Yes, liquids are allowed in hand carry if each container is 100 mL (3.4 oz) or less in one quart bag; medical and baby items get special allowances.
What Counts As A Liquid In Hand Luggage
Airports treat more than just water as a liquid. Anything that pours, spreads, squeezes, pumps, or melts at room temp sits under the same rule. Think toothpaste, creams, gels, hair wax, mascara, lip gloss, roll-on deodorant, liquid makeup, soup, yogurt, soft cheese, and jam. Aerosol toiletries count too, since the contents are pressurized liquid. If it sloshes or smears, assume it’s a liquid for screening.
Dry goods and true solids sit outside the limit. Solid bar soap, stick deodorant, makeup sticks, powders, and wrapped chocolate are fine for carry-on. Keep liquids together so agents can see them fast.
Use this quick guide to match common items to the carry-on liquid rule. It lists the usual toiletries plus a few frequent curveballs.
| Item | Carry-On Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toothpaste, face wash, lotion | ≤100 mL in 1 quart bag | One bag per traveler |
| Shampoo, conditioner | ≤100 mL in 1 quart bag | Decant if bottles are larger |
| Perfume, cologne | ≤100 mL in 1 quart bag | Cap bottles to avoid leaks |
| Aerosol deodorant, hairspray | ≤100 mL can in bag | Non-flammable toiletry types |
| Contact lens solution | ≤100 mL in bag | Larger sizes count as medicine if needed |
| Baby milk, puree, juice | Allowed over 100 mL | Screened separately |
| Prescription liquid meds | Allowed over 100 mL | Declare at security |
| Frozen gel packs | Allowed if fully frozen | Partially melted packs count as liquid |
| Peanut butter, soft cheese | ≤100 mL in bag | Treat spreads as liquids |
| Duty-free alcohol | Allowed in STEB | Keep sealed through connections |
Taking Liquids In Hand Carry: The 3-1-1 Basics
The standard rule in many countries is the 3-1-1. Containers up to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, all packed in one clear, resealable quart-size bag, one bag per traveler. Keep the bag at the top of your carry-on. At the belt, place it in the tray so screening moves quickly. Replace bulky bottles with travel sizes or decant into small, leak-proof containers.
In the United States, the rule comes from the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule and applies to gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes. The list includes common toiletries like toothpaste, mouthwash, and hand sanitizer.
If you use more liquids on trips, look for solid versions. Shampoo bars, soap sheets, solid fragrance, and stick lotions save room in the bag.
Are Liquids Allowed In Hand Luggage Internationally?
Rules align across regions, but details vary by airport. Across the EU and many other states, the cap sits at 100 milliliters per container inside a one-liter clear bag. That mirrors the 3-1-1 idea. Some airports use CT scanners that let you leave liquids in the bag. Size caps can still apply, so don’t pack large bottles unless the airport clearly states a higher limit.
In the UK, most airports still use the 100 milliliter limit at security. A few locations with CT scanners may allow larger containers up to two liters, yet policies differ and can change. Check your departure airport and the UK hand luggage liquids page before you fly. In the EU, a 2024 decision restored the familiar 100 milliliter limit at airports using new scanners.
United States: What To Expect
Pack one quart-size bag with your small containers and be ready to remove it. Duty-free liquids bought abroad can pass through US screening in a sealed, tamper-evident bag when the receipt shows recent purchase.
Breast milk, formula, and juice for infants travel in larger amounts. These items do not need to fit in the quart bag. Tell the officer, remove them from your carry-on, and expect separate screening.
United Kingdom And Europe: Current Practice
Most airports across the region still use the 100 milliliter limit, inside a one-liter transparent bag. Where CT scanners run, some airports allow liquids to stay inside your bag. Size caps can differ, and rollouts take time. If your airport page lists stricter steps, follow those instructions.
Duty-free purchases packed in a sealed tamper-evident bag are widely accepted when you stay airside. Keep the receipt in the bag and leave the seal intact until your last landing.
Duty-Free Liquids And Sealed Bags
Shops after security seal bottles in a special tamper-evident bag known as a STEB. Keep it sealed with the receipt visible. When you connect through another airport, the sealed bag helps you carry larger bottles without losing them. Open the bag early and you may lose the item at the next checkpoint.
Not every region treats duty-free the same. Some transfer points screen and reseal. Others ask you to check the item if the seal is broken. If you plan a connection, buy near your final leg or ask for advice at the shop.
Exceptions For Medicine, Baby Food, And Special Diet
Liquids you need for medical use can exceed 100 milliliters. Bring only the amount you need for the trip and keep them separate from regular toiletries. Label boxes or bottles and carry a copy of prescriptions when possible. Cooling packs for meds can travel, and officers may ask to test them.
Traveling with an infant or toddler changes the limit. Formula, breast milk, sterilized water, and purees can exceed the cap. Tell the officer at the belt. Place these items in the tray for separate screening. Many parents pack empty bottles and buy water after security for mixing.
Food for medical or special dietary needs can also pass in larger sizes. Again, declare these at screening and expect extra checks.
Aerosols, Toiletries, And Tricky Items
Toiletry aerosols like deodorant or hairspray follow the 100 milliliter cap in carry-on. Large spray cans and flammable products belong in checked bags or stay home. Paint, solvent, and fuel canisters are not allowed in the cabin.
Shaving foam, mousse, and similar pressurized products count as liquids. Keep the caps on to prevent accidental spraying in your bag.
