The largest cabin bag you can take on most UK flights is 56 x 45 x 25 cm. British Airways and Jet2 include a bag that size as standard, and easyJet allows it as a large cabin bag on some fares or as a paid add-on. Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI cap their cabin bags lower, at around 55 x 40 x 20 cm.
So the largest airline approved luggage for you depends on who you fly with and what your ticket includes. Here's how the main airlines from UK airports compare.
Allowances checked October 2026. Sizes include wheels and handles. Airlines change their rules and terms vary by fare, so confirm with your airline before you fly.
Largest cabin bag by airline
| Airline | Largest cabin bag | Weight limit | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Sizes only published | Included on every fare, plus a 40 x 30 x 15 cm personal item |
| Jet2 | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 10 kg | Included for every passenger, plus a 40 x 30 x 20 cm under-seat bag |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 15 kg | Included with Inclusive Plus fares and for easyJet Plus members; anyone else can buy it |
| Wizz Air | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 10 kg | With WIZZ Priority |
| Ryanair | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | With Priority & 2 Cabin Bags |
| TUI | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | Included, plus a 40 x 30 x 20 cm personal item |
The largest bag that fits every one of these airlines
If you fly with more than one airline, the number to remember is 55 x 40 x 20 cm. It's the biggest cabin case that fits the overhead allowance on all six airlines above: exactly Ryanair's and TUI's limit, inside Wizz Air's 55 x 40 x 23 cm, and comfortably inside the 56 x 45 x 25 cm allowed by British Airways, Jet2 and easyJet.
A full 56 x 45 x 25 cm case gives you more room, but it's too big for Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI. Buy it if you mostly fly BA, Jet2 or easyJet; otherwise, 55 x 40 x 20 cm is the safer buy.
Shop by size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin suitcases or 56 x 45 x 25 cm cabin luggage.
The largest free under-seat bags
On a basic fare, the bag that matters is the one under the seat in front. easyJet's is the most generous at 45 x 36 x 20 cm and up to 15 kg. Ryanair and Wizz Air allow 40 x 30 x 20 cm free, and Jet2 and TUI allow a personal item of the same size alongside the main cabin bag. British Airways' personal item is shallower, at 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
A 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag works on Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, TUI and easyJet. If easyJet is your main airline, a 45 x 36 x 20 cm bag gives you noticeably more room for free.
Shop by size: 40 x 30 x 20 cm underseat luggage or 45 x 36 x 20 cm cabin bags.
How to get the most space within the limit
- Check the external size. Airline limits include wheels, handles and pockets, so only trust listings that give the full outside dimensions.
- Watch the empty weight. On a 10 kg allowance, a 2.5 kg case leaves 7.5 kg for your things. A lighter case means more packing.
- Keep the expander zipped. An expanded case is usually over cabin limits. Treat expansion as a hold-bag feature for the trip home.
- Hard or soft shell? Hard shells protect better and keep their shape, so they won't bulge past the sizer. Soft shells flex around awkward items and often add front pockets, but can bulge if overfilled.
- Two wheels or four? Four spinner wheels glide through terminals. Two wheels can leave a little more room inside and cope better with kerbs and cobbles.
Know your airline before you buy
For full allowances, fees and tips, see our size guides for British Airways, Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI.
The simplest rule: buy for the strictest airline you fly regularly, not the most generous one. That way, one case works on every trip.
