easyJet Cabin Bag Size and Hand Luggage Rules 2026
Three things about easyJet cabin bags that most people find out too late. First: the large cabin bag is advertised as “from £5.99” but on a summer Manchester to Malaga booking I was looking at £26 one-way. Second: if you turn up at the airport without having booked the large cabin bag, you cannot buy it there — airport availability does not exist. Third: Hands Free, the service where easyJet staff took your bag for you, was quietly discontinued in 2025.
This article covers easyJet cabin bag rules only. For hold bags, sports equipment, and fare comparisons, see the easyJet baggage allowance guide.
easyJet cabin bag at a glance — checked March 2026
Small cabin bag Large cabin bag Dimensions 45 x 36 x 20 cm 56 x 45 x 25 cm Weight limit 15 kg 15 kg Goes in Under the seat Overhead locker Included with All fares Must purchase separately or easyJet Plus Gate fee if not booked N/A £48 (cannot buy at airport)
The free cabin bag — 45 x 36 x 20 cm
Every easyJet ticket includes one cabin bag: 45 x 36 x 20 cm, 15 kg, goes under the seat in front of you. This is larger than Ryanair’s free bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) and gives you around 32 litres of packing space — enough for a 4–5 day trip if you pack efficiently.
The 20 cm depth is the critical measurement. This is what determines whether your bag fits under the seat. Soft bags and backpacks compress to fit; rigid suitcases that are exactly 20 cm measured empty may be snug when packed.
Dimensions include handles, wheels, and pockets. Measure your bag when it is packed, not empty.
Recommended: Cabin Max Metz 30L Backpack
The Cabin Max Metz 30L (45 x 36 x 20 cm) uses every centimetre of the free allowance. At 0.5 kg it leaves nearly all the 15 kg limit for your belongings. Opens flat, padded laptop compartment, showerproof.
What can you fit in 32 litres?
For a 5-day trip (light packer): 4 t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, underwear and socks, a pair of shoes, toiletries bag, laptop, and chargers. Shoes eat the most space. Wear your bulkiest pair on the plane.
What happens when the cabin is full
If the overhead bins fill up before boarding is complete, easyJet will gate-check bags into the hold for free. You collect at baggage reclaim. This is not a fee situation — it is just inconvenient if you were carrying on to avoid reclaim queues.
To guarantee overhead bin access, you need the large cabin bag option (it comes with Speedy Boarding, which means you board before most standard passengers).
The large cabin bag — 56 x 45 x 25 cm
The large cabin bag goes in the overhead locker and must be purchased separately or held via easyJet Plus membership. At ~63 litres it is a proper carry-on suitcase, comparable to what other airlines include as standard.
Who gets the large cabin bag
| Option | Large cabin bag included? |
|---|---|
| Standard fare | No — purchase separately |
| Upfront seat | No — purchase separately |
| Extra Legroom seat | No — purchase separately |
| Large cabin bag add-on | Yes — purchased separately |
| easyJet Plus membership | Yes — on every flight |
| FLEXI fare | Yes — included |
Important: Upfront and Extra Legroom seats no longer include the large cabin bag. This changed in June 2023. If you booked an Upfront seat expecting a large bag to be included, it is not.
What the large cabin bag add-on actually costs
easyJet advertises “from £5.99” for the large cabin bag. That is accurate at the cheapest end, but:
- Typical real-world prices: £15–35 one way on popular routes
- Popular summer routes (Spain, Greece, Morocco): £25–65 return
- The add-on also includes Speedy Boarding — factor that in when comparing to booking Speedy Boarding separately
The large cabin bag cannot be purchased at the airport. If you arrive without it booked, your options are to pay the £48 gate fee or remove items to fit the underseat bag.
Book online — ideally at the time of the original booking when prices are lowest.
Four ways to get overhead locker access
- Buy the large cabin bag add-on — cheapest at initial booking, rises after
- Book a FLEXI fare — includes it along with other benefits
- easyJet Plus membership (£249/year) — includes it on every flight; breaks even at 8–10 flights/year
- Book as an easyJet Plus member — show your membership card at the gate
easyJet Plus — is £249 worth it just for the cabin bag?
easyJet Plus costs £249/year (2026 price) and includes: large cabin bag on every flight, Speedy Boarding, Fast Track security where available, dedicated bag drop, seat selection, and fee-free flight changes.
The large cabin bag add-on costs roughly £15–35 per flight. If you fly easyJet more than 8–10 times a year, membership starts to pay for itself on the bag alone — plus you get all the other benefits on top.
For occasional flyers, just book the add-on when needed. Membership makes sense for frequent easyJet travellers only.
What does NOT count toward your cabin bag allowance
Several items are permitted in addition to your cabin bag and are not counted against your limit:
- Duty-free purchased after security — exempt, in addition to your bag
- Coat or jacket — you can carry this separately; staff will not count it
- Small personal items on your person — wallet, phone, keys
- Medication needed during the flight — exempt
- Umbrellas and walking sticks — permitted in addition to your allowance
Practical use of this: wear your heaviest jacket on the plane (saves weight in the bag), carry your laptop inside your main cabin bag, and pick up duty-free after security rather than trying to fit it in beforehand.
