Yes, you can bring unmarked liquids on a plane if each container follows the 3-1-1 liquids rule or a listed exemption.
Not Allowed
Conditional
Allowed
Carry-On
- Unlabeled toiletries ≤100 ml per item
- Declare medical liquids over 100 ml
- Mini alcohol must fit in quart bag
3-1-1 & screening
Checked
- Regular liquids can go in hold
- Alcohol 24–70%: sealed retail only
- Over 70% ABV banned
Packaging limits
Special Handling
- Baby formula and milk
- Liquid meds and supplies
- Contact lens solution may alarm
Tell the officer
What “Unmarked” Means At Airport Security
Unmarked usually means the container has no brand label or original packaging. Think a plain squeeze bottle, a travel atomizer, or a refillable pump. Security cares about volume, risk, and screening, not marketing labels. If the bottle is small enough to meet the 3-1-1 limit, it can ride in your liquids bag. If it is a medical or infant need, declare it and expect extra checks. If the liquid looks like a solvent, cleaner, or fuel, officers can refuse it.
Screening systems are tuned to catch liquid explosives and hazardous mixes. Officers may ask what the liquid is, request a test, or send the item back to checked baggage. Final decisions sit with the officer at the checkpoint. That is normal and happens when a container, marked or not, triggers an alarm or looks risky.
Quick Status For Common Unmarked Liquids
Here’s a broad map that matches how airports read the rules. Use it to pack smart and breeze through the line.
| Item Type | Carry-On (3-1-1 Or Exempt) | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Water, tea, juice (home-filled) | ≤100 ml in bag; larger not through security | Allowed; seal to prevent leaks |
| Shampoo, lotion, gel (refilled minis) | ≤100 ml each in quart bag | Allowed |
| Liquid meds, saline, IV supplies | Allowed in reasonable amounts with declaration | Allowed |
| Baby milk, formula, juice | Allowed as needed with screening | Allowed |
| Contact lens solution | ≤100 ml in bag; larger screened if declared | Allowed |
| Sauces, soups, purees | ≤100 ml in bag only | Allowed |
| E-liquid (unlabeled) | ≤100 ml in bag | Check airline policy; often allowed |
| Alcohol (home-bottled) | Mini bottles in bag only | Retail sealed only; ABV caps apply |
| Fuel, solvents, strong cleaners | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Once you grasp the liquids rule, unlabeled bottles are simple: size, category, and screening drive the outcome. Keep the small stuff in a clear quart bag, and keep special-case items ready to declare.
Bringing Unmarked Liquids On A Plane: What Screeners Look For
Volume comes first. Each non-exempt container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less and fit inside a single quart-size bag. That bag must close without strain. Bring one quart bag per person. This guideline sits on the TSA 3-1-1 page and mirrors many regions worldwide.
Next is category. Medical liquids, baby milk, and similar needs can exceed 100 ml. These items should be presented to the officer. State what the liquid is, and expect swab testing. TSA’s pages for liquid medications explain that larger amounts are allowed in reasonable quantities, with inspection. Contact lens solutions can trip alarms; officers may test them or ask you to place them in checked baggage if the test triggers.
Unlabeled Toiletries And Refills
Refilling travel bottles is fine. The bottles do not need brand labels. If a bottle looks like a gel or cream, treat it as a liquid for screening. Keep the cap tight, wipe residue, and pack it with the rest of your liquids. If an officer asks what it is, a simple, direct answer helps.
Food-Type Liquids And Sauces
Soups, salsas, chutneys, and purees count as liquids. Unlabeled mason jars draw attention due to volume and texture. Keep them small for carry-on. Bigger jars ride in checked luggage with extra padding. If you bought sealed items after security, carry them as provided by the shop.
Unmarked Alcohol
Home-bottled spirits raise two separate checks: hazardous goods and alcohol packaging rules. For checked bags in the United States, anything over 24% and up to 70% ABV must be in unopened retail packaging. That packaging carries the proof or ABV and must stay sealed. Home-filled flasks break that rule, so they get refused in checked bags even if the liquid itself is legal to carry. The FAA’s PackSafe page spells out the caps and the “unopened retail packaging” line for beverages in the 24%–70% range.
Carry-on rules are tighter. Any alcohol must follow 3-1-1 for size, and you cannot drink your own alcohol on board. Mini bottles can sit in the quart bag. Anything larger stays behind or moves to checked baggage, subject to the same ABV limits and packaging requirements.
Regional Notes You Should Know
Most regions echo the same cabin rule: containers at 100 ml or less in a small transparent bag. The United Kingdom site for passenger guidance states the 100 ml limit at most airports, with some airports trialing larger allowances tied to new scanners. That means you may see different limits by airport during upgrades. Plan for 100 ml unless your departure airport clearly states a higher limit.
