The TSA rules for carry-on items

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows most everyday items in your carry-on bag, but a specific list of things cannot go through security or in the cabin. The rules are the same whether you fly domestic or international from a U.S. airport. What matters most: liquids, gels, and aerosols are limited to 3.4 ounces per container, packed in a single quart-sized clear bag. Sharp objects, tools, and anything that looks like a weapon are prohibited. Sports equipment, electronics, and clothing have no restrictions.

TSA agents at the checkpoint make the final call on borderline items. If you are unsure about something you want to pack, you can photograph it and text it to the TSA's Ask TSA service on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook before you travel. They respond within hours on weekdays.

Key Takeaways

  • Liquids, gels, and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or smaller per container and packed together in one clear quart-sized bag.
  • Sharp objects including knives, box cutters, razors, and scissors with blades longer than 4 inches are not allowed in carry-on bags.
  • Electronics like laptops, phones, tablets, and cameras are permitted and do not count toward liquid limits.
  • Sports equipment such as baseball bats, golf clubs, and ski poles are prohibited in carry-on but may be checked.
  • You can contact the TSA before your trip through their social media accounts if you are uncertain about a specific item.

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

The 3-1-1 rule is the most important restriction: each liquid, gel, or aerosol container must hold 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less. All containers go into one clear quart-sized plastic bag. You place the bag on the conveyor belt during screening, separate from your carry-on.

Items that count toward this limit include shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, hairspray, perfume, cologne, sunscreen, and peanut butter. Mascara, liquid eyeliner, and lip gloss also count. Solid deodorant, powder, and lipstick do not. If you are traveling with a baby, formula, breast milk, and juice in containers larger than 3.4 ounces are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule — you can bring them through security even if they exceed the limit, though you may be asked to open them for inspection.

Frozen items like ice packs are allowed if they are completely solid when you go through security. Gel ice packs that are partially thawed count as gels and must follow the 3-1-1 rule.

Sharp objects and tools you cannot bring

Knives of any size are prohibited, including pocket knives and butter knives. Box cutters, utility knives, and razors cannot go in carry-on. Scissors are allowed only if the blades are 4 inches or shorter, measured from the pivot point. Longer scissors must be checked.

Tools like hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and saws are not permitted in carry-on bags. Drill bits, nails, and screws are allowed. Corkscrews and can openers are prohibited. Tweezers and nail clippers are allowed.

Lighters are a special case: you can bring one lighter in your carry-on if it is in your pocket or a carry-on bag, but it cannot be in checked luggage. Torch lighters and lighters with unusual fuel are prohibited entirely.

Electronics and chargers

Laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, e-readers, and portable speakers are all allowed in carry-on. You will remove your laptop and place it in a bin during security screening, but other electronics can stay in your bag. Chargers, cables, and power banks are permitted with no restrictions on quantity.

Large power banks (over 100 watt-hours) are prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags. Standard portable chargers for phones are fine. If you are unsure about the watt-hour rating on a power bank, check the label or the manufacturer's website before you pack.

Sports equipment and recreational gear

Baseball bats, cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, oars, and ski poles cannot go in carry-on. These items must be checked. Skis and snowboards can be checked but not carried on. Tennis rackets, badminton rackets, and squash rackets are allowed in carry-on.

Fishing rods are allowed in carry-on if they are disassembled or broken down to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. Firearms and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on and have strict rules for checked baggage — contact your airline before you travel if you need to transport a gun.

Clothing, shoes, and personal items

There are no restrictions on clothing, shoes, belts, hats, or scarves. Jackets and sweaters can stay on or go in your bag. Underwear, socks, and sleepwear have no limits. Jewelry, watches, and accessories are allowed.

Medications in pill or tablet form are allowed in carry-on in any quantity if they are for your personal use. Liquid or gel medications (like inhalers or eye drops) count toward the 3-1-1 limit unless they are for medical necessity — in that case, you can bring more than 3.4 ounces, but you should declare them to the TSA agent and keep them separate from your other liquids.

Items that surprise people

Matches are prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags. Lighters are allowed in carry-on only (one per person, in your pocket or bag). Candles are allowed in carry-on. Dry ice is allowed in checked bags only, up to 5.5 pounds, and must be labeled.

Food is allowed in carry-on — sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and baked goods have no restrictions. Peanut butter and other thick spreads count as gels and must follow the 3-1-1 rule. Soups and sauces also count as liquids. You can bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it at a fountain after the checkpoint.

Umbrellas are allowed. Tripods are allowed. Selfie sticks are allowed. Binoculars are allowed. Walkie-talkies are allowed. Bluetooth speakers are allowed.

What happens if you pack something prohibited

If you arrive at security with a prohibited item, the TSA agent will not let it through. You have three options: leave it behind, check it if your airline allows, or go back to your car or a friend outside security. You cannot take it back through the checkpoint once you have passed it.

If a prohibited item is discovered in your checked bag, the TSA will remove it and leave a notice. You will not be charged, but the item will not be returned or forwarded to you. If you are traveling with someone else, ask them to hold a questionable item while you go through security — if it is confiscated, at least it is not lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring a full-size bottle of shampoo if I check it instead of carrying it on?

Yes. The 3-1-1 rule applies only to carry-on bags. You can pack full-size bottles of shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, and other liquids in your checked bag with no restrictions. Keep in mind that checked bags can leak during handling, so consider putting liquids in a separate plastic bag inside your luggage.

Are gel nail polish and gel eyeliner allowed in carry-on?

Gel nail polish counts as a liquid or gel and must follow the 3-1-1 rule — containers must be 3.4 ounces or smaller. Gel eyeliner also counts as a gel. If your gel polish or eyeliner is larger than 3.4 ounces, it must be checked.

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

Vape pens and e-cigarettes are allowed in carry-on bags but not in checked bags because the batteries pose a fire risk. You cannot use them during the flight. Vape liquid counts as a liquid and must follow the 3-1-1 rule.

What if my medication is a liquid and I need more than 3.4 ounces?

Liquid medications for medical necessity can exceed the 3-1-1 limit. Keep them in their original labeled container and declare them to the TSA agent at security. They should be separate from your other liquids. Inhalers, eye drops, and insulin are common examples.

Can I bring a lighter and matches on the same flight?

You can bring one lighter in your carry-on, but matches are prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags. You cannot bring both.