In Europe's ferociously competitive low-cost carrier market, fees and charges are constantly changing. Keeping on top of carry-on baggage costs and regulations can help you find the best value fares for your trip. Here are the latest Eurowings hand luggage rules.
- Every fare includes a free small bag (40 × 30 × 25 cm) that fits under the seat.
- A larger cabin bag (55 × 40 × 23 cm, max 8 kg) is only included with SMART and BIZclass fares, or with BASIC if you purchase Priority Boarding.
- Stick to the size rules. Eurowings is more likely to check your bag’s dimensions than its weight, and oversized bags can be charged as checked baggage at the gate.
In this article
- What is the Eurowings hand luggage policy?
- What doesn't count as hand luggage on Eurowings.
- Top three hand luggage tips for Eurowings.
- Common Eurowings hand luggage questions.
What is the Eurowings hand luggage policy?
Eurowings’ hand luggage policy tows the line with most other European budget carriers and varies by selected fare type. The illustration and table below show the hand luggage allowance for Eurowings including bag dimensions and weight along with any other important factors.
Last updated and fact-checked: August 18, 2026.
With Eurowings’ BASIC fare, you’re allowed just a small bag on board, which must be able to fit under the seat in front. You can add a larger cabin bag for a fee. That upgrade takes you to a SMART fare and adds a cabin bag to your on-board allowance. Choose the top flight BIZclass fare and you can take two cabin bags on board with you.
Thinking of flying with carry-on bags only? Then maximise your bag space with these tips on how to pack your suitcase.
What are the liquid rules for Eurowings hand luggage?
Eurowings follows standard EU airport security rules. Liquids in your hand luggage must be in containers of no more than 100 ml each, all fitting into a single clear, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre per person.
- Max 100 ml per container
- All containers in one transparent, resealable bag
- Max 1 litre total per passenger
- One bag per person (exceptions apply for baby milk and prescription medication carried with supporting documentation)
Important Eurowings hand luggage policy considerations.
- These cabin bag dimensions include every part of your luggage – handles, wheels and any other protrusions. If you’re asked to put your bag in the sizing bin at the gate and it doesn’t fit, you’ll have to pay for it as checked baggage.
- Note the 8 kg weight limit for large cabin bags. This is one of the meanest weight allowances of all budget carriers – but don’t worry too much. While Eurowings is strict on hand luggage dimensions, I’ve never seen ground crew weigh anyone’s carry-on at the gate. And I fly with them at least once a month.
- As long as your bag is within tolerated dimensions and isn’t too heavy to lift into the overhead compartment, you should be fine. Remember that if you do risk it and exceed the weight limit, the fees to check your bag in at the gate are eye watering.
- Purchasing priority boarding on a BASIC fare also unlocks the large cabin bag allowance (55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 8 kg). This can be a cheaper option than upgrading to a SMART fare if you only need the extra bag space and not the other SMART fare benefits. Check current pricing on the Eurowings website before booking.
What doesn’t count as hand luggage on Eurowings.
As with all rules, there are exceptions. If you’re travelling with kids or a musical instrument, Eurowings has various hand luggage allowances in place. Here’s the lowdown.
Flying with children
Eurowings classes ‘infants’ as zero to 23 months and ‘children’ as two to 11 years old. The same baggage regulations apply for children as for adult passengers.
The airline allows one infant per adult on your lap, and if you’re travelling with an infant on your lap, you can take two small cabin bags on board with you. This is because the infant is entitled to their own small cabin bag allowance, so the second bag belongs to the infant, not an additional adult allowance.
If your infant has a reserved seat rather than travelling on your lap, the same small cabin bag entitlement applies to them independently. Any other infant must have a seat reserved and be strapped into a child restraint system.
If you’re travelling with an infant, you can check in one 23 kg piece of baggage free of charge regardless of the fare. You can also carry and check in two of these as baggage at no cost:
- A pram
- A pushchair
- A carry cot
- A car booster seat
- A Child carrier
Flying with musical instruments
Eurowings largely treats musical instruments on board as it does standard hand luggage. You can bring a small musical instrument on board as long as it is packed and doesn’t exceed 125 cm in total dimensions and 8 kg in weight.
Note that the 125 cm figure refers to total linear dimensions (length + width + height combined). This is a more generous allowance than the standard cabin bag limit of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (118 cm linear), so some instruments that would not fit a standard cabin bag may still qualify.
Each musical instrument you bring into the cabin qualifies as one item of hand luggage. Larger instruments like guitars must be in a soft case and can only be transported in the cabin if you book an extra seat.
Top three hand luggage tips for Eurowings.
1. Board early(ish).
If you’ve paid for a SMART fare, or booked a BIZclass fare, you’ll board earlier alongside your increased hand luggage allowance. This is a bit of a balancing act, as queue too early and you’ll likely spend ages standing in the corridor outside the plane rather than lounging in comfort at the gate.
Leave it too late and you may find there’s not enough overhead compartment space for your cabin bag, relegating it to the hold.
My golden rule is to aim to board when the plane is about half full. Pay attention to both the priority and non-priority queues and time your boarding accordingly.
2. Pack smart.
If you’re also checking in a bag alongside your hand luggage, make sure you pack the right things in the rights cases. Beyond the obvious of taking what you need for the flight into the cabin, there are also several items that specifically can and can’t go in checked and carry-on luggage.
Anything with a lithium battery should come on board in your hand luggage, as they’re not allowed in the hold for fire risk reasons.
That includes e-cigarettes. On the other hand, anything sharp or potentially dangerous including hiking poles (a common sight on the trails of Europe), must be checked in. Know the rules first so you don’t get caught out at the gate.
3. Guarantee your hand luggage stays in the cabin.
If you want to be absolutely certain your hand luggage will travel on board with you no matter what, book a BIZclass seat. Yes, you’ll pay for it, but BIZclass tickets come with a reserved hand baggage compartment.
That means you can wander onto the plane as the last passenger safe in the knowledge your bags will be in reach for the entire flight.
If your child has a favourite cuddly toy, you can download a dedicated boarding pass for them too! It’s a great way to make kids feel involved and can help ease any anxieties they may have about flying.
Common Eurowings hand luggage questions.
Yes, every Eurowings passenger can bring at least one free small bag (max 40 x 30 x 25 cm) on board regardless of fare type. The hand luggage allowance on Eurowings depends on the fare.
Reasonably, yes. Unless you're really obviously flouting the rules with one or more giant bags, there's an element of luck involved in having your bags singled out for fit. You certainly shouldn't have more bags than your fare allows, and certainly should make sure it meets the allowed dimensions, protrusions and all.
Eurowings sets an 8 kg weight limit for large cabin bags, but weight checks at the gate are inconsistently enforced – size checks using a sizing bin are more commonly applied. The official 8 kg limit applies only to the large cabin bag, not the small underseat bag which has no stated weight limit.
Bags visibly or significantly over the limit risk being gate-checked at the passenger's expense. Gate-check fees are substantially higher than pre-purchased baggage fees, so pre-purchasing hold baggage is the lower-risk option if your bag is borderline.
If you booked a BASIC fare and want to add a large cabin bag, you can do this post-purchase through the Eurowings website.
Fees vary by route and how far in advance you add the bag – adding baggage before you arrive at the airport is always cheaper than paying at the gate.
