For most travellers, our top 40x30x20 bag is the Aerolite 40x30x20cm Cabin Holdall. It matches the free underseat size that Ryanair and Wizz Air both publish (40 × 30 × 20 cm), holds about 24 litres and weighs only 0.65 kg. If you prefer a backpack, the Cabin Max Metz 24L is the same size. If you would rather roll it, the Aerolite 40x20x25cm Backpack Trolley has wheels and a pull handle and fits the same sizers with room to spare.
A 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag is now the free underseat size on both Ryanair and Wizz Air. Ryanair enlarged its free small bag from the older 40 × 20 × 25 cm to 40 × 30 × 20 cm, and Wizz Air allows 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 10 kg. easyJet is more generous at 45 × 36 × 20 cm and 15 kg, so any bag in this guide also fits there. We checked all three airlines’ official baggage pages on 26 October 2026. Rules change, so check Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet again before you fly.
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Our Top 40x30x20 Underseat Bag Picks
| Bag | Size · weight · capacity | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerolite 40x30x20cm Cabin Holdall | 40 × 30 × 20 cm · 0.65 kg · 24L | Best overall soft holdall | No backpack straps or wheels |
| Cabin Max Metz 24L | 40 × 30 × 20 cm · 0.69 kg · 24L | Exact-fit backpack | Little protection for fragile items |
| Aerolite 40x20x25cm Backpack Trolley | 40 × 20 × 25 cm · 2.2 kg · 19L | Rolling a free underseat bag | Heaviest pick; smaller capacity |
| Aerolite 40x20x25cm Quilted Backpack | 40 × 20 × 25 cm · 2 kg · 20L | Organised short trips | Heavy for a 20-litre backpack |
| American Tourister Take2Cabin Wheeled Backpack | 40 × 30 × 20 cm · 1.5 kg · 24.5L | Full-size wheeled underseater | Exact fit, no sizer margin |
| CabinFly Pacemaker 40x30x20 | 40 × 30 × 20 cm · 685 g · 24L | Simple two-compartment backpack | Fewer features than the Metz |
| Cabin Max Metz Stowaway 20L | 40 × 25 × 20 cm · 500 g · 20L | Lightest bag with spare room | 20 litres; no laptop compartment listed |
How We Selected the Best 40x30x20 Bags
We built this 2026 shortlist by checking each bag’s published dimensions against the official free underseat limits of Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet:
- Published size of exactly 40 × 30 × 20 cm, or 40 × 20 × 25 cm (which fits a 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer when turned on its side)
- Published empty weight, because it counts toward Wizz Air’s 10 kg free-bag limit and easyJet’s 15 kg limit
- Usable capacity in litres for the size
- A mix of carry styles: holdall, backpack and wheeled backpack
- Practical features such as compression straps, trolley sleeves and hidden pockets
- Clear manufacturer or retailer specifications, with no reliance on vague “cabin approved” claims
This guide is based on manufacturer and retailer specifications and official airline pages. We have not physically tested these bags for this article.
Ryanair vs Wizz Air vs easyJet Underseat Bag Sizes
| Airline | Free underseat bag | Weight | Wheels and handles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | Not stated for the small bag | Not stated on the bag-policy page |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 10 kg | Excluded, but wheels may add no more than 5 cm |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm | 15 kg | Included in the size |
Ryanair: every fare includes one small personal bag of up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm that must fit under the seat in front of you. Ryanair’s bag-policy page doesn’t list a weight limit for this bag. Paying for Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a 10 kg bag of up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm for the overhead locker. See our best carry-on luggage for Ryanair guide for Priority cases.
Wizz Air: the free carry-on is 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 10 kg, under the seat. Handles and wheels aren’t counted, but wheels may add no more than 5 cm. WIZZ Priority adds a 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 10 kg trolley bag. Our Wizz Air cabin bag guide covers both.
easyJet: the free small cabin bag can be up to 45 × 36 × 20 cm including handles and wheels, and up to 15 kg, as long as you can lift it yourself. Every bag in this guide fits, but if you only fly easyJet you could use a larger bag. See our easyJet carry-on guide for bags built to the full 45 × 36 × 20 cm.
