Guides & Conseils, Lifestyle Masculin
easyJet Cabin Bag Size: Free Under-Seat Bag and Large Bag
Aug
The easyJet cabin bag size for the free bag is 45 x 36 x 20 cm, handles and wheels included, and it has to fit under the seat in front of you. Everything bigger is a large cabin bag of up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm, which goes in the overhead locker and is only allowed if you paid for it, booked a fare that includes it or hold easyJet Plus. Both bags can weigh up to 15 kg. This guide explains the two allowances, what happens at the gate, and how to pick a bag that passes the sizer the first time. If you are shopping for one, our men’s travel bags list the dimensions of each model, so you can compare them with the limits below before you buy.
All figures come from easyJet’s own cabin bag help page, read on 5 October 2026. Airlines change these rules, so check your booking confirmation before you fly.
The two easyJet cabin bag allowances
easyJet splits hand luggage into two clearly separate products, and most confusion at the gate comes from mixing them up. Every passenger gets the first one. The second one is an extra that you either buy or receive with a fare or membership. The maximum is two cabin bags per person: one small bag for everyone, plus one large bag when it is included or paid for. A crossbody bag worn under your coat still counts as your small bag, so plan for it.
| Allowance | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Where it goes | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small under-seat cabin bag | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, handles and wheels included | 15 kg | Under the seat in front of you | Every passenger, free |
| Large cabin bag | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, handles and wheels included | 15 kg | Overhead locker | Paid add-on, easyJet Plus members, Inclusive Plus fares |
Two details are easy to miss. First, the measurement includes handles, wheels and anything that sticks out, so a soft bag with an external bottle pocket can fail even when the main body is within the limit. Second, the 15 kg ceiling is generous, but easyJet asks that you can lift and carry the bag yourself. In practice the size, not the weight, is what gets checked.
The free under-seat bag: what fits in 45 x 36 x 20 cm
easyJet describes the small cabin bag as something like a small trolley case, a handbag, a rucksack or a laptop bag, while reminding passengers to check the dimensions. In centimetres, 45 x 36 x 20 is roughly 17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 inches. That is enough for a laptop backpack of moderate depth, a briefcase, or a messenger bag packed with a day’s worth of clothes.
The number that rejects most bags is the 20 cm depth. Many backpacks sold as “cabin size” are designed for the large allowance and run 23 to 25 cm deep once full. Three habits help:
- Measure the bag packed, not empty. A soft rucksack can gain several centimetres in depth when stuffed.
- Choose a bag with a flat back panel and no rigid frame, so it can compress slightly into the sizer.
- Keep bottles and chargers inside the main compartment rather than in outer pockets that add depth.
We checked our own catalogue against this limit. Of the 332 bags and wallets whose listings state all three dimensions in centimetres, 303 fit inside 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Most of them are shoulder bags, chest bags, clutches and messenger bags, which are flat by design. Backpacks are where you need to read the depth figure before buying.
The large cabin bag: who gets it and what it costs
The large cabin bag can measure up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm and weigh 15 kg. It travels in the overhead locker, which makes it the right choice for a small wheeled case or a weekender bag on a trip of several days. There are three ways to be allowed one.
- Add it to your booking. You can buy a large cabin bag when you book, later in Manage Bookings or in the app, even after check-in. Prices vary by flight and by how early you book, and options can sell out.
- easyJet Plus membership. Members add a large cabin bag free of charge by entering their membership number at checkout. Members can also select an Up Front or Extra Legroom seat free of charge.
- Inclusive Plus fare. The fare includes a large cabin bag in addition to the small one, subject to space on board. If the cabin is full, the bag goes in the hold at the gate free of charge.
Any fare or bag option that includes a large cabin bag also gives you Speedy Boarding, so you board early and find locker space more easily. easyJet states that adding the large bag online is always cheaper than at the gate, where it costs £60.
What happens at the gate if your bag is too big
easyJet checks cabin bag sizes before boarding. If your bag is bigger than the allowance you hold, or if you turn up with a large cabin bag that you did not book, it cannot go in the cabin. It is checked into the hold and charges apply, as listed in the bags table of easyJet’s fees and charges page.
