Yes—most airports allow liquids up to 100 ml per container in a single clear quart-sized bag; meds, baby items, and duty-free have special rules.
What Counts As A Liquid In Carry-On
Security treats many everyday items as liquid or gel, not just water or soda. Think toothpaste, creams, lotions, roll-ons, sprays, foams, mascara, lip gloss, liquid makeup, hair gel, shower gel, soups, and soft cheeses. If it pours, smears, sprays, pumps, squeezes, or spreads, screeners will likely place it under the liquids rule. That same rule also covers aerosols and many semi-solid foods.
Most airports follow the well known “3-1-1” setup: containers of 100 ml or 3.4 oz or less, all inside a single one-liter or quart-size clear bag, one bag per traveler. The bag must close fully without strain. Anything larger goes in checked bags unless it qualifies for an exception explained later in this guide. For the official wording, see the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Carry-On Liquids Rule: The 100 Ml/3-1-1 Basics
Here’s a fast reference for the items flyers pack most. This chart shows if the item fits in hand luggage and any extra notes that save time at the checkpoint.
| Item | Allowed In Hand Luggage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water, juice, soda | Up to 100 ml per container | Pack larger bottles in checked bags; empty reusable bottles before screening |
| Toothpaste, creams, lotions | Up to 100 ml | All containers together in one clear bag |
| Shampoo, conditioner, body wash | Up to 100 ml | Decant into travel bottles with tight caps |
| Makeup: mascara, liquid foundation, lip gloss | Up to 100 ml | Solid sticks avoid the liquids cap |
| Deodorant spray and hair spray | Up to 100 ml | Aerosols must have protective caps; see “Aerosols, sprays, and toiletries” |
| Gel ice packs | Up to 100 ml | Larger packs allowed only when needed to cool meds, breast milk, or infant items |
| Soups, sauces, yogurt | Up to 100 ml | Place with other liquids; solid food is fine |
| Soft cheese, peanut butter | Up to 100 ml | Treat spreads like liquids |
| Contact lens solution | Up to 100 ml without paperwork | More than 100 ml permitted as medically necessary; declare at screening |
| Breast milk, formula, baby food | More than 100 ml allowed | Screeners may test; see “When you can carry more than 100 ml” |
| Prescription liquid meds | More than 100 ml allowed | Declare, separate, and carry proof if available |
| Duty-free alcohol or perfume | Allowed if sealed in a STEB | Keep the receipt inside the sealed bag until your trip ends |
Taking Liquids In Hand Luggage Rules Explained
The 3-1-1 method keeps screening smooth. Use small containers, keep them together, and present the bag on top of your items. That layout helps officers read labels, see fill levels, and keep bins moving. If your bag is full, share a second bin, but stick to one liquids bag per traveler. Kids with their own seats can carry their own quart-size bag.
Container size matters, not the amount inside. A 200 ml bottle that’s half full still exceeds the carry-on cap. Swap bulky bottles for compact travel tubes. Choose flip-tops that snap shut to curb leaks from pressure changes. Zip the liquids bag and keep it accessible in an outer pocket so you can pull it out without digging.
Are Liquids Allowed In Hand Luggage Internationally
Across the United States, the 3-1-1 rule applies at all TSA checkpoints. The same pattern appears across the European Union and many other regions, where liquids must sit in a one-liter bag with containers of 100 ml or less. See the European Commission’s page on liquids, aerosols, and gels for the baseline policy.
The United Kingdom uses the 100 ml limit at most airports, while some locations with new CT scanners publish a two-liter cap for containers that meet their screening setup. That change does not apply everywhere, and it can switch during rollouts or maintenance. Always check your departure airport before packing. The UK’s page on hand luggage liquids lists current details and exemptions.
One more note for trips with connections. Rules at your first airport might differ from your second. When in doubt, plan for the stricter setup and you won’t need to repack on the fly.
When You Can Carry More Than 100 Ml
Several categories allow larger amounts in your cabin bag. You still need screening, and officers may ask questions, but you won’t be forced to toss what you need for the trip.
Medications and medical liquids
Bring reasonable quantities of prescription liquid meds, saline, contact lens solution, syringes that require liquid, and liquid nutrition. Keep labels or a note from a care provider if you have them. Declare these items, separate them from your 3-1-1 bag, and expect extra screening.
Infant and child needs
Breast milk, formula, sterilized water, baby food pouches, and gel packs to keep them cool may exceed 100 ml. Pack them in their own pouch, tell the officer, and be ready for non-hazard tests. Caregivers traveling without the child can still carry breast milk.
Special dietary items
Liquid nutrition or gels needed for a medical diet can travel in larger amounts. Pack only what’s needed for the journey plus a buffer for delays. Officers may swab containers or ask to screen them with liquid scanners.
Duty-free purchases
Liquids bought after screening can travel in the cabin when sealed in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag, often called a STEB. Keep the item sealed and keep the receipt visible inside the bag until your trip ends. If you open the bag before your final stop, you could be asked to place the item in checked baggage at the next checkpoint.
