Things That Are Not Allowed on Carry-On Baggage | Quick Ban Guide

Things Not Allowed On Carry-On Baggage: Quick List With Reasons

You want a clean pass at screening. This section lays out the no‑go items for a carry‑on, the edge cases, and the safer path to pack them.

Rules hinge on risk. Items that can cut, strike, ignite, or hide liquid draw a line at the checkpoint. Pack those in checked bags or leave them home.

How To Tell If An Item Will Get Stopped

Use a fast test before you zip the bag:

1. Can it spill, smear, squirt, or splash? Treat it as a liquid or gel.
2. Can it spark, burn, or pressurize? Treat it like a flammable or gas.
3. Can it cut, jab, or bludgeon? Treat it like a weapon or tool.
4. Does it look like a gun or grenade? Treat it as a replica.
5. Does it run on a battery you can remove? Spares stay in the cabin, never in checked.

When the answer lands on risk, shift the item to checked baggage or ship it. That short check saves time and a stressful bag search at the belt.

Liquids, Gels, And Sprays: The 3-1-1 Line

The carry‑on limit is simple: bottles up to 3.4 oz (100 ml) inside one quart‑size, clear, zip‑top bag per traveler. Anything bigger rides in checked baggage. That includes shampoo, sun spray, toothpaste, lotion, soup, salsa, and nut butter. The same cap applies to mini alcohol bottles in the cabin. See the TSA liquids rule for the exact wording.

Toiletry Bottles That Pass

Go small and pack tight. Keep a single quart bag handy for screening. Solid bars beat liquids when space runs short. Stick deodorant and solid perfume pass without the 3‑1‑1 bag.

Sprays That Fail In The Cabin

Spray paint, insecticide, WD‑40, and flammable cleaners do not fly in a carry‑on. Toiletry aerosols like hair spray can ride in the cabin only when the can is 3.4 oz or smaller and fits your quart bag. In checked bags, non‑toiletry aerosols stay out; toiletry aerosols follow FAA limits of 2 kg/2 L total, 0.5 kg/500 ml per can.

Food That Acts Like A Liquid

Peanut butter, dips, yogurt, soft cheese, soup, and sauces count as liquids or gels. Keep servings at 3.4 oz or smaller for the cabin. Bigger jars go in checked baggage or get bought after security.

Blades, Tools, And Sporting Gear

Sharp tips and heavy sticks are a hard stop in the cabin. Pack them in checked bags to avoid a surrender bin at the lane.

Knives And Razor Blades

Kitchen knives, pocket knives, box cutters, razor blades, and straight razors do not pass in carry‑on. Butter knives and plastic cutlery are fine. Anything sharp in checked bags should be sheathed or wrapped so handlers do not get cut.

Tools Longer Than Seven Inches

Short hand tools can ride in the cabin when they measure 7 inches or less end‑to‑end. Longer tools need a checked bag. Power tools and anything with weight or a blade should be checked.

Bats, Cues, And Poles

Baseball bats, pool cues, hockey sticks, and ski poles are treated as blunt gear. These items belong in checked baggage. Small sports gear that does not strike, like a tennis racket or a ball, can ride in the cabin.

Weapons, Replicas, And Self-Defense Items

Real weapons and items that look like them stop a trip fast. Keep the cabin clear of all of these.

Firearms, Parts, And Ammo

Guns never ride in a carry‑on. In the U.S., you can fly with a firearm only in checked baggage, unloaded, inside a locked hard case, and after you declare it with the airline at the counter. Magazines and parts follow the same path. Pack ammo in fiber, wood, or metal boxes made for cartridges where airline policy allows.

Stun Guns And Sprays

Stun guns and tasers do not fly in the cabin. Some airlines accept them in checked baggage; many do not. Pepper spray cannot go in a carry‑on. One can up to 4 fl oz (118 ml) with a safety cap may go in checked if the airline allows and the spray has less than 2% tear gas content.

Realistic Replicas

Replica guns and look‑alike grenades do not pass at security. Those items can ride in checked bags, but they still can slow you down at inspection. Toy versions that look real get flagged the same way.

Flammables, Chemicals, And Compressed Gas

Items that burn or build pressure create cabin risk, so they face strict limits.

Fireworks And Flares

All fireworks and flares are banned in the cabin and in checked baggage. That includes sparklers, bang snaps, and signal flares.

High-Proof Alcohol And Fuels

Alcohol over 70% ABV (140 proof) cannot fly in a carry‑on or in checked bags. Lower‑proof spirits can ride in checked within FAA size limits, and beer or wine has fewer limits. Fuels, lighter fluid, and gasoline products are not allowed in cabin bags or in checked bags.

Cylinders And CO2 Cartridges

Compressed gas cylinders need to be empty to fly in either bag type unless a specific rule allows them. Life vests with up to two CO₂ cartridges plus two spares are allowed; full spare gas refills are not. Personal oxygen and propane tanks are not allowed.

Batteries And Gadgets: Cabin Rules That Matter

Most phones, tablets, and laptops pass through checkpoints with ease, but spare batteries and power banks follow cabin‑only rules. Keep battery posts covered and stop accidental activation with a switch cover or tape. When in doubt, check the FAA PackSafe batteries page for watt‑hour limits and airline approval steps.

Power Banks And Spares

Spare lithium batteries and power banks stay in the cabin. Under 100 Wh is fine for personal use. Between 101 and 160 Wh needs airline approval and is limited to two spares. Over 160 Wh is not allowed on passenger flights. Cover posts with tape, keep each spare in retail wrap or a case, and do not crush them in a stuffed bag.

E‑Cigarettes And Vapes

These ride in the cabin only. Remove pods or tanks before you board, keep devices off, and prevent accidental heat. Never pack a vape, spare cell, or charger case in checked baggage.

Powders And Other Edge Cases

Powder‑like items are allowed in cabin bags, but large tubs slow screening. Containers over 12 oz (350 ml) may need extra checks and may not pass if officers cannot clear them. Pack big tubs in checked to keep the line moving.

Snow Globes And Odd Liquids

Snow globes follow 3‑1‑1. A small globe that fits in your quart bag can ride in the cabin; bigger ones go in checked. Liquid‑filled novelties and gel candles face the same cabin limit by volume.

What To Do Instead

Got a carry‑on red flag? Here are safer ways to fly with the item:

• Check it: Pack blades, tools, sports gear, and large liquids in a locked suitcase with padding.
• Ship it: Mail heavy or pricey gear ahead with tracking and insurance.
• Buy on arrival: Pick up sprays, cleaners, or a fresh lighter at your destination.
• Ask first: Some items need airline sign‑off. A quick call or chat avoids a last‑minute choice at security.

Packing Tips That Save Time At Security

Smart packing cuts risk and keeps your line short.

• Keep your quart bag and electronics at the top of your carry‑on.
• Use travel bottles with clear labels.
• Sheathe anything sharp you plan to check.
• Move heavy tools, bats, and big liquids to checked bags while you pack, not at the belt.
• Charge devices and power them off before boarding.
• When unsure, search “What Can I Bring” for the item name and read the item page.

Where These Rules Come From

This guide pulls straight from security and safety pages. The TSA publishes item pages for weapons, liquids, tools, and sports gear. The FAA’s PackSafe pages set battery and hazmat limits. In the EU, passenger rules on liquids mirror the 100 ml cap, and EASA pages give packed‑goods tips. Airlines add house rules on size, weight, and special items. When pages differ, airline policy rules the cabin.