Ryanair checked baggage: weight, dimensions, and price in 2026

Ryanair offers three checked baggage sizes: 10 kg, 20 kg, and 23 kg. None are included in the ticket price, as all fares only include a small personal item measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm to be placed under the seat.

The maximum dimensions for Ryanair checked baggage are 80 x 120 x 120 cm, a limit that is largely sufficient for any commercial suitcase. On Ryanair, the constraint is therefore not the size, but the weight and the number of bags.

The three Ryanair checked baggage sizes

Ryanair sells checked baggage by weight, in three distinct tiers, and the accumulation rules differ from one tier to another. This is the point most travelers discover when booking.

10 kg, 20 kg, or 23 kg: which to choose?

The 10 kg format meets a specific need: checking items prohibited in the cabin, such as liquids over 100 ml, full toiletry kits, razors, or scissors, without paying for a full allowance. The 20 kg covers a typical week-long trip. The 23 kg targets longer stays and is the only tier limited to one item.

Up to three 20 kg bags, but only one 23 kg bag

The rule is asymmetrical and worth knowing. You can purchase up to three 20 kg checked bags on a single booking, for a total of 60 kg. However, the 23 kg tier is capped at a single bag per booking. If your needs exceed 23 kg, the solution is therefore multiple 20 kg bags, not stacking 23 kg bags. Details are available on the official Ryanair baggage policy page.

The small personal item remains included

All Ryanair fares include one small personal item measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you. This is in addition to your checked baggage and does not replace it. The 10 kg cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) falls under the "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" option, which is separate from checked baggage. Our guides detail the rules for Ryanair cabin baggage and the baggage accepted by Ryanair and easyJet.

Ryanair checked baggage dimensions: 80 x 120 x 120 cm

The maximum dimensions for Ryanair checked baggage are 80 x 120 x 120 cm, for both the 20 kg and 23 kg formats. This limit is very generous: a large 78 cm suitcase measures approximately 78 x 52 x 30 cm and is far below the limit.

A limit that does not concern classic suitcases

No commercial suitcase reaches this size. The threshold targets bulky items and atypical containers, such as boxes, equipment, and professional gear. In practice, your suitcase will never be refused for its dimensions on a Ryanair flight.

If a bag nevertheless exceeds these dimensions, it is not discarded: it must be checked at the oversized baggage counter, a procedure distinct from standard baggage drop-off. To properly size your suitcase according to the duration of your stay, our suitcase size guide links volume to the number of days.

Ryanair checked baggage price: the official schedule

Ryanair publishes its price ranges. Exact amounts vary by itinerary and dates, but the limits are known, and the difference between online purchase and airport purchase is systematic.

What the 23 kg range reveals

The 23 kg bag ranges from 29.99 to 80.99 euros online, and from 54 to 97 euros at the airport. Two lessons can be drawn from this. First, the highest online price, 80.99 euros, significantly exceeds the lowest airport price, 54 euros: on an expensive route, booking online is not magical; you need to look at the absolute amount before clicking. Second, for comparable itineraries, going through the airport costs 16 to 24 euros more per flight, or up to 48 euros on a round trip, simply for not having anticipated.

Excess weight: 13 euros per kilo

If your checked baggage exceeds the purchased allowance, Ryanair charges 13 euros per additional kilo, both at the airport and through the call center or kiosk. Unlike dimensions, weight is systematically checked at weighing. Three extra kilos therefore cost 39 euros, more than the lowest price of a 23 kg bag purchased online. At Volotea, excess baggage costs 12 euros per kilo, but the difference between the online fare and the counter fare is much more brutal: Volotea's checked baggage schedule can quintuple at the airport.

The only protective reflex is to weigh your packed suitcase at home, either with a luggage scale or by stepping on a bathroom scale while holding the suitcase. This is the last moment when correcting the weight costs nothing.

A purchased bag is non-refundable

Ryanair specifies that once baggage is purchased, it is no longer possible to remove it from the booking or obtain a refund. It is therefore better to estimate correctly when booking rather than taking a margin of safety that will never be refunded.

Dropping off checked baggage: rules to know

Ryanair checked baggage must be dropped off at the airport's baggage drop-off counter before security control. It cannot be presented at the boarding gate.

Beware of closing times

As of November 10, 2026, Ryanair will close airport check-in and baggage drop-off 60 minutes before departure. This change is worth noting for travelers accustomed to arriving at the last minute: a delay in baggage drop-off means a lost flight, without compensation.

If you decide not to travel after checking your bags, they will be unloaded from the aircraft and can be collected in the airport's baggage hall.

Prohibited items in Ryanair checked baggage

Ryanair strictly prohibits certain items in checked baggage, and the list may be surprising as it is partly the inverse of the cabin baggage list.

• Electronic cigarettes, explicitly prohibited in checked baggage
• Lithium batteries and power banks, due to fire risk
• Explosives and flammable materials in all forms
• Your valuables, electronic devices, and medications, to be kept with you

Conversely, checked baggage allows liquids over 100 ml and sharp objects without restriction, all of which are refused in the cabin. This is precisely what justifies the 10 kg format for a simple weekend trip.

Choosing a suitcase suitable for Ryanair checked baggage

On Ryanair, dimensions are not an issue: with a ceiling of 80 x 120 x 120 cm, no suitcase exceeds this. Therefore, everything comes down to weight and durability.

The empty weight directly determines what you can pack. For a 10 kg allowance, a 3.5 kg suitcase leaves only 6.5 kg of belongings, compared to 7.8 kg for a 2.2 kg model. For this smaller format, the suitcase itself accounts for almost a third of the paid allowance.

Durability, on the other hand, is judged by a simple criterion: does the suitcase survive the conveyor belt? Checked baggage endures sorting drops, stacking in the hold, and quick handling on Ryanair flights with tight turnarounds. This is why our checked suitcases are guaranteed for life, including the shell, wheels, and handle. In this segment, durability is what truly differentiates two models sold at the same price.

Frequently asked questions about Ryanair checked baggage