Yes. Small containers up to 3.4oz/100ml in one clear 1-quart/1-liter bag go through; bigger amounts belong in checked bags unless a listed exception applies.
Taking Liquids Through Airport Security: What Counts
Security treats anything you can pour, pump, spread, spray, or smear as a liquid. That includes gels, creams, pastes, foams, aerosols, roll-ons, and many foods. Use this quick map to sort your items before you pack the bag.
| Item Type | Carry-On At Security | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Water, juice, soda | Up to 100ml/3.4oz per container in the quart-size bag | No size limit |
| Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash) | Travel bottles 100ml/3.4oz or less in the bag | No size limit |
| Makeup (liquid foundation, mascara, lip gloss) | 100ml/3.4oz or less in the bag | No size limit |
| Creams & ointments | 100ml/3.4oz or less in the bag | No size limit |
| Aerosols (hair spray, deodorant) | Travel size in the bag; pressurized cans need a cap | Allowed; airlines may cap total quantity |
| Liquid foods (soups, yogurt, sauces) | 100ml/3.4oz or less in the bag | No size limit |
| Duty-free liquids | Allowed when sealed in a STEB with receipt; see section below | Allowed |
| Baby milk, baby food, sterilized water | Reasonable amounts allowed; screening required | Allowed |
| Breast milk (with or without baby) | Reasonable amounts allowed; declare for screening | Allowed |
| Prescription liquids & liquid meds | Allowed in needed amounts; declare for screening | Allowed |
| Contact lens solution | Small bottles in the bag; larger as medical need | Allowed |
| Alcohol in bottles | Only duty-free sealed; otherwise follows 100ml rule | Limits by alcohol % and airline |
For U.S. flights, the TSA 3-1-1 page lays out the baseline. Flying from the UK or transiting there? Check the UK guidance on liquids at security. Across the EU and many EEA airports, the long-standing 100ml limit applies, with periodic notices from the Commission when local screening set-ups change; see the Commission’s liquids update for context.
How The 3-1-1 Liquid Rule Works
Three numbers run the show. 3.4oz/100ml per item. One clear quart-size/one-liter bag. One bag per person. Pack only what fits flat inside that bag. If the zipper strains, move an item to checked baggage or skip it.
Smart Packing Moves
- Swap full-size bottles for solid bars or wipes when you can.
- Use leak-proof travel bottles and label them in plain text.
- Cap all aerosols and roll-ons so the nozzle can’t press accidentally.
- Place the clear bag on top of your carry-on for quick reach.
- Keep a spare empty bottle in checked luggage for the return leg.
Screeners need to see and X-ray every container. Opaque tubs or odd shapes draw questions and slow the line. Uniform, transparent bottles glide through.
Liquid Exceptions That Actually Work
Baby Needs
Baby formula, breast milk, sterilized water, and baby food may travel in “reasonable quantities.” Bring only what you’ll need for the trip. Tell the officer you’re carrying these items, keep them separate from your 3-1-1 bag, and expect extra screening.
Medicine And Medical Liquids
Prescription liquids, insulin and cooling packs, liquid nutrition, and contact solution can exceed 100ml if required during travel. Keep labels visible. A doctor’s note isn’t mandatory in many countries, but it helps when a bottle looks unusual. Declare these items and allow time for screening.
Dietary Needs
Liquid foods needed for a specific diet may pass in reasonable amounts after screening. Carry them outside the quart bag, declare them, and stay patient while the officer completes the checks.
Duty-Free Liquids
Spirits, wine, and perfumes bought airside or on board can exceed 100ml when sealed in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with the itemized receipt visible. Don’t open the bag until your journey ends. On a connecting flight, keep the STEB sealed for every checkpoint.
STEB Tips For Smooth Transfers
- Buy near your final connection to shorten the time you need to keep it sealed.
- Keep the receipt facing outward so officers can scan it fast.
- If the bag tears, ask the shop to re-seal it before you leave the terminal area.
Edge Cases That Cause Confusion
Aerosols And Sprays
Travel-size hair spray, deodorant, shaving foam, and similar items belong in the quart bag. Full-size cans go in checked baggage, and airlines may cap the total net quantity per traveler. Always fit the cap so the button can’t be pressed.
Makeup And Toiletry Odds And Ends
Liquid foundation, concealer, mascara, liquid eyeliner, lip gloss, and nail polish count as liquids. Powders are fine outside the bag in many places, but large powder jars can trigger extra checks. Nail polish remover is flammable, so keep only travel size in the bag or place larger bottles in checked luggage.
