Yes, but only cans with 3.4 oz or less of liquid meet 3‑1‑1; larger cans go in checked bags and customs rules may also limit meat cans.
Flying with cans seems simple until security meets metal, liquid, and X‑ray images. This guide lays out clear rules, what works in real life, and smart packing moves so you don’t lose a prized tin at the checkpoint.
The short answer: sealed cans behave like any other food that can spill or spread. If a can holds liquid over 3.4 oz (100 ml), it won’t fit the carry‑on liquids rule and will likely be refused. Small cans under that limit can ride in your quart bag. Solid foods with no liquid are fine. For the full liquids policy, see the TSA 3‑1‑1 liquids rule.
Quick Table: Canned Items And Carry‑On Outcomes
Security can also refuse an item if the X‑ray view isn’t clear. When in doubt, place cans in checked luggage; the TSA canned foods page explains why you may face extra screening.
| Canned Item | Carry‑On? | Reason / Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Mini tuna or sardines, 2.5–3 oz | Yes, inside quart bag | Liquid in can is under 3.4 oz total |
| Tuna, 5 oz standard can | No | Liquid content over 3.4 oz |
| Condensed soup, 10.5 oz | No | Exceeds liquids limit |
| Coconut milk, 13.5 oz | No | Exceeds liquids limit |
| Pâté, 2.5 oz tin | Yes, inside quart bag | Treat as spreadable food |
| Evaporated milk, 5 oz | No | Exceeds liquids limit |
| Fruit in syrup, 15 oz | No | Syrup counts as liquid |
| Beans with brine, 15 oz | No | Brine counts as liquid |
| Tomato paste, 6 oz | No | Over 3.4 oz and spreadable |
| Canned bread or cake | Check bag | Solid food, yet sealed metal may prompt extra screening |
| Baby food, small ready‑to‑feed | Yes, reasonable amounts | Exemption when traveling with an infant |
| Wet pet food, 3 oz | Yes, inside quart bag | Still subject to the 3‑1‑1 rule |
What The 3‑1‑1 Rule Means For Cans
Security screens liquid, gel, and spreadable foods the same way as shampoo. A can of tuna in oil or water counts as liquid. Tomato sauce, curry, condensed soup, and evaporated milk count as liquid. Even jellylike fillings count as gel. If the can size exceeds 3.4 oz, expect a no for carry‑on, even if the content looks thick.
Small Cans That Fit The Quart Bag
Travel sizes exist. You can find mini tins of fish, pâté, or milk under 3.4 oz. These go in the quart bag with toothpaste and lotion. Keep them sealed and expect extra looks on the X‑ray. Officers may swab for traces and may still refuse an item that appears risky. That call is theirs.
Why Full‑Size Cans Fail
Most pantry cans are 10–20 oz. They break the limit, and dense metal can block the X‑ray view. That combination triggers more screening and often a repack request. Checked luggage avoids the size limit and keeps your carry‑on lighter.
Can You Bring Canned Food In Hand Luggage Safely?
Yes, if the liquid inside is below 3.4 oz per can and all cans fit in one quart bag. If you need more than that, go with checked baggage or ship a box. The tips below keep cans safe and intact from kitchen to baggage claim.
Pack In Checked Bags When Possible
Weight adds up fast. Two or three full cans can push a small suitcase over an airline weight cap. Wrap each can with clothing, place them in a plastic bag, and keep them near the center of the suitcase. Avoid placing cans next to fragile items. Soft padding reduces dents and leaks.
What To Do At Screening
Place the quart bag on top of your items so it’s easy to pull out. If an officer asks about the cans, give a direct answer and follow direction. Security has the final say on what passes the checkpoint. If a can doesn’t pass, you can toss it, return to the lobby and check it, or ship it.
Are Canned Foods Allowed In Carry‑On Bags On International Routes?
Most countries use the same 100 ml liquid limit for hand luggage, so the 3.4 oz rule still applies. Some airports now use advanced scanners that allow larger containers, yet many still apply the 100 ml rule. When your trip includes more than one airport, use the strictest rule along the way to avoid trouble during a connection.
Connections Can Reset Screening
If you clear security again mid‑trip, the new airport’s rules apply. A can that left your first airport may not pass at the second one. Keep carry‑on cans to mini sizes only. Anything larger belongs in the hold from the start.
Customs: Legal At Security, Refused At The Border
Security checks for safety. Border agencies check for bio risk and trade rules. Canned meats, meat sauces, and some fish can be banned by a country even when sealed. When you land, declare any food. If you’re not sure, declare it. Fines for failing to declare are steep and can affect future entry. For U.S. travelers, see CBP’s page on prohibited and restricted items.
Smart Packing, Storage, And Safety Tips
- Pick pouches when you can. Shelf‑stable retort pouches weigh less than cans and take less space. They still count as liquid if the content can spill, so 3.4 oz applies in carry‑ons.
- Watch can openers. A small manual opener counts as a tool. If it’s 7 inches or shorter, it can sit in your carry‑on; longer tools ride in the hold. If the opener has a sharp exposed blade, checked baggage is safer.
- Mind the lid. Pull‑tab tops can snag fabric and pop during rough handling. Add a layer of tape over the tab and wrap the can with a zip bag.
- Prevent rust and dents. Put cans in a plastic bag, then a sock, then nest them in clothing. Avoid spots near zippers and frame rails inside the suitcase.
