What the TSA allows in carry-on and checked bags
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) sets federal rules for what you can bring through airport security and onto a plane. Most everyday items are allowed — clothes, toiletries, electronics, books, food. The restrictions focus on things that could be used as weapons or pose a fire risk: lighters, sharp objects, flammable liquids, and certain tools.
Carry-on bags and checked bags have different rules. Carry-on items must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and liquids are limited to 3.4 ounces per container. Checked bags have no liquid limit, but they still cannot contain anything prohibited — the TSA does not allow banned items in either type of bag.
Your airline may have stricter rules than the TSA. Some airlines charge for checked bags, limit the number you can bring, or set weight and size limits that are tighter than federal standards. Check your airline's website before you pack, because their rules override the TSA's if they are more restrictive.
Key Takeaways
- Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on bags must be 3.4 ounces or smaller per container and fit in a single quart-sized clear plastic bag.
- Checked bags can hold larger quantities of liquids but cannot contain lighters, flammable items, or anything the TSA bans regardless of bag type.
- Sharp objects like box cutters and utility knives are prohibited in carry-on bags but may be packed in checked luggage if they are properly sheathed.
- Your airline's baggage policy may be stricter than TSA rules, so verify weight limits, size restrictions, and checked bag fees before packing.
- Electronics like laptops and phones are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, but lithium batteries have specific limits in checked luggage.
Liquids, gels, and aerosols: the 3-1-1 rule
The TSA's 3-1-1 rule applies only to carry-on bags. Each liquid, gel, or aerosol container must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or smaller. All containers must fit into one quart-sized clear plastic bag. You are allowed one bag per person. This rule covers shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, peanut butter, yogurt, jam, honey, and anything else with a consistency thicker than a liquid but thinner than a solid.
Checked bags have no size limit on liquids, so you can pack full-sized bottles of shampoo, sunscreen, or cologne in your checked luggage. However, some airlines limit the total weight of a checked bag, so a suitcase full of heavy liquids might push you over that limit and trigger an extra fee.
Medications in liquid or gel form are exempt from the 3.4-ounce limit in carry-on bags, but you should declare them to security and keep them in their original labeled containers. The same applies to baby formula and breast milk if you are traveling with an infant.
Items banned in both carry-on and checked bags
Some things cannot go in any bag on a plane. Lighters and lighter fluid are completely prohibited — this includes disposable lighters, refillable lighters, and lighter fuel. Flammable liquids like gasoline, paint thinner, and certain adhesives are also banned. Explosives and ammunition cannot be packed, and neither can realistic replicas of explosives like toy grenades.
Certain chemicals and materials are prohibited because they can ignite or react dangerously at high altitude or in the cargo hold. This includes pool chlorine, certain pesticides, and some types of batteries. If you are unsure whether a product is flammable, check the label — if it says "flammable" or "combustible," it likely cannot fly.
Weapons are banned in carry-on bags and heavily restricted in checked bags. Firearms, knives, and martial arts weapons cannot go in your carry-on. Some can be packed in checked luggage if they are unloaded and declared to the airline before you check in, but rules vary by airline and destination, so contact your airline first.
Sharp objects and tools: carry-on versus checked
You cannot bring sharp objects in a carry-on bag. This includes kitchen knives, box cutters, utility knives, scissors with blades longer than 4 inches, and razors. Nail clippers and small scissors with blades 4 inches or shorter are allowed in carry-on bags. Straight razors and safety razors are prohibited in carry-on but may be packed in checked luggage.
Many tools are banned from carry-on bags because they could be used as weapons: hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, saws, and drills. However, most of these can go in a checked bag. If you are traveling with tools for work or a hobby, pack them in your checked luggage and declare them to the airline if required.
Corkscrews and bottle openers are allowed in carry-on bags as long as the corkscrew does not have a knife blade attached. If it does, it must go in checked luggage. Pocket knives and multi-tools with blades are prohibited in carry-on but allowed in checked bags.
Electronics and batteries
Laptops, tablets, phones, cameras, and most other electronics are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. You will need to remove laptops and large electronics from your bag at security screening so they can be scanned separately. Keep electronics in your carry-on bag if possible, because checked baggage is handled roughly and lithium batteries can be damaged.
Lithium batteries have strict rules because they can overheat and catch fire. Spare lithium batteries (not installed in a device) are prohibited in checked bags but allowed in carry-on bags in limited quantities. Most passengers can bring up to two spare batteries in carry-on luggage. Batteries installed in devices like phones and laptops are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.
Power banks and portable chargers are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, but they must contain lithium batteries, which means they follow the same rules as spare batteries. Check your power bank's label to confirm it uses lithium batteries, and keep it in your carry-on bag to be safe.
Food, medications, and personal care items
Solid foods are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags with no restrictions. You can bring sandwiches, fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies, and candy. Liquid or gel foods like peanut butter, yogurt, jam, honey, and hummus must follow the 3-1-1 rule if they are in your carry-on bag. These items are allowed in checked bags in any quantity.
Medications in pill or tablet form are allowed in unlimited quantities in both carry-on and checked bags. Liquid medications like cough syrup or insulin are exempt from the 3.4-ounce limit in carry-on bags if they are declared to security. Keep medications in their original labeled containers and bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor if the medication is controlled or unusual.
Personal care items like deodorant, shampoo, and lotion follow the liquid and aerosol rules. Solid deodorant is allowed in unlimited quantities. Spray deodorant and aerosol sunscreen must be 3.4 ounces or smaller in carry-on bags. Toothpaste, which is a gel, must also follow the 3-1-1 rule in carry-on luggage.
What your airline may restrict beyond TSA rules
Airlines set their own baggage policies on top of TSA rules. Most charge fees for checked bags — typically $30 to $50 for the first bag and more for additional bags. Some airlines include one free checked bag for certain ticket types or frequent flyer members. Carry-on bags are usually free, but the airline sets the size limit, and bags that do not fit in the overhead bin or under the seat will be checked at the gate.
Weight limits are another airline restriction. Most airlines allow checked bags up to 50 pounds; anything heavier costs extra or is rejected. Carry-on bags typically have no weight limit, only size limits. If your carry-on bag is too large, the gate agent will ask you to check it, and you may be charged if the flight is full.
Some airlines restrict items that the TSA allows. For example, certain airlines have stricter rules about sporting equipment, musical instruments, or items with lithium batteries. Check your airline's website or call their baggage department before packing anything unusual. International flights may have additional restrictions depending on the destination country's rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a lighter in my checked bag?
No. Lighters and lighter fluid are banned in both carry-on and checked bags on all commercial flights. This is a federal TSA rule with no exceptions.
Are scissors allowed in carry-on luggage?
Scissors with blades 4 inches or shorter are allowed in carry-on bags. Scissors with longer blades must go in checked luggage. The 4-inch measurement is from the pivot point to the tip of the blade.
Can I bring a full-sized bottle of shampoo in my carry-on?
No. Shampoo is a liquid and must be 3.4 ounces or smaller per container in carry-on bags. You can bring a full-sized bottle in a checked bag with no size limit.
What happens if I accidentally pack something prohibited?
TSA officers will find it during screening and confiscate it. You will not be allowed to bring it through security, and you cannot go back to check it. If you realize before screening that you have a prohibited item, you can leave the airport, remove it, and return to security.
Are phone chargers and power banks allowed on planes?
Yes. Phone chargers and power banks with lithium batteries are allowed in carry-on bags. Keep them in your carry-on rather than checked luggage to reduce the risk of damage, and follow the spare battery rules if you are bringing extra batteries not installed in a device.