Norwegian Baggage Allowance: What's Included Free in 2026

Norwegian gives every passenger a free under-seat bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm weighing up to 10 kg, with a full-size cabin bag (55 × 40 × 23 cm) included on LowFare+ and Flex fares. If you're on the basic LowFare ticket, you'll need to pay for that overhead space or pack everything into your free under-seat allowance.

Norwegian's baggage allowance by fare type

Norwegian operates three main fare classes, each with different baggage entitlements:

The LowFare cabin bag add-on also bundles Priority Boarding, so you're not just paying for overhead space — you're buying earlier boarding and bin access too.

What counts as a personal item

Your free under-seat bag must fit 40 × 30 × 20 cm and weigh up to 10 kg. This is slightly more generous in depth than Ryanair or Wizz Air, and the weight limit is enforced if staff suspect your bag is overloaded.

Acceptable under-seat items include:

• A small backpack
• A laptop bag
• A handbag or tote
• A duty-free shopping bag (within the size limit)

Our Bordlite Underseat Cabin Bag 40×25×20 at £10.48 fits comfortably within Norwegian's allowance and leaves you a 5 cm margin on depth. If you prefer a backpack format, the Cabin Backpack 40×25×20 (0.5 kg) at £11.48 is ultralight and compressible.

Cabin bag allowance and how to add it

Your overhead cabin bag must measure 55 × 40 × 23 cm and weigh up to 10 kg. On LowFare+, Flex and Premium fares this is included automatically. On LowFare, you can add it during booking or in Manage Booking — prices range from around £10 on short European routes to £25 on longer flights.

If you skip the add-on and arrive at the gate with an oversized bag, Norwegian doesn't levy a fixed fine. Instead, your bag goes into the hold at the published checked baggage rate, plus an extra £12 per kilogram if it's overweight. That usually works out more expensive than pre-booking.

Norwegian vs other UK budget airlines

Norwegian's under-seat allowance is identical to Ryanair and Wizz Air in width and height, but allows 5 cm more depth. The overhead cabin bag is also slightly deeper than Ryanair's (55 × 40 × 20 cm), which can make a real difference when you're packing a week's clothing or winter layers.

Unlike easyJet, which includes a cabin bag on every fare weighing up to 15 kg, Norwegian splits its allowance by ticket type. If you're comparing costs, factor in the LowFare cabin bag add-on when deciding between carriers — sometimes a slightly higher base fare on easyJet or Jet2 ends up cheaper overall. Our article on avoiding airline baggage fees covers the full comparison logic.

Packing tips for Norwegian LowFare (under-seat only)

If you've booked LowFare and want to skip the cabin bag fee, your entire trip needs to fit into 40 × 30 × 20 cm. That's perfectly doable for a short break:

• Roll clothing tightly and use packing cubes to compress layers
• Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane
• Decant toiletries into 100 ml bottles and pack them in a clear litre bag
• Carry a collapsible tote for duty-free or souvenirs on the return leg

Our guide to weekend packing in an underseat bag walks through a tested three-day itinerary, and the same principles scale up to four or five days if you're prepared to do sink laundry.

Weight limits and enforcement

Norwegian publishes a 10 kg limit for the under-seat bag and 10 kg for the overhead cabin bag. In practice, gate staff check dimensions more often than weight, but Norwegian does use weighing platforms at busy airports — especially on routes to southern Europe and during peak summer.

If your bag is visibly sagging or you're struggling to lift it, expect a weigh-in. Our article on cabin bag weight limits explains which UK carriers enforce this strictly and which rarely bother.

Infant and medical equipment

If you're travelling with an infant, you can bring:

• One piece of baby equipment (pushchair, car seat or travel cot) free of charge, checked at the gate
• A small changing bag in addition to your personal item, provided it contains only nappies, wipes and baby essentials

Mobility aids, medical devices and assistive equipment don't count toward your baggage allowance, but you must notify Norwegian in advance if the item is battery-powered. Our guide to banned items in hand luggage covers lithium battery rules in detail.

Managing your baggage after booking

You can add or remove a cabin bag through Norwegian's Manage Booking portal up to four hours before departure. Prices are identical whether you book during checkout or add later, so there's no penalty for changing your mind.

If you've already checked in online, you'll need to contact Norwegian's customer service to modify baggage — the self-service option disappears once your boarding pass is issued.

What happens at the gate

Norwegian uses standard IATA sizers at most airports. If your bag doesn't fit the frame without force, it goes in the hold. There's no fixed No fixed fine — the bag goes in the hold at the published rate, plus £12 per kg of excess — instead, you pay the prevailing checked bag rate plus any excess weight charges. That can easily exceed £50 on a return flight.

Priority Boarding (included with LowFare+ and Flex, or bundled with the LowFare cabin bag add-on) lets you board early and secure overhead bin space before the rush. If you're in the general boarding group and bins are full, your cabin bag may be gate-checked even if it meets the size limit.

Choosing the right bag for Norwegian

For LowFare travellers sticking to the free allowance, the Cabin Backpack 40×25×20 (0.6 kg) at £11.35 is our most popular option — it's ultralight, has laptop padding and fits Norwegian's dimensions with room to spare. The slimmer profile also helps when you're squeezing it under a tight seat pitch.

If you've paid for the overhead cabin bag or you're on LowFare+, you can bring both a 40 × 30 × 20 cm under-seat bag and a 55 × 40 × 23 cm overhead bag. In that case, pair a compact backpack with a larger roller or holdall to maximise your total packing volume.

For accessories, our Fast-Charge Power Bank 45 W at £28.48 meets Norwegian's lithium battery rules (under 100 Wh) and fits easily into any cabin bag — essential for long-haul flights to the US or Thailand.

Browse our full range of cheap cabin bags designed to fit Norwegian, Ryanair, easyJet and every major UK airline.

FAQ

Q: Can I bring a handbag and a cabin bag on Norwegian?

A: On LowFare+, Flex and Premium you get one under-seat bag (40 × 30 × 20 cm, up to 10 kg) and one overhead cabin bag (55 × 40 × 23 cm, up to 10 kg). On LowFare, you only get the under-seat bag unless you pay for the cabin bag add-on.

Q: Does Norwegian weigh hand luggage?

A: Yes, Norwegian can weigh both your under-seat bag (limit 10 kg) and cabin bag (limit 10 kg) at the gate, especially on busy routes. It's not routine, but it happens often enough that you shouldn't rely on getting away with an overweight bag.

Q: What if my bag is too big at the Norwegian gate?

A: Norwegian doesn't charge a fixed gate fee. Your bag goes into the hold and you pay the current checked baggage rate plus £12 per kg of excess weight. Pre-booking checked luggage is always cheaper.

Q: Is the Norwegian cabin bag add-on worth it on LowFare?

A: If you're travelling for more than a weekend or in winter with bulky clothing, yes — £10–£25 for a 55 × 40 × 23 cm overhead bag plus Priority Boarding is usually better value than trying to cram everything into the under-seat allowance. Compare the add-on price against the cost of checked luggage and decide based on your packing needs.

---

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.