Ryanair Checked Baggage 2026: 10, 20 & 23 kg – Size & Costs

Last updated: 28 August 2026 · Ryanair's fees and size limits change regularly. We keep this article updated on an ongoing basis – all prices come from the official fee table; please check ryanair.com for binding figures before booking.

Not enough room in your hand luggage? Then you'll need checked baggage with Ryanair – and that's where the priciest mistakes lurk. In 2026, Ryanair offers three options: 10 kg, 20 kg and 23 kg, with up to three pieces per person. If you only book at the airport, you'll often pay double for the same suitcase, and every extra kilo costs €13. In this guide you'll find all the Ryanair checked baggage rules for 2026: dimensions, weight, the official prices from the fee table – and which suitcase really makes the most of your 20 kg allowance.

Ryanair checked baggage 2026 – the options at a glance

Only a small bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm) that fits under the seat in front is included in the ticket price with Ryanair. Anything beyond that has to be booked separately – either as hand luggage via Priority & 2 Cabin Bags or as checked baggage, which you drop off at the bag-drop desk before security.

Which option suits you?

• Just a small bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm): no need to book anything extra – it's free.
• A small case up to 10 kg, and you want it with you: book "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" – the trolley comes with you into the cabin.
• A small case up to 10 kg, happy to drop it off at the desk: book "10 kg checked baggage" – often a bit cheaper than Priority, but you'll need to wait at the baggage belt at your destination.
• A large case or more than 10 kg: book "20 kg" or "23 kg" checked baggage – here only the weight matters, as the size limit (up to 80 × 120 × 120 cm) is irrelevant for normal suitcases.

Overview: dimensions, weight and prices (Ryanair fee table, August 2026)

All prices apply per bag and per flight (i.e. per route) and vary depending on the route and travel date – during peak holiday periods they sit at the upper end of the range. Up to three checked bags can be booked per person.

10 kg checked baggage – the affordable entry-level option

The 10 kg checked bag is the cheapest way to check anything in at all: it can measure up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm – exactly cabin-trolley size – and costs from €10.49 when booked online. Unlike the Priority fare, though, you don't take the trolley on board with you – instead you drop it off at the desk before security.

It's worth it for:

• Short trips of 2 to 4 days, where the small bag isn't enough but a 20 kg case would be overkill
• Travellers without Priority: if you don't want to take the trolley into the cabin anyway, this option is often a few euros cheaper than Priority, and you avoid fighting for overhead locker space
• Families packing several small pieces instead of one large case

The ideal suitcase here is a classic cabin trolley measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Keep an eye on the scales when packing: 10 kg is quickly reached with a hardshell case weighing 2 to 2.5 kg empty.

20 kg checked baggage – the classic holiday choice

For most holidays, the 20 kg bag is the right choice: it costs €21.49 to €59.99 online per flight, can measure up to 80 × 120 × 120 cm, and offers enough space for one to two weeks away. Ryanair allows up to three of these bags per person.

The size limit is generous – a normal size M case (roughly 65 to 69 cm tall) or size L (up to about 80 cm) is well within it. The real bottleneck is the weight. Here's the maths:

Our guide Suitcase sizes at a glance shows exactly how much fits into sizes M and L, and which trip length suits which size.

23 kg checked baggage – the new option for heavy packers

Alongside the 20 kg option, Ryanair now also offers a 23 kg checked bag (€28.99 to €80.99 online, €54 to €97 after booking). The dimensions are the same as the 20 kg option: maximum 80 × 120 × 120 cm, no more than 32 kg.

Those extra three kilos cost €7.50 to €21 more than the 20 kg option – considerably less than 3 × €13 = €39 in excess baggage fees at the airport. If you always tend to land just over 20 kg (winter holidays, souvenirs, longer trips), the 23 kg option works out cheaper and more stress-free. A suitcase with an expandable compartment ("erw.") gives you that extra volume when you need it.

