The TSA rules for carry-on items

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows most everyday items in your carry-on bag, but a few categories are banned outright: weapons, explosives, flammables, and sharp objects longer than 7 inches. Beyond those restrictions, the real limit is size — your bag must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and airlines enforce their own dimension limits (usually around 22 by 14 by 9 inches, but this varies by carrier).

What trips most travelers is the liquid rule. You can bring liquids, gels, and aerosols in containers of 3.4 ounces or smaller, and all containers must fit inside a single quart-sized clear plastic bag. This applies to toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, peanut butter, yogurt, and anything else with a consistency thicker than water. Solid foods like sandwiches, fruit, and cheese are fine; liquids and spreads are not.

Electronics are allowed — laptops, phones, tablets, headphones, and chargers all go in your carry-on. You will need to remove your laptop at security, but everything else can stay packed. Batteries must be in your carry-on, not checked luggage, because of fire risk in the cargo hold.

Key Takeaways

  • Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit in one quart-sized clear bag; this includes toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, and peanut butter.
  • Solid foods like fruit, sandwiches, and cheese are allowed, but anything spreadable or pourable is not.
  • Weapons, explosives, flammables, and sharp objects longer than 7 inches are banned entirely from carry-on bags.
  • Electronics and batteries are allowed in carry-on but must be removed at security screening; batteries cannot go in checked luggage.
  • Your bag must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, and dimension limits vary by airline, so check your carrier's policy before packing.

Medications and medical devices

Prescription and over-the-counter medications in pill, capsule, or tablet form have no restrictions — pack as much as you need for your trip. Liquid medications like insulin, cough syrup, or eye drops are exempt from the 3.4-ounce rule if they are medically necessary, but you should carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor's note to show at security if asked.

Medical devices such as inhalers, EpiPens, and glucose meters are allowed. If you use a CPAP machine or other medical equipment, you can bring it in your carry-on, though you may want to notify the airline in advance. Syringes are permitted if they are accompanied by injectable medication (insulin, for example) or a prescription label.

Toiletries and personal care items

Solid deodorant, solid perfume, and solid lotion bars are not subject to the liquid rule and can be any size. Liquid deodorant, cologne, and liquid lotion must follow the 3.4-ounce limit. Razors with removable blades are banned, but electric razors and safety razors with the blade attached are allowed.

Nail clippers, tweezers, and small scissors (under 7 inches) are permitted. Nail files are allowed. Hairbrushes, combs, and toothbrushes have no restrictions. If you wear contacts, contact solution counts as a liquid and must be 3.4 ounces or smaller, though you can pack multiple small bottles as long as they fit in your quart bag.

Food and beverages

Solid foods pass through security with no restrictions: sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cheese, crackers, cookies, chocolate, and nuts are all fine. You can bring a full meal if you want. Peanut butter, hummus, jam, honey, and other spreads or pastes are considered gels and must be 3.4 ounces or smaller.

Empty water bottles can go through security, and you can fill them at a water fountain or bottle-filling station after you clear the checkpoint. Beverages purchased after security — coffee, juice, soda — can stay in your bag for the flight. Alcohol is not allowed in carry-on bags, even if it is sealed.

Electronics and power banks

Laptops, tablets, e-readers, phones, cameras, and headphones are all allowed. You will remove your laptop at the security checkpoint and place it in a bin, but smaller electronics can stay in your bag. Chargers and charging cables have no restrictions.

Portable power banks (battery packs) are allowed in carry-on but not in checked luggage. The capacity limit is 100 watt-hours; most standard power banks are well under this. If your power bank is larger or you are unsure of the capacity, check the label or contact your airline before traveling.

Items that require advance notice

Some items are allowed but require you to tell the airline ahead of time. These include sporting equipment like golf clubs, skis, and tennis rackets (some airlines charge a fee); musical instruments (though they may need to be checked if they do not fit in the overhead bin); and certain medical equipment. Calling your airline 24 hours before your flight takes a few minutes and prevents problems at the gate.

If you are traveling with a service animal, the animal itself is allowed in the cabin, but you will need documentation. Emotional support animals have stricter rules and may not be permitted in the cabin on all airlines, so check your carrier's policy.

What is banned from carry-on bags

Do not pack knives (including butter knives and pocket knives), box cutters, or any blade longer than 7 inches. Firearms, ammunition, and realistic toy guns are banned. Explosives, fireworks, flares, and lighter fluid are prohibited. Aerosol cans of spray paint, insecticide, or tear gas are not allowed.

Tools like hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and drills are banned if they could be used as weapons. Corrosive materials, poisons, and certain chemicals are prohibited. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, the TSA website has a searchable tool where you can type in the item and get an answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a full-size bottle of shampoo if I check my luggage 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 restrictions. Just make sure the bottles are find so they do not leak on your other belongings.

What if my deodorant or lotion is in a spray can?

Spray deodorant and spray lotion are aerosols and count as liquids. They must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit in your quart bag. Solid stick deodorant and solid lotion bars are not subject to this rule.

Can I bring a lighter or matches on the plane?

No. Lighters and matches are banned from both carry-on and checked luggage on passenger aircraft. This is a federal rule that applies to all U.S. airlines.

Do I need to remove my phone and headphones at security?

No. Only laptops and large electronics need to be removed. Phones, headphones, tablets, and chargers can stay in your bag or pocket as you go through the scanner.

What size is the quart bag for liquids, and where do I get one?

A quart-sized bag is roughly 7 by 8 inches — the standard freezer bag size. You can buy them at any grocery store or pharmacy, or the TSA sometimes provides them at security checkpoints. You can also use any clear plastic bag that holds about one quart of liquid.