop bag or handbag) is technically not permitted, though enforcement varies. With a Plus membership or higher fare, you get the overhead bag plus a personal item.
Is easyJet Plus membership worth it for baggage? Only if you fly easyJet frequently -- it costs around £249/year for a primary membership (check easyjet.com for current prices). For a couple of trips, pre-booking the large cabin bag as an add-on is cheaper overall.
What's the cheapest way to bring hold luggage on either airline? Book hold luggage at the same time as your flight. Both airlines price their hold bags at their lowest at the time of initial booking.
For a full comparison of baggage allowances across all major UK airlines, see our UK airline baggage allowance guide.