What the TSA allows in your carry-on bag

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) lets you bring most everyday items in your carry-on: clothing, books, electronics, toiletries in containers 3.4 ounces or smaller, and solid foods like sandwiches or fruit. You cannot bring liquids, gels, or aerosols larger than 3.4 ounces—this includes shampoo, toothpaste, peanut butter, yogurt, and spray deodorant. Sharp objects like box cutters, pocket knives, and scissors with blades longer than 4 inches are banned. Firearms, explosives, and flammable items are never allowed.

The rules explore to every U.S. airport and every airline flying from the United States. Some airlines add their own restrictions on top of TSA rules—for example, they may limit carry-on bag size or weight, or ban certain electronics. Check your airline's website before you pack, because their rules override the TSA baseline.

TSA agents at security screening make the final call on borderline items. If you are unsure whether something will pass, you can ask TSA on Twitter (@AskTSA) before you travel, or pack the item in checked luggage instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit in a single quart-sized clear plastic bag.
  • Sharp objects like knives, razors, and scissors longer than 4 inches cannot go in carry-on bags.
  • Electronics like laptops, phones, and tablets are allowed, but you will remove them at security screening.
  • Your airline may have stricter rules than the TSA, so check their website for bag size, weight, and item restrictions before packing.
  • Solid foods are allowed in carry-on bags, but liquids and gels—including peanut butter, honey, and jam—are not.

The 3-1-1 rule for liquids and gels

The TSA uses a straightforward shorthand called 3-1-1 to describe the liquid rule: 3.4 ounces per container, 1 quart-sized clear plastic bag, 1 bag per passenger. All your liquids, gels, creams, and aerosols must fit inside a single clear plastic bag about the size of a gallon freezer bag. You remove this bag at security and place it in the bin with your shoes and electronics.

The 3.4-ounce limit is per container, not per type of item. You can bring a 3.4-ounce bottle of shampoo and a 3.4-ounce bottle of conditioner, as long as both fit in the quart bag. If you have a 5-ounce bottle of lotion, it cannot go in carry-on no matter how much space is left in the bag—you must check it or leave it behind.

Items that count as liquids or gels include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant (spray or gel), mascara, liquid eyeliner, foundation, peanut butter, honey, jam, yogurt, and hummus. Solid deodorant, lipstick, and bar soap do not count and can go anywhere in your carry-on. If you are unsure whether an item is a liquid or gel, assume it is and pack it in the quart bag.

Electronics and power banks in carry-on bags

Laptops, tablets, e-readers, phones, and cameras are allowed in carry-on bags. You must remove your laptop and any device larger than a tablet from your bag at security screening and place it in a bin. Phones and small electronics can stay in your bag. Power banks and portable chargers are allowed, but lithium batteries inside them are regulated—most standard power banks sold in stores meet TSA rules, but check the watt-hour rating if you own an older or high-capacity model.

Spare lithium batteries (the kind you might carry for a camera or electronic device) have stricter rules. You can bring up to two spare batteries in carry-on only—they cannot go in checked luggage. They must be in their original retail packaging or have tape over the terminals to prevent short circuits. If you are traveling with expensive camera equipment or multiple batteries, contact your airline before you pack.

Medications, medical devices, and personal care items

Prescription and over-the-counter medications in pill, tablet, or capsule form do not need to follow the 3-1-1 liquid rule and can go anywhere in your carry-on. Liquid or gel medications like insulin, eye drops, or liquid antibiotics do count as liquids and must follow the 3.4-ounce rule, but the TSA makes exceptions for medically necessary liquids in reasonable quantities. Bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor if you are carrying large amounts of liquid medication.

Medical devices like inhalers, EpiPens, and CPAP machines are allowed in carry-on. Syringes are allowed if they are accompanied by medication. Mobility aids like canes, crutches, and walkers can go in carry-on or be checked. If you use a wheelchair, scooter, or other mobility device, contact your airline at least 48 hours before your flight so they can arrange boarding information.

Solid personal care items like deodorant, lipstick, and bar soap have no restrictions. Razors with removable blades are banned, but safety razors and electric razors are allowed. Nail clippers and nail files are allowed. Tweezers are allowed.