Across the European Union, the LAGs policy still restricts larger liquids past screening, with exemptions for medical and infant needs. Some hubs roll out advanced scanners and adjust their process, yet the practical advice remains steady: assume 100 ml unless the airport confirms a different limit for your day of travel.
Packing Unmarked Liquids So They Clear Fast
Set Up A Clean Liquids Bag
Use one quart-size, resealable, transparent bag. Pre-fill it with your travel bottles. Keep each bottle at 100 ml or less. Leave a little headspace in gels to avoid pressure burps. If you travel as a family, give each adult their own bag to spread the volume.
Stage Medical And Infant Items
Keep these items in a separate pouch so you can present them without digging. Pack a brief note or prescription label when handy. You do not need paper to qualify, yet it speeds questions. Tell the officer what the item is and that it is for medical or infant needs. Expect swabs or extra screening, which is normal and usually quick.
Mind Alcohol Packaging Rules
In checked baggage, spirits between 24% and 70% ABV require sealed retail packaging and a 5-liter per person cap. Beer and wine (≤24% ABV) do not have a hazardous goods cap in checked bags, though airlines may set weight or breakage limits. Over 70% ABV is banned from both cabin and hold. When in doubt, buy at duty-free after security, keep the tamper-evident bag, and save the receipt.
Prevent Leaks And Alarms
Use tape or a screw-on cap on refillable bottles. Squeeze a bit of air out of soft bottles before sealing. Wipe threads dry. Keep liquids away from electronics. In checked bags, double-bag liquids and pad them inside clothing or shoes.
Officer Questions You Might Hear
Expect short, direct prompts: “What is this?” “Is it a medical liquid?” “Will you consent to a test?” Clear answers move things along. If a test alarms, the officer may ask you to place the item in checked baggage or dispose of it. That result can happen with some contact lens solutions and stronger cleaners.
Screening Scenarios And The Best Move
| Scenario | What To Do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unlabeled 50 ml shampoo | Place in quart bag | Counts as liquid; no brand label needed |
| 200 ml saline for lenses | Declare and present | Testing may occur; allowed as needed |
| Home-filled flask of whiskey | Move to retail-sealed at duty-free | Checked bags need sealed retail packaging |
| Mason jar of soup | Pack in checked bag | Too large for cabin; pad to stop breaks |
| Strong solvent in a plain bottle | Do not pack | Hazardous; refused in cabin and hold |
Edge Cases With Unmarked Bottles
Powders, Pastes, And Slurries
Some items sit between categories. Nut butters, thick pastes, and wet slurries count as liquids for screening. Powders larger than a soft drink can may trigger extra checks. Keep powders in original packs when possible. If you shift them to a plain jar, officers may swab and ask follow-ups.
Refill Stations And Bulk Buys
Zero-waste shops are fine for travel refills. Use sturdy travel bottles with tight caps. Do a sniff test before packing; strong chemical smells slow screening and draw more questions. A small label you write yourself (“shampoo,” “hand gel”) can help if an officer asks, but it is optional.
International Connections
When you change planes across regions, rules can shift mid-trip. A bag cleared in one country can face a fresh check at a transit point. Keep cabin liquids tight to the smallest common limit. Duty-free bags often need to stay sealed with a dated receipt until your final arrival.
When An Unmarked Liquid Should Not Fly
Skip anything flammable, corrosive, or pressurized beyond small toiletries. Fuel, paint thinners, and strong solvents sit on do-not-fly lists in both cabin and hold. If the liquid looks like a lab chemical, leave it home or ship it with a verified hazmat carrier.
Simple Packing Flow You Can Copy
1) Sort
Line up all liquids. Move medical and infant items to a “declare” pouch. Group everyday toiletries by size.
2) Size
Decant to 100 ml bottles for the cabin. Keep a backup set in checked baggage if you need more supply.
3) Seal
Tighten caps. Tape flip-tops. Use a transparent quart bag for cabin items. Double-bag checked liquids.
4) State
At the belt, say you have medical or infant liquids to declare. Place them in a tray on request. Stay nearby until screening ends.
Final Tips Before You Head Out
Check your departure airport page on travel day if you hear about scanner upgrades. In many places, the 100 ml cabin rule still applies. Rules for medical liquids and infant feeds remain friendly across regions, with a quick declaration at the lane. Spirits follow packaging and ABV caps. If a liquid looks hazardous, do not pack it. That simple filter saves time and keeps your items safe.
Want a deeper read on meds at the checkpoint? Try our medications in hand luggage guide.