Does ryanair weigh carry on luggage

Gate control: staff use dimension sizers and will occasionally check mass at the gate. If a larger cabin item is presented without the Priority add‑on, it will usually be gate‑checked and a fee applied; on most routes that charge falls between €25 and €60 when paid at boarding.

Practical checks before travel: measure external dimensions with a tape and confirm total mass on a home luggage scale. Place the largest single items in a checked suitcase bought online (prepaid checked bags are typically cheaper than gate fees). If your bigger bag approaches 10 kg, redistribute heavy electronics, liquids and shoes into the small personal item or wear heavier clothing through boarding.

Packing tactics that reduce risk: use soft-sided bags that compress to fit the sizer, replace bulky containers with travel bottles, remove duplicate items, and keep essentials (documents, medication, high‑value devices) in the small personal item. Buying Priority when booking guarantees the second cabin allowance and avoids last‑minute charges.

If you encounter a dispute at the gate, ask staff to show the policy reference on their tablet and request a printed or electronic receipt for any gate‑check fee. For predictable savings, pay for extra mass or hold allowance online before arriving at the airport.

Onboard bag mass checks and enforcement

Buy Priority or keep your main cabin item at or below 10 kg and within 55×40×20 cm; also bring one free under-seat item no larger than 40×20×25 cm to avoid penalties.

Practical facts:

• Gate staff use a rigid sizer for dimensions and will put suspect items on a scale – random and visual checks are common on busy flights.
• Non-compliant items are usually moved into the hold for a fee (typical gate charge ≈ €55–€70); paying online in advance for additional allowance is frequently €10–€30 cheaper than gate rates.
• The small under-seat item generally has no published mass cap but must fit the sizer and stow under the seat; the larger cabin bag has a 10 kg limit.

Pre-flight checklist

• Measure: use a tape to confirm 55×40×20 cm and 40×20×25 cm limits.
• Weigh at home: weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the bag; subtract to get the item mass, or use a portable luggage scale.
• Repack: move dense items into the under-seat item, wear heavy shoes/jacket, and remove non-essentials to stay under 10 kg.
• Buy Priority or add a 10 kg onboard allowance online before arriving at the airport to reduce the chance of a gate fee.
• Print or save purchase confirmations in the airline app to show staff if asked.

At the airport and gate options

• If an item fails the sizer, immediately try repacking at the gate counter; staff sometimes allow redistribution between items.
• Upgrade via the app or check-in desk if available – online upgrades are cheaper than paying at the gate.
• If forced to check into the hold at the gate, expect a charge in the €55–€70 range; keep receipts and screenshots of online prices for comparison.
• For business trips or tight connections, always pre-purchase the relevant allowance to avoid delays or surprises.

Verify current dimension rules and exact fees on the carrier’s official website before travel; policies and charges vary by route and booking class.

Cabin bag checks at check-in and the gate

Expect sizing inspections at the gate and occasional weight checks at both the check-in desk and during boarding; oversized or overweight items are commonly transferred to the hold for a fee.

How staff perform checks

Most agents use a rigid sizer box to confirm dimensions; if a bag does not fit it will be flagged. Scales are available at check-in and sometimes at the gate – staff will measure mass when a bag looks heavy or exceeds the allowed dimensions printed on your boarding pass. Priority customers with an extra cabin item are checked less often, but non-priority travellers face more frequent scrutiny.

Practical preparation and likely charges

Measure dimensions and check mass before arrival: the free small item limit is 40×20×25 cm, while the paid cabin allowance is typically 55×40×20 cm with a maximum of 10 kg. Gate or desk conversion fees for moving a bag to the hold commonly range from roughly €25–€65 (rates vary by route and timing); pre-booking a hold allowance online is usually cheaper. To avoid extra costs, weigh your bag at home, redistribute dense items into checked pieces or personal clothing, and consider purchasing priority if you need the larger cabin allowance.

Buy Priority (or add the Priority option) to include a 55×40×20 cm cabin bag (maximum 10 kg) plus a small under‑seat item 40×20×25 cm; without Priority only the small under‑seat item is included for free.

Recommended actions

Purchase Priority when you need a 55×40×20 cm bag and a 10 kg allowance; add it at booking or later via Manage Booking.

Confirm dimensions with a tape and use a home scale to verify weight before travel to avoid gate fees.

Pre‑book checked bags online if you expect >10 kg – typical online prices start low (€8–€40 depending on route and weight), while gate rates are higher.

Packing tips

Choose a soft‑sided 55×40×20 cm bag to compress into overhead space; link to a suitable option: best luggage for yacht week.

Place heavier items in a checked case and keep valuables and essentials in the under‑seat item (fits the 40×20×25 cm rule).

Adhere to liquid and security limits (100 ml containers in a clear bag) to avoid additional delays at security checkpoints.

How the airline handles oversized or overweight cabin items and fees

Pre-book a checked allowance or upgrade to a priority fare if your cabin item exceeds permitted dimensions or mass; paying in advance is almost always cheaper than resolving the issue at the gate.

