Can I Bring 3.5 Oz Deodorant On A Plane? | TSA Rule Check

Quick Answer For 3.5 Oz Deodorant

A container labeled 3.5 oz is over the U.S. carry-on limit for liquids, gels, creams, and aerosols. The TSA 3-1-1 rule caps each item at 3.4 oz (100 mL). That means a 3.5 oz spray, roll-on, gel stick, paste, or cream deodorant belongs in checked baggage. Solid stick deodorant is different: sticks are not treated as liquids, so they’re fine in carry-on in any size.

Bringing 3.5 Oz Deodorant In Carry-On: The Rules

Carry-on screening looks at what your deodorant is made of, not just the brand. Here’s how the common types are handled at the checkpoint and in checked bags.

Wondering why that extra 0.1 oz matters? In U.S. screening, 3.4 oz equals 100 mL. A bottle that says 3.5 oz equals about 103.5 mL, which is over the limit even if it’s half full. Size is based on the container’s printed capacity, not what’s left inside.

What Counts As Solid, Liquid, Gel, Or Aerosol?

Sticks that glide on but hold their shape are treated as solids. Anything that pours, smears, pumps, or sprays is screened under the liquid/gel rules. For aerosols, make sure the spray has a protective cap so it can’t discharge by accident. The TSA’s item page for deodorant (aerosol) also flags the size limits for checked cans.

Solid Stick Deodorant

Sticks aren’t part of 3-1-1. Drop a full-size bar in your carry-on or personal item. If it crumbles, slip it in a small zip bag.

Roll-On And Gel Sticks

Roll-ons and gel sticks count as liquids/gels. For carry-on the label must say 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less and it goes in your quart-size bag. A 3.5 oz bottle belongs in checked luggage.

Aerosol Deodorant Sprays

Sprays in carry-on have the same 3.4 oz cap. In checked bags, each can must be 17 fl oz (500 mL) or less and your combined total under 2 L. Cap the nozzle so it can’t discharge.

Domestic vs. International Security

U.S. airports use the 3.4 oz (100 mL) cap for liquids and gels. Many countries use the same 100 mL standard for cabin bags. A container labeled 3.5 oz is above that number, so plan to check it when you’re not using a solid stick. If you’ll connect through another country, assume your carry-on may be re-screened and keep liquids within the worldwide 100 mL norm.

Metric Made Easy For Toiletries

Need the math? 1 U.S. fl oz equals 29.57 mL. So 3.4 oz = 100 mL, and 3.5 oz = 103.5 mL. Labels printed in mL are the safest bet when you’re buying travel sizes. If the label shows only ounces, assume 3.4 oz or less for carry-on always.

Pack It Right: Simple Steps

Here’s a clean way to pack deodorant so the checkpoint is quick and your bag stays tidy.

Carry-On Plan

• Prefer a solid stick or deodorant wipes for carry-on freedom.
• If you want a roll-on, gel, cream, or spray in your cabin bag, pick a container labeled 3.4 oz/100 mL or less.
• Place liquids and gels in a single quart-size, resealable bag and set it on the belt by itself.
• Cap or tape aerosol nozzles so they can’t spray inside your luggage.

Checked Bag Plan

• Pack any 3.5 oz liquid, gel, cream, or spray in checked bags.
• For aerosols in checked bags, keep each can at 17 fl oz (500 mL) or less and keep your combined total under 2 L.
• Use a small leak-proof pouch in case pressure changes cause a drip.

Why Some Travelers Get Different Answers

Two things create confusion. First, some airports are testing scanners that let larger liquids through, but those programs aren’t universal and rules can change between terminals. Second, screeners can make case-by-case calls on unusual items. When your deodorant is a standard travel toiletry, sticking to the printed size limits avoids surprises.

Smart Shopping Before You Fly

Travel minis labeled 100 mL leave no doubt at the checkpoint. If your favorite brand only comes in 3.5 oz for roll-on or spray, buy a smaller cabin-friendly option for the trip and keep the bigger one in your checked suitcase. Another easy swap is switching to a solid stick for flights and going back to your usual product after landing.

