Ryanair baggage fees: small bag, Priority, and checked-bag choices
Ryanair's free allowance is one 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat bag. If you need an overhead 10 kg bag, buy Priority & 2 Cabin Bags while it is available; if you need more weight, choose the correct 10 kg, 20 kg, or 23 kg checked product before airport or gate handling becomes the expensive path.
Ryanair includes only the small under-seat bag in the base fare. Overhead-bin access is usually solved through Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, which includes the small bag plus a 10 kg cabin bag and prices by route and timing.
The included personal bag is the small 40 x 30 x 20 cm item that must fit under the seat in front. That is the real free allowance; a normal roller bag is a separate decision.
Ryanair checked baggage is an add-on model, not a universal included allowance. The 10 kg and 20 kg checked-bag ranges change by route, season, and purchase timing, while excess weight is charged per additional kg at the airport.
The main Ryanair trap is solving the bag too late. Priority, checked bags, seats, and flight changes all have route, timing, or channel rules that can make a cheap base fare less cheap.
- Measure the under-seat bag before booking. If it cannot stay within 40 x 30 x 20 cm, compare Priority & 2 Cabin Bags against a checked-bag add-on before prices or availability change.
- Buy the correct bag product before the airport. Ryanair's checked-bag ranges depend on route, season, and purchase timing, while excess weight is charged per kg at the airport.
- Skip paid seat selection only if a random seat is acceptable. Standard seats can be free at check-in if you do not buy a seat, but that trades control for savings.
- Use the online change path when a change is unavoidable. The online flight-change fee is lower than the airport or call-center fee.
Choose the bag product before the airport—not after the sizer check.
Does everything fit inside 40 × 30 × 20 cm?
If yes, the base fare can remain genuinely bag-fee-free. If the bag needs the overhead locker, it is not the included small-bag path, even if a retailer describes it as cabin luggage.
Do you need the 10 kg bag in the cabin or only at arrival?
Priority & 2 Cabin Bags keeps a 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg bag onboard. The 10 kg Check-in Bag goes through bag drop and the hold. Compare price, availability, liquids, and carousel time before choosing.
Would 20 kg or 23 kg prevent excess-weight charges?
Ryanair sells distinct 10 kg, 20 kg, and 23 kg checked products. Excess weight is €13/£13 per kilogram, so buying too little allowance can be worse than selecting the correct product initially.
Are you leaving the bag decision until the airport?
That is the high-risk path. A non-Priority cabin-sized bag can be refused or placed in the hold for a gate fee, and airport checked-bag pricing is higher than the published online range.
Could the itinerary itself change?
Ryanair charges per passenger, per flight, plus any fare difference. The published online change fee is lower than the airport or call-centre path, and ordinary voluntary refunds are not available.
Does Ryanair still win after the fees?
Start with Ryanair preselected, add the competing flight, and compare the whole party's fare, checked bags, overhead carry-ons, and seats. Choose the exact fare profile only when it matches the booking.
Compare true trip costCompare the bag bill before the fare wins.
Pick travelers, bags, route context, and bag size. The table estimates only when the stored fee data has a usable fixed amount. Route-priced airlines stay flagged for lookup instead of showing a false $0.
| Airline | Trip bag cost | Annual exposure | Best card waiver | Overweight / oversize | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair Current page | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
| easyJet | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and purchase timing. |
| Frontier Airlines | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
| JetBlue | $0 | $0 | Check card rules | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| Alaska Airlines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year Atmos Rewards Visa Business card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| American Airlines | $180 | $180 | Standard-size input | Price this airline | |
| Delta Air Lines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| United Airlines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year United Explorer Card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| Southwest Airlines | $180 | $180 | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| Air Canada | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | Check card rules | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
Core fee breakdown
Start with what the base fare excludes, then check how purchase timing, bag size, and weight change the price.
Carry-on rules
See also the broader carry-on fee reference.
When the issue is whether a bag will physically pass at the gate, compare the published rule with sizer enforcement reality.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic fare | All routes | 0.00 EUR | per flight | All fares include one small underseat bag only; larger cabin baggage requires Priority or checked-bag purchase | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Optional add-on | All routes | From 6 to 36 EUR | at booking / manage booking | Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a 10 kg overhead bag; price varies by route, date, availability, and timing | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Optional add-on | All routes | From 20 to 60 EUR/GBP | post-booking / airport | Post-booking/airport Priority or gate handling costs more and depends on route and travel date | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
Checked baggage fees
See also the checked baggage fee reference. For a side-by-side baseline comparison, review easyJet, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional add-on | All routes | From 10.49 to 44.99 EUR/GBP | at booking / manage booking | 10 kg check-in bag; price changes by route, travel date, and whether bought at booking or later | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Optional add-on | All routes | From 21.49 to 59.99 EUR/GBP | at booking / manage booking | 20 kg check-in bag; up to 3 can be bought, with prices changing by route/date/timing | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Optional add-on | All routes | From 28.99 to 80.99 EUR/GBP | at booking | 23 kg check-in bag; available at booking, one per passenger, and priced per flight | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
Excess and overweight baggage
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checked-in luggage above purchased allowance | All routes | 13.00 EUR/GBP | airport / call centre / kiosk | Excess baggage fee per kg above the purchased check-in bag allowance | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
Oversized baggage
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin bags exceeding large cabin-bag dimensions at the gate | All routes | From 70 to 75 EUR/GBP | boarding gate | A non-priority 10 kg bag brought to the gate can be refused or placed in the hold for a gate fee | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Checked-in luggage above Ryanair maximum limits | All routes | Refused if above maximum checked-bag dimensions EUR/GBP | airport check-in | Individual items over 32 kg or over 80 x 120 x 120 cm are not accepted as ordinary checked baggage | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
Seat and fare-related fees
See also the seat selection fee reference.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | From 0 to 35 EUR | at booking / check-in | Reserved seats vary by route/date; free random seat exists, while family seating rules can affect adult seat choice | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-23 |
| All fares | All routes | From 8 to 45 EUR | at booking / manage booking | Extra legroom or front-row seats cost more and vary by route, timing, and family-seat constraints | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-23 |
Change and cancellation references
See also the change and cancellation fee reference.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | 45.00 EUR | before departure | Flight change fee per passenger, per flight (online) | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-23 |
| All fares | All routes | 60.00 EUR | before departure | Flight change fee per passenger, per flight (at airport or call center) | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-23 |
| All fares | All routes | Not permitted EUR | after booking | Ticket refunds not permitted except for flight cancellation or qualifying circumstances | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-23 |
Fare-class behavior
Basic fare
The base fare includes only the small under-seat personal bag. It is the cheapest path only when the traveler can genuinely fit within the 40 x 30 x 20 cm allowance.
Priority & 2 Cabin Bags
This add-on includes the small personal bag plus a 10 kg cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm. The price range depends on route and timing.
10 kg and 20 kg checked-bag add-ons
Checked baggage is purchased separately. Price ranges vary by route, season, and purchase timing rather than one flat first-bag fee.
Seats and changes
Random seating can be free at check-in, while selected seats and flight changes are paid products with separate standard, extra-legroom, online, and airport/call-center pricing.
When fees may not apply
- Refunds are not permitted except for flight cancellation or qualifying circumstances.
- Ryanair does not offer an unaccompanied-minor service; passengers under 16 must travel with an adult aged 18 or over.
Compare with other airlines
Comparison links below are limited to airlines with closely related fee structures or booking models.
Related guides
Legal Disclaimer
This reference reflects the published policy details and linked official sources available for this airline.