Fly Ryanair like a pro in 2025: save up to €40 on checked suitcase

Introduction: why this guide matters in 2025

Ryanair’s “unbundled” fare model keeps ticket prices low but shifts costs to extras like baggage. Checked-bag fees have jumped sharply during the past twelve months, catching many travellers off guard. This guide sums up the latest rules, prices and size limits. It offers step-by-step tips to avoid surprise charges.

What’s new for checked bags this year

For 2025 Ryanair kept the familiar 20 kg hold-bag tier, but the airline rewrote its policy to state one clear size ceiling of 80 × 120 × 120 cm. Anything larger is either charged as oversize or refused, so measuring your suitcase before you leave home is now essential.

The other headline change is a dynamic fee ladder. If you add the 20 kg allowance in the very first booking step, the system still shows its headline range of €18.99 – €59.99 per flight. Add it after you have paid, and the starting price jumps to roughly €39.99. Turn up at the bag-drop desk without a prepaid allowance and you will pay a flat €59.99. In short: the earlier you lock your weight in, the more money you save.

The rise of the “light” 10 kg hold bag

Ryanair’s newer 10 kg hold bag option is designed for long weekends. It must still be dropped at the check-in desk, but the fee undercuts the 20 kg tier by about a third while sparing you from cabin-bag sizer stress. If Priority & 2 Cabin Bags sells out, the booking engine often swaps you to this 10 kg allowance automatically rather than cancelling your extra space.

Up to three bags—and stricter pooling rules

You may bolt on three checked suitcases per traveller in any mix of 10 kg and 20 kg allowances. Bag pooling is allowed inside the same booking, which means two passengers can share 40 kg across two bags (for example 15 kg + 25 kg), but Ryanair caps any single piece at 32 kg. Excess baggage remains costly at €11 per extra kilo, so a cheap digital scale pays for itself on the first trip.

Choosing 10 kg or 20 kg: a quick decision grid

10 kg check-in bag

Budget travellers often start here. The fee is roughly half the 20 kg price when booked early. You must still drop the case at the desk. The bag rides in the hold, so liquids above 100 ml are allowed. A single pair of trainers, rolled clothing and a lightweight toiletry kit fit easily. This tier works best on city breaks of four to six days. Plan to wash items or wear layers.

20 kg check-in bag

The 20 kg tier delivers the best price-to-weight ratio once full. Families pack bulky jackets, baby items or sports gear without splitting loads. Photographers and divers can cushion equipment safely. The larger allowance tolerates heavier protective cases. The extra buffer also shields you from last-minute gate checks. Souvenirs may tip the scale. The bag still stays under the 20 kg ceiling.

How to add a bag for the lowest fare

Step 1: book at the first screen

As soon as the passenger-details page appears, drag the weight slider. The live price updates beside it. Take a quick screenshot for proof. Confirm the bag before choosing seats. Early selection locks the lowest band and shields you from later surges.

The engine sometimes shows flash deals. A 20 kg case can dip to €24.99 on quiet routes. When seats start to sell out, that same slot may rise to €42.99 within hours. Click “Add” while the green “Best price” badge is still showing.

Step 2: skip the “extras” upsell

After payment Ryanair launches an add-on carousel. Here the identical 20 kg bag often costs €10–€15 more. Scroll past the animated banner and hit “Continue without extras.” You keep your seat and priority options yet avoid the mark-up.

Seat, priority boarding and baggage appear as bundles on this screen. Buying the trio unevenly inflates the cart. Reserve seats separately once you know your final group size.

Step 3: use Manage Booking if plans change early

Need extra weight later? Open “Manage Booking” while departure is still more than two weeks away. The surcharge climbs only a few euro at this point. Prices then jump every few days, peaking in the last 48 hours. At the airport desk the fee is almost double the original online quote.

Set a calendar reminder ten days before travel. Re-weigh the suitcase, then make one single upgrade. Multiple small changes each trigger a handling charge. One larger tweak saves cash and keeps your statement tidy.

Packing for the 20 kg limit

Hard-shell versus soft-side myths

Many blogs claim a fabric case always weighs less. Tests show the gap is often under 300 g when you compare similar sizes and wheels. Focus on build quality, wheel bearings and a strong telescopic handle. These parts fail first, not the shell itself. A flimsy frame risks a rip or snapped zip and forces you to buy a new case mid-trip. Real weight savings hide inside the suitcase, not outside.

