You're standing in the queue at Stansted or Dublin, clutching a coffee, and you see it. That metal cage. The "sizer." It’s basically the final boss of budget travel. Most people obsess over their little backpacks, but the real confusion starts when you decide to actually check a bag. The Ryanair size of hold luggage isn't just one single number you can memorize and forget. It’s a moving target depending on what you paid for during that frantic 2:00 AM booking session.
Ryanair is a business built on ancillary revenue. That’s just a fancy way of saying they want your money for everything that isn't the seat itself. If you get the dimensions wrong, you aren't just looking at a small "oops" fee. You’re looking at potentially doubling the cost of your entire flight right there at the check-in desk.
The 20kg rule and why it actually matters
Most people go for the standard 20kg check-in bag. It’s the default. When you book this, the physical Ryanair size of hold luggage limit is 80cm (height), 119cm (width), and 119cm (depth). Honestly, that is massive. It’s hard to find a suitcase that actually exceeds those dimensions unless you’re trying to check in a small refrigerator or a very large trunk from the 1920s.
The weight is the trap.
Go over 20kg by even a tiny bit—say, 20.5kg—and the ground staff have the right to charge you per kilo. Back in 2024, the excess weight fee sat around £11 or €11 per kilo. By 2026, those costs haven't exactly gone down. If you’re packing heavy, buy the weight allowance online before you get to the airport. It's significantly cheaper than paying the "gate price."
What about the 10kg check-in bag?
This is where Ryanair got clever a few years ago. They introduced a 10kg check-in option. It’s cheaper than the 20kg one, obviously. But the size is different. For this one, you’re looking at 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. It’s basically the size of a standard trolley bag that you used to be able to take in the cabin for free back in the "good old days."
If you buy this, you don't take it to the gate. You drop it at the check-in desk. If you try to take a 10kg check-in bag through security and to the gate, they will stop you. They will charge you. It will be annoying.
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The weird world of "Special Items"
Not everything fits in a rectangular box. Sometimes you're flying with a guitar, a surfboard, or a bike. Ryanair has specific rules for these, and they are strictly enforced.
For example, sports equipment and musical instruments have a weight limit of 20kg (except bikes, which get 30kg). If your guitar case is slightly over the standard Ryanair size of hold luggage for a suitcase, it’s fine, as long as it stays under that 20kg cap and fits through the oversized baggage X-ray.
I once saw someone try to check a "large" musical instrument that was basically a double bass. They had to buy a separate seat for it. No joke. If it doesn't fit the hold dimensions, you’re paying for a seat for your cello.
Mobility aids are the exception
It’s worth noting—because not enough people realize this—that mobility equipment is free. You can bring two items of mobility equipment per person for free. This doesn't count towards your Ryanair size of hold luggage allowance. Whether it's a wheelchair or a walker, you just need to pre-clear it with their special assistance team at least 48 hours before you fly.
Avoid the "Gate Bag" nightmare
There’s a specific kind of stress that only happens at a Ryanair boarding gate. It’s when the agent starts walking down the line with the credit card reader.
If your "small personal bag" looks too big, they’ll make you drop it into the sizer. If it doesn't fit, it becomes "gate-checked luggage." This is the most expensive way to handle the Ryanair size of hold luggage issue. You’ll be charged a fee that often exceeds €45 or £45, and your bag goes into the hold anyway.
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- Tip: If your bag is soft-sided, don't pack it until the seams are screaming. If it's squishy, you can usually force it into the sizer.
- Fact: Hard-shell suitcases are the enemy of the budget traveler. They don't bend. If a hard-shell bag is 1cm too wide, you’re paying the fee.
Pooling your luggage weight
Can you share weight? This is a question that comes up a lot. If you and a partner both book a 20kg bag (giving you 40kg total), can one bag be 15kg and the other be 25kg?
Technically, Ryanair allows "bag pooling." This means if you are on the same reservation and check in together, you can share the total weight allowance. However, no single bag can ever exceed 32kg. That’s a health and safety rule for the baggage handlers. If your bag is 33kg, they won't even take it. You'll be on the floor of the terminal, transferring your underwear into a carrier bag to get the weight down. It’s not a good look.
How to actually measure at home
Don't trust the labels on the suitcase you bought at the department store. They often exclude the wheels and the handle. Ryanair does not exclude the wheels.
- Stand your bag against a wall.
- Place a flat book on top of the handle.
- Measure from the floor to the book.
- Do the same for the width, including any side handles that stick out.
If you are within 1cm of the limit, you are playing a dangerous game. Ground crews at airports like Bergamo or Charleroi are notoriously strict. They aren't being mean; they're just doing their jobs, and their jobs involve checking that the Ryanair size of hold luggage matches the stickers on the bags.
The "Check-in" vs "Cabin" confusion
Just to be absolutely clear: Hold luggage is the stuff you drop off before you go through security. Cabin luggage is the stuff you carry through the duty-free shop.
If you've paid for a "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" fare, you get a small bag (40x20x25cm) and a 10kg wheelie bag (55x40x20cm). If you decide you don't want to wheel that 10kg bag through the airport, you can't just hand it over at the check-in desk for free. You have to pay a specific fee to "convert" it to a check-in bag.
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It sounds like a headache because, honestly, it is. The airline makes its profit by hoping you get these details slightly wrong.
Real-world luggage hacks that work
I've spent way too much time in airports, and there are a few things that actually save you from the Ryanair size of hold luggage trap.
First, get a digital luggage scale. They cost about ten bucks. Use it before you leave the house and before you leave the hotel on the way back. Souvenirs weigh more than you think.
Second, wear your heaviest clothes. If your hold bag is hovering at 20.2kg, take out your heaviest hoodie and wear it. Put your camera around your neck. Put your portable charger in your pocket. The "weight" on your body doesn't count toward the luggage limit.
Third, consider the 10kg check-in bag if you're away for a weekend. It's the "sweet spot" of value. It's big enough for a few outfits but cheap enough that you aren't paying for air.
Actionable steps for your next flight
To make sure you don't get stung by the Ryanair size of hold luggage rules, follow this checklist before you head to the airport.
- Confirm your allowance: Check your email confirmation right now. Look for "10kg Check-in" or "20kg Check-in." Do not assume.
- Measure with wheels: Get a tape measure and check the height of your bag from the floor to the very top of the handle. If it's over 80cm for a large bag or 55cm for a small one, find a different bag.
- The 32kg Hard Limit: Ensure no single bag in your group weighs more than 32kg, regardless of your total allowance.
- Pre-book excess: If you know you've overpacked, go into the Ryanair app up to 2 hours before your flight. Buying extra kilos there is significantly cheaper than doing it at the counter.
- Check-in drop-off times: Remember that hold luggage desks usually close strictly 40 minutes before the flight departs. If you’re late, it doesn't matter if your bag is the perfect size; it's not going on the plane.
Getting your luggage sorted early means you can spend your time in the terminal relaxing instead of frantically rearranging your socks in the check-in queue. Stick to the dimensions, watch the weight, and you'll keep your "budget" flight actually budget.