Yes—at most airports a 200-ml liquid can’t go in carry-on; pack it in checked bags (or use lanes that permit up to 2-litre containers).
Airport liquid rules can feel like a maze. The number that trips people up is 200 ml. Is that bottle fine for hand luggage, or will security bin it? Here’s a clear answer and simple ways to keep your items without a last-minute scramble.
What 200 ml Means At Security
In many countries, carry-on liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less and fit inside one small clear bag. That limit is still the baseline on trips that start in the United States and at many airports across Europe and the UK. A 200 ml container is over that line, so it won’t pass in regular lanes.
Some airports now use 3D scanners that allow much larger containers, up to 2 litres. Those lanes remove the small-bag step and let you keep liquids and laptops in your bag. Rules can differ by airport, even within the same country, so treat each checkpoint on your route as its own set of rules.
Carry-on rules by checkpoint type
| Checkpoint or region | Carry-on rule | 200 ml status |
|---|---|---|
| Regular 100 ml lane | Max 100 ml per container, small clear bag | 200 ml blocked |
| CT/C3 2-litre lane | Containers up to 2 L allowed | 200 ml allowed |
| Duty-free (sealed bag) | Liquids bought airside in a sealed bag with receipt | 200 ml allowed |
| Medical or baby needs | Screened separately on request | 200 ml allowed |
When 200 ml Works In Carry-on
You can bring a 200 ml item through if your departure airport runs a 2-litre lane. That might be a single terminal or all lanes after a tech upgrade. If your route includes a layover where lanes are still on 100 ml, buy larger liquids after you’ve cleared the last 100 ml checkpoint or pack them in checked baggage.
Airports With 2-litre Lanes
Airports unlock bigger containers only after local approval and scanner sign-off. Examples include hubs that have public pages stating a 2-litre hand-luggage limit. Even then, airlines and partner airports on your return might still be on 100 ml, so plan for both ends of the trip.
Duty-free In Security Bags
Liquids bought airside can travel through connections when sealed in a tamper-evident security bag with the receipt inside. Keep the bag sealed until your final stop. If a screener needs a closer look, ask them to re-seal it after inspection.
Medical, Baby, And Dietary Liquids
Items like liquid medicine, baby formula, breast milk, and special-diet drinks can exceed 100 ml. Tell the officer you’re carrying medically needed liquids. They may swab the container or ask you to open it. Pack them where they’re easy to reach and allow extra screening time.
When 200 ml Gets Stopped
In 100 ml lanes, the container size matters, not what’s inside. A 150 ml tube half full still fails. The same goes for a 200 ml bottle with only a splash left. Liquids also cover gels, creams, pastes, aerosols, and many spreadable foods.
Container Size Beats Fill Level
Screeners check the maximum volume printed on the container. If it reads 120 ml, 150 ml, 200 ml, or more, it’s out for a 100 ml lane even when partly filled. Travel-size packaging solves this without guesswork.
What Counts As A Liquid
Think shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sunscreen, perfume, mouthwash, hair gel, mascara, lip gloss, creams, yogurt, hummus, peanut butter, and soft cheese. Sprays, mists, and foams fall under the same rule. Powders have separate screening rules, so they aren’t part of the 100 ml limit.
Smart Ways To Pack 200 ml
If your airport uses 100 ml lanes, pick one of these paths to save time and money.
- Move it to checked baggage. Use leak-proof caps or tape and a zip bag as a backup.
- Decant into two 100 ml travel bottles and place them in your clear bag.
- Bring an empty bottle through security and fill it airside from a fountain or cafe.
Checked Bag Tips
Seal every cap, then wrap bottles in a small bag. Place liquids in the center of the suitcase, buffered by clothes. Pressure changes can force caps open, so a screw-top beats a snap lid.
Decanting Tips That Work
Use wide-mouth travel bottles for creams and thicker gels. Label each bottle so you don’t mix products. Rinse and air-dry bottles after each trip to prevent residue buildup.
Common 200 ml Items And What To Do
Here are quick calls for items that often sit at 150–250 ml. Adjust based on your checkpoint type.
- Sunscreen 200 ml: carry-on only in 2-litre lanes; else split into 100 ml bottles or check it.
- Perfume 200 ml: fine in 2-litre lanes or duty-free; otherwise check it.
- Mouthwash 200 ml: split into 100 ml bottles or check it unless your lane is 2-litre.
