Yes—full-size liquids, gels, and aerosols can ride in checked bags if each container is under 0.5 kg/18 oz and tightly sealed to dodge leaks.
The Short Answer
Checked bags follow a different playbook from carry-ons. The TSA “What Can I Bring?” list states that full-size shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, and similar items are fine when they travel in the belly of the plane—as long as no single bottle tops the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 0.5 kg/500 ml limit and your day-to-day stash stays below 2 kg/2 L in total.
Why There’s A Limit
The FAA classifies most toiletries as “medicinal and toiletry articles.” They’re non-hazardous in small doses, yet bigger volumes of pressurized or alcohol-rich liquids pose a leak or fire risk. So the agency caps each container at 0.5 kg/18 oz and a personal aggregate of 2 kg/70 oz. Airlines adopt the same figures to keep cabin crews, baggage handlers, and ground staff safe.
Quick-Glance Limits
| Rule | Per Container | Total Per Passenger |
|---|---|---|
| FAA & TSA limit | ≤ 0.5 kg / 500 ml / 18 oz | ≤ 2 kg / 2 L / 70 oz |
| Delta personal-care policy | ≤ 16 oz (most items) | ≤ 70 oz combined |
| United dangerous-goods note | ≤ 16 oz (non-flammable) | Falls under FAA 70 oz rule |
Delta’s site calls out the 16-oz practical cutoff, mirroring FAA numbers while leaving wiggle room for common retail sizes. United echoes the same language in its dangerous-items table.
What Counts As “Full-Size” Anyway?
Retail shelves don’t follow aviation math. A “full-size” bottle often lands between 8 oz and 15 oz, so it already sits below the FAA cap. Jumbo pump bottles and oversized aerosol hairsprays creep closer to the 16-18 oz red line. Read labels, check net volume, and stay inside the limit.
Liquids
Shampoo, body wash, mouthwash, liquid foundation—all fine. Alcohol content isn’t a deal-breaker unless you tote perfume or cologne above 70 percent alcohol by volume, which bumps the item into flammable territory.
Gels & Creams
Toothpaste, hair gel, styling cream, lotion. They behave like liquids when they leak, so wrap the lid with tape or stretch a piece of cling film under the cap before closing.
Aerosols
Spray deodorant, shaving cream, dry shampoo, and sunscreen mists are non-flammable Class 2.2 aerosols. Check the can for a flame icon; skip anything labeled flammable, paint, solvent, or bug killer.
Pack Full-Sized Toiletries Safely
You’ve cleared security rules—now keep the rest of your gear dry. A leaky bottle can drench a suitcase faster than you can grab hotel laundry service. Use these cabin-crew-tested moves.
Seal & Double-Bag
- Twist caps tight, then add a strip of painter’s tape for good measure.
- Slip each bottle into a thin zip-top bag. If one bursts, the mess stays local.
- Group liquids inside a thick “wet bag” or packing cube to quarantine drips.
Pressure Proofing
Checked holds aren’t pressurized like the cabin. Fill bottles only to the shoulder, leaving air space for expansion. Squeeze extra air from tubes before you screw the lid.
Strategic Placement
Slide toiletry bags in the middle of the suitcase, wrapped by clothes. Hard-shell spinners and exterior pockets take more hits from baggage belts.
Swap What You Can
Solid shampoo bars, toothpaste tablets, and deodorant sticks laugh at altitude changes and never count toward liquid limits. IATA guidance endorses them as “reasonable quantities.”
Airline-Specific Nuances
Most U.S. carriers mirror the FAA text, yet a few carve out quirks:
Delta Air Lines
Delta forbids cooking sprays and any aerosol bigger than 16 oz, even if under 18 oz.
United Airlines
United publishes a 16-oz cap for aerosols and stresses non-flammable labeling.
Low-Cost Carriers
Budget outfits often default to TSA rules but charge steep overweight fees. Bulk liquids weigh more, so check bag allowances before hauling salon-size conditioner.
Watch The Total Volume
The 2 kg/2 L personal max sounds generous, yet a family bag with jumbo sunscreen, after-sun gel, hair products, body wash, and bug spray can tip the scale. Keep a rough tally:
| Item | Typical Size (oz) | Cumulative Total (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunscreen aerosol | 6 | 6 |
| Shampoo | 12 | 18 |
| Conditioner | 12 | 30 |
| Body wash | 18 | 48 |
| After-sun gel | 8 | 56 |
| Bug spray aerosol | 9 | 65 |
At 65 oz you’re brushing the 70-oz ceiling. One more can, and you’ll need to shift a product to a companion’s suitcase.
International Detours
Leaving the U.S.? Customs and quarantine checkpoints can trump TSA rules. Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, for instance, frown on insect sprays that list flammable propellants, even in hold luggage. The European Union honors IATA limits, yet some airports make passengers discard unsealed household bleach or oven cleaner packed by mistake.
Country Snapshots
| Destination | Special Liquid Note | Customs Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Follows FAA 18 oz rule | No bear spray in hold |
| United Kingdom | Aerosols must show “non-flammable” | Random swabs for perfume |
| Japan | Items over 500 ml refused | Medicines checked at arrival |
Full-Size Vs. Hand-Carry
Carry-on rules stay strict: 3.4 oz per bottle inside a quart-size bag. Delta and United both restate the familiar “3-1-1” mantra. Keep daily essentials in your cabin bag, then bury backup bottles in the hold.
Alcohol-Heavy Items
Perfume and cologne often sit around 70 percent alcohol. TSA allows them in checked bags under the same 18-oz cap, but airlines may bar duty-free jugs bigger than 500 ml. When in doubt, pack high-proof fragrance below 70 oz total and leave the oversize decorative splash bottle at home.
Medical & Hygiene Extras
Inhalers, rubbing alcohol, saline solution, and prescription creams fly without drama. FAA text names them specifically as permitted medicinal articles. Always keep prescriptions in original pharmacy packaging for border agents.
Eco-Smart Swaps
The IATA single-use plastics report nudges travelers toward solid bars and refillable silicone bottles to cut waste. These lighter, leak-proof alternatives shrink spill risk and free up weight for souvenirs.
Sanitizer Rules Stay Separate
During global health crises, TSA temporarily raised carry-on sanitizer limits to 12 oz, though standard checked rules never changed. Hand sanitizers still count toward the 70-oz total in the hold, and CDC suggests at least 60 percent alcohol content to work well.
Damage Control For A Spill
If a bottle bursts despite every safeguard, rinse items with lukewarm water before sudsing. Avoid harsh cleaners on leather or electronics. Slip a scented dryer sheet in the bag on the flight home to mask fragrance before you can launder properly.
Key Takeaways
- Full-size toiletries under 18 oz each and below 70 oz total per traveler are green-lit for checked baggage.
- Aerosols must show a non-flammable symbol—pressurized cooking spray stays grounded.
- Seal every lid, double-bag, and cushion bottles with clothing to block spills.
- Track total weight; family suitcases pile up liquid ounces fast.
- Check foreign customs pages for destination-specific bans on flammables or pesticides.
Stick to those numbers, secure each cap, and your grooming kit will land leak-free on the carousel—ready for whatever adventure waits beyond baggage claim.