Yes — Ryanair can weigh carry-on bags at the desk or gate, so keep yours under 10 kg and within 55 × 40 × 20 cm to avoid fees.
Ryanair’s hand-luggage rules look simple on paper: a free under-seat bag for everyone and, if you pay for Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, another piece up to 10 kg. Yet many travellers still ask whether gate staff place bags on a scale or just check the metal sizer. The short answer is that weighing can happen, but not on every flight. Below you’ll find an up-to-date look at the policy, where checks occur, and smart ways to keep your bag inside the 10 kg cap.
Quick View Of Ryanair Cabin Options
| Allowance | Size (cm) | Weight / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free personal item | 40 × 20 × 25 | No official weight limit, must fit under seat |
| 10 kg cabin bag (Priority) | 55 × 40 × 20 | Max 10 kg, fee from €6–€35 online |
| 10 kg bag at gate | 55 × 40 × 20 | Higher fee if added last-minute |
Where And When Staff Use Scales
Check-In Desk
Travellers who need a printed boarding pass or have unpaid bag fees may be asked to place the 10 kg cabin case on the belt at the desk. Ryanair’s bag policy states that the limit is enforced at any step before boarding.
Departure Gate
The gate is the main pinch point. Agents walk down the queue with a tag gun and, when the flight looks busy, pull aside bags that appear heavy or misshapen. If there is doubt, the bag goes on a small digital scale beside the sizer. Ryanair warns that an oversized or overweight case will be placed in the hold for a gate fee.
Random Ramp Checks
After boarding passes scan, spot inspections still happen. Travellers on forums report that a light backpack sailing through one week might be weighed the next. Many regulars note that holiday airports at peak times see the strictest policing.
How Strict Is The 10 kg Limit?
Officially the cap is 10 kg or 22 lb. Enforcement depends on the route, load factor, and even the mood at the gate. Staff know a full cabin runs out of locker space quickly, so any bag that looks bulky becomes a quick target. A slim case that sits flat in the sizer often avoids the scale even if it might be 10.3 kg. That said, Ryanair’s own General Terms of Carriage allow the airline to refuse or re-route bags that break the limit.
New EU Pressure On Hand-Luggage Fees
Europe’s lawmakers want a uniform rule across all carriers. The Parliament’s transport committee backs a plan that would forbid charges for a cabin bag up to 7 kg and 100 cm combined dimensions. Ryanair has moved first, enlarging its free under-seat allowance to 40 × 30 × 20 cm after sizer adjustments announced this month. Consumer groups see this as a step toward compliance with earlier CJEU findings that basic hand luggage cannot incur a fee.
What Happens If Your Bag Is Overweight?
Gate Fee And Hold Tag
The agent attaches a bright label and charges the current gate rate (often €46/£46). The case then rides the belt to the hold. Passengers keep essential items in the free personal bag.
Missed Flight Risk
Slow payment queues have caused passengers to miss final boarding. It pays to keep a small fold-up tote inside your main case so you can shift a jacket or portable battery quickly.
Possible Refunds In Spain
Recent local court rulings forced Ryanair to refund hand-luggage fees, arguing that a carry-on is a core part of air transport. The airline is appealing, yet the trend shows rising legal scrutiny.
Typical Item Weights To Watch
| Item | Average Weight | Swap Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch laptop + charger | 1.6 kg | Carry in free under-seat bag |
| Leather boots | 1.2 kg | Wear at the airport |
| Toiletries pouch | 0.8 kg | Decant into 100 ml bottles |
| Hardback book | 0.4 kg | Download e-book |
Packing Moves That Keep You Under 10 kg
Use A Soft-Shell Case
Fabric cases flex inside the sizer and weigh about 1 kg less than budget hard cases. That free kilo equals two extra T-shirts.
Pick Dual-Use Clothing
Neutral layers mix and match. A microfibre towel doubles as a plane blanket. Every gram saved matters.
Shift Dense Tech To The Personal Bag
Ryanair does not weigh the under-seat item, only size-checks it. Put laptops, power banks, and cameras there. UK CAA guidance allows most electronics in cabin baggage, while lithium-battery items must stay out of hold bags for fire safety.
Buy Priority Early
Online pre-purchase starts around €6 and includes the 10 kg slot. Booking at the airport costs far more, so lock it in when you buy the ticket.
Use Airport Clothing Tricks
Stuff chargers into coat pockets, clip a small camera bag over the shoulder, or wear a travel vest. These items rarely get weighed.
Do You Need A Portable Scale?
A palm-size digital hook scale costs about €10 online, weighs 90 g, and stops accidental over-packing on the return leg when souvenirs creep in. It also helps with checked bags if you add a 20 kg suitcase later.
Reading The Room On Travel Day
Signs Of A Strict Flight
- Full waiting area and an announcement asking for volunteers to free overhead space.
- Gate door staff holding a clipboard marked “non-priority.”
- A digital scale stationed next to the metal frame.
Looser Flights
Late-evening sectors with spare seats usually let borderline cases slide. Still, luck isn’t a strategy; stay inside the published numbers and you avoid drama.
Future Changes To Watch
European lawmakers aim to standardise cabin rules across all carriers and remove price surprises. Ryanair defends à-la-carte fees, noting that add-ons brought in more than €4.7 billion last year. If Brussels passes the 7 kg free-bag plan, airlines may tweak base fares instead of weighing every case. Travellers should check Ryanair’s bag-rules page before each trip because size boxes at airports can change overnight.
Final Word
Ryanair owns the right to weigh your 10 kg cabin bag at any point from check-in to the aircraft door, yet many passengers never see a scale. Stay within 55 × 40 × 20 cm and under 10 kg, keep dense items in the free under-seat bag, and pay for Priority in advance. These moves mean you can focus on the flight rather than the fee queue.
Extra reading: UK CAA’s advice on cabin baggage can be found here. Travellers heading to the United States should also note the TSA 3-1-1 rule for liquids.