Can I Take A Backpack And A Carry-On With Ryanair? | No Fees

Ryanair cabin baggage is simple once you know the split: one small under-seat bag is included for everyone, and the larger overhead bag is tied to Priority or a fare that includes it. Trouble starts when “backpack” and “carry-on” mean different things to different people. One person means a daypack and a rolling case. Another means two backpacks. Gate staff see only one thing: how many pieces you’re carrying, and whether each one fits the sizer.

Use this page as a pre-flight checklist you can run in two minutes. You’ll know which bag setup matches your ticket, what sizes Ryanair states for each item, and the packing habits that keep your bags looking slim at the gate.

What Ryanair Counts As The Free Under-Seat Bag

All Ryanair fares include one small personal bag that must fit under the seat in front of you. Ryanair lists the maximum size as 40 x 30 x 20 cm and gives common examples such as a handbag or laptop bag. A small backpack can count as that free bag if it stays within the limit and slides under the seat without forcing it.

Shape matters as much as measurements. A soft bag that bulges can fail even when the fabric body is “within size.” Handles, rigid front pockets, and thick padding can push the outer edges over the frame.

How The Gate Sizer Tends To Be Used

Many airports have metal sizers at the gate. If your bag doesn’t drop in easily, staff can treat it as oversized. Aim for “fits with room,” not “fits if I push.” A packed flight also raises the odds of checks, since overhead space gets tight.

Can I Take A Backpack And A Carry-On With Ryanair? With Fare And Add-On Rules

Two cabin items are linked to Priority & 2 Cabin Bags (or a fare that includes Priority). With that option, you can bring:

• One small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) under the seat
• One 10 kg cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) for the overhead locker

Ryanair lists these sizes and the Priority allowance in its Bag Rules pages.

If you don’t have Priority, you still bring one small under-seat bag. A second piece can be refused at the gate or moved to the hold for a charge.

What “Carry-On” Usually Means On Ryanair

When people say “carry-on,” they often mean a rolling cabin case. On Ryanair, that larger item is the 10 kg cabin bag that goes in the overhead locker. Your “backpack” can be either the free under-seat bag (small daypack) or the larger overhead bag (big backpack that stays within 55 x 40 x 20 cm). The names don’t matter; the size and your booking do.

Choose A Bag Pair That Matches Your Ticket

A quick way to avoid gate fees is to decide your setup before you pack.

One-Bag Setup

No Priority? Treat your backpack as the only bag. Pick a slim daypack that stays within 40 x 30 x 20 cm when full. Skip overpacking the front pocket, since that’s what makes a bag stick out and miss the sizer.

Two-Bag Setup

Have Priority? Use a small backpack for under-seat essentials and a second bag for the locker. Most travelers find a cabin case easier than a big backpack, since it keeps its shape and stacks cleanly in the bin. If you do use a second backpack, watch the height when it’s packed; tall packs often creep past 55 cm.

Cabin Allowances Compared

This table is a plain “what you get” view. It helps you match your packing plan to what Ryanair lists for cabin and checked options.

Booking Or Add-On	What You Can Bring	Size Or Weight Limit
Any fare (default)	1 small personal bag	40 x 30 x 20 cm (under-seat)
Priority & 2 Cabin Bags	Small personal bag + 10 kg cabin bag	40 x 30 x 20 cm + 55 x 40 x 20 cm (10 kg)
Regular fare (when it includes Priority)	Small personal bag + 10 kg cabin bag	Same two limits
Flexi Plus (when it includes Priority)	Small personal bag + 10 kg cabin bag	Same two limits
10 kg check-in bag	Small personal bag; 10 kg bag checked	Cabin 40 x 30 x 20 cm; checked bag dropped at desk
20 kg check-in bag	Small personal bag; up to 20 kg bag checked	Cabin 40 x 30 x 20 cm; checked bag size rules apply
Infant on lap	No cabin bag for infant; baby bag allowed	Baby bag up to 5 kg (45 x 35 x 20 cm)
Extra seat for an item	Item sits on a seat; no added baggage allowance	Must be safe and not block others

Pack For The Sizer, Not For The Living Room Floor

Most people don’t get caught on a tape-measure detail. They get caught on shape. These habits keep your bags looking calm when staff are scanning the queue.

