The short version
- Ryanair's free under-seat bag is now 40 x 30 x 20 cm with no weight limit, up from the old 40 x 25 x 20 cm.
- easyJet's free under-seat bag is bigger at 45 x 36 x 20 cm and up to 15 kg, so a bag bought for Ryanair will always clear easyJet, but not the other way round.
- EU rules adopted in July 2026 set a free personal item of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm on flights covered by EU law from 23 October 2027, which is 5 cm shallower than what Ryanair allows today.
- British Airways allows a 40 x 30 x 15 cm handbag, so a 20 cm deep bag counts as your cabin bag there.
- A 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag is the safest single purchase if you fly more than one budget airline. Buy to the outer dimensions, not the litre count.
Cabin bag sizes changed twice in the past year and a lot of people are still flying with luggage bought under the old rules. Ryanair grew its free under-seat allowance to 40 x 30 x 20 cm, easyJet sits at a roomier 45 x 36 x 20 cm, and the EU has signed off a standard personal item of 40 x 30 x 15 cm that lands in 2027. That last one matters, because it is shallower than what Ryanair permits right now, so the deepest bag on the market is not automatically the smartest buy.
Gate staff measure with a sizer, and soft bags that have been overpacked are the ones that get pulled. Below are six bags on Amazon UK that cover the sizes people actually need, from a free under-seat backpack up to a full 55 x 40 x 20 cm case for priority fares.
How Look Into made this guide: desk research, not a hands-on test. We shortlist on UK availability, compare published specifications and warranty terms, and read verified UK owner reviews, discounting incentivised ratings. Prices in the comparison table are pulled live from Amazon UK. Look Into has not handled these products: every figure comes from the maker, the listing or a named source, read on the date shown.
Prices in this table come from Amazon and are refreshed at least once a day, with the date of the last update under the table. The cost-per-use and running-cost figures on this page use prices Look Into read on 5 November 2026, so they can differ from today's price.
Compare live prices for every pick
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
Prices and specs last checked by Look Into on 5 November 2026 · next check 7 January 2027 · how we picked
How we picked these
We started from the airlines' published allowances. Ryanair lists 40 x 30 x 20 cm free under the seat and 55 x 40 x 20 cm at 10 kg with Priority. easyJet lists 45 x 36 x 20 cm free at up to 15 kg, with a 56 x 45 x 25 cm locker bag on higher fares. Which? keeps a running comparison of the major carriers, and the Euronews report on the June 2026 EU agreement sets out the 40 x 30 x 15 cm personal item that arrives in 2027.
From there we looked for bags whose stated external dimensions match a real allowance exactly, with a decent review count on Amazon UK and a shape that holds itself square when full. We favoured bags with a flat back panel or a semi-rigid frame, because those are the ones that go into a sizer without a fight. Prices were checked on 20 July 2026 and move about.
At a glance
| Bag | Best for | Size | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Knight 40x30x20 backpack | Overall under-seat pick | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Backpack |
| Xkdoai anti-theft 40x30x20 | Spending the least | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Backpack |
| ATX Luggage under-seat trolley | Not carrying it on your back | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 2-wheel case |
| Innoteck 32L hard shell | easyJet's bigger free bag | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | Hard case |
| 55x40x20 overhead backpack | Priority fares, packing light | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | Backpack |
| Rocklands 55x40x20 spinner | Priority fares, longer trips | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 4-wheel case |
The bags
Flight Knight 40x30x20cm Under-seat Backpack
Best overall under-seat bagBuilt to the exact 40 x 30 x 20 cm box, so it clears Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet's free allowance without you having to think about it. Wizz Air caps that free bag at 10kg. The back panel is padded and there is a USB pass-through if you carry a power bank, which is handy on a 6am gate wait. It is a long-standing listing with thousands of reviews behind it.
The catch: it is soft-sided, so if you stuff the front pocket it will bulge past 20 cm deep and a strict gate agent can call it. Pack the depth loosely.
40 x 30 x 20 cm, padded straps, USB port
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
Xkdoai Anti-theft 40x30x20 Travel Backpack
Best if you want to spend the leastUnder £20 and still hits the 40 x 30 x 20 cm box. The zips tuck behind a flap and there is a small clear toiletry pouch included, which saves you fishing about at security. Review scores are strong for the money and it is a sensible buy if you only fly once or twice a year.
