- Mr Plane Guy
- Sep 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 9
How to Beat EasyJet’s Cabin Bag Size Rules: Smart Packing Hacks for 2025
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & HUGE easyJet FAN!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced lattes at the airport). Thanks for the support!
If you’re flying with easyJet in 2025, you’ll already know their cabin bag size rules are no joke. No “squash it and hope for the best” like the old days. The orange army has got stricter than ever, and travellers are finding themselves paying hefty fees at the gate for bags that are even a couple of centimetres over. Apparently a commission system for the gate agents and tbh they deserve that cash the amount of abuse they get and backlash from people shocked at being charged !
But here’s the good news: with some smart packing hacks (and a bit of kit I’ve been testing out on my own trips), you can beat easyJet’s cabin bag rules without stress and fit way more into your allowance than you think.
I’ve written before about how strict easyJet are on cabin bag size (spoiler: very strict), and that blog has been one of my most-read articles ever. So in this updated guide, I’m combining the latest 2025 baggage policy changes with my own packing secrets including a game-changing tool I now swear by: vacuum travel packing bags.
Let’s dive in.
What Is the easyJet Cabin Bag Allowance in 2025?
Here’s the lowdown straight from easyJet’s site and confirmed by my own recent flights:
Free Small Cabin Bag (Included with All Tickets)
Size: 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including handles and wheels)
Weight: No official limit, but it must fit under the seat in front
Examples: Small backpack, laptop bag, or handbag
Cost: Free with any fare
This is the only piece of luggage included for free with your easyJet ticket. No sneaky handbag on top unless you’ve upgraded.
👉 Top tip: always double-check dimensions with easyJet’s bag sizer tool in their app before you leave for the airport.
I made a tik tok explaining the feature, take a look and don't forget to follow!
Paid Large Cabin Bag (Overhead Locker Access)
Size: 56 x 45 x 25 cm
Weight: No official limit, but you must lift it unaided into the locker
Cost: Usually £5.99–£29.99 depending on route and timing
The Cabin Max Anode 40L Case 55 x 40 x 20 cm is perfect for this option
it has become my go-to for trips up to a week.
Perfect dimensions for easyJet’s pay to carry onboard which is cheaper than getting hold bags, it also fits Ryanair Priority allowance 56 x 45 x 25 cm
Light, durable, and surprisingly roomy especially when combined with vacuum bags.
Lightweight with 360° wheels
Ideal for trips up to 7 days
👉 BUY the Anode case HERE
This is the upgrade option most people end up buying when they realise the free allowance won’t cut it. But with clever packing (and yes, vacuum bags), you may not need to.
How Strict Is EasyJet on Cabin Bag Size in 2025?
Short answer: brutally strict. Check out this post,
Blog Post: How Strict Are easyJet on Cabin Bag Size?
From my own flights this year (and dozens of traveller reports I’ve seen on TikTok, Reddit, and in my DMs), gate staff are actively checking bags with the sizer. Airports like Gatwick, Manchester, and Belfast seem especially unforgiving.
If your bag doesn’t fit:
You’ll pay £48–£60 to have it placed in the hold (ouch).
You might have to unpack in front of everyone at the gate (embarrassing).
Ground staff sometimes get commission on luggage fees, so they’re extra motivated to catch rule-breakers.
Moral of the story? Don’t risk it.
Why Packing Smart Matters More Than Ever
Here’s the thing: with the 45 x 36 x 20 cm free allowance, it’s not that you can’t travel light it’s that most of us pack badly. Clothes take up way more space than they need to. Shoes are bulky. And once you’ve stuffed in a jacket and a couple of jeans, suddenly your bag is bulging and you’re in trouble.
This is where I started experimenting with vacuum travel packing bags.
My Secret Weapon: Vacuum Travel Packing Bags
I first came across these when I was prepping for a 4 day trip to Rome. I didn’t want to pay for a large cabin bag, but I also didn’t want to live in one pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
Enter: Vacuum Travel Packing Bags. 👉 Check them out here
Get 10% off with code MRPLANE10 pack smarter, travel lighter!
What They Are
Resealable bags you pack your clothes into.
Roll them and then pump the air out.
