A genuinely useful free allowance

At 45 × 36 × 20cm, easyJet’s free bag is one of the more generous among low-cost carriers. Where Ryanair and Wizz Air allow 40 × 30 × 20cm, easyJet gives you an extra five centimetres of height and six of width — enough that a genuine small cabin case fits rather than only a rucksack.

It also carries a 15kg limit, which is higher than the 10kg most carriers permit. For a long weekend, that combination is often enough on its own.

The free bag still goes under the seat

Generous as it is, the free allowance travels under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead locker. Depth is therefore the measurement that matters most: a case deeper than 20cm will not slide into the space regardless of its height.

When you need the large cabin bag

The large cabin bag allowance is 56 × 45 × 25cm and gets overhead locker space. It is either a paid add-on or included with an eligible fare, so check what your booking covers before assuming you have it.

This is the size a full hard-shell cabin suitcase is built for, and it is the same allowance British Airways and Jet2 include free — worth knowing if you fly several carriers.

Measuring correctly

easyJet measures with handles and wheels included. Buy to the stated external size rather than the internal packing dimensions, which are always smaller.