Can I take a handbag as well as my cabin bag?
Not officially. easyJet allows one cabin bag per passenger on standard fares. A small handbag that fits inside your cabin bag is fine. Carrying both a cabin bag and a handbag as separate items may be challenged at the gate.
If you need a second bag, the options are: book the large cabin bag add-on (giving you a 56 x 45 x 25 cm overhead bag plus your original underseat bag), or add a hold bag.
What happens at the gate
Three different scenarios, three different outcomes:
Scenario 1: Overhead bins are genuinely full
Your correctly-sized bag goes in the hold free. You collect at baggage reclaim. No fee. This is easyJet’s standard practice when demand exceeds space — it is not a penalty.
Scenario 2: You have a large cabin bag but did not book it
£48 gate fee. This is the standard charge for an unbooked bag that needs the overhead locker. You cannot buy the large cabin bag add-on at the airport — the gate fee is your only option at this point, or repacking into the underseat dimensions.
Scenario 3: Your bag is physically over-size for the underseat position
£48 gate fee and the bag goes in the hold. Staff use a sizer at the gate on many routes; if the bag does not fit the sizer, you pay.
easyJet is generally less aggressive at the sizer than Ryanair. Soft bags that are borderline usually pass. Rigid suitcases that do not compress are the ones that fail.
Hands Free — discontinued
easyJet’s Hands Free service (where cabin bags were collected at check-in and returned at the gate) has been discontinued for new bookings as of 2025. Existing bookings with Hands Free still valid are honoured, but the service is no longer offered.
If you had Hands Free on an existing booking, it still applies. For new bookings, the options are the large cabin bag add-on or easyJet Plus.
EU cabin bag proposal (forward context)
In January 2026, the European Parliament proposed new regulations that would require all airlines to include a free full-size cabin bag for passengers. easyJet’s CEO called it a “lunatic idea” that would destroy the budget airline model. The proposal is in early consultation stage and would not affect current rules — but it is worth knowing this debate exists when you are wondering why the rules are structured this way.
easyJet cabin bag vs other airlines
| Airline | Free bag | Size | Overhead bin? |
|---|---|---|---|
| easyJet | 1 cabin bag | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | Sometimes (if space) |
| Ryanair | 1 personal bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No |
| Wizz Air | 1 personal bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No |
| Jet2 | 1 cabin bag | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Yes (guaranteed) |
| British Airways | 1 cabin bag + personal item | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Yes |
For the full UK airline baggage comparison across all major carriers, see the guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easyJet cabin bag size?
The free underseat cabin bag is 45 x 36 x 20 cm including handles and wheels, 15 kg maximum. The large cabin bag (purchased separately) is 56 x 45 x 25 cm, also 15 kg.
Does easyJet include a cabin bag in the price?
Yes — the 45 x 36 x 20 cm underseat bag is included with all fares. The larger 56 x 45 x 25 cm overhead cabin bag must be purchased separately or is included with easyJet Plus membership or FLEXI fares.
Can I take a handbag and a cabin bag on easyJet?
Not officially. easyJet allows one cabin bag. A small handbag inside your main bag is fine. If you want a second bag in the overhead locker, you need to book the large cabin bag add-on.
How much does the large cabin bag cost?
From £5.99 as a minimum, but typically £15–35 one-way on popular routes. Peak summer routes can be higher. Book at initial booking for the lowest price.
Can I buy the large cabin bag at the airport?
No. Airport availability does not exist for the large cabin bag add-on. You must book it online before travelling. At the airport, your only option is to pay the £48 gate fee.
What is the easyJet gate fee for cabin bags?
£48 for an unbooked bag that requires the overhead locker. This applies whether you have an oversized bag or a standard-size bag that you wanted in the overhead bin without booking the add-on.
Is the large cabin bag included with Upfront or Extra Legroom seats?
No. Since June 2023, neither seat type includes the large cabin bag. You must purchase it separately even if you have booked an Upfront or Extra Legroom seat.
Is Hands Free still available on easyJet?
No. Hands Free was discontinued for new bookings in 2025. Existing bookings are still honoured, but the service is no longer offered to new customers.
What does easyJet Plus include for cabin bags?
easyJet Plus members get the large cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) included on every easyJet flight, plus Speedy Boarding. The membership costs £249/year and typically breaks even for anyone flying easyJet more than 8–10 times per year.
Does duty-free count against my easyJet cabin bag allowance?
No. Duty-free purchased after security is a permitted additional item and does not count against your cabin bag allowance.
What if my bag is slightly over 45 x 36 x 20 cm?
Soft bags that compress usually pass the sizer. Rigid cases that are over-size at the measurements will fail. If you are borderline, pack a soft-sided bag rather than a hard-shell suitcase.