Food and beverages you can bring through security

Solid foods like sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cheese, crackers, cookies, and candy are allowed in carry-on bags and do not need to go through security screening. You can bring a full meal if you want. Frozen foods are allowed if they are completely solid when you go through security—if they have any liquid or are partially thawed, they will be confiscated.

Beverages are not allowed through security screening. You cannot bring a bottle of juice, water, coffee, or soda in your carry-on. You can buy drinks after you pass through security at airport shops and restaurants, or bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain after screening. Some airports have water refill stations specifically for this purpose.

Peanut butter, honey, jam, Nutella, and other spreads are considered gels and must follow the 3.4-ounce rule. Yogurt, pudding, and other creamy foods are also gels. If you want to bring these items, pack them in containers 3.4 ounces or smaller and place them in your quart-sized liquid bag.

Items banned from carry-on bags

Sharp objects banned from carry-on include knives of any size, box cutters, razor blades, ice picks, and scissors with blades longer than 4 inches. Scissors with blades 4 inches or shorter are allowed. Tools like hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and saws are banned. Sporting equipment like baseball bats, golf clubs, and ski poles are banned from carry-on but can be checked.

Flammable items cannot go in carry-on or checked luggage: lighter fluid, paint thinner, aerosol cans of spray paint, and self-inflating life jackets. Lighters are banned from both carry-on and checked bags, with one exception—a single lighter in your pocket or a lighter case is allowed in carry-on only if it does not contain fuel. Matches are banned from both carry-on and checked bags.

Firearms, ammunition, and realistic-looking toy guns are banned from carry-on. Firearms can be checked if they are unloaded, in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Ammunition can be checked in limited quantities in a locked container. Explosives, fireworks, and flares are banned from both carry-on and checked bags.

Airline-specific carry-on rules beyond the TSA

The TSA sets the federal baseline, but each airline can impose stricter rules. Most airlines limit carry-on bag dimensions to roughly 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches deep, though some budget airlines have smaller limits. Weight limits vary—some airlines allow 40 pounds, others allow 25 pounds or less. Check your airline's website under "baggage" or "carry-on" to find their exact rules before you pack.

Some airlines ban certain items that the TSA allows. For example, some airlines do not allow hoverboards or e-cigarettes in carry-on or checked bags. A few airlines have restrictions on the number of electronics you can bring. If you are flying with an unusual item—a musical instrument, sports equipment, or a large camera—contact your airline ahead of time to confirm it will be allowed.

If your carry-on bag is too large or heavy at the gate, the airline will force you to check it, and you may be charged a checked baggage fee. Measure your bag and weigh it at home before you travel. If you are unsure whether your bag meets the size limit, pack lighter or use a smaller bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a full-size bottle of shampoo if I check my bag instead?

Yes. The 3.4-ounce limit applies only to carry-on bags. You can pack full-size bottles of shampoo, lotion, perfume, and other liquids in your checked bag with no size restriction. However, checked bags can be damaged or lost, so consider whether you want to risk expensive products.

What happens if I forget about a banned item and bring it to security?

TSA agents will confiscate it. You will not be fined or arrested for an honest mistake, but you will lose the item. If you realize you have a banned item before you reach security, you can go back and check it in your luggage, mail it to your destination, or throw it away.

Can I bring a vape or e-cigarette in my carry-on?

The TSA allows e-cigarettes and vaping devices in carry-on bags only—they are banned from checked luggage because the batteries pose a fire risk. Vape liquid follows the 3.4-ounce liquid rule. However, some airlines and some countries ban e-cigarettes entirely, so check your airline's policy and your destination's laws before you travel.

Are there any foods I cannot bring through security?

Solid foods have no restrictions. Anything that is liquid, gel, or paste—including peanut butter, hummus, yogurt, and jam—must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and go in your quart bag. Frozen foods are allowed if they are completely solid when you go through security.

Can I bring my laptop in my carry-on bag?

Yes. You must remove it from your bag at security screening and place it in a bin, but it can travel in your carry-on. The same applies to tablets larger than a standard tablet size. Phones and small electronics can stay in your bag during screening.