Can I Bring My Toiletries In My Carry-On? | Limits And Tips

Bringing Toiletries In Your Carry-On: Sizes And Limits

Think in three buckets: liquids and gels, aerosols, and solids. Liquids and gels live under the 3-1-1 rule: containers up to 3.4 ounces (100 ml), all inside one clear quart-size bag per traveler. The limit applies to the container, not what’s left inside. If the bottle says 150 ml, it stays out of your hand bag unless it’s empty or moved to smaller bottles.

Solids don’t use space in that quart bag. Bar soap, stick deodorant, makeup sticks, balm, wax, and wipes can ride in any pocket. They still go through the scanner, but they don’t count toward liquid allowance. That swap alone cuts the plastic pouch clutter.

Aerosol toiletries can fly, yet they still follow size limits in the cabin. Keep spray deodorant, dry shampoo, and hairspray at 3.4 ounces or below. Cap or tape the nozzle so it can’t fire in transit. Big cans belong in checked bags if allowed by your route.

What Counts As A Liquid In Toiletries

Toothpaste, lotion, face wash, gel deodorant, hair gel, serum, mascara, and liquid makeup sit in the liquid and gel bucket. Peanut-butter-like textures count too. If it spreads, smears, pumps, pours, or sprays, treat it as a liquid for screening. Lip balm sticks and pressed powders land in the solid bucket.

Aerosol Toiletries And Sprays

Only toiletry aerosols belong in the cabin, and they must be small. Keep each can at or under 3.4 ounces and use a protective cap. Non-toiletry sprays like paint, spray starch, or industrial solvents are off-limits in both bags because they’re hazardous. Large toiletry cans can ride in checked bags on many routes when no airline or country rule blocks them; lock the trigger and pack upright.

Razors, Clippers, And Grooming Tools

Disposable razors and cartridges can sit in your carry-on. Safety razors with removable blades and straight razors don’t pass the checkpoint with blades installed; send blades in checked bags or leave the handle blade-free in the cabin. Electric shavers and trimmers are fine in either bag. Sheath anything sharp in checked luggage so baggage crews stay safe.

Pack For Speed And Spill Control

Stage the quart bag at the top of your hand bag. Pick leak-proof bottles and squeeze tubes with tight lids. Push out extra air, then tape caps for long flights. Use a small dry bag or zip pouch as a second layer to catch drips. Keep a spare tote handy in case you need to pull items at the lane.

Switch common items to solids to free up space. Shampoo bars, conditioner bars, solid fragrance balms, stick sunscreen, and toothpaste tablets all pass without using the quart bag. Many work across trips and create less mess.

Can I Bring My Toiletries In Checked Luggage?

Yes, checked bags give you more room. Liquids can be full-size in hold luggage unless your airline or destination bans an ingredient. Seal lids, add tape, and bag bottles so pressure changes don’t squeeze out product. Put anything that might burst inside a hard-sided case or a tight cube.

Toiletry aerosols usually ride fine below deck. Non-toiletry aerosols like paint or insect foggers don’t belong on passenger planes. If you pack hairspray or dry shampoo in hold luggage, keep the cap on and set the nozzle to lock if the can has that feature. Some routes cap total aerosol quantities, so read the fine print on your ticket if you bring several cans.

Carry-On Versus Checked: Toiletry Rules At A Glance

International Nuances Worth Checking

Most airports still work with the 100 ml rule. A growing list now uses CT scanners that let larger liquid limits through security, sometimes up to two liters, with no bag removal. Policies can differ by terminal while upgrades roll in. Read the security page for your departure airport before you pack, then match the strictest rule on your route so the return leg goes smooth.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Extra Screening

Overfilling The Quart Bag

Stuffing a second pouch or cramming jumbo bottles into the first pouch slows the line. Keep one clear bag per person and pick small containers. Share full-size items in checked luggage if you travel as a group.

Forgetting Hidden Liquids

Lens solution, nail polish, cuticle oil, face mists, and small perfume sprayers hide in pockets. Pull them into the quart bag. If you carry a water bottle, empty it before the lane and refill after the checkpoint.

Loose Aerosol Caps

Spray tops that can depress create mess and delays. Cap every can. Tape a tiny ring of painter’s tape over the nozzle. Place sprays upright in a side sleeve or shoe to keep them steady.

Blade Mix-Ups

Sending a safety razor with a blade into the lane earns a secondary check. Carry the handle without a blade or switch to disposables for the flight. If you shave in the lounge on a long layover, use an electric razor.

Small But Tricky Toiletries

Nail polish sits under the liquid rule in the cabin. Two small bottles ride best in a leakproof pouch; the smell can spread if one cracks, so many flyers stash spares in hold bags. Makeup removers in oil or micellar form count as liquids; pre-soak a few cotton rounds in a tiny jar to save space. Contact lens solution follows the 3-1-1 limit. Tweezers and nail clippers pass the lane, yet pack them so points don’t snag. Hair wax and pomade travel well as solids in small tins. Dental floss picks and compact mouthwash tabs keep smiles fresh without filling the quart bag.

Smart Swaps That Save Space

Trade liquid face wash for a small cleanser bar. Pick a combo shampoo-conditioner bar if your hair tolerates it. Move to solid stick sunscreen for short trips. Pick cream makeup sticks and balm highlighters that count as solids. These swaps shrink your quart bag to the basics you can’t replace on the road.

Quick Checklist Before You Leave

1. Fill only travel bottles you’ll use this trip.
2. Park one quart bag at the top of your hand bag.
3. Switch big daily items to solids where you can.
4. Cap, tape, and bag anything that can leak.
5. Declare formula, breast milk, or liquid meds at the lane.
6. Check your departure airport’s security page for any scanner-based changes.
7. Match your packing to the strictest rule on your route so the return leg stays easy.