The EU has also adopted revised passenger-rights rules that will guarantee one free personal item of up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm (or one that fits under the seat in front). When we checked on 26 October 2026, those rules had entered into force but did not yet apply. They are scheduled to apply from 23 October the following year. They set a minimum, not a maximum, so Ryanair’s and Wizz Air’s current 40 × 30 × 20 cm allowances are already larger.
Why 40x20x25 Bags Fit a 40x30x20 Sizer
Bags sold as 40 × 20 × 25 cm were made for Ryanair’s old free-bag size. The numbers are the same three measurements in a different order: 40 cm wide, 20 cm deep and 25 cm tall. Stand the bag so the 25 cm side runs along the sizer’s 30 cm opening and it measures 40 × 25 × 20 cm, which leaves about 5 cm of spare room in a 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer.
That spare room is useful when a front pocket bulges or the bag is packed tight. The trade-off is volume: the 40 × 20 × 25 cm and 40 × 25 × 20 cm bags in this guide hold 19–20 litres, compared with about 24 litres for the exact-fit 40 × 30 × 20 cm bags. On wheeled bags, check whether the published size includes the wheels and handle. easyJet counts them in its limit, and Wizz Air allows wheels to add up to 5 cm.
Holdall vs Backpack vs Wheeled Backpack
Holdall: the simplest and usually lightest choice. Soft holdalls like the Aerolite 40x30x20cm squeeze into a sizer easily and pack like a mini duffel. The downside is carrying it by hand or on one shoulder.
Backpack: best for walking to the gate, public transport and city breaks. Exact-fit backpacks such as the Cabin Max Metz and CabinFly Pacemaker give you the full 24 litres. Use compression straps and keep the outer pockets flat so the depth stays at 20 cm.
Wheeled backpack: the easiest on your back over long airport walks, but wheels, a handle and a frame add weight and take up space inside. The Aerolite backpack trolley weighs 2.2 kg and the American Tourister Take2Cabin 1.5 kg, compared with well under 1 kg for most soft bags.
How Much Does a 40x30x20 Bag Weigh?
Empty weight matters most on Wizz Air, where the free bag is capped at 10 kg. A 0.5–0.7 kg soft bag leaves more than 9 kg for your belongings, while a 2–2.2 kg wheeled or heavily featured bag leaves under 8 kg. easyJet’s free-bag limit is 15 kg, and Ryanair’s bag-policy page doesn’t state a weight for the small bag, so size is usually the stricter test there. Weigh the packed bag at home, and if you are planning a multi-stop trip, see our best luggage for a Europe trip guide.
1. Aerolite 40x30x20cm Cabin Holdall
Best Overall 40x30x20 Bag
The Aerolite holdall is our top pick because it is built to the exact 40 × 30 × 20 cm free-bag size that Ryanair and Wizz Air both publish, and it does that with about 24 litres of space at a published empty weight of just 0.65 kg. That leaves almost all of Wizz’s 10 kg allowance for your clothes.
It packs like a mini duffel: one large zipped main compartment for clothing and shoes, plus a front zipped pocket for your passport, boarding pass and headphones. You can carry it by the dual top handles, sling it over your shoulder with the adjustable strap, or slide it over a suitcase handle with the rear trolley sleeve. On easyJet, where the free bag is larger (45 × 36 × 20 cm), it fits with room on two sides.
Best for: Ryanair and Wizz Basic-fare travellers who want the full free 40 × 30 × 20 cm in a light, soft holdall.
