Hand luggage sizes and weight limits by airline

Hand luggage sizes for popular airlines

* The allowances above are generally for passengers travelling on the lowest fare types – higher fare types and frequent flyers may be granted higher allowances. Information correct as of 25 April 2025. Please consult your airline for further details.

Which airline has the free best hand luggage allowance?

British Airways has the best free hand luggage allowance on its basic fare, allowing you to bring one 23kg cabin bag sized 56x45x25cm and one personal bag up to 40x30x15cm.

Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic’s basic fares are also generous – both allow one carry-on bag weighing up to 10kg, plus a small personal item that must be able to fit under the seat in front of you.

To get the best value for your money, it’s worth totting up the cost of adding hand luggage to a ticket with a low-cost carrier such as Ryanair. It still may work out cheaper.

What about paid-for cabin bags?

Many airlines offer the option to pay for an extra cabin bag if the free allowance isn’t enough. Often, they are bundled together with added perks like priority boarding or extra legroom seats.

Prices can start from as little as £6 per way (such as with Ryanair and easyJet) but can be up to as much as £50.

A top tip: you can save money on your paid-for hand luggage by skipping the priority boarding bundles offered early in the booking process and adding just the bag in the later stages.

Cabin bag FAQs

What is a personal item?

Some airlines allow you to take a ‘personal item’ as well as your hand luggage on board. This usually means a backpack, handbag or laptop bag.

Jet2, British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic welcome you to take both on their economy fares, as do certain Aer Lingus routes and fares.

Is hand luggage weighed?

Hand luggage is generally measured by its size rather than its weight, but be prepared to have yours checked if your bag looks bigger than the allowance.

What happens if you exceed the hand luggage limit?

If your hand luggage is over the limit, you may need to place it in the hold and you’ll almost certainly be charged an excess baggage fee. To avoid this, always pre-book an extra bag online rather than risk being charged at the gate, which will cost you more.

Make sure you know the hand luggage sizes for all the airlines you’re travelling with, especially if you are connecting from one to another or if you are returning on a different carrier. These can vary and will affect bag size, number of bags allowed and whether there is any weight limit.

In general, choose a soft bag for carry-on luggage if you can – it will be easier to cram into overhead bins and is likely to be lighter, giving you more weight for your items.

Can you combine your hand luggage allowance?

Most airlines will not allow you to pool your hand luggage allowance across a party of people, so ensure that each bag is not over the limits where a weight limit applies.

What should you take in your hand luggage?

All your holiday essentials – including your passport, travel documents, valuables and electronics – should be packed in your hand luggage. You can bring liquids no bigger than 100ml (this is about to change), but other items, such as corkscrews and musical instruments, are forbidden in cabin bags.