Items that fool travelers often include peanut butter, soft cheese, hummus, salsa, and jars of sauce. Treat spreads as liquids. Snow globes with liquid inside need to fit in the quart bag unless they are tiny. Wrap glass to avoid breakage.
Packing Strategy That Speeds Screening
Make a small kit you can move between trips. Use leak-proof 100 milliliter bottles, label them, and store them in one clear quart bag. Place the bag where you can reach it without unpacking your whole carry-on.
Switch bulky liquid items to solids. Shampoo bars, conditioner bars, toothpaste tablets, and solid cologne save space and mess. Pick travel-size sun care sticks for beach trips.
Lay out liquids before you leave home. If a container looks bigger than 100 milliliters, decant it or pack it in checked baggage. Seal caps with tape for extra leak control.
Common Pitfalls That Trigger Bag Checks
Packing a 150 milliliter bottle that is half full. Security checks the labeled size, not the amount inside. That bottle still fails the rule even if it looks half empty.
Forgetting the one-bag limit. Two half-full quart bags still break the rule. Combine or move extras to checked luggage.
Leaving the liquids bag deep in your backpack. If officers cannot see it, expect a search and a delay.
Carrying a sealed beverage from the gate of your first flight into a connecting checkpoint. Drinks bought in the concourse before the next screening still count as liquids.
When Larger Liquids Can Fly In The Cabin
Three cases often allow bigger containers in your hand carry. Medical liquids, infant food and drink, and duty-free in a sealed tamper-evident bag. Each case calls for extra screening or documents.
A handful of airports with CT scanners sometimes allow larger containers, yet rollouts change and policy can vary by terminal. If your airport says the 100 milliliter cap still applies, follow that rule.
Pre-Flight Checklist For Carry-On Liquids
- Put liquids, gels, creams, aerosols, and pastes in one quart-size clear bag.
- Use containers of 100 milliliters or 3.4 ounces or less.
- Keep the bag at the top of your carry-on for easy removal.
- Declare medicine, baby items, and special diet liquids at the belt.
- Keep duty-free bottles sealed in the STEB with the receipt visible.
- If connecting, avoid opening the sealed bag until your last landing.
- Check your departure airport page for scanner policy and size caps.
Use this size cheat sheet to read labels fast when you pack.
| Common Size | Milliliters | Allowed In Carry-On? |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4 oz travel bottle | 100 mL | Yes, in quart bag |
| 6 oz sunscreen | 177 mL | No, pack in checked |
| 12 oz drink can | 355 mL | No through screening |
| 1 liter water | 1000 mL | Buy after security |
| 50 mL perfume mini | 50 mL | Yes, in bag |
| 2 liter container | 2000 mL | Only where stated by airport |
Hand Luggage Liquids: Simple Packing Plan
Group items by task. Keep wash-up liquids together, grooming sprays together, and leave a corner for small extras like drops or lens solution. If you travel often, restock the kit right when you unpack at home so it is ready for next time.
When in doubt, smaller wins. A clean, tight kit gets you through the lane with less hassle and lowers the chance of leaks in your bag. Plan a little extra time at security. Keep your kit tidy. Smile.
Liquids Bought After Security
Anything you buy after the checkpoint can go on the plane with you. That includes bottled drinks and full-size toiletries from airside shops. If you leave the secure area or pass through another screening point during a connection, the rule resets. A drink from the arrivals concourse will not pass the next checkpoint. Duty-free packed in a sealed tamper-evident bag is the exception.
On long itineraries, buy drinks near your final gate. That avoids trouble at a recheck station in a transit hall. Carry a reusable empty bottle through screening and fill it at a fountain to save money and plastic.
Transfers And Second Screenings
Many hubs funnel arriving passengers to another security line before the next flight. Liquids you carried off the first plane must pass screening again. Unsealed drinks get dumped. Duty-free in a sealed bag normally passes if the bag stays closed and the receipt is dated for the same trip. Keep receipts handy.
At some airports, officers open the STEB, test the liquid, then reseal it with security tape. Keep extra time in your layover for this step. If your connection is tight, think about buying duty-free at the last airport instead.
Step-By-Step Quart Bag Setup
- Lay out everything liquid on a table and group by wash, skin, hair, and extras.
- Move only the items you truly use on a short trip. Leave backups in checked bags.
- Decant into 100 milliliter bottles. Use a tiny funnel to cut spills.
- Label each bottle on the front and the cap. Clear labels help officers and help you.
- Squeeze out air before sealing. Less air means less chance of leaks.
- Pack the heaviest bottles at the bottom of the bag so it stands upright in the tray.
- Set the bag at the top of your carry-on, zipper facing up for quick grab and go.
Leak Control Tips That Work
- Use screw-top bottles with a gasket. Flip caps can pop under pressure.
- Wrap each cap with one turn of tape. Painter’s tape peels off cleanly.
- Slide each bottle into a snack-size zip bag before it goes in the quart bag.
- Put a thin microfiber cloth inside the quart bag to catch drips.
- Open pressurized cans slowly after landing to vent gently.
Regional Notes And Edge Cases
Contact lens saline larger than 100 milliliters can travel as a medical liquid. Keep it outside the quart bag and declare it at the belt. Insulin, liquid nutrition, and related cooling packs can travel as needed. Bring supplies in their original packaging when you can.
Some cabins sell drinks on board. Drinks bought on the plane are fine to carry off at landing. They may not pass a new security line in a transfer hall. Finish them before the next checkpoint or leave them on the aircraft.