Result? Clothes are flattened into a neat little condensed packed bag.
Why They’re Brilliant for EasyJet
Shrink your clothes by up to 70%. That’s basically doubling your space.
No bulging bag. Everything is flat, neat, and easy to slide into the sizer.
Stay organised. Separate outfits, keep dirty laundry sealed away.
Pack more, pay less, use code MRPLANE10 to save you 10%.
Blog Post: Why easyJet Plus is a Game-Changer for Frequent Flyers
Real-Life Test: Regular Packing vs Vacuum Bags
I did a side-by-side pack for a recent weekend in Paris with easyJet. Same items, two different packing methods.
Regular Packing
2 jeans
4 t-shirts
1 jumper
1 jacket
1 pair trainers
Toiletries
Result? Bag wouldn’t zip. Had to ditch the jumper.
Vacuum Bag Packing
Same items (plus 2 extra t-shirts).
Clothes compressed into 3 vacuum bags.
Toiletries and shoes fitted neatly around them.
Result? Bag zipped with space to spare. Fit perfectly under the seat.
EasyJet Cabin Bag Hacks with Vacuum Bags
Here are my top hacks if you’re going to try this out yourself:
Pack bulky items (hoodies, jeans, jumpers) in vacuum bags. These shrink the most.
Roll, don’t fold. Rolling creates tighter packs that compress better.
Use one bag just for underwear and socks. Easy to grab when you arrive.
Leave one bag empty. Perfect for sealing dirty laundry on the way home.
Don’t overstuff your cabin bag. Gate staff spot bags that look “swollen” vacuum bags keep things slim and tidy.
EasyJet Cabin Bag Size-Compatible Bags
Of course, you need the right actual bag too. Here are my tried-and-tested recommendations:
Cabin Max Metz 30L Backpack (45 x 36 x 20 cm) – soft-sided, compressible, and designed for easyJet.
Cabin Max Anode 30L Trolley (45 x 36 x 20 cm) – same size, but with wheels if you don’t fancy carrying.
Cabin Max Anode 40L (55 x 40 x 20 cm) – fits if you upgrade to the large cabin bag allowance. 👉 BUY the Anode case HERE
Pairing these with vacuum bags? You’re basically winning at easyJet packing.
Bonus Hack: Wear Your Bulk
I know, I know no one likes to look like they’re off on a ski trip when it’s 15°C outside. But wearing your coat, boots, or bulky hoodie through the airport frees up so much space. I’ve done entire trips with a half-empty bag just by layering up at boarding.
EasyJet Cabin Bag FAQs (2025 Update)
Can I take a handbag as well as my small cabin bag? No, unless you upgrade. Standard fare = one bag only.
Is there a weight limit on easyJet cabin bags? Not officially, but you must lift it unaided into the overhead locker.
Are they really that strict now? Yes. Multiple travellers report staff checking even small bags. Stick to 45 x 36 x 20 cm.
Do vacuum bags really work? Yes. I’ve been using them for months — they’re the reason I can now do 5-day trips with just a free cabin bag.
Final Boarding Call: Travel Smarter, Not Pricier
Airlines like easyJet make billions from baggage fees. But with a bit of planning and the right gear you can beat the system.
Vacuum travel packing bags have honestly changed the way I travel. They let me take way more clothes, keep my bag neat, and most importantly, avoid the £60 last-minute luggage charge that so many passengers end up paying.
If you want to try them yourself, I recommend the Vacuum Travel Packing Bags I use available with free shipping to the UK, EU, USA, and Canada. Check them out here.
Pack smart, save money, and enjoy your trip without stressing about baggage police at the gate. 👉 Check them out here
Travel hack unlocked: MRPLANE10 gets you 10% off
See you in the skies, PAUL AKA Mr Plane Guy
Plane Easy Related Links
What are my rights if I am delayed or my EasyJet flight is cancelled?
Travel Tip: Get one of these phone holder clips and watch something on your phone hands free, it clips on to economy seats perfectly! They are so cheap and will really transform your economy flight experience!
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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading How to Beat EasyJet’s Cabin Bag Size Rules: Smart Packing Hacks for 2025
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