TSA Item List: Liquids, Batteries, Food & More | Pack It Right

TSA Item List Guide: Liquids, Batteries, Food

Here’s the clean way to read the TSA item list. Think in three lanes: things that can fly in a carry‑on, things that must ride in checked bags, and things that are off‑limits. The quick rule set is simple: the 3‑1‑1 liquids rule sets the size for small bottles; spare lithium batteries stay in the cabin; solid food is fine in either bag. Past that, each item carries a short note—size cap, packaging, or a label—to keep you moving.

This guide trims the guesswork. It groups the most asked items, explains the common caps in plain words, and gives you steps you can use while you pack. Where safety rules from the FAA apply, you’ll see the matching limits.

Carry‑On, Checked, Or Neither: At‑A‑Glance List

Liquids And Small Bottles

The 3‑1‑1 rule means each liquid, gel, cream, paste, or aerosol in your carry‑on sits in a 3.4‑ounce (100 mL) or smaller container, and all those small containers fit in one quart‑size bag. That bag goes in a bin at screening. Full‑size bottles ride in checked bags.

Duty‑free bottles can pass a connection when they’re in a sealed, tamper‑evident bag with a same‑trip receipt dated within 48 hours, as long as the package clears screening. If the seal looks broken or the item can’t be cleared, it won’t fly in the cabin. When the seal is at risk on a tight connection, hand it to the counter and check it before you re‑screen.

Your 60‑Second Setup

Lay out liquids before you pack. Fill one quart bag with items you’ll need on the flight or right after landing. Swap bulky bottles for travel sizes or decant into 100 mL containers. Keep a spare quart bag in the suitcase so you never hunt for one at the checkpoint.

Mistakes That Trigger A Pull

Large aerosol cans in a carry‑on. A full water bottle. A jar of sauce tucked in a lunch bag. A big tub of moisturizer. A loose cap that leaks into the bin. Fix each at the source: size the container, empty the bottle, move jars to checked, and twist caps tight.

Toiletry Aerosols In Checked Bags

Hair spray, dry shampoo, and similar toiletry aerosols can go in checked luggage under FAA caps: up to 17‑ounce (500 mL) per container and up to 70 ounces (2 L) total per person. Snap a cap on each can to prevent a spray. Non‑toiletry aerosols like spray paint are out in both bags.

Food That Spreads Counts As A Liquid

Peanut butter, hummus, salsa, dips, soft cheese, and any item you can spread or pour must follow 3‑1‑1 in a carry‑on. Solid food—bread, chips, hard cheese, whole fruit—can fly in either bag with no size cap. If your cooler holds soup or curry, portion it into small bottles or check it.

Batteries, Power Banks, And Electronics

Two questions run the show with batteries. Is the battery installed or spare? And if spare, what size is it? Installed batteries ride in the device in either bag. Spare lithium batteries and power banks ride in carry‑on only with terminals protected.

Most consumer spares sit at or under 100 watt‑hours (Wh). That size is fine in hand luggage, no airline call needed. Larger spares from 101 to 160 Wh—common with pro video gear—need airline approval and are capped at two per person. At 160+ Wh, spares are out for passengers. If your suitcase has a built‑in pack, remove it before you check the bag.

How To Find Watt‑Hours Fast

Look for “Wh” on the label. If the label only shows milliamp‑hours (mAh) and voltage (V), do the math: Wh = (mAh × V) ÷ 1000. A 10,000 mAh, 3.7 V power bank is about 37 Wh. Tape each spare’s contacts or keep them in sleeves to prevent a short.

Protect Spares The Right Way

Pack spares in a small case, plastic battery boxes, or the sleeves they shipped in. Cover exposed terminals with tape. Keep spares out of pockets. Skip cells that look damaged or puffy; replace them at home.

Vapes And Lighters

E‑cigs and vapes stay in the cabin. Do not use or charge on board. One disposable or Zippo lighter may ride in hand luggage; fueled lighters in checked bags need a DOT‑approved case or must be empty. Torch lighters are out in both bags.

Drones And Camera Rigs

Pack the drone body in either bag. Treat flight batteries as spares: carry‑on only, with terminals covered. Most drone packs are under 100 Wh; if yours is larger, call your airline for approval and keep it to two spares.

Food, Drinks, And Ice

Solid food travels well. Pack snacks, sandwiches without spready sauces, hard cheese, produce, and baked goods in either bag. Gel‑like foods follow 3‑1‑1 in carry‑ons. Seafood and meats are fine; pack them cold and sealed.

Ice packs and freezer packs can go through screening when frozen solid. If slushy, they must meet 3‑1‑1 unless they cool baby items or meds. Dry ice handles long trips; you can fly with up to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) per person in a vented, marked package with airline approval.

Alcohol has three cutoffs. Drinks at 24% ABV or less face no hazmat limit in checked bags. Drinks over 24% up to 70% ABV can ride in checked bags up to 5 liters total in retail packaging. Anything stronger than 70% ABV can’t fly in either bag. In the cabin, only minis that fit your quart bag can pass screening, and you can’t drink your own on board.

