Whether you’re embarking on a city break in Lisbon, a long weekend in Barcelona or a week's sojourn in Sicily, ensuring you’ve got the right size hand luggage for the airline you’re flying with is part and parcel of planning any trip. If it’s Easyjet your flying, here’s everything to know about its luggage allowance.
Citing overstuffed bins, safety concerns for air stewards and slow boarding times, airlines have been slowly clamping down on carry-on restrictions. RyanAir’s allowance is the most stringent at 40 x 30 x 20cm, while British Airways is the most generous, offering economy flyers one larger cabin bag and one smaller bag (40cm x 30cm x 15 cm).
EasyJet – which has consistently been dubbed the best low-cost airline in the UK – sits in the middle, offering more than the likes of Wizz Air and Jet2, but less than British Airways. If your hand luggage is too large, or you’ve got an extra bag that hasn’t been pre-booked, you’ll be whacked with a £48 fine at the gate.
We’ve all been there (myself included) – budgeting for a holiday, only to be stung with a fine before you’ve even left the country. It pays to plan, saving you both time and money at the gate. I’m incapable of packing light, so I tend to upgrade my economy booking with EasyJet to speedy boarding, which gives me an additional large cabin bag measuring 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (it costs less to upgrade online than it does at the airport).
When it comes to hand luggage, holdalls and rucksacks from the likes of Away and Antler comply with EasyJet restrictions, while budget buys from Amazon and Primark have gone viral for fitting everything but the kitchen sink.
The Independent’s travel experts have flown around the world with the best hand luggage, road testing all the biggest brands. When it comes to EasyJet-approved baggage, there’s one affordable rucksack that stood out. Here’s how to shop the cabin bag ahead of your next trip, plus everything you need to know about EasyJet’s hand luggage allowance in 2026.
What is EasyJet’s hand luggage allowance?
EasyJet allows one bag per economy flyer, measuring 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles and wheels). It can weigh up to 15kg, and must be kept under the seat in front of you. You can also bring a large cabin bag – 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm – on board at an extra cost. Every customer who books a large cabin bag can also enjoy the benefit of Speedy Boarding. If your hand luggage is too large or you bring an extra bag without paying, you’ll recieve a £48 fine at the gate.
The best EasyJet hand luggage bag
Cabin Max equator X 20l under-seat cabin bag
“Considering the price, I can’t help but be impressed by this backpack,” travel expert Alessia Armenise said in her guide to the best carry-on luggage. “It fits under plane seats and complies with the stricter airline allowances, including easyJet’s free small bag dimensions and Wizz Air’s free bag dimensions,” she noted. “It’s also extremely light and features plenty of pockets.”
Featuring a padded laptop sleeve and a hidden pocket for storing passports and phones at the back, you’ll find two compartments, complete with compression belts inside. “It fits plenty for its size,” she added. “The quality is far from that on offer from the likes of Aer or Briggs & Riley, so it may not last for years, and might not hold up for frequent fliers.” But if you need a reliable bag for a city break, Alessia says the Cabin Max bag is an excellent product at an incredible price point.
Buy now £29, Amazon.co.uk
Discover more of the best carry-on luggage for 2026, tested by a travel writer