Keep The Under-Seat Bag Slim

Even when you’ve paid for two items, the small bag still has to fit under the seat. If you stuff it full, it may fit in the sizer yet fail under the seat, and you lose legroom. Put bulk in the overhead bag and keep the under-seat bag for valuables and flight needs.

Tuck Straps And Flatten Corners

Loose straps catch on the sizer frame and make a backpack look bigger. Tuck straps into pockets or wrap them with a rubber band. Put a folded tee at the base of the backpack to smooth out lumps from chargers and shoes.

Don’t Let Loose Items Turn Into A Second Piece

A phone in one hand is fine. A phone, passport wallet, snack bag, and water bottle can look like “two bags” in practice. Consolidate before you reach the gate so you’re holding one item.

How To Check Your Baggage Before You Leave Home

The safest time to sort baggage is before travel day, when you can still change bags, repack, or add an option in your booking. Start with your confirmation email or the Ryanair app.

Find The Exact Wording In Your Booking

Look for “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags” or a line that lists a 10 kg cabin bag. If you only see a small personal bag, plan for one under-seat item. If you’re traveling as a group, check each passenger line. One person having Priority doesn’t automatically apply to everyone on the booking.

Sort Out Two Bags In One Easy Step

If your trip needs more than an under-seat bag, adding Priority early is often the smoothest path when it’s available. If it isn’t available on your flight, a checked bag add-on can be the fallback. That shifts your clothes into the hold and keeps your cabin setup simple: one small backpack under the seat with valuables and a spare layer.

Do A Fast “Sizer Test” At Home

Measure your bag when it’s packed, not when it’s empty. If you don’t have a ruler handy, use a tape measure and check the thickest points: the back bulge, the front pocket, and the top where the zipper curves. Then do a reality check: can the bag compress with one hand? If it feels like a hard brick, it’s more likely to fail a sizer frame.

When A Bag Can Be Moved To The Hold

Ryanair states that you must stick to the baggage allowance on your booking. If a cabin bag doesn’t fit the sizers, it can be refused at the gate or placed in the hold for a charge. That can happen even when you paid for two cabin items if the larger bag is over the stated size or the small bag can’t fit under the seat.

If you spot a mismatch early, fix it before you travel. If you spot it late, a backup is to check a bag at the airport check-in desk before security, when available on your booking.

Common Scenarios And The Cleanest Fix

Scenario	What Can Go Wrong	Fix Before Boarding
Backpack plus a small tote on a non-Priority booking	Two pieces may trigger a gate charge	Pack the tote inside the backpack before the gate
Under-seat backpack fits only when you push hard	Bag may fail if it won’t drop in	Wear a layer and remove one bulky item
Priority bought, yet cabin case is bigger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm	Oversized bag may be moved to the hold for a charge	Swap bags or check it in ahead of time
Overhead bag over 10 kg	Bag may be treated as excess if weighed	Move dense items to the under-seat bag
Lockers fill on a packed flight	Some bags may be gate-checked	Keep meds, tech, and valuables under the seat
Baby on lap, parents assume “extra bag” is fine	Infant has no cabin allowance	Use the allowed baby bag within the stated limit
Guitar or similar large item	Item may not fit cabin limits	Book an extra seat or check it per Ryanair rules

A Two-Minute Pre-Flight Checklist

• Confirm your booking shows Priority & 2 Cabin Bags if you plan to bring two cabin items.
• Measure your under-seat bag at its fullest point, including pockets and handles.
• Pack the under-seat backpack slim so it slides under the seat and leaves legroom.
• Keep the overhead bag within 55 x 40 x 20 cm and under 10 kg if you have it.
• Consolidate loose items so you reach the gate holding one piece.

Do that, and you’ll know ahead of time whether your backpack and carry-on plan matches your Ryanair booking, with far less risk of a surprise charge at the gate.