Getting hand luggage right is the difference between a smooth boarding and a €60 fee at the gate. This guide lists the carry-on size by airline for the carriers you’re most likely to fly from Spain and Europe — Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia and the rest — with dimensions, weight limits and the small print that catches people out. Sizes checked August 2026; always confirm with the airline before you fly, as rules do change.
Flying with a compliant cabin bag is also the cheapest way to travel: on low-cost carriers the difference between a cabin-bag fare and a checked bag can fund two nights of hostels. Search and book your flight with TopTravelCentre and build your trip around hand luggage only.
Hand luggage rules: the two-bag system
Almost every airline splits cabin baggage into two concepts, and mixing them up is where fees come from:
- Small personal item (fits under the seat): always included, even on the strictest low-cost fares.
- Cabin bag / carry-on (goes in the overhead locker): included on full-service airlines, but on Ryanair, Vueling and easyJet it depends on which fare you bought.
If your bag exceeds the limits — or you bought a fare without an overhead bag and bring one anyway — you pay gate rates, which are always the most expensive way to check anything.
Low-cost airlines: carry-on size
Ryanair
- Personal item (included): 40 × 20 × 25 cm. Small backpack or handbag only.
- Cabin bag (paid fares): 55 × 20 × 40 cm, 10 kg. Included with Priority or “Regular” fares; otherwise purchased as an add-on.
- Watch out for: gate staff measuring wheels and handles. A bag that’s 56 cm including wheels is oversized. Ryanair’s sizer is unforgiving.
Vueling
- Personal item (included): 40 × 20 × 30 cm — slightly more generous than Ryanair’s.
- Cabin bag: 55 × 20 × 40 cm, 10 kg, included only on Optima/Flexima fares or as an add-on on the basic fare.
- Watch out for: different rules if your Vueling flight is operated as a codeshare — the operating carrier’s limits apply.
easyJet
- Personal Item (included): 45 × 36 × 20 cm including wheels and handles — one of the biggest free under-seat allowances in Europe.
- Large cabin bag: 56 × 45 × 25 cm, no weight limit but must be liftable, included with certain fares or add-ons.
Wizz Air
- Personal item (included): 40 × 30 × 20 cm.
- Cabin bag: 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 10 kg, with Wizz Priority.
Full-service airlines: carry-on size
Iberia and Iberia Express
- Personal item plus cabin bag: 56 × 45 × 25 cm, no strict weight limit on most routes (must fit unaided in the sizer).
- Long-haul in economy: same allowance; business adds a garment bag.
Air Europa
- Cabin bag: 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg, plus a personal item.
Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian)
- Cabin bag: 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg, plus a foldable personal item.
Air France / KLM
- Cabin bag: 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 12 kg, plus a personal item 40 × 30 × 15 cm.
British Airways
- Cabin bag: 56 × 45 × 25 cm, 23 kg maximum weight — the most generous major legacy allowance — plus a handbag/laptop bag.
LATAM
- Cabin bag: 45 × 35 × 20 cm total linear-style limit plus personal item; check your specific fare, as basic fares on domestic South American routes restrict the overhead bag.
Avianca
- Personal item: 45 × 35 × 25 cm on all fares; larger cabin bag 55 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg, on full fares.
Quick comparison table
| Airline | Free under-seat bag | Cabin bag (55×40×23-ish) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40×20×25 | 55×40×20 (paid/Priority) | 10 kg |
| Vueling | 40×20×30 | 55×40×20 (paid/fare) | 10 kg |
| easyJet | 45×36×20 | 56×45×25 (paid/fare) | no limit |
| Iberia | yes | 56×45×25 | no strict limit |
| British Airways | yes | 56×45×25 | 23 kg |
| Air France / KLM | 40×30×15 | 55×35×25 | 12 kg |
| Lufthansa Group | yes | 55×40×23 | 8 kg |
Tips to never pay a baggage fee again
- Measure your bag at home, wheels and handles included. Manufacturers quote the shell; airlines measure the whole thing.
- Buy the right fare, not the cheapest fare. On routes like Madrid to Santiago de Chile, a fare with a 23 kg checked bag bundled is often cheaper than the basic fare plus a bag added later.
- Wear your heaviest items. Coats, boots and jumpers don’t count against any limit.
- Book bags online, never at the gate. Gate prices are routinely 3–4× the online price.
- Connecting flights? One ticket, one rule set. Booking a single itinerary (see layovers vs direct flights) means your baggage allowance follows the marketing carrier’s rules end to end.
FAQs
What size is hand luggage on Ryanair?
The free personal item is 40 × 20 × 25 cm. A 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg cabin bag requires a Priority fare or an add-on.
What is Vueling’s carry-on size?
The free under-seat bag is 40 × 20 × 30 cm; the 55 × 20 × 40 cm, 10 kg cabin bag is included on higher fares or purchasable as an extra.
Does Iberia weigh hand luggage?
Generally no — Iberia applies the sizer (56 × 45 × 25 cm) rather than a scale for standard economy cabin bags, though you must be able to lift it unaided.
Is a laptop bag a personal item?
Yes. On every airline above, a laptop bag or handbag counts as your under-seat personal item.
Which airline has the biggest free cabin bag allowance?
British Airways (56 × 45 × 25 cm, up to 23 kg) among full-service carriers; easyJet’s free under-seat bag (45 × 36 × 20 cm) is the most generous free allowance among low-costs.
What happens if my cabin bag is too big?
You’ll be sent to the check-in desk or charged a gate fee — typically €/£ 25–75 — and the bag travels in the hold. Measuring at home avoids this entirely.
Pack once, measure twice, then search and book your flight with TopTravelCentre — the money you save on bags is better spent at your destination. And if you’re still deciding when to travel, our when to buy flights guide covers the cheapest weeks of 2026.