Pros
- Exact 40 × 30 × 20 cm free-bag size for Ryanair and Wizz Air
- About 24 litres at a published 0.65 kg
- Shoulder strap, top handles and trolley sleeve
- Soft sides squeeze into a sizer more easily than a rigid case
Cons
- Soft sides can bulge past 20 cm if you overstuff the front pocket
- No backpack straps or wheels
- Little padding for laptops or fragile items
2. Cabin Max Metz 24L
Best 40x30x20 Backpack
If you would rather keep your hands free, the Cabin Max Metz is the backpack version of the same idea. Amazon lists it at 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 24 litres, with an item weight of about 0.69 kg, and Cabin Max designs it around Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet underseat rules.
Compression straps help keep the depth under 20 cm once it is full, and there is a hidden rear zipped pocket for valuables, a bottle holder and a rear strap that slips over a suitcase handle. The fabric is recycled polyester, and Cabin Max adds a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Best for: Travellers who want an exact-fit 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag they can wear as a backpack.
Pros
- Exact 40 × 30 × 20 cm size and 24-litre capacity
- Light at roughly 0.69 kg
- Compression straps to control depth
- Hidden rear pocket and trolley strap
Cons
- Soft shape offers little protection for fragile items
- Thinner straps than a full travel backpack
- Colour options vary by listing, so check the ASIN
3. Aerolite 40x20x25cm Backpack Trolley with 2 Wheels
Best Wheeled Underseat Bag
This is the pick for anyone who doesn’t want to carry their underseat bag at all. Aerolite builds it to 40 × 20 × 25 cm, its 3-in-1 design works as a backpack, a holdall or a two-wheel trolley with a push-button handle, and the backpack straps stow away in a zipped pocket when you roll it. Turned so the 25 cm side runs along the sizer’s 30 cm slot, it measures 40 × 25 × 20 cm and slips into a 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer with about 5 cm to spare.
Inside there are three zipped compartments, a tablet pouch for screens up to 10.1 inches, a waterproof toiletry pocket and an RFID-lined hidden pocket. There is also an external USB port that you wire to your own power bank (not included). The trade-off is weight and space: Aerolite lists 2.2 kg and 19 litres, so it holds less than the 24-litre soft bags above and uses more of your weight allowance. Aerolite doesn’t say whether 40 × 20 × 25 cm includes the wheels and handle, so measure it before a strict Ryanair or easyJet flight.
Best for: Travellers with longer airport walks who want to roll a free underseat bag instead of carrying it.
Pros
- Wheels, extendable handle and backpack straps in one bag
- 40 × 20 × 25 cm leaves about 5 cm spare in a 40 × 30 × 20 sizer
- Tablet pouch, toiletry pocket and RFID pocket
- YKK zips and a 10-year Aerolite warranty
Cons
- Heaviest pick here at a published 2.2 kg
- Smaller capacity (19 litres) than exact-fit 24-litre bags
- Wheels and handle may not be included in the published size
4. Aerolite 40x20x25cm Quilted Backpack
Best Organised Underseat Backpack
The quilted Aerolite backpack shares the 40 × 20 × 25 cm footprint of the trolley without the wheels. It has a more polished look, a padded mesh back panel and stowable straps, so you can carry it as a backpack or by the top handles like a holdall. A rear sleeve lets it ride on top of a suitcase when you also have a Priority bag.
Organisation is the main reason to choose it. There are three zipped compartments (including a main section with packing straps), a padded tech section with a tablet pouch for screens up to 10.1 inches, a waterproof toiletry pocket, a side bottle holder, an external USB port and an RFID-lined hidden pocket. Aerolite lists 20 litres and 2 kg, which is heavy for a backpack this size, so it is better for organised short trips than for packing every last kilo.
Best for: Short-break travellers who want a structured, well-organised backpack with room to spare in a 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer.
