Yes, small snow globes (≤3.4 oz) are allowed in carry-on if they fit inside your single quart-size liquids bag; larger ones go in checked bags.
Snow globes look harmless, yet they hold liquid. That mix invites screening rules. If you want a souvenir on the plane, the size and the way you pack it decide the outcome. This guide spells out the carry-on rules, shows how to measure volume fast, and shares packing tricks that keep glass safe without slowing you down at the checkpoint.
Taking A Snow Globe In Carry-On: The Rules
Airlines do not set the security rules for liquids. Screening teams do. In the United States, the TSA entry for snow globes says small globes can go in carry-on if they hold 3.4 ounces or less, and the whole globe fits in your single quart-size bag. Anything larger rides in checked baggage. That mirrors the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Other countries use the same 100 ml container limit for hand luggage, though some airports now scan larger containers with new equipment. When routes connect across regions, the tightest rule on your path wins. The table below compares the common cases.
Carry-On Snow Globe Rules By Region
| Region | Carry-On Allowed? | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|
| USA (TSA) | Yes, if ≤3.4 oz and inside the quart bag | Small globes must fit the bag; larger go in checked. Source: TSA “Snow Globes” and 3-1-1. |
| Canada (CATSA) | Yes, if ≤100 ml and inside the 1 L bag | CATSA matches the 100 ml rule and bag size for liquids. |
| UK/EU | Usually ≤100 ml; some airports allow larger | Most airports still enforce 100 ml. A few with upgraded scanners allow bigger containers. Check the departure airport’s rule on the day. |
What Counts As Liquid And Why It Matters
The water inside a snow globe is a liquid for screening. Even if the base is sealed and the glass is thick, it still falls under liquid limits. Screeners judge by the container, not by how hard a spill might be. They also look at the entire item, including the base, when deciding if it fits the liquids bag. If the globe looks bigger than a tennis ball, it likely exceeds 3.4 ounces.
How To Check Size Fast
You do not need lab gear. Use these quick checks before you fly:
- Visual test: Hold the globe next to a tennis ball. If the sphere is larger, plan for checked baggage.
- Bag fit: Drop the entire globe, base included, into a quart-size zip bag. If the seal closes flat without strain, you pass the bag test.
- Volume math: For a near-spherical globe, measure across the widest point. A 2.5-inch diameter sphere holds about 4.1 ounces; a 2.3-inch sphere holds about 3.4 ounces. Add room for the base. When in doubt, do not carry it on.
Packing So Glass Survives
Snow globes crack under point pressure. Cushion from all sides, brace the base, and keep the glass from rubbing against hard items.
- For carry-on: Place the globe inside its retail box, wrap once with soft clothing, then stand it upright in the quart-size bag. Set the bag near the top of your suitcase for easy removal at the lane.
- For checked: Nest the box in the center of the suitcase between dense clothes. Add corner padding and avoid contact with shoes, chargers, and belts.
- For gifts: Leave it unwrapped until you arrive. TSA recommends leaving gifts unwrapped to speed screening during holidays.
Are Snow Globes Allowed In Carry On Luggage Internationally?
Rules line up across North America. Canada’s screening agency confirms that snow globes of 100 ml or less may ride in carry-on if they fit inside a clear 1 liter bag. Larger ones go in checked baggage. The guidance sits on the CATSA snow globe page and the liquids page.
Across the UK, the liquids page on GOV.UK says most airports still use the 100 ml limit, yet some airports with new scanners let you carry larger containers. This shift is rolling out by airport. If your trip starts at a lenient airport but connects through one that still enforces 100 ml, your snow globe can be pulled at the next checkpoint. Match your packing to the strictest point on your route.
How To Breeze Through Security With A Snow Globe
Small details speed the process. Screeners need to see the liquids bag clearly. They also appreciate items that are easy to handle and return to the bag.
Smart Prep Before You Leave
- Choose a mini globe that fits a quart-size bag with space to spare.
- Keep the retail box, foam, and any sleeve. That protects the glass during travel.
- Place the globe in the liquids bag at home. Test the zip seal before you pack.
- Snap a quick photo of the globe inside the bag. If a screener asks, you can show how it fit before you left.
- Carry a spare zip bag in case the first one tears.
At The Security Lane
- Remove the liquids bag and set it flat in a tray. Keep the globe upright inside the bag to reduce rolling.
- Keep other liquids grouped in the same bag, away from the globe, so staff can scan the outline cleanly.
- Be ready for a short manual check. A calm, simple reply helps: “It’s a small snow globe inside my quart bag.”
Real-World Scenarios And What To Do
Travel plans vary. Here are the sticky cases and solid ways to handle each one.
Gift Shop Purchase During A Connection
Duty free shops often seal liquor and perfume in special bags. Snow globes rarely come that way. If you buy one during a layover and the next checkpoint still applies the 100 ml rule, you may lose the item. Buy at your final airport before a flight home, or ship from the shop.
Multiple Globes In One Bag
Many small globes can fit a quart bag, yet the bag still counts as your single liquids allowance. If you already carry toiletries, trade space or move toiletries to checked baggage. Keep the bag flat; a bulging bag invites a hand search.