Excess baggage with Ryanair: €13 per kilo – how to avoid it

If your bag exceeds the booked 10, 20 or 23 kg, Ryanair charges €13 per extra kilogram at the airport. According to the fee table, excess baggage can't be pre-booked online – the alternative is simply to choose the next size up (20 instead of 10 kg, 23 instead of 20 kg) in advance. The absolute upper limit is 32 kg per bag; Ryanair won't carry heavier items at all, for safety reasons.

Empty weight: the underrated cost factor

A case that weighs 5 kg empty already "eats up" a quarter of your 20 kg allowance. The following models from our range (size M, 64 to 67 cm) show just how wide the spread can be – the figures are the manufacturers' own specifications from our product data:

You'll find even more lightweight models in our Lightweight suitcases category.

4 tips to avoid excess baggage fees

1. Weigh it at home: a digital luggage scale costs less than a single kilo of excess baggage.
2. Put heavy items in your small bag: books, chargers and shoes can go in the 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag – Ryanair doesn't weigh that one.
3. Wear heavy items: put on your jacket and heavy shoes on travel day instead of packing them.
4. Book 23 kg instead of 20 kg if you tend to go over – the surcharge is smaller than three kilos of excess baggage.

Which suitcase suits Ryanair checked baggage?

With checked baggage, it's not about exact centimetres like with hand luggage – it's about weight, sturdiness and volume:

• For 10 kg: a cabin trolley measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm – as light as possible (under 2.5 kg) so that 7.5 kg or more remains for your belongings. Suitable models: hand luggage cases.
• For 20 kg: size M, 64 to 69 cm, roughly 60 to 80 litres. An empty weight of up to 3.5 kg leaves a good 16.5 kg of packing capacity. Selection: medium suitcases.
• For 23 kg: size M with an expandable compartment, or a lightweight size L case (75 to 80 cm, from around 3.5 kg). Selection: large suitcases.
• Two travellers: it's often cheaper to book one shared 20 or 23 kg bag plus two small cabin bags rather than two separate cases – a suitcase set covers both scenarios.

Hardshell or softshell? Hardshells protect your belongings better in the hold, while softshell cases are often lighter and more forgiving if you overpack. We compare the details in our guide Hardshell or fabric?. A TSA lock is essential for checked baggage – and a brightly coloured luggage strap makes your case easy to spot on the belt.

What's not allowed in Ryanair checked baggage?

The usual safety rules apply to the hold: power banks, spare batteries and e-cigarettes must always go in your hand luggage – full details in our guide Power banks in hand luggage. Liquids, on the other hand, are largely unproblematic in checked baggage; the allowed quantities for alcohol, spray cans and perfume are covered in Liquids in checked baggage. Valuables, medication and documents should always go in your hand luggage – the airline's liability for losses in the hold is limited (Ryanair offers a declared-value option for €50 for a higher liability limit).

Travelling with a baby or toddler

Toddlers under 2 have no baggage allowance of their own with Ryanair. However, two baby items per child (such as a pushchair and car seat) can travel free of charge, and infants travelling on a lap are also allowed an additional baby bag up to 5 kg (45 × 35 × 20 cm). Our Kids' suitcase guide shows which suitcases make sense for older children.

Ryanair vs. Eurowings & Lufthansa on checked baggage

With Ryanair, checked baggage is always an add-on. Eurowings includes it in its SMART fare (23 kg), and Lufthansa includes it from Economy Classic or Comfort upwards (also 23 kg) – though with the cheapest fare in each case (Eurowings BASIC, Lufthansa Economy Light) you'll need to add it there too. Comparing the options really pays off for families in particular: three 20 kg bags with Ryanair can cost around €180 per route during peak season.

All the details on other airlines: Eurowings hand luggage & baggage, Lufthansa hand luggage & baggage and Condor hand luggage. You'll find the rules for Ryanair hand luggage – Priority, 40 × 30 × 20 cm and gate fees – in our guide Ryanair hand luggage 2026.

Suitcase damaged or lost?

If your case comes off the belt damaged, report it at the airport, on the spot, at the baggage desk (PIR report). Find out how to claim against the airline in Suitcase damaged after a flight – what to do.

Frequently asked questions about Ryanair checked baggage