Ryanair Underseat Bag Size: 40x30x20cm Rules & Tips

Few things cause more pre-flight anxiety than wondering if your bag will fit the sizer. Ryanair’s strict underseat bag dimensions — 40 x 30 x 20 cm — are among the tightest in European aviation, and getting it wrong can cost you a €70 gate fee.

Free underseat bag size: 40 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm · Weight limit for underseat bag: No official weight limit (must fit under seat) · Priority boarding bag allowance: Underseat bag + second 10 kg cabin bag (55x40x20 cm) · Enforcement method: Bag sizer at boarding gate

Five key specs define what you can and cannot bring for free on Ryanair. The table below shows the critical numbers — note the important difference between the official help centre listing and the updated sizer policy.

How strict is Ryanair on under seat bag size?

Ryanair’s bag sizer enforcement

• Ryanair installs metal bag sizers at every boarding gate that exactly match the 40 × 30 × 20 cm opening (Ryanair YouTube – Our Bag Sizer Explained).
• The sizers are designed to be 1/3 bigger than EU permitted dimensions to allow for soft bags, but the pass/fail line is final (Ryanair YouTube).
• Gate agents decide whether to test your bag; on busy flights enforcement is common (Skyscanner UK).

What happens at the gate

• If you are asked to test your bag and it does not fit fully into the sizer, you will be charged a gate fee (Ryanair Official Help).
• The fee can be paid by card or cash and the bag is then tagged as cabin bag and loaded in the hold (Ryanair YouTube).
• If you refuse to pay, you may be denied boarding (Ryanair Official Help).

Penalties for non-compliance

• The gate fee for an oversized underseat bag is €69.99 as of 2025 (Ryanair Official Help).
• If you require a sizer test and fail, you must also pay the fee if you proceed to the gate after being warned at check-in (Skyscanner UK).
• No refunds are issued for gate fees – the bag travels, and you pay (Ryanair Official Help).

The pattern is clear: Ryanair uses the sizer as the final arbiter, and gate agents have little discretion to override a failed test.

What does 40x30x20 mean?

Understanding the 40x30x20 dimensions

• The dimensions are length × width × height in centimetres (Ryanair Official Help).
• 40 cm length (the longest side), 30 cm width, 20 cm height – total 24 litres of volume (Vagari Bags Journal).
• The bag must sit entirely under the seat in front, so the height is critical (Ryanair YouTube).

How to measure your bag

1. Place your empty bag on a hard surface and use a rigid tape measure (not a soft cloth tape).
2. Measure the length, width, and height including any wheels, handles, and external pockets.
3. Compare each dimension against 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Any one dimension exceeding means the bag is non-compliant (Vagari Bags Journal).
4. Test by trying to fit the bag into a cardboard box of those exact internal dimensions – if it doesn’t slide in without force, it’s too big.

Common bag types that fit

• Small soft rucksacks (20-25 litres) that are not overstuffed (Vagari Bags Journal).
• Handbags and laptop bags that are slim enough to compress under the seat (Ryanair Official Help).
• Hard-shell cases only if they are under 24 litres and exactly 40 × 30 × 20 cm – few exist.

The dimension discrepancy is a trap for the unwary traveller — always defer to the gate sizer’s dimensions.

Can I take a handbag as well as an underseat bag on Ryanair?

Priority vs non-priority allowance

• Standard fare: only one underseat bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm) is permitted (Ryanair Official Help).
• Priority + 2 Cabin Bags fare: you may bring the underseat bag plus a second 10 kg cabin bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm) (Skyscanner UK).
• No option to “upgrade at the gate” – you must select priority when booking (Ryanair Official Help).

Can you take a handbag plus a backpack?

• No, unless you have priority. With a basic fare, you get one bag total – that one bag can be a handbag or a backpack, but not both (Ryanair Official Help).
• If you turn up with a separate handbag and backpack, one will be treated as an extra bag and incur a fee (Skyscanner UK).
• Some travellers combine the two into one larger bag that fits the sizer – but that’s technically not two separate items.

Size restrictions for personal item

• The personal item (handbag, laptop bag, small rucksack) must fit the same 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer. There is no “lighter enforcement” for a purse versus a backpack (Ryanair Official Help).
• If you have a small handbag that clearly fits under the seat without protruding, it’s fine – but gate agents may still test it (Ryanair YouTube).

The takeaway: on a non-priority fare, your only bag is the one that fits the sizer — no second bag, no exceptions.

