Ryanair is known for its ludicrously cheap flights, with  when you book in advance. However, what this budget airline is not known for is a generous baggage allowance.

The price of your flight can quickly spiral when you want to choose your seat or take additional baggage with you, since Ryanair charges extra for all of these adjustments. Fortunately, there are some clever ways to avoid these extra costs.

Yes, we’ve rounded up some of the best Ryanair tips to avoid extra baggage fees, while ensuring you can still take everything you need for your flight with you. These range from sneaky hacks that Ryanair likely doesn’t want you to know, to clever packing tips to make the most of your hand luggage allowance. If you’re not flying with Ryanair, then our guide to easyJet baggage tips or Jet2 luggage tricks can help!

Scroll down for our complete guide to the best Ryanair baggage tips to cust your holiday costs, or click the links above to jump to the relevant section. 

Ryanair is renowned for its strict luggage policy including cabin bags and checked luggage. That means, if you find yourself bringing more than your ticket allowance, you could be facing a hefty fee of as much as £59.99 at the airport.

Before packing your bags, it’s worth checking exactly how much luggage you are permitted to bring onboard. In all cases, you can save money on Ryanair luggage if you purchase extra bags online. Passengers paying for extra luggage at the check-in desk will pay far more.

• All passenger fares include a small personal bag, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you

Passengers who wish to take a second, larger piece of luggage must purchase a Priority fare.

• Priority fares allow customers to take a small personal bag (40 x 20 x 25cm) and a 10kg bag (55 x 40 x 20cm) with them onboard
• Priority fare passengers also board the plane first via the Priority Queue
• Priority plus two extra bags costs between £6 and £30 when done online, compared to at the check-in desk where it can cost anywhere from £6 to £35.99

If priority is sold out or passengers wish to check their bag, they can purchase a 10kg check-in bag.

• When purchased online, a 10kg checked bag can cost anywhere from £12.00 to £25.00
• At the airport, passengers could end up forking out between £23.99 and £35.99

But, there is a major catch Ryanair passengers should be aware of. If you do show up at the boarding gate with a 10kg bag which has not been purchased in advance, you could face a last-minute check-in fee of £45.99.

Therefore, the key to saving almost £46 is simple:  Purchase your 10kg check-in bag online before you head for the airport

Alternatively, if passengers are going on a longer holiday or are planning on packing more items, they can purchase a 20kg check-in bag.

• A 20kg checked bag can cost between £17.99 and £50.00 per flight when purchased online
• A 20kg checked bag can cost between £39.99 and £59.99 per flight if purchased at the check-in desk, though Ryanair says some suitcases purchased at the bag drop desk can incur a fee of up to £69.99

Passengers should make sure to weigh their suitcases before heading to the airport. Bags which are in excess of the weight allowance will face an excess baggage fee.

• Excess baggage can be purchased online up to two hours before departure for £9 per extra kilo. The price at the airport is £11 per extra kilo
• In addition to the weight restrictions on checked luggage, does not accept bags with combined dimensions of more than 81 x 119 x 119cm.

Once you are aware of the luggage allowance specified for your ticket, it’s time to make sure your bag fits Ryanair’s measurements.

Though hard shell luggage can be durable and strong, soft shell luggage is generally lighter and can even be more forgiving when squishing in an extra couple of items.

Bags matching Ryanair’s small personal bag allowance

If you’re travelling on a standard Ryanair ticket, and are only entitled to one small personal bag, this must measure 40 x 20 x 25cm.

Luckily, there’s one bag that’s been hailed as “the real deal” on social media for its ability to fit in the Ryanair luggage sizer while still packing in everything you need for a short trip.

• Buy the Narwey foldable travel bag for just £11.99 right now

As shown in a TikTok video posted by @emilystravelguides, the bag meets Ryanair’s basic cabin bag measurements of 40 X 20 X 25cm and the traveller even shows herself popping it into the bag sizer with no struggles.

And to make things even better, the bag costs just £11.99 on Amazon – meaning it won’t break the bank.

The under-seat cabin bag, from the brand Narwey, measures 40 x 19 x 25cm and comes in an array of colours and patterns to suit any personality.

Or, if you are after a backpack-style bag, the Hayayu travel backpack measures 40 x 20 x 25cm when filled, meaning you need not worry about additional fees at the airport.

The Lossga backpack, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm in line with Ryanair’s small bag specification, comes with storage compartments and a USB charging port.

Or, if you prefer a holdall-style bag, Lossga specifically designed an expandable bag for Ryanair passengers. The bag measures 40 x 20 x 25cm but also has a handy, zip compartment which can be used to expand the bag to 45 x 36 x 20cm if you’re travelling with another airline.

(All prices are accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change.)

Bags matching Ryanair’s priority bag allowance

Those travelling on a Priority ticket with Ryanair are afforded slightly more hand luggage, including an additional 10kg bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm.

Your small bag must still meet the 40 x 20 x 25cm requirements.

But, if you are struggling to find a priority bag to meet Ryanair’s requirements, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites.

This Flight Knight wheelie suitcase is “approved and tested” to meet Ryanair’s maximum size carry-on for Priority passengers. The suitcase is also advertised as being a great lightweight option, so it won’t tip you over the scales.

