Best Cabin Bags for Ryanair 2026: Bags That Actually Fit 40x30x20cm
Ryanair’s gate sizer got me at Stansted a few years back. I’d measured my bag at home using my hands rather than a tape measure, it was about 2cm too wide, and I paid £70 on the spot to check it. Since then I’ve become mildly obsessive about bag dimensions. I own a cardboard replica of the sizer. I test bags before I book flights. My partner finds it exhausting.
So: buy a bag built for the Ryanair 40x30x20cm allowance, measure it with an actual tape measure once it’s packed, and don’t stuff it to the point it can’t compress into the metal frame at the gate.
Below are the bags I’d buy. Backpacks, holdalls, a wheeled case — different types depending on what kind of traveller you are.
For the full rundown on Ryanair’s bag rules, see the Ryanair Cabin Bag Size guide. For fees and fare types, the Ryanair Baggage Allowance guide covers it. Everything about the airline in one place is on the Ryanair hub.
The rule: what size bag does Ryanair allow for free?
Since August 2025, Ryanair’s free personal bag is 40 x 30 x 20 cm (height x width x depth). It goes under the seat in front of you. That’s the only bag included with a standard fare — no overhead locker access unless you pay for Priority.
The old limit was 40 x 20 x 25 cm, and a lot of Amazon listings still quote it. If a product says 40 x 20 x 25 cm, the seller hasn’t updated their listing since before August 2025. The bag may still physically squeeze in (total volume is similar), but you’d be relying on luck rather than a spec.
The 20cm depth is what trips people up. Many backpacks are 22-25cm deep when packed. Soft bags can compress to fit; hard-sided ones can’t. I’ll flag depth risk on each product below.
Fail the sizer check and the gate fee is £70-75, per bag, per flight. Return trip: £140-150.
Quick comparison: best cabin bags for Ryanair 40x30x20cm
| Bag | Type | Dimensions | Weight | Approx. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerolite 40x30x20 Backpack | Backpack | 40x30x20 cm | 1.05 kg | ~£35 | Packing versatility, USB port |
| Cabin Max Metz 24L | Backpack | 40x30x20 cm | 0.6 kg | £29.95 | Lightweight, budget |
| Cabin Max Anode 24L TwinWheel | Wheeled case | 40x30x20 cm | 1.9 kg | £39.95 | Organised packing, no backpack carry |
| Cabin Max Vela 24L Holdall | Holdall | 40x30x20 cm | 0.8 kg | £34.95 | Women travellers, smart look |
| Cabin Max Manhattan Holdall | Holdall | 40x30x20 cm | ~0.7 kg | £34.95 | Overpacking flexibility (expandable) |
| Cabin Max Kobe Backpack | Backpack | 40x30x20 cm | ~0.8 kg | £39.95 | Organisation, anti-theft features |
This guide is about the free 40x30x20cm personal bag only. Priority & 2 Cabin Bags gets you a second, larger bag (55x40x20cm, 10kg) for the overhead locker — but that’s a paid add-on and a completely different size. There’s a separate best 10kg priority bags for Ryanair guide for those.
1. Aerolite 40x30x20 Ryanair Maximum Size Cabin Backpack
40 x 30 x 20 cm | 1.05 kg | ~£35 | Recycled polyester, YKK zippers | ~24 litres
The name is the spec. Aerolite didn’t bother with anything clever — they called it the “40x30x20 Ryanair Maximum Size Cabin Backpack” and that’s what it is. There’s no guessing about whether it fits; the bag was built to the limit.
It’s heavier than the Cabin Max soft bags below — 1.05kg empty versus 0.6kg for the Metz — but you get things the Metz doesn’t have. Three separate zippered compartments (main section, front organiser, quick-access outer pocket), a built-in USB routing port for a power bank you supply yourself, an RFID-blocking passport pocket, and a side water bottle holder that actually works for standard bottles rather than needing to be forced in sideways. It also clears Wizz Air and easyJet’s free bag limits, which is useful if you fly more than one carrier.
The laptop sleeve is padded but soft — a heavy laptop shifts around in it if the bag isn’t full. If you’re packing light it can feel a bit loose. And there are fewer colour options than Cabin Max offers.
If you want zero ambiguity at the gate, this is the one. It’s on Amazon Prime if you’re ordering close to your flight date.
