Hand Luggage Rules Explained: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
AirHuntr Editorial
June 18, 2026
Carry-on baggage rules vary significantly between airlines, and getting them wrong costs money and time at check-in. Here's a complete guide to the current rules — including the traps most travelers fall into.
Carry-on baggage rules vary significantly between airlines, and getting them wrong costs money and time at check-in. Here's a complete guide to the current rules — including the traps most travelers fall into.
Standard Carry-On Sizes (2025)
There is no universal standard. Airlines set their own:
Airline · Max size (cm) · Max weight
Ryanair (Priority) · 55×40×20 · 10kg
Ryanair (standard) · 40×20×25 · 10kg (under seat only)
easyJet (standard) · 45×36×20 · Not specified
Wizz Air · 55×40×23 · 10kg
British Airways · 56×45×25 · Not specified
Lufthansa · 55×40×23 · 8kg
Turkish Airlines · 55×40×23 · 8kg
The catch: These are maximum dimensions including wheels and handles. Your bag's listed dimensions may be smaller than the bag measures in practice — always measure your fully packed bag.
Ryanair's Two-Bag System
Ryanair has a particularly confusing carry-on policy:
- Free (all passengers): One small personal bag, max 40×20×25cm, that fits under the seat in front
- Priority boarding passengers only: One large cabin bag, max 55×40×20cm + the small bag
If you don't have Priority boarding (typically added to Plus/Flexi fare or purchased separately), your large carry-on goes in the hold at the gate (€10 charge). This surprises many passengers who assume all carry-ons are free.
Liquids Rule
The 100ml liquids rule applies at EU, UK, and most international airports:
- Each liquid container must be 100ml or less
- All liquids must fit in one transparent, resealable bag (maximum 1 liter capacity, approximately 20×20cm)
- One bag per passenger
Post-Brexit UK airports: Many UK airports have new 3D CT scanners that allow liquids above 100ml to remain in bags. As of 2025, this applies to most major UK airports but implementation varies by terminal and security lane.
Exempt: Baby food and formula, medicines (with prescription if possible), duty-free liquids in sealed bags purchased after security.
Electronics at Security
Standard rule (most airports): Laptops, tablets, and large electronics out of bags and in a separate tray. Small electronics (phones, cameras) can stay in bags.
At US airports: All electronics larger than a phone must be removed.
Post-Brexit UK airports with new CT scanners: Electronics often no longer need to be removed — check signs at security.
Items to Put in Hold Baggage
Not permitted in carry-on:
- Any knife (including Swiss Army knives, steak knives)
- Scissors with blades longer than 6cm
- Aerosol cans over 100ml (deodorant, hairspray)
- Lithium batteries over 100Wh (large portable battery packs, e-bike batteries) — must travel in carry-on, not hold (lithium battery rule is opposite)
- Firearms (obviously)
Lithium Batteries: The Exception
Lithium batteries are one of the few items that MUST travel in carry-on, not hold baggage:
- Laptop batteries, phone batteries, portable power banks must be in carry-on
- Spare batteries that aren't installed in devices must be in carry-on
- Power banks over 100Wh require airline approval
Tips
- Weigh your bag before leaving for the airport — especially on strict low-cost carriers
- A hanging luggage scale (€8–12 from Amazon) is one of the best travel accessories
- Roll clothes instead of folding to maximize space and reduce creasing
- Wear your heaviest items (boots, jacket) to the airport if weight is borderline
- Low-cost carrier gate bag fees are consistently more expensive than pre-paid checked baggage — add baggage online before check-in closes
Understanding your specific airline's carry-on policy takes 3 minutes and regularly saves €25–50 in unexpected gate fees.
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