TSA Prohibited Items List & Exceptions | Pack Smart

TSA Prohibited Items List And Exceptions: Quick Rules

The phrase “prohibited items” covers things that present a safety risk or can’t be screened safely. Some are banned flat out. Others are restricted in one bag type, or they ride with size caps, labels, or a declaration at check‑in. Officers at the checkpoint make the final call. Airline rules can be stricter than TSA, so plan for both.

Use this page as a plain‑English map. You’ll see what never flies, what can fly with limits, and the exceptions that save time when you know them.

Carry‑On Versus Checked: Big Picture

Carry‑on bags are near you, so cabin items get a different risk profile. Flammables and spare lithium batteries stay with you so crew can act fast if something overheats. Heavy or club‑like gear shifts to checked. Items that can’t be screened, or that pose a fire risk in the hold or cabin, don’t fly at all.

How The List Works In Practice

Some items are handled by simple size limits. Others need labels, a safety cap, or a hard‑sided case with a lock. Think in three buckets: banned everywhere, allowed with limits, and allowed freely. The tables give a quick view; the sections below give the steps that keep you moving.

Liquids, Gels, Aerosols, And The Exceptions

Carry‑on size for toiletries is still 3.4 oz (100 ml) per item in one quart bag. Big bottles ride in checked. Medically needed liquids, baby drinks and food, and breast milk can exceed 3.4 oz in the cabin when you show them and follow screening steps. You can read the plain rule here: TSA 3‑1‑1 liquids rule.

Tips that help: pack larger liquids where the screener can reach them, expect extra screening on anything that alarms, and leave duty‑free in its sealed bag until you reach your final stop. Non‑toiletry aerosols like spray paint don’t fly in any bag.

Medically Needed Liquids And Baby Items

Breast milk, formula, baby food pouches, and juice for kids can be over 3.4 oz in your carry‑on. Place them in a separate bin and tell the officer what they are. Ice packs for those items can be in the bag even when not fully frozen. The same “reasonable amounts” idea applies to liquid meds and inhalers. If a screener needs to test a liquid, you’ll be asked for a quick check.

Sharp Objects And Tools

Knives ride in checked unless they are plastic or round‑tipped butter knives. Small scissors are fine in the cabin when the blade measures under 4 inches from the pivot. Tools up to 7 inches are fine in carry‑on; longer or heavy tools shift to checked. Wrap any sharp edge in checked bags so handlers don’t get hurt.

Sports And Camping Gear

Anything that swings like a club stays out of the cabin. That includes baseball bats, hockey sticks, and ski poles. Pack them in a checked bag or a gear case. Fuel canisters and most stove fuels are hazardous and don’t fly. Empty camping stoves must be purged of fuel residue before you pack them; airline agents look for odor and residue.

Self‑Defense Sprays And Stun Devices

Pepper spray stays out of carry‑on. One can up to 4 fl oz (118 ml) can go in checked when it has a safety lock and the formula stays under 2% tear gas. Many airlines block sprays outright, so a short call saves a headache. Stun guns and similar devices don’t fly in the cabin; pack them unloaded with any batteries removed when your airline accepts them in checked.

Lighters, Matches, And Smoking Items

A disposable or Zippo‑style lighter with fuel can ride in your pocket or carry‑on. Lighters with no fuel can go in checked. Torch or jet lighters and lighter fluid don’t fly. One book of safety matches can be on your person; strike‑anywhere matches stay home.

Batteries, Vapes, And Power Banks

Spare lithium batteries and power banks go in carry‑on only. Keep terminals covered or each battery in a sleeve. Most consumer packs are under 100 Wh and need no approval. Two spares in the 101–160 Wh range need airline approval; anything larger rides only when installed in special gear that your airline accepts. If you gate‑check a bag, pull the spares before it leaves your hands. E‑cigarettes and vape devices stay in the cabin and may not be charged on board.

Firearms And Ammunition

Firearms never pass through the checkpoint. Unloaded guns ride in checked only, inside a locked, hard‑sided case. Only you hold the key or combo. Declare the case at the counter. Magazines and parts stay out of carry‑on. Ammo goes in packaging made for small arms cartridges and within any airline weight caps. Many airlines follow an 11‑pound (5 kg) cap.

Alcohol, Dry Ice, And Foods

High‑proof liquor over 70% ABV doesn’t fly. Sealed liquor between 24% and 70% is allowed in checked up to 5 liters total per person. Beer and wine have no set limit in checked beyond airline weight rules. Dry ice is limited to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) per person in carry‑on or checked with airline approval and vented packaging. Solid food is fine in either bag; spreads and soups follow liquid rules.

Medical Devices, Syringes, And Mobility Aids

CPAPs, nebulizers, and similar devices can fly in either bag. In the checkpoint, you may be asked to place the device (not the hoses) in a clear bag for X‑ray and a quick swab. Unused syringes ride with your injectable meds; used ones ride in a sharps container. Mobility devices with lithium batteries have extra steps; many designs require removing the battery and carrying it in the cabin with the terminals protected.