2. Cabin Max Metz 24L Backpack
40 x 30 x 20 cm | 0.6 kg | from £29.95 | 600D Polyester or RPET eco variant | 24 litres
The Metz 24L is Cabin Max’s most popular Ryanair bag. At 0.6kg empty it’s the lightest here — nearly half the weight of the Aerolite — so a light packer gets more usable space per litre. It opens flat like a suitcase rather than top-loading, which makes packing and unpacking at a hotel room faster. The front organiser has slots for documents, a Kindle or small tablet, and general clutter. Side bottle holder. Proper padded backpack straps with a carry handle. 16 colour options. 3-year warranty.
The honest caveat: the soft shell can be squashed past 20cm if you overpack. The bag has compression straps on the sides, and they help, but they won’t save you if you’ve crammed in two heavy jumpers and a full washbag. I’d say measure it packed rather than trusting your eyes. No USB port. No laptop sleeve — the tablet pocket fits up to 10 inches, not a standard 13-inch laptop.
It’s the bag to buy if you want the cheapest confirmed-spec option and you’re honest with yourself about packing light.
Cabin Max Metz 24L on Amazon UK
3. Cabin Max Anode 24L TwinWheel Underseat Case
40 x 30 x 20 cm | 1.9 kg | £39.95 | ABS hard shell | 24 litres
The only wheeled case in this guide. Hard ABS shell, telescopic handle to 95cm, internal divider with a zipped pocket, 14 colours, 3-year warranty. The big practical argument for it: you physically cannot overpack it past 20cm depth, because the case is rigid. It either shuts or it doesn’t.
But it’s 1.9kg empty. That’s the real trade-off — 24 litres total, and nearly 2kg of it is bag rather than what you’re bringing. The soft bags give you the same capacity at 0.6-1.05kg. You’re also carrying it in your hand rather than on your back, which matters over a long terminal walk or when you’ve got a boarding pass and a coffee to manage.
There’s also a minor theoretical issue with wheels: they add 2-3cm to the footprint if the case is measured on its side. I’ve never seen Ryanair staff measure it that way, but it’s worth knowing.
Best for people who hate the backpack position, pack neatly, and don’t need to maximise capacity. Works well for families — pack it at home and wheel it through, no adjusting straps or rummaging.
Cabin Max Anode 24L TwinWheel on Amazon UK
4. Cabin Max Vela 24L Holdall
40 x 30 x 20 cm | 0.8 kg | £34.95 | 600D PU with vegan leather detailing | 24 litres
The Vela is a structured holdall rather than a backpack, with a padded shoulder strap, internal netted pockets, and a rear suitcase sleeve that slots over a trolley handle. It’s aimed at travellers who want something that doesn’t look like hiking kit — city break, work trip, weekend away. I took one to Amsterdam for a work trip and it looked like an ordinary tote going through security. Nobody glanced twice at it.
The structure is also a mild risk: it doesn’t compress the way a soft backpack can, so if you’ve slightly overpacked you’ll notice it when trying to fit under the seat rather than at the gate. Measure it packed. No laptop compartment (the Kobe is better for that). Only 6 colours.
At 0.8kg it’s light enough that a moderate packer won’t feel squeezed by the bag weight. 3-year warranty.
Cabin Max Vela 24L Holdall on Amazon UK
5. Cabin Max Manhattan Holdall
40x30x15cm collapsed / 40x30x20cm expanded | ~0.7 kg | £34.95 | 18-24 litres
The Manhattan expands. Collapsed it’s 40x30x15cm and 18 litres; expanded it’s 40x30x20cm and 24 litres. The point is that you pack it expanded at home, then zip the expander back down before you go to the gate. You’re never near the 20cm limit at the gate because the bag simply isn’t that deep anymore.
It’s the one I’d suggest to anyone who finds themselves obsessively squinting at bags wondering if they’re going to pass. Leave the expander zipped to the hotel, unzip it to pack on the way back with gifts or shopping, zip it before you get to the gate. Simple enough.
Honest limitations: 18 litres collapsed is noticeably less space than the other bags, and if you’re cautious enough to keep the expander zipped throughout the trip you’re packing into a smaller bag than you’d like. The expandable zip can catch if you rush it. Shoulder carry only, no backpack straps. 3-year warranty.
Cabin Max Manhattan Holdall on Amazon UK
6. Cabin Max Kobe Underseat Backpack
40 x 30 x 20 cm | ~0.8 kg | £39.95 | ~24 litres
The Kobe is the laptop version. Where the Metz has a tablet pocket that fits up to 10 inches, the Kobe has a proper padded laptop sleeve for 13-14 inch laptops. It also has USB port routing, a fleece-lined phone pocket, and a back-panel anti-theft zip that puts your passport and cards behind you rather than at the zip everyone can see.
