Are There New Rules For Carry-On Luggage? | 2025 Update

What changed in 2025

Airports continue rolling out computed tomography (CT) scanners that give security teams a 3D view inside bags. Where these scanners run, you’ll often keep laptops and toiletries in your carry-on during screening, and at select UK airports liquid containers up to two litres are allowed. In the U.S., the 3-1-1 liquid rule remains in place for now. Battery safety rules are unchanged: spare lithium cells and power banks must ride in the cabin, not the hold.

If you’re flying through multiple airports on one trip, treat rules as “per-checkpoint.” Departing, connecting, and returning terminals may follow different liquid limits and tray routines, even within the same country.

Where rules shifted and where they didn’t

New rules for carry-on luggage in 2025

Think of 2025 as a transition year. Security tech is improving, but carry-on basics still hold. Use the checkpoints below to pack with confidence.

Liquids and screening tech

Flying in the U.S.? Pack liquids, gels, creams, and pastes in containers of 100 ml/3.4 oz or less inside a single quart-size bag. That’s the long-standing TSA liquids rule. At many U.S. CT lanes you’ll be told to keep the bag in your carry-on, but the size limits still apply.

Flying from a UK terminal with CT installed? Some now permit containers up to two litres and let electronics stay in the bag. Not all terminals have switched, so check your exact departure terminal’s guidance. If in doubt, follow the stricter 100 ml setup to avoid a repack at the belt.

Laptop and tablet screening

CT scanners can clear large electronics in-bag when the officer says so. In non-CT lanes, you’ll still pull laptops and tablets into a tray. Keep cords coiled and power banks separate so the X-ray image is clean.

Batteries, power banks, and e-cigs

Spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in the cabin. Terminals must be protected from short-circuit. Don’t tape a power bank to a device or stash it in checked bags. For exact limits by watt-hours and lithium content, see the FAA’s PackSafe lithium guidance.

Smart bags and trackers

Smart suitcases with built-in batteries are fine only if the battery can be removed. If you must check the bag, pull the battery and take it in the cabin. Coin-cell trackers like AirTag use tiny primary cells and are generally fine in both checked and carry-on bags; airlines may set extra limits on live tracking during flight, so check the carrier’s page before you go.

Carry-on size and weight

There’s no global standard for dimensions or weight. Airlines set their own limits, often with one free personal item that must fit under the seat. Measure including wheels and handles. Weight rules range from “no stated limit” to 7–10 kg on some international carriers; premium fares often get more room overhead or a second item. When your ticket includes a “basic” or “light” fare, expect tighter limits unless you add a bundle or status benefit.

Taking these rules across borders

Rules change less by airline alliance and more by the metal detector you face that day. The safest play is to pack to the tightest rule you’ll meet on the trip. Below are quick notes by region.

U.S. flights

Plan for the 3-1-1 liquid limit. Many checkpoints now run CT, which speeds the line when officers let you keep items in-bag. Expect spot checks on powders and on dense food. Spare lithium batteries and vaping devices stay with you in the cabin. Gate-check staff will ask you to remove spares if a full flight forces your cabin bag to be tagged.

UK flights

Some terminals now accept bigger liquid containers. Others still enforce 100 ml. Your online boarding pass doesn’t tell you which lane you’ll use, so prepare for either layout. If you shop airside, keep duty-free receipts inside the sealed bag so security can confirm source when you connect.

EU flights

The picture is mixed. Several hubs have certified CT systems and run relaxed liquid rules; others keep the classic 100 ml setup during a phased return to CT screening. On a multi-stop journey, pack to the strictest checkpoint on your route.

Asia-Pacific notes

Size and weight limits vary widely by carrier, and many low-cost operators enforce them at the gate. Battery rules mirror U.S./EU practice: spares in the cabin, protected terminals, and no power banks in checked bags.

Are there new rules for carry-on? Everyday scenarios

“Can I bring full-size shampoo in my carry-on?”

U.S. departures still use the 100 ml container limit for carry-on liquids. In UK or EU terminals with live CT and relaxed rules, a full-size bottle may pass, but only when that terminal allows it. If you’ll return through a classic 100 ml lane, decant into travel bottles to avoid a toss on the way back.

“Do I need to remove my laptop?”

Only when the officer asks or signage says so. CT lanes often allow in-bag screening, while older systems still need a separate tray. Keep devices charged; a dead device may trigger extra screening.

“Where do my spare batteries go?”

In the cabin. Tape over exposed contacts or place each spare in its retail sleeve or a small zip bag. Pack the power bank where you can reach it, not in an overhead bin you can’t access from your seat.

“Is a smart suitcase okay?”

Yes, if the battery pops out. For a checked smart bag, remove the battery and carry it on. If the battery can’t be removed, expect the bag to be refused.

“What about aerosol sprays?”

Toiletry aerosols within the liquid rules are fine for carry-on in small sizes. Larger home or sport aerosols ride in checked bags where permitted by your airline, with caps on to prevent discharge. Always declare anything pressurized that isn’t clearly a toiletry.

“Are Bluetooth trackers allowed?”

Yes in most cases. They run on tiny coin cells. Check your airline for any device-use notes and mute the speaker to avoid alerts during the flight.

Packing steps that save time

These habits match the way modern checkpoints work and cut your chance of a desk-side bag search.

1. Start empty. Clear your backpack and suitcase before packing. Old pocket knives and tools hide in side sleeves.
2. Build the liquids kit. U.S. flights: one quart bag, 100 ml containers. UK/EU CT terminals may allow larger containers; carry travel bottles anyway so your return leg runs smooth.
3. Stage your tech. Cables coiled, laptop reachable, earbuds in a small pouch. That keeps X-ray images tidy.
4. Place spares smartly. Power banks and loose cells in a small case near the top of your carry-on. No spares in the hold.
5. Measure the bag. Include wheels and handles. If you’re on a light/basic fare, confirm whether the roller is included or paid.
6. Weigh if needed. Some carriers weigh cabin bags at the gate. A small luggage scale pays for itself.
7. Keep meds and keys in the personal item. That bag lives under the seat and stays with you if bins fill.
8. Photograph your setup. A quick phone snapshot of what you packed helps during a search or a claim.

Carry-on liquids snapshot by region

This table helps you plan a loop trip without repacking at each checkpoint. When rules conflict, aim for the strictest stop on your route.

Common gotchas that trigger fees or delays

• Handles and wheels don’t “vanish.” Airlines measure exterior size including every protrusion. If your bag barely fits at home, a rigid metal sizer may tell a different story.
• Dense snacks look like blocks on X-ray. Pack them flat. Security may swab or ask you to repack if an image is too cluttered.
• Oddball aerosols can be classed as hazardous. Insect spray, bear spray, and solvent cleaners are usually banned in the cabin.
• Forgotten power banks in checked bags. Ramp staff will pull the bag or ask you to remove the device at the gate. Keep power sources where you can see them.
• Liquids bought airside without proof. Keep receipts and keep the bag sealed when you connect.

Bottom line for 2025 flying

Pack to the strictest checkpoint on your itinerary, keep spares in the cabin, and measure your bag with wheels and handles. If a terminal has CT scanners, screening gets simpler, but only for that lane at that time. When you need one rule set to trust on a U.S. trip, follow the TSA liquids rule and the FAA’s battery guidance. For UK flights, the government’s liquids page explains which airports still run 100 ml and which accept larger containers where CT is live; see UK liquids guidance. With those three references, you’ll be set for most carry-on decisions this year.