If you're taking a flight for your vacation, you need to know the quantities and types of liquids that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) allows passengers to bring onto an airplane in their carry-on luggage.
While good security is essential, TSA's regulations on liquid quantities certainly make it harder to take some necessary items on planes. Today’s travelers have to pay attention to exactly what they’re carrying, especially when it comes to shampoos, shaving cream, drinks, and anything resembling a fluid, as many of the TSA's rules forbid these items in certain quantities.
The TSA and airport screeners are strict about the amount and type of liquids that travelers can take with them on the plane. However, they've fortunately developed a handy guide to help passengers prepare for their trip. Known as the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids, this rule states that most liquids, gels, and aerosols can be transported as long as each item is in a 3.4-ounce or smaller container and all items fit in a single one-quart plastic zip-top bag.
TripSavvyAccording to the 3-1-1 guidelines, travelers, in general, are allowed to bring on most liquids, from shampoo to hand sanitizer gels, as long as they meet the requirements of the 3-1-1 rule. Typically this means you can carry up to six 3.4-ounce bottles of shampoos, contact solution, and other liquid necessities as long as they are all contained within a zip-top bag.
You can also put liquids in your checked luggage (as long as they’re not prohibited items). However, if you do this, you should make sure the liquids are sealed really well so that they don't come up while being transported beneath the aircraft. The last thing you need on a business trip is to have your shampoos or other liquids leak all over your business suit or wardrobe.
Travelers can also declare larger containers of selected liquids, such as baby formula or medications, at the checkpoint. Airport screeners will generally allow them in moderate quantities, and declared liquids don’t have to be in zip-top bags.
Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces, but you'll need to declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Also, it's worth noting that TSA screeners do allow you to bring ice through the security checkpoint as long as it's frozen solid. So if you bring ice, make sure to dump out any water before you hit the security checkpoint.
Examples of liquids that can be in excess of the 3.4-ounce rule include:
- Baby formula, breast milk, and juice (for babies)
- Both prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Liquids or liquid nutrition for people with disabilities or medical conditions
- Specialized medical liquids like contact solution
- Frozen items, if they’re frozen solid
- Medical or cosmetic items with liquid or saline
If you’re attempting to bring one of the above items with you, the TSA requires you to separate them, declare them to a security officer, and present them for additional screening. For complete information on the 3-1-1 rule, visit the TSA website, and for a complete list of prohibited items, visit the official TSA prohibited items list.
While it may seem like an arbitrary rule to some, the TSA 3-1-1 Rule actually took a considerable amount of negotiation and research to implement and was developed in response to an attempted attack on an airport in the United Kingdom.
On August 10, 2006, authorities in the United Kingdom arrested a group that was planning to destroy a number of airplanes by using an explosive mixture of a sports drink and other chemicals. After the arrest, the TSA rigorously tested a wide variety of liquids to determine which should be banned outright and what quantity of common household liquids was safe for passengers to bring aboard.
The United States adopted the 3-1-1 Rule in September of 2006, and the TSA screens all arriving international flights to make sure passengers comply with domestic regulations. Other countries have since adopted the same or similar regulations in order to ensure uniform administration of safety rules around the world. Canada, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and all member states of the European Union follow the 3-1-1 Rule.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
We’ve all been there. Waiting in the Transportation Security Administration line only to hear agents call for a “bag check,” often because a traveler had a liquid product in their carry-on that’s over the allowed limit (or some sort of other prohibited item).
It’s a process that can sure slow things down, particularly on the busiest travel days. As you pack for your trip and consider what to put in your carry-on or checked luggage, it’s important to consider what the TSA’s limits are for liquids and similar products.
Since September 2006, the TSA has gone by the 3-1-1 rule when it comes to those types of products, including items like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion — sunscreen included.
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In short, the 3-1-1 rule is: Each liquid you bring through the TSA checkpoint must be in a 3.4-ounce or smaller container (“3”), all containers must be placed inside one clear quart-size plastic bag (“1”) and each passenger is only allowed one plastic bag (“1”).
If you meet those requirements, you should get through security without issue. However, if your liquid items are larger than 3.4 ounces each, you’ll have to leave them in your checked bag.
There are a few exceptions, though.
The TSA has kept in place a temporary pandemic exception to the rule, allowing up to 12 ounces of liquid hand sanitizer in carry-on baggage.
Part of this exception: The hand sanitizer will have to be screened separately since it’s technically over the limit. You’ll need to remove it from your bag before it goes through the scanner.
There are also exceptions for larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols. You can bring those products in larger, “reasonable” quantities, the TSA’s website says. However, you must declare those items to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.
This could, obviously, take a little more time than if you’re traveling without those items.
This exception doesn’t include sunscreen, despite calls to relax sunscreen restrictions at TSA checkpoints. Like other liquid products, sunscreen bottles over 3.4 ounces must go in your checked luggage.
Display of oversized liquids, gels and aerosols that travelers had in their carry-on bags at the @SyracuseAirport @TSA Checkpoint in a 3-day span. The limit for liquids through a checkpoint is 3.4 oz. pic.twitter.com/Fan95TLrLy
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) June 22, 2022
There are also many liquids you cannot bring with you.
You can bring creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt as long as they are in a container of less than 3.4 ounces according to the TSA.
Related: Should you get TSA PreCheck or Clear — or both?
#TravelTip: Looking to stay hydrated on your next travel adventure? Fly with your reusable water bottle, just make sure it’s empty for screening. Most airports have a filling station before boarding! pic.twitter.com/poAEgzAgme
— TSA (@TSA) June 30, 2022
And yes, you can bring your water bottle with you, even if it weighs more than 3.4 ounces — as long as it’s empty. This can also be a great way to save money at the airport, since — as the TSA points out — many airports have filling stations for reusable water bottles.
If you have travel questions, our @AskTSA team has your answers. Wondering about travel-sized liquids or if your food can fly? They can help. They’re available 7 days a week, including holidays. Check out the video below! //t.co/6gUTY4mmMd #SummerTravel #AskTSA
— TSA (@TSA) May 27, 2022
When in doubt, consult the TSA’s list of what you can carry through the airport and check with your airline.
Additional reporting by Clint Henderson and Sean Cudahy.
Featured photo by John Greim/LightRocket/Getty Images.
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