TSA rules let you bring most everyday items, but liquids, sharp objects, and certain tools have strict limits

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) sets the rules for what flies in your carry-on bag and checked luggage on U.S. flights. Most items are allowed, but liquids have a 3.4-ounce limit per container in carry-on bags, sharp objects must go in checked luggage, and some tools and sporting equipment need to be packed a specific way. The rules are the same whether you fly once a year or every week — what matters is how you pack it.

Your carry-on bag travels with you in the cabin. Your checked bag goes in the cargo hold. TSA screens both, but the restrictions are different because carry-on bags stay near passengers and crew. Knowing which bag to use for each item saves you time at security and keeps you from having to repack at the gate.

Key Takeaways

  • Liquids, gels, and pastes in carry-on bags must be 3.4 ounces or smaller per container, and all containers must fit in a single quart-sized clear bag.
  • Sharp objects like knives, box cutters, and ice picks must go in checked luggage, never in carry-on.
  • Tools longer than 7 inches or power tools must be checked; hand tools under 7 inches may go in carry-on if they do not have a blade or sharp point.
  • Sporting equipment like baseball bats, golf clubs, and ski poles go in checked luggage, though some items like tennis rackets are allowed in carry-on.
  • Electronics like laptops, phones, and cameras are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, but lithium batteries have limits on quantity.

Liquids, gels, and pastes: the 3-1-1 rule

Any liquid, gel, paste, or cream must follow the 3-1-1 rule in your carry-on bag: 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) per container, 1 quart-sized clear plastic bag, and 1 bag per passenger. This includes shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, peanut butter, yogurt, honey, and jam. Solid deodorant and solid perfume are not restricted. If you are unsure whether something counts as a liquid or gel, the TSA website has a searchable "What Can I Bring?" tool where you type the item name.

You can pack full-sized bottles of liquids in your checked bag with no limit. Many travelers buy travel-sized bottles at drugstores or use small containers they already own, fill them at home, and pack them in the quart bag for carry-on. If you forget and try to bring a full-sized bottle through security, TSA will confiscate it — you cannot go back and check it instead.

Frozen liquids like ice packs are allowed in carry-on if they are completely frozen solid when you go through security. Once they start to thaw, they become a liquid and must follow the 3-1-1 rule. In checked bags, frozen items are fine as long as they stay frozen.

Sharp objects and tools that must be checked

Knives of any size, box cutters, utility knives, ice picks, meat cleavers, and razor blades must go in checked luggage. Scissors are allowed in carry-on only if the blades are under 4 inches and the handles are rounded. Corkscrews with a blade or sharp point must be checked; a straightforward corkscrew without a blade is allowed in carry-on.

Hand tools under 7 inches long — like screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and hammers — may go in carry-on if they have no blade or sharp point. Anything longer than 7 inches must be checked. Power tools like drills, saws, and sanders must be checked, and the battery must be removed and packed separately if it is a lithium battery. Axes, hatchets, and crowbars must be checked.

If you are traveling with tools for work or a hobby, pack them in checked luggage and let them sit at the bottom of your bag so they do not shift during the flight. Wrap sharp edges with cloth or bubble wrap to protect baggage handlers and your other belongings.

Sporting equipment: what goes where

Baseball bats, softball bats, cricket bats, golf clubs, ski poles, hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks must go in checked luggage. Fishing rods must be checked. Tennis rackets, badminton rackets, and squash rackets are allowed in carry-on or checked. Skis and snowboards go in checked luggage.

Bicycles can be checked if they are packed in a bike bag, bike box, or hard case — they cannot go as a regular checked bag. Some airlines charge an extra fee for bikes. Contact your airline before you book to confirm their bike policy and any fees.

Ammunition and firearms have strict rules and require advance notice to your airline. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Ammunition must be in its original manufacturer's container and packed in checked luggage. Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition through security without declaring them first.

