The TSA liquid limit is 3.4 fluid ounces per container

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows you to bring liquids, gels, and aerosols through airport security in containers that hold 3.4 fluid ounces (100 milliliters) or less. This limit applies to each individual container, not the total amount you carry. All containers must fit inside a single quart-sized clear plastic bag.

The 3.4-ounce rule applies to most common travel items: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, and makeup. The TSA measures by volume, not weight, so a 3.4-ounce container of a heavy product like honey counts the same as a 3.4-ounce container of water.

Containers larger than 3.4 ounces must go in your checked baggage, not your carry-on. If you're unsure whether something counts as a liquid or gel, the TSA considers anything that flows, spreads, or sprays to be subject to the limit—even solid products like deodorant sticks or lip balm if they're in a gel or cream form.

Key Takeaways

  • Each liquid, gel, or aerosol container must be 3.4 fluid ounces (100 milliliters) or smaller to go through security in your carry-on bag.
  • All containers fitting the size limit must fit together inside one quart-sized clear plastic bag, which you remove at the security checkpoint.
  • Containers larger than 3.4 ounces can travel in your checked baggage with no size restriction.
  • The limit applies to each container individually, so you could theoretically bring multiple 3.4-ounce bottles of the same product as long as they all fit in the quart bag.
  • Solid products like deodorant sticks and lip balm are allowed in full size if they are truly solid; creams and gels count as liquids regardless of their texture.

What counts as a liquid under TSA rules

The TSA defines liquids broadly to include anything that flows or spreads. This covers obvious items like water, juice, and shampoo, but also includes less obvious ones: peanut butter, yogurt, hummus, jam, honey, and other spreadable foods. Mascara, liquid eyeliner, and foundation all count. Aerosol cans—including spray deodorant, hairspray, and spray sunscreen—are also subject to the 3.4-ounce limit in carry-on bags.

Gels fall under the same rule. This includes hair gel, aloe vera gel, and toothpaste. Even though toothpaste is a paste, the TSA treats it as a gel for security purposes. Creams and lotions of any kind—face cream, body lotion, sunscreen lotion—are liquids under TSA rules.

Solid items do not count toward the liquid limit. A full-size solid deodorant stick, a bar of soap, a solid lip balm, or a stick of sunscreen can go in your carry-on at any size. The distinction matters: if your deodorant is a solid stick, bring the full size. If it's a gel or cream, it must be 3.4 ounces or less.

How to pack liquids for airport security

Before you arrive at the airport, place all your liquid containers in a single quart-sized clear plastic bag. A quart bag is roughly 7 inches by 8 inches—the TSA provides a visual guide on its website if you're unsure. You can buy these bags at any drugstore or supermarket, or the airport may provide one if you forget.

At the security checkpoint, remove the bag from your carry-on and place it in the bin with your shoes and electronics. The TSA officer will scan it separately. After you pass through, you can put the bag back in your bag. You do not need to remove individual containers from the bag unless an officer asks you to.

If a container is larger than 3.4 ounces, do not attempt to bring it through security. Instead, pack it in your checked baggage. There is no size limit for liquids in checked bags, but they must be packed so they do not leak onto other items. Consider placing them in a separate plastic bag inside your suitcase as extra protection.

Exceptions and special items

A few items are exempt from the liquid limit in carry-on bags. Medications in liquid form—including insulin and other prescription liquids—do not count toward the 3.4-ounce limit. You should declare them to the TSA officer and keep them in their original labeled containers. Baby formula, breast milk, and juice for infants or toddlers are also exempt and do not need to fit in the quart bag.

Duty-free liquids purchased after you pass through security at your departure airport can travel in your carry-on, even if they exceed 3.4 ounces, as long as they are in a sealed bag with a receipt. This exception applies only to items bought after security and only on your outbound flight. If you are connecting to another flight, the duty-free bag must stay sealed.

Alcohol purchased at duty-free follows the same rule: it can travel in your carry-on if it's sealed and receipted, but only on the flight where you bought it. On connecting flights, it must go in checked baggage.

What happens if you bring oversized containers

If a TSA officer finds a liquid container larger than 3.4 ounces in your carry-on bag, you have a few options. You can throw it away, check it in your baggage if you have time, or leave it with the TSA. You cannot bring it through security. The officer will not fine you for the mistake, but you will lose the item.

To avoid this, check your carry-on bag before you leave home. Look for any bottles, tubes, or containers that might be liquids or gels, and measure them if you're unsure. If an item is close to the limit, err on the side of caution and pack it in checked baggage instead.

International flights and other countries' rules

The 3.4-ounce limit applies to flights departing from U.S. airports, whether the flight is domestic or international. If you are flying from another country, that country's aviation authority may have different rules. The European Union, for example, follows the same 3.4-ounce limit, but other regions may differ.

When you connect through a foreign airport, you may need to repack your liquids according to that country's rules. If you are unsure, check the website of the airport or airline you are flying through before you travel. Rules can vary significantly, and what is allowed in the U.S. may not be allowed elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Liquids have no size limit in checked baggage. You can bring full-size bottles of shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, and other liquids as long as they are packed securely so they do not leak. Consider placing them in a separate plastic bag for extra protection.

Does the 3.4-ounce limit include the container itself?

No. The 3.4 ounces refers to the volume of liquid inside the container, not the weight or size of the container. A 3.4-ounce bottle of liquid is allowed; a 3.5-ounce bottle is not, even if the bottle itself is small.

Can I bring multiple 3.4-ounce bottles of the same product?

Yes, as long as all the containers fit inside your quart-sized bag. You could bring two, three, or more 3.4-ounce bottles of shampoo if they all fit in the bag together. The limit is per container, not per product type.

Is toothpaste considered a liquid or a solid?

The TSA treats toothpaste as a gel, so it is subject to the 3.4-ounce limit. A standard travel-size tube of toothpaste (usually 0.85 to 1.5 ounces) fits easily within the limit, but a full-size tube may exceed it and must go in checked baggage.

What if I forget and pack a liquid in my carry-on?

The TSA officer will find it during screening. You can throw it away, check it if you have time before your flight, or leave it with the TSA. You will not be fined, but you will lose the item. To avoid this, pack all liquids in your checked bag or in a quart-sized bag in an straightforward-to-reach spot in your carry-on.