Baggage
Ryanair vs easyJet vs Wizz Air: What Can You Take on Board for Free?
By Flight Monitor · · 7 min read
Key takeaways
- All three airlines include one small under-seat bag. easyJet's is the biggest at 45 x 36 x 20 cm, while Ryanair and Wizz Air allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
- A second, bigger cabin bag isn't part of the basic fare on any of them. Each airline sells it as an add-on, so don't assume it's included in the fare you see.
- A small backpack that fits 40 x 30 x 20 cm, handles and wheels included, is within the free allowance on all three. Check the airline's page before you fly.
Short answer: on Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air you can take one small bag that fits under the seat in front of you for free. A second, bigger cabin bag is extra. The sizes differ, so a bag that's fine on one airline can be too big for another.
The free bag on each airline
| Airline | Free bag | Limits and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm, under the seat in front | Must fit the bag sizer. The Help Centre page doesn't state a weight limit for it |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, including handles and wheels | Up to 15kg, and you must be able to lift it yourself. Under the seat in front |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Up to 10kg. Size excludes handles and wheels, but wheels may add no more than 5 cm |
Ryanair made its free bag bigger from 4 September 2025, according to its announcement. Older articles and some price tables still show the old, smaller size, so don't rely on them.
easyJet's free bag is the largest of the three. Compare the sizes carefully, though: easyJet counts handles and wheels in its measurement, Wizz Air doesn't (apart from a 5 cm limit on wheels), and Ryanair's page doesn't say.
Is a bigger cabin bag included?
| Airline | Bigger bag | Included in the basic fare? |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 10kg, 55 x 40 x 20 cm, in the overhead locker | No. Add Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, which also gives priority boarding |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, up to 15kg, including handles and wheels | No. Add one to your booking (it also gives Speedy Boarding), or use easyJet Plus membership or an Inclusive Plus fare, where it depends on space unless you've added one |
| Wizz Air | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, up to 10kg | No. Add WIZZ Priority to your booking |
Prices for these add-ons vary by route, flight and when you book, so we don't quote them. Check the price on the airline's site when you book. easyJet says buying online is always cheaper than at the airport, and Wizz Air says baggage bought at the airport carries additional fees.
Some details catch people out. easyJet allows a maximum of two cabin bags per person: the small bag for everyone, plus one large bag only if your fare or membership includes it or you've paid for it. If you're an easyJet Plus member who hasn't added a large bag, or you're on an Inclusive Plus fare, you can bring one large bag subject to available space. If there isn't any, easyJet puts it in the hold. Also, if you don't choose a seat and are auto-allocated an Up Front or Extra Legroom seat, your allowance is still just the small under-seat bag.
What happens if your bag is too big
| Airline | How it's checked | If it's too big |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Bag sizers at the gate | Refused at the gate or placed in the hold for a fee set in its regulations (Ryanair gate rules) |
| easyJet | Checked before boarding | Goes in the hold and charges apply. Its fees page lists £60 for a large cabin bag brought to the boarding gate |
| Wizz Air | Size and weight limits apply | Exceeding the limits incurs additional fees |
Packing for a same-day trip
- Choose a small backpack that fits 40 x 30 x 20 cm, handles and wheels included. That's within the free allowance on all three airlines, whichever way they measure it.
- Keep within the lightest weight limit you might meet. Wizz Air's is 10kg, easyJet's is 15kg, and Ryanair's page doesn't state one.
- Pack only what you need for one day, with a warm layer in winter and a power bank.
- Keep your passport, tickets and phone in a pocket you can reach without opening your bag.
Going to a Christmas market? Our guide to visiting a Christmas market in one day covers the timing as well.
What Flight Monitor's prices include
Day Trips, Christmas Markets and Explore show the fare, which includes the airline's small under-seat bag. Larger cabin bags, priority boarding, reserved seats and checked bags are extra and aren't included. In flight search, we show an estimated total that adds an estimated larger cabin bag fee. That is our estimate, not an airline price. The airline confirms the final price and the extras you choose at checkout.
See same-day return trips from your airport
Browse Day Trips and check the flight times, then confirm baggage and the final price with the airline. You can also use Explore to see where a budget takes you.
Browse Day TripsSources and last verified
| Airline | Page | Last verified |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Ryanair's Bag Policy (Help Centre) | 12 October 2026 |
| easyJet | Cabin bags | 12 October 2026 |
| Wizz Air | Baggage allowance | 12 October 2026 |
Sources
- Ryanair Help Centre: Ryanair's Bag Policy — Free bag size, Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, check-in bags
- Ryanair Help Centre: bags bigger than the allowance at the gate — Gate refusal or hold for a fee
- Ryanair: bigger free bag from 4 September 2025 — Free bag 40 x 30 x 20 cm
- easyJet: cabin bags — Small and large bag sizes, weights, who can bring the large bag, seat notes
- easyJet: fees and charges — Large cabin bag at the gate
- Wizz Air: baggage allowance — Carry-on and trolley bag sizes, WIZZ Priority
Checked on 12 October 2026. Rules and thresholds can change, so confirm on the source before you rely on them.
Keep reading
Can You Visit a Christmas Market in One Day? A UK Guide to Flying Out and Back
Yes, but only on the right route. How a same-day Christmas market trip works from the UK, how much time you really get, and when to stay the night instead.
Day Trips by Plane: How They Work and Whether They're Worth It
Out in the morning, home by night. How a same-day return flight actually works, how much time you get on the ground, and when a hotel is the better call.