There is no single cabin bag size (or carry-on bag size), because each airline sets its own. On UK flights the free under-seat bag runs from 40 x 30 x 15 cm on British Airways to 45 x 36 x 20 cm on easyJet, and the larger cabin bag tops out at 56 x 45 x 25 cm, free on British Airways and Jet2 but paid or fare-dependent on Ryanair, easyJet and, within Europe, Aer Lingus. These hand luggage sizes are as stated by each airline on its website, checked 19 October 2026.
Cabin bag size by airline
| Airline | Free under-seat bag (cm) | Larger cabin bag (cm) | Weight | Who gets the larger bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Small personal bag 40 x 30 x 20 | 10kg Cabin Bag 55 x 40 x 20 | No limit stated for the small bag, 10 kg for the cabin bag | Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, Regular, Flexi Plus, Time Saver |
| easyJet | Small cabin bag 45 x 36 x 20, handles and wheels included | Large cabin bag 56 x 45 x 25, handles and wheels included | 15 kg each | Paid add-on, easyJet Plus members who booked one, Inclusive Plus subject to availability |
| Jet2 | Under-seat bag 40 x 30 x 20 | Hand luggage 56 x 45 x 25, wheels and handles included | No limit stated for the under-seat bag, 10 kg for the hand luggage | Free, included as standard |
| British Airways | Hand bag 40 x 30 x 15 | Cabin bag 56 x 45 x 25, wheels and handles included | None stated for either, lift the cabin bag yourself | Every cabin, Economy Basic included |
| Aer Lingus | Personal item 40 x 30 x 20 | 10kg bag 55 x 40 x 24 | No limit stated for the personal item, 10 kg for the larger bag | Within Europe, fares and memberships that include it. To and from North America, everyone, subject to space |
| Loganair | Cabin bag 40 x 35 x 18, overhead or under the seat | None | Under 6 kg | No larger bag. Fly, Fly Flex and Fly Flex+ add a small handbag (Fly Flex+ also a slimline laptop bag) |
We could not read Wizz Air’s or TUI’s baggage pages on 19 October 2026, so we print no figures for them, and Virgin Atlantic states one piece of hand luggage of up to 10 kg in Economy but no size we could check.
Free under-seat bag sizes
Every airline above lets you bring one small bag that fits under the seat in front of you, on every fare. Four use a 40 x 30 cm base and differ on depth. Only easyJet says its under-seat size includes handles and wheels. The others do not say, so measure everything that sticks out.
Larger cabin bag sizes, and who gets one free
The larger cabin bag goes in the overhead locker and measures between 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Whether it is free depends on the airline more than on the size.
- Free on every fare: British Airways, Economy Basic included, and Jet2, though Jet2holidays says the 10 kg hand luggage is included as standard “excluding infants”.
- Paid, or included in some fares: Ryanair and easyJet, as the table shows.
- Depends on the route: within Europe, Aer Lingus takes its 10kg bag on board only if your fare or membership includes it, and otherwise checks it in free of charge. To and from North America it goes on board for everyone, subject to space.
- None: Loganair has one cabin bag and a small handbag, with no size given for the handbag.
On British Airways the cabin bag “may need to go in the hold”, so keep power banks, spare batteries and medication in the under-seat bag, as British Airways asks.
Hand luggage weight limits by airline
The table above gives each airline’s limit. British Airways gives no weight limit for either bag on its hand baggage page, only that you must lift the cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted, and the 23 kg printed on other sites is not on that page.
The smallest bag that fits every airline
A bag that fits 40 x 30 x 15 cm fits the free under-seat bag of all six airlines in the table. Here are the free bags’ sides, longest first:
- Longest side: 40 (five airlines) and 45 (easyJet), so 40 cm.
- Middle side: 30 (Ryanair, Jet2, British Airways, Aer Lingus), 35 (Loganair) and 36 (easyJet), so 30 cm.
- Shortest side: 15 (British Airways), 18 (Loganair) and 20 (the other four), so 15 cm.