Aerosols, Sprays, And Toiletries
Personal aerosols such as deodorant, hair spray, shaving foam, and travel-size dry shampoo count toward your 3-1-1 bag. Caps must cover the nozzle to prevent unplanned sprays. Large salon cans belong in checked bags. Self-defense sprays and flammable hobby sprays aren’t allowed in the cabin at all, and many aren’t allowed in checked bags either.
Fragrance is fine in small bottles. To reduce breakage, move glass perfume into a small plastic atomizer. Nail polish and remover qualify as liquids; small bottles can ride in the quart-size bag, while full-size bottles ride in checked luggage. Some airlines restrict strong odors in flight, so wait until you land before applying anything pungent.
Powders, Electronics, And Other Lookalikes
Powders don’t follow the liquids cap, yet large containers can trigger extra screening in some countries. Keep protein powder or drink mix in smaller tubs or labeled bags to speed the scan. Baby powder is fine in small amounts. Spreads in stick form, like balm sticks or solid cologne, sidestep the liquids bag entirely.
Electronics don’t count as liquids, though chargers and power banks have separate rules. Keep lithium batteries in carry-on bags, never in checked baggage, and watch airline limits on spare cells. If your route includes an airport using CT scanners, you might not need to remove electronics; that varies by location.
Carrying Liquids In Hand Luggage On International Flights
Transit rules matter when you buy duty-free or connect through multiple security points. A STEB protects your duty-free alcohol or perfume when you board a second flight on the same trip, yet only if the seal stays intact. Keep the receipt inside the bag and don’t open it between flights. If a screener needs to test the bottle, they’ll reseal it after clearing it. Many airports accept STEBs across regions, though some smaller stations still apply local checks.
If you plan to exit the secure area during a layover, treat duty-free as a carry-on liquid at the next checkpoint. That means it must remain sealed in the STEB and meet the arrival airport’s screening rules. When rules differ along your route, sticking with smaller containers keeps options open.
Exception Allowances At A Glance
Use this table to prep items that sit outside the 100 ml cap. Place them in a separate pouch so you can hand them over without holding up the line.
| Item | Carry-On Limit | What Screeners May Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription liquid meds | Reasonable amounts for the trip | Declare; provide labels or a note if available |
| Non-prescription medical liquids | Reasonable amounts | Explain the need; expect swab or bottle test |
| Breast milk and formula | No fixed cap | Present separately; gel ice packs permitted |
| Baby food pouches | No fixed cap | Show pouches; allow testing |
| Liquid nutrition for medical diets | Reasonable amounts | Separate from 3-1-1; expect screening |
| Duty-free alcohol or perfume in STEB | As sold | Keep sealed with receipt until final destination |
Packing Strategy That Speeds Screening
Build a lightweight kit. Aim for multi-use items and solids where possible: bar shampoo, conditioner bars, paste toothpaste tabs, solid sunscreen sticks, and stick deodorant. Refill small bottles from big ones at home. Label each bottle so you can spot leaks fast. Slip a tiny roll of tape in a side pocket to reinforce any cap that feels loose.
Place your liquids bag in an outer pocket of your cabin bag. That move shortens the shuffle at the trays. Keep meds and infant items in a second pouch and tell the officer before bins enter the machine. If you carry a reusable bottle, cross security with it empty and fill it airside.
Airline And Country Differences To Watch
Screening rules come from national regulators and airports, while airlines add carriage rules for safety. That mix creates small differences from place to place. One airport might let you leave liquids inside the bag if it uses CT scanners; the next might still ask you to pull them out. Some carriers set tighter limits for aerosol weight on board, even when cans sit under 100 ml. Domestic segments on the same ticket follow the local checkpoint rules at each airport you pass through. When your trip spans regions, pack to the stricter standard. Check your airline’s cabin baggage page for brand-specific notes on sprays, alcohol, or dry ice.
Troubleshooting At The Checkpoint
Bag pulled for a recheck? Breathe. Point out which pouch holds meds, infant items, or nutrition. Show duty-free by pointing to the sealed STEB with the receipt inside. If a bottle needs a test and you’d rather not open it, ask whether a non-contact scan is possible. Many stations use liquid scanners for that job. When a container is too big for the cabin, ask about gate checking or returning to the desk if time allows. If you must toss it, decant a small amount into an empty travel bottle for the flight. A tidy, labeled kit and a friendly tone usually cut the recheck to a minute or two.
Common Mistakes That Lead To Delays
- Half-full big bottles. Size, not fill level, rules the day.
- Loose nozzle caps on aerosols. Always bring the cap.
- Mixed bags. Keep liquids in one clear bag, meds in another pouch.
- Forgetting duty-free rules on connections. Keep the STEB sealed with the receipt inside.
- Leaky push-pumps. Swap to flip-tops or screw caps for travel.
- Unlabeled decants. A sharpie label saves questions at the table.
Quick Packing Checklist
- One clear quart-size or one-liter bag with up to ten small bottles.
- Travel-size cream, gel, and spray items capped and sealed.
- Medications and infant items in a separate pouch, ready to declare.
- Empty reusable bottle for water after screening.
- Print or save links to the TSA 3-1-1 page, the UK’s liquids guidance, and the EU’s page on LAGs for quick reference.