Can A Carry-On Have Liquids? | Clear, Simple Guide

Carry-On Liquids Rule, In Plain English

Airports screen liquids because they can conceal risks. In the United States, the 3-1-1 rule sets the ceiling: containers up to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, in one clear quart-size bag, one per traveler. That’s the baseline for toiletries like shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, contact solution, and similar items. The same bag must also hold gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols counted as liquids for screening. The intent is simple: small amounts, packed together, so officers can scan fast and keep lines moving.

Outside the U.S., many airports follow a near-identical 100 ml limit. Some locations are introducing computed tomography scanners that permit larger amounts, but the shift isn’t universal. Until your departure airport confirms a change, treat 100 ml as the safe limit for hand luggage.

There are two big carve-outs. First, medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols are allowed in reasonable quantities for the trip. Second, baby food, breast milk, and formula can exceed 100 ml. Both categories must be declared at the checkpoint and may be screened separately. Keep them reachable.

Carry-On Liquids: Fast Reference Table

For quick facts, see the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule. Flying through the UK? Check the current UK hand luggage liquids guidance, since limits vary by airport while new scanners roll out.

Taking Liquids In A Carry-On: Today’s Rules

Think in three layers. First, the containers. If the bottle says more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml, it’s too big for the liquids bag even if only partly filled. Transfer what you need into travel-size bottles with tight caps. Second, the bag. Use one clear, resealable quart-size pouch so officers can see everything at a glance. Third, access. Place the pouch on top in your cabin bag so you can pull it out without hunting.

Aerosols like hair spray and deodorant count toward the liquids allowance when they’re personal-care items. Spray paint, solvent cleaners, and similar aerosols aren’t permitted in carry-ons. Food spreads and soft cheeses behave like gels for screening. Peanut butter, jam, hummus, and yogurt follow the same 100 ml limit when you’re packing them in hand luggage.

Oversized Containers And Workarounds

If you need full-size shampoo or a large bottle of lotion, check a bag. Another path is to buy liquids after security. Duty-free purchases are typically placed in a sealed, tamper-evident bag with a dated receipt. Keep the seal intact until you finish your trip. If you’re connecting through another checkpoint in the United States, present the sealed bag and receipt to officers; items that alarm or can’t be cleared won’t be allowed in the cabin.

Traveling with gifts? Keep syrups, hot sauces, and oils in checked luggage. If you can’t check a bag, ship them. The 100 ml rule applies per container, not per category. A single 6-ounce hot sauce bottle in hand luggage will be pulled. Six mini bottles that each meet the size limit are fine if they fit your quart pouch.

Medically Necessary Liquids And Baby Items

Bring what you need for the journey and a sensible buffer. Tell the officer you’re carrying medical liquids or baby-care items over 100 ml before screening starts. They may swab the containers or run extra checks. Keep these items separate from your standard liquids pouch. Labeling helps, but prescriptions aren’t always required for U.S. screening; local laws still apply to controlled substances.

Breast milk, formula, and juice for a child traveling with you don’t have to fit the quart bag. Ice packs and gel packs for cooling are fine when used to keep those items safe; partially melted is common during travel and usually accepted.

Regional Differences You Should Know

The 100 ml limit remains the safest assumption worldwide. In the U.S., it’s the fixed standard. In the UK and parts of Europe, some airports with CT scanners now allow larger amounts in cabin bags and no longer require removing the liquids pouch or electronics. The catch: the upgrade isn’t complete everywhere, and rules can flip between your outbound and return flights. Always follow the stricter airport on your route.

When your trip includes airports with different rules, pack for the stricter side. A 500 ml shampoo bought in a “2-liter-friendly” terminal may be refused at a connection that still follows 100 ml rules.

Duty-Free Liquids On Connections

Duty-free liquids can pass through additional screening if they’re sealed in an official tamper-evident bag and accompanied by a dated receipt. In U.S. connections, present the bag at the checkpoint. Officers must be able to clear the item; anything that alarms or appears opened will not fly in the cabin. Keep the seal intact until you reach your final stop.

Packing Steps That Prevent Delays

Prep Your Liquids Pouch

Fill travel bottles at home. Label them so you don’t mix up conditioner and body wash. Use leak-proof caps, then add a strip of tape for flights with pressure changes. Put the pouch in an outer pocket of your carry-on.

Stage Meds And Baby Supplies

Place medical liquids and baby items in their own bag. Keep prescriptions or doctor’s notes handy if you carry specialized solutions or nutrition. Tell the officer about these items right away.

Plan For Food

Solid snacks breeze through. Soft foods are treated like liquids. If you’re packing yogurt cups or dips, buy small sizes that stay within the 100 ml limit, or wait until you pass security.

If you’re unsure whether something counts as a liquid, use this quick test: tip the container and watch the contents. If they pour, ooze, smear, pump, or spray, screeners will treat it as a liquid or gel. That includes mascara, lip gloss, sticks, and refilled atomizers. Solid bars and powders don’t live in the pouch, though big amounts of powder can prompt extra checks. When in doubt, scale down size or shift the item to checked baggage to keep your checkpoint routine smooth.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Bag Checks

• Stuffing extra travel bottles outside the quart pouch.
• Bringing a single oversized bottle “half full.”
• Forgetting spray cans count toward the liquids rule.
• Hiding liquids in jacket pockets or tech cases.
• Mixing medical liquids into the regular pouch instead of declaring them.
• Assuming your return airport follows the same rules as your departure.

Alcohol, Toiletries, And Edge Cases

Alcohol minis fit if each bottle is 100 ml or smaller and they fit inside your quart pouch. Don’t open them onboard; airlines prohibit self-service. Nail polish and remover are liquids for screening and must meet the same size limit. Wet wipes aren’t liquids. Solid shampoo bars and deodorant sticks don’t go in the pouch.

Frozen items are allowed when completely solid at screening. If ice packs have melted into slush, they’ll be treated like liquids unless they’re chilling baby milk or medical items. Re-freeze them before you head to the airport when possible.

Quick Decision Tree For Carry-On Liquids

1. Is it a liquid, gel, cream, paste, or aerosol? If yes, continue.
2. Is the container 100 ml / 3.4 oz or smaller? If yes, place it in your quart pouch.
3. Is it medical or baby-care and larger than 100 ml? Declare it for screening.
4. Is it duty-free and sealed with a dated receipt? Keep it sealed and present it if you re-screen.
5. Not fitting those buckets? Check a bag, ship it, or buy after security.