If you’re short on storage space, 5 Cities offers a lightweight two-wheel suitcase which folds away when not in use. Measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm, the bag is in line with Ryanair’s Priority baggage allowance and is also approved cabin luggage for easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

(All prices are accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change.)

Some sneaky travellers claim to have found a hack that allows passengers to bring on additional items without incurring an extra fee. The trick comes in the form of a neck pillow.

Most airlines, including Ryanair, allow passengers to bring a neck pillow onboard for use during the flight.

However, while some travel pillows are already stuffed, others such as the Tube Neck Pillow, are cushioned by filling them with soft items to maximise your luggage space.

The hack was put to the test by TikTok travel influencer @cheapholidayexpert, who described it as a “game changer”. Since going viral, these stuffable neck pillows have become hugely in demand. 

A stuffable travel pillow on Amazon, for example, retails at over £100. However, smaller sellers on Etsy offer hand-made stuffable travel pillow options for a much cheaper price.

Paying for your additional luggage online is always the cheapest way to go about it. If you are going on a longer trip, or need more than Ryanair’s small bag allowance, it’s well worth paying for Priority when you book your flight.

While a Priority ticket, with two additional bags, can cost up to £35.99 when purchased last-minute at the airport, online prices can be as low as £6. That’s a whopping saving of £30.

One area of cost holidaymakers might not consider is if their luggage is lost or damaged while travelling. It’s important to note that you only have the right to claim for a problem with cabin baggage if it’s the airline’s fault.

This is why travel insurance is so important. According to Citizens Advice: “If you have travel insurance or home contents insurance that covers luggage, you’re likely to be better off making an insurance claim instead.”

What you can claim from an airline is usually limited. Baggage cover, also known as baggage insurance and luggage insurance, covers you if your bag is lost, stolen or damaged while travelling. Although it is often included with standard travel insurance, it is always worth double-checking the level of cover offered suits your needs.

Travel insurance should be purchased at the time of booking your flight or holiday to ensure you are fully covered.

Given the liquid rules which are in place for most airlines and airports at the moment, liquid products including toiletries can only be taken onboard in 100ml-sized bottles or less. While travel-sized toiletries are available to buy, they can be pricey in relation to the amount of product they contain.

So, instead of reaching for the 100ml sized shampoo, conditioner or suncream, you should instead look for empty travel-sized containers which you can fill up with your favourite products at home – and still have some left over to use upon your return.

Express.co.uk conducted an independent price comparison to see how much money you can save using this method and found travellers could end up making a saving.

If shopping in Boots, travel toiletries are currently on a three-for-two offer, but even then the cost can add up. If a traveller purchased a OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Mini Shampoo (£3.00),  Ambre Solaire Mini Sun Cream SPF50+ (£3.47) and Sensodyne Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste 15ml (£1.55), they would spend a total of £6.47.

Whereas, they can buy a Boots Travel Squeezy set of three bottles for just £4.50, making a decent saving of £1.97.

Boots offer a Click-and-Collect airport service allowing passengers to order all of their toiletries and travel essentials online to pick up at the airport after security. 

As the Click-and-Collect pick-up points in the departure lounge are after security, passengers are able to order and collect full-size toiletries such as sun cream or make-up, without being held to the 100ml container rule.

The hack can even help you get around your airline’s hand luggage weight and size restrictions. The majority of airlines set out a specific size and weight allowance for your hand luggage, however, many allow passengers to bring onboard a bag of items purchased from the departure lounge or duty-free – as long as it’s not too big. 

You can read our review of the Boots click-and-collect service for a step-by-step guide to the process, as well as how it helped to beat luggage restrictions. 

Although it may sound unusual at first, Ziploc bags could help you to condense down the items you are packing in your luggage and has been hailed as a “game-changer” hack. 

The hack was shared on TikTok by mum @muddlingthroughmummy, who utilised Ziploc bags while packing the suitcases for her family holiday. 

She revealed that her secret weapon when it comes to staying “organised” is using large Ziploc bags. These can be purchased in some supermarkets or .

The mum recommends organising your outfits into piles, folding them and then placing each one into an individual Ziploc bag.

Then, simply sit on the bag to push all of the air out before sealing them. This works a lot like a vacuum pack bag, condensing the space the items take up.

As an added bonus, the hack also helps with organising your outfits. Simply use a sharpie to write on each one.

Ryanair flights aren’t known for their legroom, but there’s a clever item which could create a more comfortable flight. Amazon customers have claimed that a portable travel footrest is a ‘game changer’ for boosting the in-flight experience.

The nifty product is available for less than £20 and has been described by one shopper as “magical”. The product in question is an adjustable, portable footrest, with various options being sold by a number of Amazon shops.

These unusual contraptions act like a hammock for your feet when clipped to the tray table of the chair in front. Typically made from a soft cotton material, and occasionally including foam, the hammock provides support for your feet allowing you to stretch out a little more than you might typically be able to when travelling with a budget airline or when seated in economy.

The string part of the footrest includes a buckle, which can be opened and threaded through the tray table area in the back of the seat in front, and then closed securely in place. Then, simply rest your feet in the hammock and allow your legs to stretch out.