The Ultimate Guide to Ryanair's Baggage Policy (And How to Beat It)
If you’ve ever flown Ryanair, you know the game: cheap ticket upfront, sneaky charges at the gate. The biggest culprit? Baggage fees.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Ryanair’s baggage policy in 2025, and how to avoid paying a penny more than you have to.
What Does Ryanair Count as "Free Baggage"?
Ryanair allows one small personal item for free, which must fit under the seat in front of you. That means no wheelie suitcase, no duffel, no chunky backpack.
Size Limit: 40cm x 30cm x 20cm
Go even 1 cm over and it goes in the hold, and you pay for the privilege. Ryanair does not publish the figure on its bag policy page, and reported gate charges run from about £40 to £75.
Ryanair has since bumped the free under-seat allowance too. Here are the current Ryanair personal item size rules and what actually fits.
That’s why choosing the right bag is everything.
Not sure how Ryanair stacks up against the rest? See every airline's cabin bag size in one table.
The Problem: Most Bags Say They Fit. They Don’t.
Plenty of brands advertise "cabin approved" or "carry-on compliant". But unless they are built to Ryanair’s 40×30×20 spec, they won’t pass at the gate.
Even worse? Some bags fit when empty, but bulge out when packed.
The Solution: Bag Built for the Rules
We built the BRAW Explorer 2 specifically to meet the Ryanair limit, even when packed. It replaces the original Explorer, rebuilt around Ryanair's current 40 x 30 x 20 cm under-seat box.
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Base size: 40 x 30 x 20 cm, 24 litres, sized for the free under-seat bag
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Expansion zip: opens the bag out for airlines that give you more room
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ClipPod compression: clips out of the bag, squeezes the air out of your clothes and hands you the space back
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Built from: 1050D Cordura shell with 900D facing, YKK and Aquaguard zips
No bulk, no bulge, no baggage fee.
Pro Tips to Avoid Ryanair Fees
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Use the right bag, built for 40×30×20. Not a guess.
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Wear your heaviest items, hoodie, coat, headphones, crossbody bag.
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Use the compression system like the ClipPod in the Explorer 2, combine this with THE WEE PUMP and you have unlocked more space.
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Board early, fewer eyes on your bag.
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Slide, don’t stuff, neatly placing your bag in the sizer matters.
Real Savings, Real Fast
Ryanair baggage fees can hit:
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£19.99 upwards for a small trolley case, depending on route and when you book
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£45 return trip if you get caught at the gate
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More if you add Priority + 2nd Bag in advance
Most travellers make the money back in 2 trips with the Explorer 2.
TL;DR
If you’re flying Ryanair, don’t gamble on your bag.
Use one built to fit. Pack smart. Beat the system.