The anti-theft zip isn’t just a feature listed on a spec sheet — Stansted on a Saturday morning is the kind of place I genuinely notice it. Passport in the back panel, not the front pocket.
At £39.95 it’s the most expensive soft bag here. The dedicated laptop compartment does cut into main packing space — 24 litres total, but once a laptop is in the sleeve you’re packing the rest around it. If you only need 24 litres and you’re not carrying a laptop, the Metz at £29.95 is the better buy. The Kobe is for regular fliers who need the laptop accessible at security without unpacking half the bag.
Measure your bag when it’s packed, not when it’s empty
All of these bags pass the Ryanair sizer when empty. That’s not the test that matters.
I pack everything I’m bringing, then measure height, width, and depth with a tape measure before I zip up. Height and width are rarely the issue. Depth — the 20cm dimension — is the one that catches people. A soft bag that’s 19cm deep when empty is often 22-23cm deep when there’s a rolled jumper, full washbag, and a pair of shoes in it.
If you want to be certain, build a cardboard sizer. Three pieces of card, tape them into a 40x30x20cm box frame, slide your packed bag in. About 15 minutes to make. If the bag goes in without force, you’re fine. If you have to push, so will the Ryanair gate agent — except they’ll charge you £75.
Gate enforcement has been noticeably stricter since late 2025. The Ryanair hub has more on what that looks like in practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ryanair free personal bag size in 2026?
40 x 30 x 20 cm (height x width x depth). This changed in August 2025 from the previous 40 x 20 x 25 cm. No weight limit on the personal bag — the sizer checks size only.
Will a 40x30x20 bag definitely fit under the Ryanair seat?
If it’s genuinely within 40x30x20cm when packed, yes. The risk is overpacking — a soft bag that’s within spec when empty may exceed 20cm depth when stuffed. Measure it packed, with a tape measure.
What happens if my bag is too big at the Ryanair gate?
Staff put it in the metal sizer frame. If it doesn’t fit, you pay to check it into the hold. Gate fee in 2026 is £70-75, per bag, per flight. There’s no grace for being 1cm over.
Can I take a handbag AND a 40x30x20cm bag on Ryanair for free?
No. Standard fare = one bag. A handbag is your personal bag. If you try to bring both, staff will ask you to put one inside the other or charge you. The only way to travel with two bags is Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, a paid add-on from around £6-36 depending on the route — it adds a second, larger 55x40x20cm bag for the overhead locker.
Are soft bags or hard bags better for Ryanair?
Soft bags for most people. They compress slightly at the gate even if your packing was a bit generous. A hard-sided bag at exactly 40x30x20cm has no give at all — it’ll pass if it’s truly within spec, but there’s no margin. The one hard-sided option I’d recommend here is the Cabin Max Anode, specifically because it makes overpacking impossible: the case won’t close.
Do Ryanair staff actually check bags?
Yes, and more aggressively since late 2025. Ryanair increased the staff incentive for catching non-compliant bags in November 2025 (to €2.50 per bag with the monthly cap removed). They don’t measure every bag, but they do look for bags that appear borderline — bulging, rigid-sided, or larger than average. If yours looks obviously fine, you’ll walk through.
What is the Ryanair Priority cabin bag size?
55 x 40 x 20 cm with a 10kg weight limit. This is a separate paid add-on (Priority & 2 Cabin Bags). Not covered in this guide — see the best 10kg priority bags for Ryanair for that.
Can I fit a laptop in a 40x30x20cm bag?
Yes, if the bag has a laptop compartment. The Cabin Max Kobe and Aerolite both have laptop sleeves that fit 13-14 inch laptops. A 15-inch laptop is a squeeze — check the specific sleeve dimensions before buying. The Metz has a tablet pocket up to 10 inches only.
How much is the gate fee if my bag fails the size check?
£70-75 per bag, per flight in 2026. Return trip: pay it twice. Cheaper to buy a bag that fits.
Is there a weight limit on the Ryanair personal bag?
No. The personal bag (40x30x20cm) has no weight limit. Only the Priority cabin bag (55x40x20cm) has one, at 10kg. Pack your personal bag as heavy as you like — they won’t weigh it.