Food In A Jar Or Pouch
Peanut butter, jam, hummus, yogurt, soup, and sauces are liquids for screening. Pack snack-size portions in the quart bag or shift family-size containers to checked luggage. Solid snacks like bread, chips, nuts, or chocolate can ride outside the liquid bag.
Refillable Water Bottles
Take an empty bottle through, then fill it airside. Pre-filled bottles count as liquids and will be pulled.
Alcohol Percentages
Rules vary by airline and region once alcohol enters checked baggage. Many carriers ban anything over 70% ABV and limit the total liters you can check. Keep bottles sealed and cushioned.
Are Liquids Allowed In Hand Luggage At Security Checks?
Yes, within local limits. Most airports worldwide stick to the 100ml rule for carry-on liquids and a single small bag. Some UK airports now use advanced scanners that relax the limit on site, yet many still enforce 100ml. The EU keeps the 100ml standard at most checkpoints, and may post temporary notices when equipment changes. The U.S. runs the 3-1-1 rule. Canada mirrors the 100ml cap. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and many hubs across Asia and the Middle East mirror that pattern. When your outbound airport allows larger containers through new scanners, your return or transit airport may still apply 100ml, so plan for the strictest point on your route.
Regional Liquid Rules At A Glance
| Region/Authority | Carry-On Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States (TSA) | 100ml/3.4oz per item in one quart bag | Medications and baby needs can exceed 100ml with screening |
| United Kingdom | Mostly 100ml; some airports may allow larger where new scanners run | Always check your departure airport’s current notice |
| European Union/EEA | 100ml per item in a small transparent bag | Temporary notices may apply at specific airports |
| Canada (CATSA) | 100ml per item in a 1-liter bag | Trusted traveler lanes may change divesting steps |
| Australia & New Zealand | 100ml per item in a small bag | Follows the same liquids screening model |
| Asia & Middle East Hubs | Commonly 100ml per item | Duty-free STEBs needed for connections |
Packing Plan That Never Fails
Build Your Clear Bag
- Line up the liquids you truly need during the flight and first night.
- Decant into 100ml/3.4oz bottles with tight caps.
- Place bottles upright in the clear bag, then lay the bag flat.
- Test the zipper. If it strains, move an item to checked baggage.
Set Aside Declared Items
Keep baby items, medications, and special dietary liquids outside the clear bag. Place them in a separate pouch so you can declare them in one motion.
Plan For Connections
On multi-leg trips, the strictest checkpoint on your route wins. If one airport enforces 100ml, treat the whole trip that way. Keep duty-free liquids in a sealed STEB until you reach your final stop.
Quick Fixes For Common Liquid Problems
Leaky Bottles
Use screw-top bottles with a valve or double-seal. Wrap each cap with a small strip of tape. Stand bottles upright inside a small pouch to contain drips.
Last-Minute Shopping
If you forgot shampoo or lotion, buy travel size landside or pick it up airside after security. Airside buys don’t need to fit in your quart bag while you stay inside that terminal system.
Sports Drinks And Protein Shakes
Bring powder through and mix it airside. Pre-mixed bottles count as liquids and face the 100ml cap unless bought after screening.
Perfume And Fragrance
Travel atomizers are fine at 100ml or less. Bigger bottles only pass when bought as sealed duty-free or when placed in checked baggage.
Taking Liquids Through Airport Security: Advanced Notes
What Screeners Look For
Clear labeling, transparent packaging, and a tidy bag speed the process. Random testing happens. If a bottle alarms or can’t be cleared, the officer can’t let it fly. Be polite, answer questions, and offer to separate the item.
Traveling With No Checked Bag
Trim liquids to a tight capsule kit: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, lip care, fragrance, and one hair product. Add solid swaps where you can. Use hotel amenities to keep the bag under the limit.
Family Travel Tactics
Each traveler gets one quart bag. Spread the load across the group. Keep baby items and meds together with their own pouch so screening runs faster.
Key Takeaways You Can Use Today
- Pack regular liquids in a single quart/one-liter clear bag with 100ml/3.4oz bottles.
- Declare baby needs, medical liquids, and special dietary liquids and expect screening.
- Keep duty-free liquids sealed in a STEB with the receipt visible until the trip ends.
- Match the strictest airport on your route, not the most relaxed one.
- When in doubt, move the big bottle to checked baggage and breeze through.
Follow these steps and your bag glides through the lane with no drama and no waste at the bin.