Hold Baggage Allowances Compared
Cabin-only travel is our speciality — but sometimes a week away, a family trip or a big shop abroad simply needs a hold bag. The catch: no UK low-cost airline includes hold luggage for free, and the rules (and prices) differ far more than most travellers expect. Here's how Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet compare in 2026, and how to avoid paying airport prices.
The short answer
| Ryanair | Jet2 | easyJet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free hold bag? | No | No | No |
| Checked bag options | 10 kg or 20 kg | 22 kg (up to 3 bags) | 15 kg or 23 kg |
| Max weight per bag | 20 kg (standard) | 22 kg standard | Up to 32 kg (extra weight purchasable) |
| Cheapest way to book | Online, at initial booking | Online, at initial booking | Online, at initial booking |
| Airport/gate price | Significantly higher | Significantly higher | Significantly higher |
Prices for all three airlines are dynamic — they change by route, travel date and how close to departure you book. Adding a bag at the airport is always the most expensive option, so decide before you check in online.
Ryanair hold baggage
Ryanair sells two checked options: a 10 kg Check-in Bag and a 20 kg Check-in Bag. Neither is included with any standard fare. Two things catch people out:
- The 10 kg check-in bag is different from the 10 kg cabin bag that comes with Priority — the check-in version goes straight to the hold at the bag drop.
- Overweight bags are charged per extra kilo at the airport, and the per-kilo rate is steep. Weigh your bag at home.
If your trip fits in Ryanair's free 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat allowance, you can skip all of this — see our Ryanair guide and the bags sized for it in the shop.
Jet2 hold baggage
Jet2's standard checked option is a 22 kg hold bag, and you can book up to three per person. Two genuinely useful Jet2 perks:
- Families and groups on the same booking can pool the total weight across their hold bags — handy when one suitcase comes back heavier than it left.
- Every Jet2 fare already includes a free 10 kg cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm), so many travellers can avoid a hold bag entirely. Full details in our Jet2 guide.
easyJet hold baggage
easyJet sells 15 kg and 23 kg hold bags, and you can buy extra weight in 3 kg steps up to 32 kg per bag. The maximum size for any hold bag is 275 cm total (length + width + height). As with the others, booking during the initial reservation is markedly cheaper than adding a bag later — and airport prices are the highest of all. See our easyJet guide for the cabin rules.
Five ways to pay less for hold luggage
- Book the bag with your flight. All three airlines price bags cheapest at initial booking.
- Weigh at home. A £6 luggage scale costs less than a single overweight kilo at the airport.
- Share one bag. Two travellers rarely need two hold bags — one 20–23 kg case plus two free under-seat bags covers most week-long trips.
- Use packing cubes. Compressing clothes means a smaller, lighter bag — our packing cube guide shows how.
- Check if you need the hold at all. Run your bag through our Fit Checker — a surprising number of "hold bag" trips fit into a cabin allowance with better packing.
Hold bags picked for low-cost travel
We're expanding into hold baggage — durable, lightweight checked luggage we've measured against the published limits of Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet, with the same Airline Fit Guarantee as our cabin range. Browse the full collection or start with the under-seat bags that skip baggage fees entirely.
FAQ
Q: Does any UK low-cost airline include a free hold bag?
A: No. Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet and Wizz Air all sell hold luggage as an extra. Only the small cabin/under-seat allowances are free.
Q: Is it cheaper to buy hold baggage online or at the airport?
A: Online, always — ideally when you first book the flight. Airport and gate prices are significantly higher on all three airlines.
Q: What happens if my hold bag is overweight?
A: All three airlines charge a per-kilo excess fee at the bag drop, and rates are high. Weigh your bag at home and move heavy items into your cabin allowance if needed.
Q: Can I share weight between bags?
A: Jet2 lets travellers on the same booking pool the total weight allowance across their hold bags. Ryanair and easyJet allowances are per bag, per person.
Airline baggage rules and fees change frequently and can vary by route, travel date and when you book. Always check the airline's current official baggage policy before travelling.
Also worth reading: British Airways Two Cabin Bags: How to Use Your Allowance Fully
Also worth reading: Cabin Bag Weight Limits UK Airlines: Who Checks & Who Doesn't
Also worth reading: Do Wheels Count in Cabin Bag Size? How Airlines Measure Luggage