Marijuana, CBD, And Federal Rules

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law except for hemp‑based products with no more than 0.3% THC or FDA‑approved meds. TSA doesn’t search for it, but officers must notify law enforcement when they find it. Rules outside the U.S. can be tougher. When in doubt, leave it out.

How To Read “Conditional”: The Details That Matter

“Conditional” means the item can fly when you meet a packing rule, a size limit, or a screening step. The list below calls out the ones that trip people up and how to pack them right.

Alcohol: Proof And Package

Keep anything over 70% ABV off your list. Pack bottles 24%–70% in checked, still sealed, with room in the bag so glass isn’t under strain. Miniatures in carry‑on must fit your quart bag and stay sealed.

Dry Ice: Weight, Venting, And Label

Stick to 5.5 pounds per person. Use a vented container and mark it “Dry ice” or “Carbon dioxide, solid.” Add the weight on the package or mark “≤2.5 kg.” Ask your airline for approval before you head to the airport.

Power Banks And Big Camera Packs

Most packs list Wh on the label. If you only see mAh, multiply by 3.7 and divide by 1,000 to get Wh. Keep spares in sleeves so metal can’t short them. If a gate agent checks your carry‑on, move all spares and vapes to a small sling you keep with you.

Self‑Defense Sprays

One pepper spray can in checked is the limit, and only with a working safety lock. Animal spray like bear spray doesn’t fly. If your airline bans sprays, your checked bag won’t be accepted until it’s out.

Knives, Scissors, And Multi‑Tools

Small scissors under 4 inches from the pivot are fine in carry‑on. Any blade that points or locks goes to checked. Multi‑tools with blades go to checked; bladeless styles with tiny scissors can pass when they meet the scissor rule.

Sports Gear

Clubs, bats, and sticks ride in checked. Pack skis and poles in a hard case when you can. Pack skates with blade guards. Remove CO₂ cartridges from life vests unless your airline allows them under gas‑cartridge limits.

Quick Packing Playbook

Use these moves to keep your trip smooth.

• Stage anything “conditional” on top so you can hand it over without digging.
• Wrap sharp edges in cardboard or a sheath in checked.
• Cover battery terminals or place each spare in its own bag or sleeve.
• Keep receipts and labels visible on duty‑free and batteries.
• If you need to gate‑check a bag, move spares, vapes, and power banks to your personal item first.

Exceptions And How To Pack Them Right

The table below lists the common carve‑outs and the simple steps that make them fly.

Real‑World Scenarios

You Bought Hot Sauce And Wine On A Trip

Pack the wine in checked with padding. Hot sauce bottles under 3.4 oz can ride in your quart bag; larger bottles ride in checked. If you bought a duty‑free bottle at a connection, keep it sealed in the tamper‑evident bag with the receipt until the trip ends.

Your Camera Kit Includes Four Extra Batteries

All spares go in carry‑on. Place each in a sleeve or a plastic case. Keep the power bank in carry‑on too. If a flight attendant asks you to stop charging, unplug and keep the pack in view.

You’re Bringing A Kitchen Knife Set As A Gift

Pack the set in checked, with guards or cardboard on each blade. Tape the box closed so it won’t spill open during screening. Don’t bring any blade to the checkpoint.

You Need A CPAP And Liquid Meds

Carry the device to the checkpoint. You may be asked to place the machine in a clear bag for X‑ray and a quick swab. Keep your meds together and tell the officer you have liquid meds. Bring the labels; a printout can help if asked.

You Want Pepper Spray For A Hiking Trip

Check your airline first; some don’t accept sprays at all. If allowed, pack one small can (up to 4 oz) with a working safety lock in checked, away from pressure points. Don’t bring bear spray; it’s not accepted.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Delays

• Putting a power bank in checked luggage.
• Bringing a lighter with a torch flame.
• Packing spray paint or other flammable aerosols.
• Leaving ammo loose instead of in proper boxes.
• Forgetting to declare a locked firearm case at the counter.
• Assuming state marijuana laws apply in federal airspace.

When Airline Rules Are Stricter

Airlines can set tighter limits while still meeting TSA and FAA rules. Some block pepper spray entirely. Many require approval for dry ice and larger lithium spares. Mobility aids with lithium packs often need extra steps or paperwork. A quick call or a look at your airline’s “dangerous goods” page prevents a last‑minute repack.

Officer Discretion And Screening Tips

If a screener can’t clear an item, it won’t pass. Keep your tone calm, ask what step will resolve it, and be ready to check an item or hand it to a travel partner who isn’t flying. A few minutes of prep at home beats a repack on the floor at the ropes.

Printable‑Style Checklist You Can Save

Never Pack

• Fireworks, flares, blasting caps, gunpowder.
• Torches, lighter fluid, strike‑anywhere matches.
• Liquor over 70% ABV.

Carry‑On Only

• Spare lithium batteries and power banks.
• E‑cigarettes and vapes.
• Small scissors; toiletries that fit 3‑1‑1.

Checked Only

• Baseball bats, ski poles, heavy tools.
• Unloaded firearms in locked hard case; declare.
• One 4 oz pepper spray with safety lock (when airline accepts).

Pack smart, label where needed, and you’ll clear the lane with less stress.