- Plan for mess. All cans in checked bags should sit inside a sealed bag. If one leaks, you’ll save the rest of your wardrobe.
Quick Decision Guide For Canned Goods
| Scenario | Best Option | Reason / Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Nonstop flight, one 3 oz tin | Carry‑on in quart bag | Meets 3‑1‑1 |
| Two flights with a recheck | Check the can | Screening repeats at the next airport |
| Outbound from airport with larger liquid allowance | Check cans or keep to minis | Return or connection may still use the 100 ml limit |
| Returning through an airport using the 100 ml rule | Check cans | Hand luggage must meet the strictest point |
| Bringing canned meat to the United States | Don’t pack in carry‑on or checked | Import rules restrict most meat cans |
| Sending gifts ahead | Ship by post | Often cheaper than airline overweight fees |
| Traveling with an infant | Carry baby food as needed | Exemption with extra screening |
| Flying with a service animal | Carry only tiny wet food | No medical exemption for pet food |
| Carrying a manual can opener | Carry if 7 inches or shorter | Longer tools go in checked bags |
| Long layover with new screening | Avoid cans in hand luggage | Re‑screening can block the item |
Answers To Edge Cases
Drained Tuna In A Plastic Box
Even if you drain a can and move the tuna to a container, leftover liquid can trigger the rule. Treat it as liquid and put it in the quart bag if under the limit or into checked luggage if larger.
Homemade Jars
Glass jars with metal lids count the same way as cans. Jam, sauces, and pickles are liquid or gel. Small jars can ride in the quart bag; large jars go in the hold. Pressure‑sealed home jars risk vacuum loss in flight, which can leak. The hold is safer.
Baby Food And Formula
Baby food in small sealed containers can go in carry‑ons in reasonable amounts outside the quart bag when you travel with an infant, but expect extra checks. Powdered formula has no liquid issue. Liquid formula in larger sizes needs screening at the desk; allow extra time.
Canned Fish Packed In Oil
The oil is liquid. Bring tiny tins or check them. If the tin leaks oil in your bag, the smell lingers. Double‑bag these items or ship them instead.
Canned Fruit In Syrup
Syrup is liquid, and most fruit cans are well over the limit. These are better in checked luggage.
Canned Bread Or Cake
The food is solid and the can is large. Size isn’t the liquid issue here, yet sealed metal can extend screening time. Packing in the hold removes the risk at the checkpoint.
Frozen Cans
Security treats frozen items as liquid if the item isn’t fully solid at screening time. Fully frozen cans are rare. Expect the rule to apply.
Tips For Smooth Travel With Food Gifts
- Price out shipping. For long trips with many tins, a flat‑rate box sent ahead often costs less than an overweight fee at the airport.
- Buy at the destination. If the canned item is common where you land, shop after arrival and enjoy it there. Then bring memories, not dented metal, on the return flight.
- Use duty free wisely. Duty free limits don’t change liquids screening on departure or during connections. Size still matters for what you carry through security.
- Go digital for recipes. If you want a special sauce, save the brand, recipe, or store name and buy it later. Snap a photo of the label instead of hauling weight across borders.
- Leave room in bags. Spare space reduces pressure on cans and lids. Resist the urge to pack every corner tight.
Why Officers Sometimes Say No Even When Rules Say Yes
Screeners use judgment. Dense items can mask other objects on the X‑ray. A sealed can may hide a device or just block the view. If an officer can’t clear the image, the can won’t pass. Polite answers and tidy packing help your case, but the decision sits with the officer on duty.
When Carry‑On Makes Sense
Short flights with no connections and a single mini can for a snack can be fine. Place the tin in the quart bag and keep it near the top of your carry‑on. Keep the lid intact and open it only after landing. Don’t open cans on the plane; sharp metal edges aren’t safe in a tight cabin.
When Checked Bags Make More Sense
Large cans, many cans, or any can you really need later belong in the hold. Pack them low and centered, inside sealed bags, with soft layers all around. Add a packing list so you can find them fast at the hotel. If you pass through a hot region, keep the suitcase out of direct sun in cars or on tarmac where you can.
Travel Examples
- One 3 oz tin of sardines: carry‑on works. Put it in the quart bag.
- Two 5 oz cans of coconut milk: check them or ship them. Each can is over the carry‑on size.
- Three 2.5 oz tins of pâté: carry‑on works if the quart bag still closes fully.
- One 12 oz can of beans: hold only. Add padding to manage dents.
- A gift set with four 4 oz cans of fish: the cans break the limit. Place the set in checked luggage or mail it.
Frequently Overlooked Rules That Affect Cans
- Ice packs must be fully frozen when you pass the scanner. Partially thawed packs count as liquid.
- Dry ice is allowed in small amounts in the cabin if your airline accepts it and you label it, but it won’t help cans that contain liquid over the limit.
- Some airports now accept larger liquid containers thanks to 3D scanners, yet many others still apply the 100 ml rule. If your return airport uses the old rule, your carry‑on must meet it on the way back.
Bottom Line
You can fly with canned goods, yet the carry‑on path is narrow. Mini tins that fit the quart bag are fine. Full cans belong in the hold. When you cross borders, declare food, and avoid meat cans to stay clear of import rules. Pack smart, stay within the rules, and your treats will meet you at your destination without drama. For policy details, see the TSA canned foods guidance and the 3‑1‑1 liquids page.