Edge Cases To Know

Unlabeled Containers

If the bottle has no volume printed, a screener may treat it as over the limit. Use original packaging or a travel bottle marked in mL.

Half-Full Doesn’t Count

A half-used 3.5 oz roll-on is still a 3.5 oz container. For carry-on, the bottle itself must be 3.4 oz/100 mL or less.

Duty-Free Purchases

Buying a large spray after security can work on a nonstop flight, but a re-screen at a connection may apply the 100 mL rule again. Keep receipts and tamper-evident bags; when in doubt, check it.

The Quart-Size Bag, Made Easy

The clear bag speeds screening. Put cabin liquids and gels in one resealable quart-size bag and keep it in a top pocket. At screening, pull it out and lay it flat. A solid stick can stay in your bag.

Pick a sturdy zipper bag. If your roll-on sits next to toothpaste and a face cream, add a strip of tape around each lid to prevent leaks when pressure changes.

Antiperspirant Vs. Deodorant: Do Rules Change?

Brands use both words on labels. For screening, the material is what matters. A solid antiperspirant stick can ride in your carry-on just like a solid deodorant. If the product is a roll-on, gel, paste, cream, or spray, it must meet the same 3.4 oz/100 mL carry-on cap. That applies whether the label says deodorant, antiperspirant, or both.

Some antiperspirants come as soft solids that can smear a bit. These still pass as solids when they keep their shape inside the barrel. When the product looks like a gel under a screen, expect it to be treated as a liquid/gel instead. If you’re unsure, put it in the liquids bag or choose a smaller size.

Mistakes That Get 3.5 Oz Deodorant Tossed

Relying On “Half-Full”

Officers go by printed capacity. A half-used 3.5 oz roll-on or spray is still over the limit. Move it to your checked suitcase before you reach the line.

Buying “3.5 Oz” Travel Cans

Some brands sell 3.5 oz body sprays as travel size. They aren’t cabin-friendly under the 3.4 oz cap. For a spray in your backpack, look for 3.4 oz/100 mL on the label.

Missing Caps On Sprays

Aerosols without caps can be pulled at screening or in checked bags. Keep the original cap or add a snug one.

Travel Day Freshen-Up Options

If you like a mid-flight refresh and you’re packing light, carry these low-effort stand-ins for bulky sprays and gels:

• Solid stick in a mini case.
• Deodorant wipes in a flat pouch.
• Spare shirt in a compression cube for long hauls.

Those simple swaps keep your personal item tidy and make gate checks stress-free when bins fill up.

Does TSA PreCheck Change Anything?

PreCheck speeds the line, but 3-1-1 still applies. Liquids must be 3.4 oz/100 mL or less. A 3.5 oz roll-on or spray still belongs in checked baggage unless you switch to a solid.

What About Powders And Pastes?

Powder deodorants are rare; small amounts ride in carry-on and large jars may be screened separately. Pastes, creams, and balms follow the liquid/gel limit, so 3.5 oz goes in checked bags.

Real-World Buy And Pack Tips

Plan your kit a day early. Read each label. Anything over 100 mL that isn’t a solid goes in checked luggage. If you’re traveling with only a cabin bag, buy a compliant roll-on or gel. Frequent flyers can keep a ready-made quart-size bag and restock after each trip.

Common Label Sizes And What To Do

Use this quick table to decide where a typical container belongs. “OK in carry-on” assumes the item is a liquid/gel type; solid sticks are always fine in the cabin.

Final Pack Checklist For Deodorant

• Solid stick: pack anywhere, any size.
• Roll-on, gel, cream, or paste: 3.4 oz/100 mL or less for carry-on; 3.5 oz goes in checked bags.
• Aerosol spray: follow 3-1-1 in carry-on; in checked bags, cap the nozzle and respect can and total limits.
• Label matters more than how much product is left.
• When connecting through other countries, assume the 100 mL carry-on cap still applies.