- Hair gel or pomade 150–200 ml: treat as a liquid; use small jars or check it.
- Aerosol deodorant 200 ml: many airports cap aerosol size in carry-on; small cans only in 100 ml lanes.
- Nut butter 200 ml: counts as a spread; use snack-size cups or check it.
Route Scenarios That Cover Most Trips
US domestic round-trip: both ends use 100 ml, so keep 200 ml in checked baggage or buy it airside. UK or EU trip via a hub with mixed lanes: start with 100 ml bottles, then buy larger sizes after your last 100 ml checkpoint. Departing from a 2-litre airport: carry 200 ml, and confirm return rules before you fly back.
Bringing 200 ml On A Plane: The Rule In Plain Words
Unless your lane supports larger containers, a 200 ml bottle breaks the 3-1-1 rule for carry-ons in the US. That rule allows one quart-size bag with bottles of 100 ml or less each. You can read the plain rule on the Transportation Security Administration site, and you’ll see that anything over 3.4 ounces or 100 ml should go in checked baggage. See the TSA 3-1-1 page for the full details.
Across the UK and the EU, many checkpoints still cap carry-on bottles at 100 ml, while some upgraded lanes permit up to 2 litres. Government pages explain that both limits are active across the network while upgrades roll out. So your plan for a 200 ml item depends on where you start, where you connect, and where you land. The UK liquids guidance spells this out for UK airports.
What To Expect At The Checkpoint
A calm minute at the belt saves time and stress. Here’s a simple flow that works in both 100 ml and 2-litre lanes.
- Before you queue: check the container size and pick a lane plan—small bottles, duty-free, or checked bag.
- At the trays: pull your small liquid bag out in 100 ml lanes; leave liquids inside in 2-litre lanes unless told otherwise.
- For medical and baby items: tell the officer up front. Keep them together for fast screening.
- If your bag is pulled: wait for the officer, answer questions, and let them swab or re-seal as needed.
- Keep receipts for duty-free items and don’t open the seal until your trip ends.
Edge Cases That Cause Confusion
Spreadable Foods And Condiments
Peanut butter, chocolate spread, jams, chutney, soft cheese, and yogurt count as liquids at screening. Pick snack-size cups or go with 100 ml travel pots. Large jars belong in checked baggage unless your lane is on the 2-litre setting.
Cosmetic Kits And Gift Sets
A gift set with a 200 ml lotion fails at a 100 ml lane. Split the kit: check the big bottle and put the small one in your liquids bag.
Refillable Bottles And Travel Sets
Unmarked travel bottles are fine if their actual size is at or under 100 ml. If a bottle looks bigger than that, screeners may treat it as over the limit. Pick bottles that list the volume so there’s no debate.
E-liquid For Vapes
E-liquid follows the same carry-on limits as other liquids. Small bottles in the clear bag pass a 100 ml lane. Most airlines want vape devices in carry-on, not in checked bags, because of the battery.
Country And Airport Differences
Rules are set by the authority where you pass screening. That’s why two airports a short flight apart can run different limits on the same day. Here’s a quick guide to common checkpoints you might meet on a typical trip.
| Checkpoint or region | Carry-on rule | 200 ml status |
|---|---|---|
| United States (TSA) | 3-1-1: 100 ml per item in a one-quart bag | 200 ml only in checked bags or duty-free |
| United Kingdom | Most lanes still 100 ml; some airports allow up to 2 L | Check your departure terminal |
| European Union | Many lanes at 100 ml; 2 L allowed where scanners are cleared | Rules vary by airport |
If A Screener Says No
Stay calm and pick a fix that fits the moment. Ask to decant into spare 100 ml bottles, or remove the item and check a bag. If neither works, buy a smaller size past security or leave the item.
Quick Packing List For Liquids
- One zip bag for 100 ml bottles (spare bags too).
- Two or three sturdy 100 ml bottles with tight caps.
- A small roll of painter’s tape to seal caps and label bottles.
- A few snack-size cups for spreads on the go.
Mistake-proof Checklist For The 200 ml Question
- Check the printed container size, not the current fill level.
- Match your plan to the strictest checkpoint on your route.
- Keep medical and baby liquids together for quick screening.
- Save receipts and keep duty-free items sealed until you’re done flying.
- Carry spare 100 ml bottles in case you need to split a larger item.