Very Small Children And Strollers
Baby items have narrow liquid exemptions, yet they do not cover souvenirs. A snow globe still falls under the standard limit. Pack it the same way you would pack hand cream or gel.
Fragile Heirloom Or Large Collector Globe
These pieces often exceed the limit and need extra padding. Pack them in checked baggage with foam corners or ship them with tracking. Mark the inner box “fragile” for your own unpacking steps, not for staff.
How To Handle Purchases On Return Flights
Many travelers buy a globe near the end of a trip. If you plan to fly with only a carry-on on the way home, pick a mini at the shop and ask for the smallest box. If the only option is a larger piece, send it by post with tracking and padding, or check a small bag for the last leg.
Shipping Versus Checking A Bag
Shipping trades time for care. A postal box with foam corners gives steady protection. Checking a bag costs a fee, yet keeps the item with you at arrival. For short trips with tight transfers, shipping wins. For direct flights, a checked bag with good padding is the simpler pick.
Second Table: Quick Outcomes For Common Cases
| Scenario | Carry-On | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mini globe ≤3.4 oz | Allowed in liquids bag | Keep upright; seal the quart bag fully. |
| Medium globe 4–10 oz | Not allowed | Pack in checked baggage with padding. |
| Set of two minis | Allowed if both fit | Both must share the same quart bag. |
| Large base with tiny sphere | Case by case | If the whole piece fits the quart bag, you can try. Staff decide fit at the lane. |
| Airport with new scanners | Rules vary | Some allow larger containers; a connection elsewhere may not. |
Damage Control If Things Go Sideways
If a screener says the globe is too large, you still have choices. Ask about checking the item at the counter if your departure time allows a quick trip back landside. If the airport offers a mail-it-home service, use it and grab a receipt. If neither option works, you can hand the globe to a travel partner who is not flying yet, or surrender it. Staff cannot store personal items.
Tips For Buying A Carry-On Friendly Globe
Souvenir shops often stock tiny “travel size” globes near the register. Look for these traits:
- Short base: Short bases slide into the quart bag without bunching the zip seal.
- Tennis ball test: Keep a 2.5-inch target in mind. Smaller than that is best.
- Flat bottom: A flat bottom stands upright in the bag and in the tray.
- Box with foam: Foam shapes hug the glass and base tightly during bumps.
Holiday Packing With Snow Globes
Winter trips add gifts and bulky clothes. Space runs out fast. Decide early which items ride in carry-on and which ones ship. If you plan to bring several gifts to a family gathering, ship the larger globes and keep one small piece in your liquids bag for the flight. During peak weeks the TSA also asks that gifts stay unwrapped at screening. The holiday advisory on their news page mentions snow globes by name.
Bottom Line For Snow Globes In Carry-On
Pick a mini globe, place it inside your liquids bag, and you can carry it on in the United States. Canada treats it the same way. The UK and parts of Europe still use the 100 ml limit at most airports, yet some with updated scanners permit larger containers. Pack for the strictest checkpoint on your route, and your keepsake will reach home without drama.
Sizing Guide: Volume, Diameter, And Bag Fit
A globe’s capacity comes from the sphere. A simple estimate keeps you honest at the shop. If the sphere is near round, a diameter near 2.3 inches holds about 3.4 ounces. Add the base height and lip, and you can see why a tiny globe is the safer pick for hand luggage.
Quick Diameter To Volume Pairs
Use these ballpark pairs when you do not have a ruler:
- 2.1 inches ≈ 2.4 oz
- 2.3 inches ≈ 3.4 oz
- 2.5 inches ≈ 4.1 oz
- 2.8 inches ≈ 5.8 oz
- 3.0 inches ≈ 7.4 oz
Fit Test For The Quart Bag
A true quart bag seals flat with no stretch along the zipper. If your globe crowds the edges or bulges the seal, staff can call it non-compliant even if volume seems close. Pick a smaller globe or use checked baggage.
Material, Glitter, And Lighted Bases
Glass or acrylic both pass screening; screeners care about the liquid, not the shell. Glitter size varies and does not change the liquid rule. Some novelty bases include tiny button cells for a light. Those cells are fine in carry-on. Keep spare loose batteries at home or in the right bag per your airline’s battery page.
Travel Insurance And Souvenir Value
Expensive collector pieces deserve a receipt and a quick photo for records. If a bag goes missing or an item breaks, claims run smoother when you can show proof of purchase and condition. For rare pieces, ship with declared value and tracking.
Checklist You Can Save
Use this quick checklist before you leave the shop and again the night before your flight.
- Pick a mini globe under a tennis ball in size.
- Test the quart bag seal with the globe inside.
- Keep the retail box, foam, and receipt.
- Place the globe in your liquids bag at home.
- Pack soft layers around the box or the liquids bag.
- Set the liquids bag near the top of your suitcase.
- Plan for connections that still enforce 100 ml on liquids.
- Leave gifts unwrapped until you reach your destination.
- Carry a spare zip bag in case the first one tears.
- Ship large globes or check a bag with solid padding.
- Keep calm and smile at screening.