Pros
- 40 × 20 × 25 cm fits Ryanair, Wizz and easyJet underseat sizers with margin
- Lots of organisation, including tablet, toiletry and RFID pockets
- Backpack or holdall carry, plus trolley sleeve
- Recycled outer fabric, YKK zips and a 10-year warranty
Cons
- Published 2 kg is heavy for a 20-litre backpack
- Less volume than exact-fit 40 × 30 × 20 cm bags
- USB port needs your own power bank
5. American Tourister Take2Cabin Wheeled Backpack
Best Full-Size Wheeled Underseater
If you want wheels but also the full free-bag size, American Tourister’s Take2Cabin wheeled backpack is listed at 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 24.5 litres and 1.5 kg. That gives you more space and less weight than the Aerolite trolley, but no margin at the sizer.
The backpack straps tuck into a zipped back pocket whose cover also shields the wheels, and a monotube handle extends for rolling. Elastic cross straps hold clothes in place, a mesh side pocket takes a bottle, and a smart sleeve lets it sit on a larger suitcase. The outer fabric is 100% recycled PET.
Best for: Travellers who want to roll a free bag that uses the whole 40 × 30 × 20 cm allowance.
Pros
- Full 40 × 30 × 20 cm size with 24.5 litres
- Wheels and tuck-away backpack straps
- Lighter than most wheeled underseat bags at 1.5 kg
- Recycled PET outer fabric
Cons
- Exact fit leaves no room for an overstuffed front pocket
- Wheels and handle add weight a soft bag doesn’t have
- Heavier than the soft 40 × 30 × 20 cm backpacks
6. CabinFly Pacemaker 40x30x20
Best Two-Compartment Backpack
The CabinFly Pacemaker is another exact-fit option: 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 24 litres and about 685 g in 600D polyester. Its two different-sized compartments make it easy to keep clothes away from tech, documents and snacks.
It is simpler than the Metz, with fewer extra features, but it gives you the same volume at a similar weight. As with any exact-fit soft bag, leave the outer pockets flat so the packed depth stays at 20 cm.
Best for: Ryanair and Wizz travellers who want an exact-fit backpack with a simple two-compartment layout.
Pros
- Exact 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 24 litres
- Light at about 685 g
- Two compartments of different sizes
- Durable 600D polyester
Cons
- Fewer features than the Metz or Aerolite bags
- No compression straps listed
- Exact fit leaves no slack for overpacking
7. Cabin Max Metz Stowaway 20L
Lightest 40x25x20 Option
The Metz Stowaway measures 40 × 25 × 20 cm (16 × 10 × 8 inches), holds 20 litres and weighs about 500 g, the lightest bag in this guide. It is 5 cm shorter than the 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizers, so it slides in easily even when packed full.
It opens like a suitcase, has side compression straps and a front organiser pocket with slots for a tablet, travel documents and pens. The padded straps, top handle and back panel make it comfortable to carry, and Cabin Max adds a three-year warranty. Choose it if you also fly airlines with smaller underseat limits and want one bag with spare room.
Best for: Light packers and mixed-airline travellers who want spare room in every 40 × 30 × 20 cm sizer.
Pros
- Lightest pick at about 500 g
- 40 × 25 × 20 cm leaves room in Ryanair and Wizz sizers
- Suitcase-style opening and compression straps
- Padded straps and back panel
Cons
- 20 litres is less than exact-fit 24-litre bags
- No laptop compartment listed
- Listed colourway is Paradise; other colours use different ASINs
Final Verdict
For most Ryanair and Wizz Air travellers, the Aerolite 40x30x20cm Cabin Holdall is the best 40x30x20 bag: it is exactly the free-bag size, holds 24 litres and weighs only 0.65 kg. Choose the Cabin Max Metz 24L or the CabinFly Pacemaker if you want the same size as a backpack. If you would rather roll your bag, the Aerolite 40x20x25cm Backpack Trolley fits with room to spare, while the American Tourister Take2Cabin uses the full 40 × 30 × 20 cm. For organisation, pick the Aerolite 40x20x25cm Quilted Backpack. For the lightest bag with the most margin, pick the Cabin Max Metz Stowaway 20L. Check your airline’s official baggage page before you fly, because allowances and fees can change.