The catch: the fabric is thin and the stitching around the strap anchors is the first thing to go. Expect it to last two or three years.
40 x 30 x 20 cm, hidden zips, clear pouch included
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
ATX Luggage 40x30x20cm Under-seat Trolley
Best if you would rather not carry itA proper little wheeled case cut to the free under-seat size, with two wheels and a pull handle. Worth it if you have a shoulder or back problem, or if you are connecting through a big airport with long walks. The hard sides mean it keeps its shape in the sizer, which is the real advantage over a soft backpack.
The catch: wheels and handle eat into the 24 litres, so you get noticeably less usable space than a backpack of the same external size. Two wheels also drag.
40 x 30 x 20 cm, 24 litres, 2 wheels
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
Innoteck 32L Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase, 45x36x20 cm
Best for easyJet's larger free bagAvailability, 5 November 2026: Amazon UK showed no buy box for this case. Any case built to 45 x 36 x 20 cm does the same job for easyJet. Sized to easyJet's free 45 x 36 x 20 cm under-seat allowance, which is the largest free under-seat bag among the UK budget carriers, although Jet2 also includes a free 10kg cabin bag. At 32 litres it holds a long weekend without you needing to pay for anything, and the combination lock and water-resistant shell are useful if it ends up gate-checked.
The catch: it is too big for Ryanair's free under-seat bag, so this is an easyJet-first purchase. Fly both airlines and you will end up buying twice.
45 x 36 x 20 cm, 32 litres, combination lock
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
55x40x20 cm Overhead Cabin Backpack
Best for priority fares if you pack lightCut to the 55 x 40 x 20 cm locker size that Ryanair Priority and most other carriers accept, and it takes a laptop up to 18.4 inches. Because it is a backpack it weighs very little empty, which helps on airlines with a 10 kg cap where a hard case can waste 3 kg before you pack anything.
The catch: a full-size backpack at this volume gets heavy on your back quickly, and there are no wheels to fall back on.
55 x 40 x 20 cm, fits 18.4in laptop
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
Rocklands 55x40x20cm Hard Shell Spinner
Best overhead case for longer tripsThe familiar four-wheel cabin case, sized to 55 x 40 x 20 cm so it fits the locker on Ryanair Priority and similar fares. Spinner wheels make it easy through a terminal and the TSA lock is worth having if you travel to the US. Good choice for a week away where you want to keep everything in one piece of luggage.
The catch: the shell and wheels add real weight, so on a 10 kg allowance you lose a chunk of it to the case itself. Weigh it packed at home before you go.
55 x 40 x 20 cm, 4 spinner wheels, TSA lock
As an Amazon Associate, Look Into earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of 6 November 2026 2:18 am and are subject to change.
Questions people ask
What size is Ryanair's free cabin bag in 2026?
40 x 30 x 20 cm, and it has to fit under the seat in front of you. There is no weight limit on it. That is an increase on the older 40 x 25 x 20 cm allowance, so a bag bought a couple of years ago will still be fine, just smaller than it needs to be.
Will one bag work for both Ryanair and easyJet?
Yes, if you buy to the smaller of the two. A 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag fits Ryanair's free allowance and easily fits inside easyJet's roomier 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Buy the easyJet size and Ryanair will charge you at the gate.
Are cabin bags about to become free everywhere?
Not yet. EU negotiators agreed in June 2026 that passengers flying within or from the EU should get a free personal item of 40 x 30 x 15 cm plus a larger cabin bag, adopted in July 2026 and applying from 23 October 2027. It does not apply today, and the 15 cm depth is tighter than Ryanair's current limit, so there is a reasonable argument for not buying the deepest bag you can find.
Do gate staff actually measure bags?
On budget carriers at busy airports, often. The sizer is a rigid metal box, so a bag has to go in without pushing. Soft bags fail more than hard cases because an overpacked front pocket adds a few centimetres of depth that the label never mentions.
Sources
- Ryanair, Cabin bags policy
- easyJet, Cabin bag and hand luggage
- Which?, Airline cabin bag allowance compared
- Euronews, EU deal on free cabin luggage (June 2026)
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Prices checked 20 July 2026 and subject to change. Always confirm your airline's current allowance before you fly.