You can avoid that moment in two ways. The easyJet app includes a bag sizing tool on iOS that uses your phone camera, although easyJet itself says a tape measure is the more reliable check. And if you discover at home that your bag is too large, you can still change your seat, add a large cabin bag or add hold luggage through Manage Bookings or the app. A travel backpack with compression straps gives you a margin when the sizer is tight.
Some items travel with you on top of the allowance. easyJet lists an umbrella, an overcoat, crutches, a walking stick and one standard bag of goods bought at the airport. A jacket pocket is not a loophole for a third bag, but a coat over your arm will not be counted.
easyJet compared with Ryanair, Air France and US airlines
easyJet’s free bag is one of the largest in Europe. Here is how it compares with other carriers, using figures published by each airline. Weight limits for the free item differ widely, so check them separately. Our guide to the carry-on weight limit covers that side.
| Airline | Free under-seat item | Source |
|---|---|---|
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, 15 kg | easyJet cabin bags help page |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Ryanair announcement of 4 September 2025 |
| Air France | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (small bag) | Air France baggage page |
| American Airlines | 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) | American Airlines carry-on page |
| JetBlue | 17 x 13 x 8 in | JetBlue carry-on page |
| United | 17 x 10 x 9 in | United baggage page |
The practical lesson: a bag that fits Ryanair’s 40 x 30 x 20 cm fits easyJet too, but the reverse is not true. If you fly several low-cost airlines in the same year, buy for the smallest box you expect to meet. In our catalogue, 267 of the 332 listings with stated dimensions also fit 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
Bags that fit the easyJet limits
For the free allowance, flat bags win. A messenger bag, a briefcase or a sling bag rarely exceeds 20 cm in depth, and it slides under the seat without a fight. For the large allowance, a soft weekender or a cabin backpack makes better use of the 25 cm depth than a hard case. These categories list the dimensions on every product page:
- See the men’s crossbody bags: flat, worn close to the body, the easiest bags to keep within 45 x 36 x 20 cm.
- See the laptop bags for men: briefcases and messenger bags with a padded sleeve, slim enough for the under-seat space.
- See the travel backpacks: check the depth figure; some suit the free bag, others the large one.
- See the weekender bags: the natural format for the 56 x 45 x 25 cm large cabin bag.
Whatever you choose, pack it once at home and measure it full. Our travel packing list helps you decide what really needs to come on board.
In short
On easyJet, everyone can bring one free bag of 45 x 36 x 20 cm that fits under the seat, and a second, large bag of 56 x 45 x 25 cm only if it is paid for or included with easyJet Plus or Inclusive Plus. Measure your bag packed, watch the 20 cm depth, and add the large bag online rather than paying £60 at the gate. For a bag that passes the sizer, start with our men’s travel bags.
easyJet’s free under-seat bag is what US airlines call a personal item. Our guide to personal item size compares it with American, JetBlue, United, Ryanair and Air France.
Frequently asked questions
Is a backpack allowed as the free easyJet cabin bag?
Yes. easyJet names rucksacks among the items that can be the small cabin bag, as long as the backpack measures 45 x 36 x 20 cm or less with handles and straps included and fits under the seat. Depth is the usual problem, so measure it packed.
Does easyJet weigh cabin bags?
easyJet sets a 15 kg maximum for both the small and the large cabin bag and asks that you can lift the bag yourself. What it actively checks before boarding is the size against its sizer. Staying within the dimensions is what matters most.
Can I bring a handbag and a backpack on easyJet for free?
No. The free allowance is one small cabin bag per person, so a handbag and a backpack together count as two bags. Put the handbag inside the backpack, or add a large cabin bag to your booking. An overcoat, an umbrella and one bag of airport shopping are allowed on top.
How much is the large cabin bag on easyJet?
The price depends on the flight and on when you book, and easyJet shows it during booking or in Manage Bookings. It is always cheaper online than at the gate, where easyJet charges £60. easyJet Plus members can add it free of charge.
Are easyJet cabin bag sizes measured with the wheels?
Yes. Both limits, 45 x 36 x 20 cm and 56 x 45 x 25 cm, include handles and wheels. A wheeled case that is 45 cm tall without its wheels is therefore too big for the small allowance.