Keep Items Cold Without A Delay

Freeze gel packs the night before. Pack them tight around the food so they stay solid through screening. If you need more chill time, pair gel packs with a small piece of dry ice and a vented, labeled container, then get the airline’s OK at the counter.

Baby Food, Formula, And Milk

These items are exempt from 3‑1‑1 in reasonable amounts. Pull them out of the bag and tell the officer. Screening may include testing the liquids. Cooling aids for baby items can be gel or ice packs even if not fully frozen.

Sharp Items, Tools, And Gear

Keep blades out of your carry‑on. Pack knives, box cutters, and long scissors in checked baggage and wrap them. Small tools up to seven inches can ride in hand luggage; longer tools and all power tools go in checked bags. Sports gear with striking edges—bats, clubs, sticks—belongs in checked bags as well.

Sewing And Craft Items

Small scissors with blades under four inches from the pivot point are usually fine in carry‑ons. Needles and crochet hooks pass often; still, pack sharp ends in a case. Rotary cutters and spare blades should ride in checked bags.

Household Items That Surprise People

Multi‑tools with blades count as knives. Wrenches and screwdrivers under seven inches can ride in the cabin; longer ones can’t. A blender jar is fine in the cabin only if the blade is removed. Wrap any loose blades in checked bags.

Baby Items, Meds, And Special Cases

Formula, breast milk, and toddler drinks are allowed in larger amounts in carry‑ons. Remove them from your bag and tell the officer; screening may include testing. Pump kits can ride, too. Cooling aids for those items can be gel or ice packs even if not fully frozen.

Liquid medicines may exceed 3.4 ounces in carry‑ons in amounts that make sense for the trip. Tell the officer and place them in a bin. Pill meds can ride in any bag. If you carry syringes, keep them with the medicine.

Medical Gear And Screening Tips

If you wear a pump or monitor, speak up before screening. You can ask for a visual check for items that can’t go through an X‑ray or scanner. Bring a short letter or device card if you have one; it speeds the chat.

Duty‑Free Liquids On Connections

Buying at the airport? Keep your bottle in the sealed STEB with the receipt visible and the seal intact. That combo lets you carry the item through a U.S. connection, subject to screening. If the bag is opened or torn, check it or risk surrender at the next checkpoint.

Powders And Large Containers

On flights arriving in the U.S., powder‑like substances over 12 ounces (350 mL) in a carry‑on may need more screening at the central checkpoint. If the screen can’t clear the substance, it won’t ride in the cabin. Powdered foods like protein mixes fly more smoothly if packed in checked bags.

Smart Bags And E‑Scooters

Bags with built‑in batteries can only be checked if the battery is removable; remove it and carry the battery in the cabin. E‑scooters and hoverboards use large lithium packs; many airlines reject them for passengers. Ship them ground or rent at your destination.

How To Check Any Item In 30 Seconds

Use TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” Tool

Search the item name. Then read both columns: carry‑on and checked. Look for short notes like “cap,” “sheath,” “frozen solid,” “airline approval,” or “size limit.” If your item isn’t listed, ask @AskTSA on X or Facebook Messenger. You can also open the full A‑to‑Z list here: TSA What Can I Bring?.

Match The FAA Notes For Hazmat

Two items set caps most often: batteries and aerosols. Check the watt‑hour range for spares, and look at the toiletry aerosol totals for checked bags. High‑proof alcohol faces the 5‑liter cap and the 70% ABV cutoff. If you’re packing bigger gear, skim the FAA lithium battery guidance and the dry ice page.

Battery Limits By Type (Quick Table)

Packing Steps That Save Time

Set Up Your Liquids

Pack one clear quart bag with your small bottles. Keep it in a side pocket so you can grab it fast. If a bottle is close to full, crack the cap a touch when you land to vent pressure, then retighten.

Stage Your Tech

Charged devices scan better. Put your laptop and tablet near the top. Empty your pockets into your bag before you reach the trays. If you fly with film, ask for a hand check.

Wrap Anything Sharp

Use blade guards or cardboard and tape for kitchen knives in checked bags. Sheath tools. Pad sports gear so it doesn’t punch through a soft suitcase wall.

Use Labels For Dry Ice

Write “Dry ice” and the weight on the box, and leave a gap for venting. Ask for the airline’s OK at the counter. Keep the total at or under 5.5 pounds.

Plan For Duty‑Free On Connections

Check the length of your layover. Keep the STEB sealed until you reach your final U.S. exit point. If the seal breaks or the bag tears, head to the counter and check the item before you re‑screen.

Regional Notes And Edge Cases

Fresh produce faces extra rules when flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland. Pack local fruit only if allowed by the agriculture rules at your origin. For overseas trips, battery and aerosol caps can differ; check the airline page for your route and match it to TSA caps at the U.S. checkpoint.

Quick Recap You Can Act On

Put small liquids in one quart bag. Keep spare lithium batteries and power banks in hand luggage only. Pack knives and long tools in checked bags. Use frozen packs or dry ice to keep food cold. Seal duty‑free bottles in STEBs for connections. When a rule seems fuzzy, search the item in TSA’s tool and glance at PackSafe notes for caps and labels.