What happens at the gate or boarding

• Staff will ask you to place the bag into a sizing frame and may put it on a scale for a mass check; non-conforming items are usually refused as a carry-on and must be transferred to the hold.
• If the item is oversized (won’t fit the sizer) it will be gate-checked into the hold and a fee applied; oversized items that require special handling (sports gear, large boxes) often require a special booking.
• If the item exceeds the cabin mass allowance, staff will require prepayment for an additional bag or upgraded allowance, or they will check it into the hold with an excess-fee applied.
• Refusal to accept the gate solution can lead to denial of boarding for that item, and the passenger may be offloaded until the issue is resolved.

Practical steps to avoid higher charges

• Measure and test the bag at home: use a tape measure for dimensions and a luggage scale for mass; keep the measurements and a photo of the scale readout on your phone.
• Book priority or a checked allowance online as soon as you know you need extra space; pre-booked rates are frequently far lower than airport or gate fees.
• Use a soft-sided bag to compress contents; move heavy items into a worn item (coat) or into a second small personal item if your fare allows.
• Remove bulky non-essentials (umbrella, tools) from the cabin item and place them in checked baggage or ship them ahead – for example, consider a compact option like this best portable pool umbrella if you need a smaller, travel-friendly replacement.
• For heavy equipment or tools that create weight issues, ship via courier instead of attempting to board; see options for heavy home equipment such as a best pressure washer for concrete patio to compare shipping versus gate fees.
• At the airport, add baggage via the airline app or kiosk rather than waiting for the gate staff; app/kiosk purchases are usually cheaper than paying a gate agent.
• If you believe a fee was applied in error, ask for a staff confirmation showing the measurement or scale reading, photograph it, and file a formal complaint with the carrier including those images and your booking reference.

If you travel frequently with bulky or heavy items, maintain a standard checklist (measure, weigh, prebook, compress, remove non-essentials, ship when needed) to avoid last-minute charges and delays.

How to measure and check your cabin bag accurately before travel

Immediate recommendation: use a calibrated digital hanging scale plus a flexible tape measure; aim to sit 1–2 kg below the carrier’s permitted mass and at least 1–2 cm smaller than the published linear dimensions (length + width + height measured externally, wheels and handles included unless the carrier states otherwise).

Tools and calibration

Required: a handheld digital hanging scale (accuracy ±50–100 g), bathroom scale (accuracy ±200–500 g) and a 2–3 m retractable cloth tape. Calibrate the hanging scale with a known weight (1–2 L bottle = 1–2 kg) before use. For the bathroom scale, verify consistency by weighing the same object three times; if readings vary by more than 0.5 kg, rely on the hanging unit.

Step-by-step procedure

1) Empty pockets and detach removable items (tags, small accessories). Record the empty bag mass if possible using the hanging scale or the tare function; this gives a baseline for contents-only checks.

2) For weight: method A – hang the packed bag on the digital scale and read the display; method B – use the bathroom scale: weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the packed bag; subtract to get bag mass. Cross-check both methods when possible.

3) For dimensions: place the bag on the floor with handles collapsed (or as specified by the carrier). Measure external length, width and depth at the widest points, including wheels and any protruding parts. Sum the three measurements and compare with the carrier’s linear limit. If the bag is soft-sided, compress it the way you will when boarding and measure under that compression pressure.

4) If close to limits, remove or relocate items: move heavy objects to checked items or to a personal item that fits under the seat, shift dense gear toward the base/wheels for balance, swap full containers for travel-size equivalents, and distribute weight evenly between compartments.

5) Final verification: after adjustments, re-measure both mass and external dimensions. Keep a portable hanging scale in your hand luggage for a last-minute check at home or en route; replace batteries regularly.

Quick tips: keep receipts for new hard-shell bags (manufacturers’ stated empty mass), remove unused cords/chargers, and use packing cubes only to organize – overstuffing cubes can push dimensions over the limit. For electronic gear, place heavier items near the wheelbase to reduce perceived bulk and improve handling.

What to expect during boarding: random checks and enforcement steps

Have a valid payment method ready at the gate and the airline’s priority/extra-item confirmation accessible on your phone or printed boarding pass; pack heavier objects into checked bags before travel.

Gate agents run two common spot controls: a rigid sizer box for dimensional checks and a scale for mass assessment when an item appears heavy. Typical selection triggers are: non-priority boarding groups, visibly oversized items, late boarding, full flights with limited overhead space, and random sampling of passengers in each zone.

If an item fails a dimensional test, staff will require one of three outcomes: 1) gate-check the item to the hold (a bag tag is applied), 2) repack the contents into an approved personal item on the spot, or 3) purchase the appropriate onboard allowance if available at the gate. If an item exceeds the allowed mass on the scale, staff commonly offer repacking, payment for excess, or mandatory gate-checking.

Refusal to comply with a directed remedy can lead to denial of boarding until the issue is resolved. Items containing prohibited materials will be removed and may lead to additional security or legal action; valuables and immediate-need items (medication, travel documents, electronics) should be kept on your person at all times.

Gate fees for last-minute upgrades or excess items are routinely higher than advance online charges; insist on receiving a payment receipt and a gate-check tag stub. Photograph the tagged item and the tag number before it enters the hold for dispute evidence.

Practical steps to reduce the chance of a gate intervention: pre-test bags with a rigid sizer and a household scale, buy priority/extra-item options in advance, board early, consolidate heavy items into checked suitcases, and stow essentials in a clearly compliant personal item that fits under the seat.