Can I Bring Unopened Can Through TSA? | Clear Travel Rules

What TSA Allows For Unopened Cans

“Unopened can” usually means a sealed soda, beer, energy drink, or a tin of food. Screening hinges on what’s inside and the container size. Beverages count as liquids. Many food cans carry broth, brine, oil, or gel, which triggers the same limit. Dense metal can also prompt extra checks because X-ray detail gets muddy.

Here’s the quick lay of the land on where sealed cans fit.

TSA’s cap comes from the 3-1-1 liquids rule: travel-size containers up to 3.4 oz (100 ml) packed together in one quart bag. Anything larger rides in checked luggage. A factory seal doesn’t change that.

If you want a refresher written for travelers, this primer on taking liquids through security gives the full picture.

Carry Unopened Cans Through Security: The Nuances

Two things decide the outcome: the 3-1-1 size limit and how the can looks on X-ray. A can that meets the size cap can still get a bag check because it’s a dense metal cylinder with liquid inside. Officers may swab it, ask clarifying questions, or keep it off the belt if they can’t clear an alarm.

Large drink cans and most full-size food tins fail the size rule. Buy drinks after security or check the cans. For pantry gifts, use checked baggage and pack with care so seams don’t split and tabs don’t catch.

Alcohol adds a second layer. The FAA’s PackSafe guidance on alcohol sets proof limits and quantity caps for checked bags. Beer and low-ABV canned cocktails sit under 24% ABV and don’t count as hazmat for checked luggage. Spirits in cans are rare, and stronger drinks face tighter caps.

Close Variant: Bringing A Sealed Can Through TSA Screening

Same question, different phrasing. A sealed can doesn’t get a free pass. If it’s a drink over 3.4 oz, it stops at the lane. If it’s a tiny can that fits the quart bag, it can ride in carry-on. If it’s food with liquid or gel, the 3-1-1 limit still controls. The safer plan for regular cans is to place them in checked luggage or buy them after security.

Packing Unopened Cans The Smart Way

For Carry-On Bags

Stick to small cans that meet the 100 ml container size. Keep minis inside the single quart bag with shampoo and toothpaste. Spread weight so cans don’t dent a laptop or crush snacks. Expect a hand check if you carry several tins.

For Checked Bags

Wrap each can with clothes. Add a zip bag or shrink sleeve as a leak barrier. Place cans near the center of the suitcase to avoid edge impacts. Tape pull tabs so they don’t snag. For food gifts, slip in a short note card describing contents in case of inspection.

Pressure And Leaks

Cabin and cargo holds are pressurized. Leaks come from dents, rough handling, and temperature swings, not altitude alone. Skip dented or bulging cans. Don’t freeze carbonated drinks before packing; expanding ice can split seams.

Rules For Alcohol In Cans

Carry-on: only mini cans that meet the 3-1-1 cap, and you can’t self-serve on board. Crew must pour. Checked bags: beer and hard seltzer are fine with no hazmat limit; spirits between 24% and 70% ABV are capped at five liters per passenger in unopened retail packaging. Anything above 70% ABV is banned from both bags. Airline policies can add their own packaging rules, so give them a glance before you pack.

When Unopened Cans Get Special Screening

Dense cans can hide detail on X-ray. Officers may run an explosive trace swab, ask what’s inside, or request you open the can. If opening isn’t possible and the alarm can’t be resolved, the can won’t go through. That’s one more reason full-size tins travel best in checked luggage.

Common Scenarios Travelers Ask About

Energy Drinks And Soda

Standard 12-oz cans don’t pass the checkpoint. Single-serve minis can pass inside the quart bag. Anything purchased after security can go on the plane without the 3-1-1 cap.

Canned Fish, Meats, And Soups

Liquid inside a can counts toward the liquid rule. A 5-oz tuna can often fails the travel-size threshold once you consider container size and the liquid inside. If you must carry it on, find 3-oz snack tins and expect a bag check.

Baby Formula And Pediatric Drinks

Medically necessary nutrition is exempt from the cap. Bring what you need for the trip, separate it at screening, and declare it up front.

Duty-Free Alcohol In Cans Or Bottles

Items in a tamper-evident duty-free bag can transit security during connections in many cases. Keep the receipt handy and don’t open the package until your trip ends. Proof and volume limits still apply.

Table Of Packing Choices And Risks

Quick Answers To Edge Cases

Does The Seal Status Matter?

No. Sealed or not, the liquid limit applies. The seal just shows tamper-free packaging.

Can I Move Contents To Smaller Cans?

No. TSA looks at container size and screening clarity. Use travel bottles or buy factory minis instead.

What If A TSA Officer Makes An Exception?

Officers have discretion when resolving alarms or applying exemptions like medical needs. That call happens at the lane. Plan for the standard rule, not for exceptions.

Practical Game Plan For Travelers

If You Need A Drink On Board

Buy it past the checkpoint or ask the crew once seated. Skip hauling full-size cans from home. If you love a specific brand, tuck checked stock for the destination and sip there.

If You’re Transporting Food Cans

Use checked baggage. Wrap each can, add a zip bag, and center the bundle. If you want a snack on the plane, pick shelf-stable pouches that meet the liquid limit.

If You’re Carrying Minis

Count how many small cans you can fit after toiletries in the quart bag. Keep the bag handy at screening. Don’t overload one pocket; spread weight so seams don’t dent.

Source-Backed Rules You Can Trust

The 3-1-1 limit, the quart bag, and the fact that canned foods can require extra screening come straight from TSA’s official pages. Proof and quantity caps for alcohol in checked bags come from FAA’s PackSafe chart. Airlines can add packaging rules, so give your carrier’s page a quick look before you zip the suitcase.

Bottom Line For Unopened Cans At TSA

Unopened drink cans larger than 3.4 oz stop at the checkpoint. Tiny factory minis can ride in your quart bag. Food tins with liquid hit the same size limit and often draw extra checks. For a smooth trip, put regular cans in checked bags and keep carry-on liquids within the travel-size cap. Want a deeper refresher? Try our read on liquids still restricted in hand luggage.