Proven weight-saving swaps

• Towels → microfiber sheets: a large microfiber towel weighs 150 g; a cotton bath sheet is triple that.
• Trainers → fold-up loafers: ditch chunky soles and free 400 g in seconds.
• Bottles → solid bars: solid shampoo, conditioner and soap skip plastic and spill risks while cutting bulk.
• Jeans → travel pants: stretch nylon trousers are half the weight yet dry overnight.
• Power bricks → USB-C GaN charger: one 65 W block powers phone and laptop, removing two extra plugs.

Luggage-scale routine

Weigh your full case at home, then leave a 500 g buffer for airport snacks or souvenirs. Pack the same digital scale; it weighs just 90 g and pays for itself fast. Re-check the suitcase in your hotel. Ryanair now bills €11 for every extra kilo discovered at bag-drop. Spotting an overage early lets you shift heavy jeans to hand luggage or wear a jacket on board. Two quick weigh-ins save cash and stress.

Dodging the hidden fees at the airport

Nothing ruins a cheap ticket faster than last-minute penalties. The steepest sting is the boarding-pass reprint fee of €55. Ryanair accepts mobile passes, but weak airport Wi-Fi can block downloads. Always store a PDF copy in your phone’s files app, add it to the wallet and print a paper spare before leaving home. One extra sheet of A4 beats a three-figure surprise.

The next trap lurks at the gate. If staff judge your cabin bag too big for the sizer, they slap on an on-the-spot check-in charge that starts around €70. Avoid this by measuring wheels and handles—Ryanair counts every millimetre. Pack a fold-flat tote inside your case; if your bag bulges after duty-free shopping, shift souvenirs into the tote and keep the main bag within limits.

Overweight hold luggage triggers a different penalty, billed at €11 per excess kilo. Ticket-desk queues lengthen near departure, so arrive at least ninety minutes early. If the scale tips over, you have time to reshuffle weight into a coat pocket or carry-on before security. The earlier slot also uses the shorter “standard” queue, avoiding the frantic last-call rush where agents feel less flexible.

Special cases and exemptions

Infant, sports and musical gear

Infants (8 days – 23 months): the accompanying adult may bring one baby bag up to 5 kg (45 × 35 × 20 cm) and check two items of baby equipment free—normally a pushchair plus either a car seat, booster or travel cot. Extra baby gear up to 20 kg costs about €15 online or €20 after booking.

Sports equipment: items up to 20 kg (skis, golf clubs, surfboards) cost roughly €40 each way online and €45 at the airport. Large gear—bikes or kayaks—falls under the “large sports item” bracket at €60 online or €70 at the desk. Bicycles get a higher 30 kg cap but must ride in a rigid box or padded bike bag.

Musical instruments: anything that fits the cabin allowance goes free. A guitar or violin that is too long for the overhead bins can fly in the cabin if you buy an extra seat (book it under the name “EXTRA / ITEM SEAT”). Otherwise, check the instrument for the same fee scale as sports gear—about €50 online, €65 at the counter.

Connecting flights on other carriers

Ryanair is a strict point-to-point airline. It never interlines bags, even with another Ryanair flight. You must land, clear arrivals, reclaim your suitcase and re-check for the next leg. Allow at least three hours and a fresh baggage fee when you self-connect. If you miss the onward flight, the second carrier treats it as a no-show.

Final checklist before you click “pay”

• Price: Check the live fee for every bag. Early range: 10 kg €9.99–€45; 20 kg €18.99–€59.99. Airport fees are higher.
• Weight: Choose 10 kg or 20 kg. Pooled weight must stay within your total. Any single bag must stay under 32 kg.
• Dimensions: Hold bag limit 80 × 120 × 120 cm. Cabin bag 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Under-seat bag 40 × 20 × 25 cm.
• Number of bags: Maximum three checked bags per traveller. Add Priority if you need the 10 kg cabin bag.
• Screenshot: Save a screenshot of the fee screen and download the PDF ticket. It locks the price and proves your allowance if systems fail.

Run through the list once more. Fixing mistakes after payment always costs more.