Electronics and batteries

Laptops, tablets, phones, cameras, and portable chargers 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 them easily accessible in your carry-on so you can remove them quickly.

Lithium batteries have quantity limits because they can overheat and catch fire. Spare lithium batteries — the kind in phones, laptops, and power tools — are limited to 2 batteries per device type in carry-on only. They must be in your carry-on bag, not checked, because the cabin crew can respond faster if there is a problem. Batteries installed in devices (like your phone or laptop) do not count toward this limit. If you are traveling with more than 2 spare batteries of the same type, you cannot bring the extras.

Larger lithium batteries used in wheelchairs, scooters, or medical devices have different rules. Contact TSA or your airline at least 48 hours before your flight if you use a device with a large lithium battery.

Everyday items that are usually allowed

Clothing, shoes, books, magazines, and toiletries in solid or powder form (like solid deodorant, powder makeup, or dry shampoo) are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. Powders in containers larger than 12 ounces may be opened and tested at security, so pack them where you can access them easily if asked.

Food is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, with limits on liquids and gels. Solid foods like sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and cheese are fine. Peanut butter, honey, jam, and other spreads count as liquids or gels and must follow the 3-1-1 rule. You can bring food through security, but some airports have restrictions on what you can bring into certain countries if you are flying internationally.

Medications in pill or tablet form are allowed in unlimited quantities in both carry-on and checked bags. Liquid or gel medications (like inhalers, insulin, or cough syrup) are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule — you can bring them in quantities larger than 3.4 ounces, but you should declare them to TSA at security and keep them in their original labeled containers.

Items that are always prohibited

Explosives, flammables, and compressed gases are never allowed in carry-on or checked luggage. This includes fireworks, lighter fluid, propane, and aerosol cans with flammable contents. Lighters are prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags, with one exception: a single lighter in a protective case may go in checked luggage only if it is not a torch lighter.

Weapons like guns, tasers, pepper spray, and brass knuckles are prohibited in carry-on. Some may be allowed in checked luggage with advance notice and proper packing, but others are never allowed. Check with your airline before packing anything that could be considered a weapon.

Certain sporting equipment and tools are always prohibited, including spear guns, bows and arrows, and dynamite. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, use the TSA "What Can I Bring?" tool or call TSA at 1-855-787-2227 before you pack.

International flights and airline-specific rules

TSA rules explore to flights within the United States and to U.S. flights departing from U.S. airports. If you are flying internationally, the country you are flying to may have stricter rules. Some countries prohibit items that TSA allows, like certain types of batteries or sporting equipment. Check the rules for your destination country and your airline before you pack.

Individual airlines may have stricter carry-on size and weight limits than TSA requires. Some airlines charge fees for checked bags or have limits on how many bags you can bring. Review your airline's baggage policy on their website before you arrive at the airport. If your carry-on bag is too large, you may be asked to check it at the gate, and you will not be able to access it until you land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a lighter on an airplane?

Regular lighters are prohibited in carry-on and checked bags. A single lighter in a protective case may go in checked luggage only — never in carry-on. Torch lighters are never allowed in either bag.

Are nail clippers and tweezers allowed in carry-on?

Yes, nail clippers and tweezers are allowed in carry-on bags. Nail files are also allowed. The only grooming tools prohibited are straight razors and razor blades.

Can I bring a full-sized bottle of shampoo in my checked bag?

Yes, full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and other liquids are allowed in checked luggage with no size limit. Only carry-on bags have the 3.4-ounce restriction per container.

What happens if I accidentally bring a prohibited item to security?

TSA will confiscate the item. You cannot go back and check it in your luggage instead. If the item is valuable, you can ask if there is a way to mail it to yourself, but this depends on what the item is and TSA's assessment.

Do I need to declare my medications at security?

Medications in pill form do not need to be declared. Liquid or gel medications should be declared to TSA at security and kept in their original labeled containers. Having them declared helps you move through security faster.