The British Airways hand bag sets the depth. Leave British Airways out and the common box grows to 40 x 30 x 18 cm, set by Loganair.
Backpacks that fit a 40 x 30 x 15 cm box
These backpacks from our leather backpacks collection fit a 40 x 30 x 15 cm box on their stated dimensions. A soft bag packed full bulges, so measure yours packed before you fly.
- Our small leather backpack in genuine cowhide, 25 x 21 x 13 cm, with a zip closure and a front pocket with a flap.
- Our mini vegan leather backpack for women, 20 x 8 x 23 cm, under 20 litres, with an outside slip pocket.
- Our waterproof vegan leather backpack for women, 26 x 12 x 30 cm, under 20 litres, with two elastic side pockets.
- Our women’s Korean vegan leather backpack with a buckle clasp, 28 x 39 x 14 cm, under 20 litres, which takes A4 notebooks.
- Our men’s small faux leather laptop backpack in waterproof PU, 40 x 12 x 28 cm, under 20 litres, with a laptop compartment and an outside USB port (power bank not included).
Backpacks for the larger cabin bags
Taking the smallest figure on each side of the five larger cabin bags gives 55 x 40 x 20 cm, Ryanair’s 10kg Cabin Bag. On their stated dimensions these backpacks fit inside it, so they suit the larger bag on all five, and the first and third also fit easyJet’s free under-seat bag.
- Our waterproof men’s black faux leather laptop backpack, 29 x 13 x 43 cm, about 29 litres, for a laptop up to 15.6 inches, with a strap that slides over a suitcase handle.
- Our waterproof faux leather laptop backpack for the city, in PVC and Oxford canvas, 31 x 14 x 47 cm, 20 to 35 litres, for a laptop up to 16 inches, with a strap for a trolley case.
- Our men’s vintage leather backpack in genuine leather, with a hammered finish, 42 x 32 x 12 cm, for a laptop up to 15.6 inches.
There are more in our women’s leather backpacks and men’s leather backpacks, and our cabin backpacks collection gathers the travel models.
How to measure a backpack for hand luggage
Measure your backpack packed, the way you will carry it, because a soft bag grows once it is filled.
- Height: from the base to the top of the bag, top handle included.
- Width: across the widest point, side pockets included.
- Depth: from the back panel to the front of the front pocket, packed. Depth is the tight one for under-seat bags, at 15 to 20 cm.
Weigh it too, on a luggage or bathroom scale. Ryanair puts a bag that does not fit its gate sizers in the hold for a fee, and easyJet’s iOS app has a bag sizing tool that uses the phone’s camera.
The new EU cabin bag rule
An EU rule will set a personal item every passenger may bring on board, of at least 40 x 30 x 15 cm, with no weight minimum and no obligation to include a cabin bag in every fare. Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 was published on 2 October 2026 and applies 12 months later, so from about October 2027, exact date to be confirmed. We found no UK rule of this kind, and the European Commission’s questions and answers do not say how it treats UK flights.
Hand luggage size questions
What is the standard hand luggage size?
There is no standard size, since each airline sets its own, as the table shows. The European Commission says even the new EU rules set no common standard for hand luggage size.
How heavy can a cabin bag be?
From under 6 kg on Loganair to 15 kg on easyJet, with 10 kg on Ryanair, Jet2, Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic. British Airways gives no weight limit on its hand baggage page.
Can I bring a backpack and a cabin bag?
Yes on British Airways and Jet2, on every fare. On Ryanair, easyJet and Aer Lingus within Europe you need a fare, membership or add-on that includes the larger bag. Loganair allows one cabin bag plus a small handbag.
What size backpack fits under a plane seat?
A backpack that measures 40 x 30 x 15 cm or less once packed fits the free under-seat bag of all six airlines in our table. A 40 x 30 x 20 cm backpack fits every one except British Airways (15 cm) and Loganair (18 cm).
Each airline has its own page in our guides to the Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways cabin bag sizes.
Sources: the baggage pages of Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Loganair and Virgin Atlantic.
Sizes checked on each airline’s website on 19 October 2026. Airlines change their rules, so check your booking before you fly.