Yes – lotion is allowed in your carry-on if each container is 3.4 oz / 100 ml or smaller and the bottles fit inside a single, clear quart-size bag.
Cabin air is famously dry, and a dab of moisturizer can feel like magic during a long flight. Before you stash that favorite bottle of hand cream in your tote, though, it helps to know exactly how airport security treats lotions and other personal-care liquids. The policies are straightforward once you see them laid out, and a little planning keeps your skin—and your bag—safe from surprise confiscations.
Quick-Reference Lotion Limits By Region
| Jurisdiction | Carry-On Limit | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States (TSA) | 3.4 oz / 100 ml per item; all items in one quart bag | Liquids 3-1-1 rule |
| Canada (CATSA) | 100 ml containers; 1-L bag | “What Can I Bring” tool |
| European Union | 100 ml containers; 1 L bag (rule under review) | EU luggage restrictions |
| United Kingdom | 100 ml containers; 1-L bag | UK hand-luggage guide |
| Australia | 100 ml or 100 g; 20 cm × 20 cm bag | Australian Home Affairs factsheet |
Taking Lotion In Your Carry-On Bag: 3-1-1 Basics
The Transportation Security Administration’s “3-1-1” formula is the gold standard that most countries have copied. Each passenger may pack liquids, gels, and creams—including lotion—in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and must fit every container inside one clear, resealable quart-size bag. Your quart bag goes on the screening belt separately, speeding inspections and preventing delays.
Why 3.4 ounces? When the liquid restrictions were introduced in 2006, security experts determined that containers this small cannot carry enough precursor chemicals to build an effective improvised explosive. The limit remains in place even as computed-tomography scanners spread because the new machines are still rolling out slowly across the United States —only a fraction of the nation’s 5,000 airports had them by mid-2025.
How Many Lotion Bottles Fit?
A standard quart bag comfortably holds five to eight travel-size bottles, depending on shape. Fill your bag at home, seal it, and press out the air. If the zipper bulges or refuses to close, security officers can ask you to discard items at the checkpoint.
Security-Friendly Bottles
- Soft silicone tubes resist leaks and squeeze to the last drop.
- Flip-top caps seal tighter than screw-caps once the air pressure in a cabin changes.
- Label your tubes (“hand lotion,” “face cream”) so officers recognize contents instantly.
Why The 100 ml Threshold Still Matters
Even with improvements in scanners, regulators around the world continue to treat anything that “spills, sprays, or smears” as a liquid. Lotion texture does not exempt it from the cap. Trials in parts of Europe show that wider limits may arrive soon, but the older rule will dominate for years. Until every checkpoint upgrades its equipment, pack lotion as if the classic 3-1-1 standard still applies.
Lotion Versus Solid Moisturizer Sticks
Solid lotion bars do not fall under liquid rules because they cannot be pumped or poured. Swapping a bottle for a compressed bar frees space in your quart bag for sunscreen or hair gel.
Packing Lotion For Air Travel: Practical Tips
Small tweaks make cabin skincare easy:
- Decant wisely. Fill only what you need for the trip. That tiny 30 ml tube often lasts two weeks.
- Seal the lid. A strip of painter’s tape stops lotion lids popping when air pressure drops.
- Use nested bags. Slide the quart bag inside a fabric pouch so lotion residue never touches clothes.
- Store upright in flight. The seat-back pocket keeps tubes vertical, reducing post-landing mess.
Lotion And Medication Exemptions
If a dermatologist prescribes a medicated cream that exceeds 3.4 oz, you may carry a “reasonable quantity” beyond the limit. Declare the tube, keep it accessible, and expect extra swab tests. While prescriptions are not legally mandatory, a printed note or the original pharmacy label helps officers verify necessity quickly.
International Variations You Should Know
Every major aviation bloc mirrors the 100 ml principle, but local quirks exist:
- EU & UK: Duty-free lotion purchased after security must stay sealed in the tamper-evident bag until you reach your final destination.
- Canada: Security staff may allow a second clear bag for baby items, but adult toiletries stay limited to one.
- Australia: Officers measure either volume (100 ml) or weight (100 g) for creams.
Lotion Packing Scenarios
| Container | Allowed In Carry-On? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 oz (60 ml) travel tube | Yes | Place inside quart bag |
| 5 oz (148 ml) pump bottle | No | Put in checked bag or decant |
| 7 oz prescription cream | Yes (declare) | Medically necessary exemption |
| Duty-free 250 ml body lotion | Yes (if sealed) | Keep tamper-evident bag closed until final stop |
What About Checked Bags?
Full-size lotion bottles ride safely in checked luggage. Wrap the cap with tape, place each bottle in a zip-top bag, and cushion with soft items. Checked baggage avoids the 3-1-1 limit but remains subject to the airline’s weight cap and the FAA’s ban on flammable aerosols.
Frequent Missteps (And Easy Fixes)
Using A Half-Full Bottle
The security officer measures the container’s maximum capacity, not the remaining volume. Transfer lotion to a smaller tube rather than relying on half-empty packaging.
Forgetting The Quart Bag Altogether
Loose liquids clutter the X-ray image and often lead to manual bag searches. Keep the quart pouch at the top of your carry-on so it slides out in one motion.
Mistaking Cream For Solid
If it smears like peanut butter, officers classify it as a gel. Err on the side of caution and bag it.
Core Points To Keep Handy
- Each lotion container in a carry-on must be 3.4 oz / 100 ml or less.
- All travel-size liquids share one clear quart-size bag at screening.
- Medical creams may exceed the limit when declared for inspection.
- Full-size bottles ride in checked luggage; cushion to prevent leaks.
- International airports follow similar rules, but double-check local nuances every trip.
For the exact wording of the U.S. rule, see the TSA’s “3-1-1” liquids rule. Travelers on multi-country itineraries can also consult the IATA passenger guidance on liquids for airline-agnostic advice.
Follow these steps, and your favorite lotion will glide through security as smoothly as it glides over dry skin—leaving you free to focus on the trip, not the tray table.