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 September 2026. 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.

How to pack your cabin bag

Maximising your cabin bag can be a fantastic way to save money on hold liggage.

Every packing pro swears by their technique, be it packing cubes, folding, rolling or bundling. We think a combination works best:

1. Pack your shoes into a shoe bag or plastic bag and place around the edges or bottom of your suitcase. If you’re really trying to maximise your space, you can stuff them with your socks and tights
2. Throw the rest of your underwear and swimwear into a packing cube and nestle it in
3. Roll your shirts and tops and file them in next – the idea is to get a flat surface for your clothes that are more likely to crease
4. Lay items such as wrinkle-prone items such as dresses, trousers and jackets on top so they stick out over the edge of the case. Then place any extra delicate items on top of those and fold the lose edges over on to the top.

And there you have it! Your essentials, such as your passport and electronics, should be carried with you in your hand luggage or personal bag/backpack.

5. Get a handle on your h

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 (aside from some UK airports), but other items, such as corkscrews and musical instruments, are forbidden in cabin bags.

What are the benefits of travelling with hand luggage only?

There are myriad benefits of travelling with hand luggage only, from skipping bag-drop queues to saving money on checked baggage fees. Not sold? Think about the following.

It’s quicker

Travelling with hand luggage only can save you plenty of time: there’s no need to join a check-in or bag-drop queue on departure and no need to wait for bags at the luggage carousel on arrival. Plus, you’ll get to the taxi queue or car hire rental desks before the rest of the passengers you have travelled with.

It’s safer

Ditching the checked bag means you get to keep your belongings with you at all times, so there’s no need to worry about your luggage turning up in Tenerife while you’re in Lanzarote. You can also forget about your bag being damaged in the cargo hold – you know your bag is safely stowed in the cabin above your head or under the seat in front of you.

Remember that some airlines now have a cut-off on hand luggage items into the cabin – easyJet, for example, gives overhead locker space on a first-come-first-served basis. All other bags at the correct size could end up in the hold, free of charge. And Ryanair will now only allow passengers who have paid for priority boarding to take a larger bag into the cabin.

It’s cheaper

Taking hand luggage on holiday generally allows you to avoid checked-in baggage charges. However, you must always check the weights and costs of individual airlines before you fly. For example, if you don’t pre-book your hold baggage with Ryanair, you’re looking at up to £59.99 for a 20kg case one way (depending on your journey length) or up to £70 if you arrange this post-booking/at the airport.