What if my cabin bag is 1cm bigger on Ryanair?

Is 1cm over really a problem?

• Yes – Ryanair’s bag sizer is rigid. If the bag does not drop freely into the sizer, it is considered oversized (Ryanair YouTube).
• Even 1 cm of bulge or a protruding handle can cause failure (Skyscanner UK).
• However, enforcement is not 100 % consistent – some gate agents allow a little squeeze if the bag is soft (Skyscanner UK).

What to do if your bag is slightly oversized

• Remove any items that can be worn (jackets with heavy pockets, boots) to reduce bulk.
• If the bag is soft, press it into the sizer to demonstrate it can compress – sometimes agents accept this (Ryanair YouTube).
• If you are still concerned, buy or borrow a compliant bag before travel. The risk of a €70 fee is not worth 1 cm extra.

Tips to compress bag

• Use packing cubes to distribute items evenly and avoid bulges.
• Store shoes and heavy items at the bottom of the bag so they do not push against the top.
• Roll clothing instead of folding to reduce trapped air.
• Leave 5 % of the bag visibly empty – a packed-to-the-brim bag will bulge.

The implication: 1 cm may be the difference between boarding smoothly and paying €70 — test your bag at home to be safe.

Is a 40x20x25 bag allowed on Ryanair?

Comparing 40x20x25 to 40x30x20

• A 40 × 20 × 25 cm bag has a height of 25 cm, which exceeds the 20 cm height limit of the sizer (Ryanair Official Help records 40×20×25; but sizers test 40×30×20).
• If the 25 cm is the height (the vertical dimension when placed under the seat), it will not fit the sizer’s 20 cm height slot (Ryanair YouTube).
• However, if the bag is soft and you can compress the 25 cm dimension to 20 cm, it may pass – but there is no guarantee.

Will it fit the sizer?

• Officially, no – the sizer accepts bags up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm. A 40 × 20 × 25 bag has one side 5 cm too tall (Ryanair YouTube).
• Passenger reports vary: some say they got away with it on less strict flights; others paid the gate fee.
• The safe rule: buy a bag that is no larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm when measured flat.

Alternative dimensions for underseat

• The only dimension set by Ryanair is 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Any bag with a smaller volume will also be fine.
• Some popular sizes: 35 × 25 × 15 cm, 38 × 28 × 18 cm – as long as each dimension is ≤ 40, ≤ 30, ≤ 20.
• Always test with a tape measure before booking.

The bottom line: a 40x20x25 bag is too tall for the sizer and risks the gate fee — only bags that satisfy the 20 cm height dimension are safe.

How to pack strategically for Ryanair’s underseat bag

Knowing the dimensions is one thing; packing to stay within them is another. Here is a step-by-step strategy to avoid the €70 gate fee.

1. Choose the right bag. Buy a soft-sided rucksack or tote that is certified by the seller as fitting 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Many travel brands advertise “Ryanair approved” lists.
2. Measure your bag empty – including handles and wheels – using a rigid ruler. If it exceeds in any dimension, find another bag.
3. Pack only essentials. For a weekend trip: 2–3 changes of clothing, toiletries under 100 ml, a tablet or book, and chargers. Leave bulky items at home.
4. Roll clothes and use compression cubes to reduce height.
5. Leave 10 % of bag volume empty – a full bag will bulge and fail the sizer.
6. Wear extra layers. Put your heaviest jacket on the plane rather than in the bag.
7. Test the bag at home using a make‑shift sizer (a cardboard box 40 × 30 × 20 cm). If it doesn’t drop in easily, repack.

Vagari Bags Journal confirms that soft bags that are not overstuffed are the most reliable. That combination of gear and preparation is your best defence against the €70 charge.

“All fares include one small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) that must fit under the seat.”

Ryanair Help Centre – Ryanair Official Policy

“You agree to bring one small bag for all your essentials which must be no bigger than 40x30x20 cm to make sure it fits under the seat.”

Ryanair YouTube – Our Bag Sizer Explained

The pattern is clear: Ryanair gives you one small, tightly measured space. For the budget traveller flying on a basic fare, the choice is straightforward: pack within 40×30×20 cm or pay extra. For those who want a second bag, priority boarding is the only legitimate option. The trade-off is between saving on the ticket and paying for more space. In a market where Ryanair dominates short‑haul routes, the €70 gate fee is a harsh penalty for a single centimetre. For the savvy flyer, the smart move is to invest in a compliant soft bag and measure it before every trip.