🧳FitsOnBoardCheck a bag

40 × 30 × 20 cm bag

Ryanair and Wizz Air's current free under-seat size. Here is how it compares with our manually reviewed airline limits, including wheels and handles.

Researched and maintained by FitsOnBoard editorial teamPublished by the FitsOnBoard teamLast updated: Editorial standards
✓ Free on 38! Tight on 13✕ No on 0

What this size is designed for

The 40 × 30 × 20 cm box is the current free under-seat limit used by both Ryanair and Wizz Air. Its proportions suit many compact everyday backpacks, while Wizz Air’s separate weight rule means a correctly sized bag can still fail when densely packed.

Best use

This is a practical target for short Ryanair and Wizz Air trips and for travellers who want a compact laptop backpack that can sit upright beneath the seat. It is also a useful conservative size when several European carriers on one trip allow a small personal item.

Main trade-off

It is not a universal free-bag standard. easyJet permits a larger 45 × 36 × 20 cm item, while some full-service and budget fares use a shallower 40 × 30 × 15 cm personal item. A multi-airline trip must still follow its strictest operating carrier.

Measure before flying

Do not rely on the empty fabric dimensions. Fill the main compartment as you would for travel, close compression straps, then measure across the front pocket and any bottle pockets. Weigh the packed bag separately because the size calculation cannot rescue an overweight result.

Fits — free

Fits — paid / add-on

Tight — risky

  • Ryanair logo
    Ryanair
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Wizz Air logo
    Wizz Air
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • easyJet logo
    easyJet
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Spirit Airlines
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Frontier Airlines
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Vueling
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Eurowings
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Transavia
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Volotea
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • flydubai
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Air Arabia
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • TUI Airways logo
    TUI Airways
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky
  • Flybondi
    Free · 0 cm to spare
    Tight — risky

FAQ

Which airlines accept a 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag?+

A 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag fits 38 airlines for free, including Jet2, British Airways, KLM. It's a tight fit on 13 and over the limit on 0.

Is 40 × 30 × 20 cm a carry-on or a personal item size?+

In Europe, sizes around 40×20×25 cm are free under-seat bags, while 55×40×20 cm and larger are cabin bags that may need Priority or a paid add-on.

Other sizes

45 × 36 × 20 cm55 × 40 × 20 cm55 × 40 × 23 cm55 × 35 × 25 cm40 × 30 × 15 cm56 × 45 × 25 cm22 × 14 × 9 in18 × 14 × 8 in