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

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

Not enough room in your hand luggage? Then you'll need checked baggage with Ryanair – and that's where the costliest mistakes happen. In 2026, Ryanair offers three options: 10 kg, 20 kg and 23 kg, with up to three pieces per person. Anyone who books at the airport often pays 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 those 20 kg.

Ryanair checked baggage 2026 – the options at a glance

With the cheapest fare, Ryanair only includes one small personal item (40 × 30 × 20 cm) that fits under the seat in front of you. Anything beyond that must be booked as an add-on – 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): nothing to add – it's free.
• A small suitcase up to 10 kg that you want to keep with you: book "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" – the trolley travels with you in the cabin.
• A small suitcase up to 10 kg, drop-off at the desk is fine: book "10 kg Checked Bag" – often a bit cheaper than Priority, but you'll wait at the carousel at your destination.
• A large suitcase or more than 10 kg: book "20 kg Checked Bag" or "23 kg" – here only the weight counts, the size (up to 81 × 119 × 119 cm) doesn't matter for normal suitcases.

Overview: dimensions, weight and prices (Ryanair fee table, as of October 2026)

All prices apply per piece of luggage and per flight (i.e. per route) and vary depending on the route and travel date – during holiday periods they tend towards 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: Ryanair only specifies the weight limit, so a cabin trolley is ideal, and it costs from €10.49 when booked online. Unlike with the Priority fare, though, you don't take the trolley on board – instead, you drop it off at the desk before the security check.

It's worth it for:

• Short trips of 2 to 4 days, where the small personal item isn't enough but a 20 kg suitcase would be overkill
• Travellers without Priority: if you don't want to take the trolley into the cabin anyway, you often save a few euros compared to Priority and don't have to fight for overhead locker space
• Families packing several small pieces instead of one large suitcase

The ideal suitcase is a classic cabin trolley measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm. When packing, keep an eye on the scales: 10 kg is quickly reached with a hardshell suitcase that has an empty weight of 2 to 2.5 kg.

20 kg checked baggage – the classic choice for holidays

For most holidays, the 20 kg bag is the right choice: it costs €21.49 to 59.99 online per flight, may measure up to 81 × 119 × 119 cm, and offers enough room for one to two weeks away. Ryanair allows up to three of these bags per person.

The size limit is generous – a standard size M suitcase (around 65 to 69 cm high) or size L (up to about 80 cm) falls well within it. The real bottleneck is the weight. Here's how to calculate it:

To see how much actually fits in size M and L, and which trip length suits which size, check out our guide Suitcase sizes at a glance.

23 kg checked baggage – the new option for heavy packers

In addition to the 20 kg bag, 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 for the 20 kg piece: maximum 81 × 119 × 119 cm, up to 32 kg.

The extra three kilos cost €7.50 to 21 more than the 20 kg option – significantly less than 3 × €13 = €39 in excess baggage fees at the airport. If you find you always end up just over 20 kg (winter trips, souvenirs, longer journeys), 23 kg works out cheaper and more relaxed. A suitcase with an expandable compartment ("exp.") provides that extra volume.

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

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

Empty weight: the underestimated cost factor

A suitcase that weighs 5 kg empty "eats up" a quarter of your 20 kg allowance. The following models from our range (size M, 64 to 67 cm) show just how big the difference can be – the figures are manufacturer 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 the small personal item: books, chargers and shoes go into 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 just over the limit – the surcharge is smaller than three kilos of excess baggage fees.

Which suitcase suits Ryanair checked baggage?

With checked baggage, it's not about millimetre-precise dimensions like with hand luggage – it's about weight, durability 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: cabin luggage.
• 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 suitcase (75 to 80 cm, from around 3.5 kg). Selection: large suitcases.
• Two travellers: often cheaper is one shared 20 or 23 kg checked bag plus two small cabin bags rather than two separate suitcases – a suitcase set covers both scenarios.

Hardshell or soft luggage? Hardshell suitcases protect the contents better in the hold, while soft luggage is often lighter and more forgiving when overpacked. We compare the details in our guide Hardshell or soft luggage?. A TSA lock is recommended for checked baggage – and a colourful luggage strap makes your suitcase easy to spot on the carousel.

What's not allowed in Ryanair checked baggage?

The usual safety rules apply to the hold: power banks, spare batteries and e-cigarettes must go in your hand luggage only – details in our guide Power bank in hand luggage. Liquids, on the other hand, are largely unproblematic in checked suitcases; the permitted quantities for alcohol, spray cans and perfume are explained 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 an excess valuation for checked baggage for €50, raising the liability limit).

Travelling with a baby or toddler

Children under 2 have no personal baggage allowance with Ryanair. However, two baby items per child (for example a pushchair and car seat) may travel free of charge, and for babies travelling on a lap, an additional baby bag up to 5 kg is permitted. Our Kids' Suitcase Guide shows which suitcases make sense for older children.

Ryanair vs. Eurowings & Lufthansa for checked baggage

With Ryanair, checked baggage is only included in the Plus and Family Plus bundles (one piece up to 20 kg each), otherwise it's an add-on. With Eurowings, it's included in the SMART fare (23 kg), and with Lufthansa within Europe from Economy Comfort upwards (also 23 kg) – however, in the cheapest fares (Eurowings BASIC, Lufthansa Economy Basic and Light) it must also be booked as an add-on there. The comparison is especially worthwhile for families: three 20 kg suitcases can cost around €180 per route with Ryanair during peak season.

All the details on the other airlines: Eurowings hand luggage & checked baggage, Lufthansa hand luggage & checked baggage and Condor hand luggage. For the rules on Ryanair hand luggage – Priority, 40 × 30 × 20 cm and gate fees – see our guide Ryanair Hand Luggage 2026.

Suitcase broken or lost?

If your suitcase comes off the carousel damaged, report it at the airport straight away at the baggage desk (PIR report). For how to pursue claims against the airline, see Suitcase damaged after a flight – here's what to do.

Frequently asked questions about Ryanair checked baggage