British Airways cabin bag size 2026: two bags on every fare
British Airways lets you bring a handbag or small backpack of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, plus a cabin bag of up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm, on every fare including Basic. Each bag can weigh up to 23 kg if you can lift it into the locker yourself.
Checked 4 Nov 2026. Rules change, so confirm on your booking before you fly.
| Bag | Maximum size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Free under-seat bag | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.5 x 12 x 6 in) | 23 kg |
| Cabin bag Included on every fare, including Basic | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 17.5 x 10 in) | 23 kg |
Unlike the low-cost airlines, British Airways includes a full-size cabin bag on all fares. Basic fares leave out the checked bag, not the cabin bag. That makes BA one of the easiest airlines for hand-luggage-only trips of a week or more.
The smaller bag is the tighter limit. At 15 cm deep it is 5 cm slimmer than the 40 x 30 x 20 cm bags that suit Ryanair and easyJet, so a stuffed under-seat backpack can be too deep for BA. A laptop bag, tote or slim daypack is the safer choice.
On busy flights, cabin bags can be taken at the gate and put in the hold free of charge. Keep anything you need during the flight, and anything valuable or fragile, in the smaller bag that stays with you.
Tips for flying British Airways
- Check your small bag's depth when packed: 15 cm is the limit that catches most people out.
- A slim laptop backpack works as the BA handbag and as a free bag on low-cost airlines.
- Pack the cabin bag so it still closes if you have to hand it over at the gate.
Bags that fit British Airways
Other airlines
Ryanair · easyJet · Jet2 · American Airlines · United · Delta · Frontier
Sources: britishairways.com