easyJet is best known for its low fares – and one of the ways the budget carrier keeps base ticket prices low is by charging fees for baggage.
All passengers are allowed a small under-seat cabin bag for free, but larger cabin bags (like wheeled suitcases, for example) come at a cost (with a couple of exceptions). Here’s what else you should know about easyJet hand luggage size and other important information.
- Every easyJet passenger gets one free small cabin bag (45 x 36 x 20 cm) that must fit under the seat in front of them.
- Larger cabin bags (56 x 45 x 25 cm) require an extra fee unless included through easyJet Plus, Inclusive Plus fares or certain seat selections.
- easyJet strictly enforces baggage limits, and paying for a bag at the airport is usually much more expensive than adding it during booking.
- Compared with most U.K. airlines, easyJet and other European low-cost carriers have stricter hand luggage policies and tighter size restrictions.
In this article
- The basics of easyJet hand luggage size and other key info.
- What extra items can you bring on board easyJet flights?
- Hand luggage rules for easyJet while travelling with infants
- Top three easyJet hand luggage tips
- EasyJet hand luggage FAQs.
The basics of easyJet hand luggage size and other key info.
All passengers on easyJet are allowed one small cabin bag, which must fit under the seat in front of you. You can bring large cabin bags onboard for an additional fee (though there are some options for discounted or free bag allowances – more on those below).
- Wheels and handles included: All measurements include any wheels and handles.
- Gate sizer check: Bags must fit inside easyJet’s gate sizer frame without forcing.
Last updated and fact-checked: June 22, 2026.
Both small and large cabin bags have a maximum weight of 15 kg, and easyJet specifies that passengers must be able to lift their bags without assistance.
How to bring a large cabin bag onboard.
If you prefer not to check a bag, it’s best to add a large cabin bag when you book your flight. Not only is it typically cheaper than paying at the airport, but cabin bag space is limited.
If you want to bring a large cabin bag onboard, you can:
- Purchase a large cabin bag during booking. This also includes Priority Boarding.
- Get a free large cabin bag allowance with an easyJet Plus membership.
- Book an Inclusive Plus fare, which includes a large cabin bag.
- Choose an Up Front seat, which comes with a large cabin bag allowance.
- Choose an Extra Legroom seat, which also includes a large cabin bag allowance.
How does easyJet’s cabin bag size compare to other airlines?
If you’re used to more generous cabin baggage allowances, Europe’s budget airlines can come as a surprise. Carriers like easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have strict size limits for free bags and often charge hefty fees if your luggage exceeds them.
By contrast, major U.K. airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic typically include a full-size cabin bag in most fares and are generally less prescriptive about personal item dimensions, as long as the bag fits under the seat.
Before you fly, double-check your airline’s baggage policy and measure your bag carefully, especially on European low-cost carriers, where a few extra centimetres can turn into an unexpected fee at the gate.
What extra items can you bring on board easyJet flights?
easyJet allows passengers to bring extra items onboard, such as medical or sports equipment or musical instruments. These items count towards your cabin bag allowance and must fit either in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you.
Musical instruments that are larger than 30 x 117 x 38 cm (12 x 46 x 15 inches) can only travel in the cabin if a separate ticket is purchased.
However, if you’re not sure about allowances for instruments or other extra items, it’s highly recommended to visit easyJet’s website or contact the customer service department during the booking process.
Hand luggage rules for easyJet while travelling with infants
Parents or caregivers travelling with little ones should familiarise themselves with easyJet’s policies for hand luggage. If an infant is traveling on your lap, you are allowed an additional small bag (with the same maximum dimensions of 45 x 36 x 20 cm).
However, as with other airlines, if you’ve paid for your child to sit in their own seat (which is a requirement past the age of two years), that ticket will come with its own free small cabin bag. Again, large cabin bags will come with an additional fee (or as an included benefit for easyJet Plus members or discounted for Inclusive Plus ticket holders).
EasyJet has its own parlance, which is helpful to familiarise yourself with if you don’t fly them often. Carry-on bags are called cabin bags, while checked baggage is referred to as hold bags. Meanwhile, overhead bins are called overhead lockers.
Top three easyJet hand luggage tips
from Blane Bachelor, travel expert
- Do not attempt to sneak a large cabin bag that you haven’t paid for past easyJet gate staff. They are keenly trained to spot passengers trying to do this, and you’ll pay a significantly higher fee at the gate than you would have online while booking.
- Avoid all the hassles of hand luggage fees (and most fees in general) by purchasing an annual easyJet Plus membership, which I have had for several years. In addition to free large cabin bags, you’ll also get a slew of other perks. For frequent flyers on easyJet, the annual fee pays for itself very quickly.
- Parents, heads up: You may not have to pay to carry on your baby’s nappy bag, but you will have to pay a fee for an infant sitting in your lap. EasyJet isn’t the only airline that charges these ridiculous fees, but that doesn’t make them any less annoying.
EasyJet hand luggage FAQs.
Still have questions about easyJet cabin bag size or other concerns? Read on for expert answers.
EasyJet’s small cabin bag max size is 45 x 36 x 20 cm (17.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 inches) is and the large cabin bag (56 x 25 x 45 inches). Both measurements include wheels and handles.
Like all budget carriers, easyJet strictly enforces its hand luggage policy. Gate agents monitor passengers’ hand luggage and boarding passes, which indicate whether they are allowed to bring on board large cabin bags.
They may require passengers to repack and combine bags if the rules are not met. And they are not afraid to charge passengers a fee (which is significantly higher than the cost online) to check a bag in at the gate.
Yes, but only if you’ve paid for your rucksack as a large cabin bag, or you can fit your handbag into your rucksack and it all fits underneath the seat in front of you.
EasyJet Plus is an annual membership fee that includes several benefits: free large cabin bags, priority boarding (Speedy Boarding, in easyJet parlance), and free seat selection. For frequent flyers who prefer not to check a bag, the free cabin bag is especially helpful.
Still have questions about easyJet hand luggage?
Luggage policies can be confusing. For an easy way to compare carry-on rules across airlines, check out our carry-on luggage guide.
