Airport Toiletries Rules (TSA 3-1-1 Liquid Limits)
For ordinary liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols in a carry-on, each container must hold no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Put them in one clear, resealable, quart-sized bag, with one bag per passenger. The limit applies to container size, not how much product remains. Some medical and infant items may qualify for separate screening.
The best option for a smooth checkpoint is to pack ordinary toiletries to the rule before leaving home, rather than relying on an officer to make an exception. I use a simple routine: sort the items, check each container’s labeled capacity, pack one bag, then keep it easy to reach. This also makes it easier to spot a product that belongs in checked baggage.
Plan What Goes in Carry-On
The 3-1-1 rule is a carry-on limit for common liquid-like products. “Liquid-like” includes liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. The rule sets a maximum container size, a bag size, and a limit of one bag per passenger; it is a screening policy, not a general rule for all luggage.
Start by looking at how each product comes out of its package. Shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, liquid makeup, hair gel, shaving cream, and spray deodorant are common examples to check. A solid bar of soap or solid deodorant is not a liquid, gel, cream, or paste under this rule.
A useful way to prepare is to make two groups:
- Ordinary liquid-like toiletries: Check the container size and place qualifying items in your quart bag.
- Possible exceptions: Set aside qualifying medical or infant items so you can tell the screening officer and follow instructions for separate screening.
Don’t assume that a product is exempt because you use it for health or personal care. If it is an ordinary toiletry, the standard limit generally applies. If you need a product for medical care, check TSA’s current guidance and be ready to identify it at the checkpoint.
The key first step is to sort by product type, then check whether an exception may apply.
Check Container Sizes and Bag Allowance
The container limit is 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) of capacity for each ordinary liquid-like item. The one quart-sized, clear, resealable bag holds those containers, and each passenger may bring one such bag. A container’s labeled capacity matters, even when it is partly empty.
| Item or situation | Carry-on approach |
|---|---|
| 2-ounce bottle of lotion | Allowed under the size limit; place in the quart bag |
| 3.4-ounce tube of toothpaste | Meets the stated maximum; place in the quart bag |
| 4-ounce shampoo bottle with a small amount left | Does not meet the limit; use a smaller container or pack it in checked baggage |
| Several small containers | Place them together in one quart-sized, clear, resealable bag |
| A second quart bag of ordinary toiletries | Not allowed as a way to get around the one-bag limit |
Check the package label, not just the amount you think is inside. A 6-ounce bottle with 1 ounce left still has a capacity greater than 3.4 ounces. Pouring product into a travel-size container can work if that container is marked at 3.4 ounces or less and is suitable for the product.
The bag must be quart-sized, clear, and resealable. Pack it so it can close; don’t plan on using two bags because the first one is crowded. TSA does not set the rule as a total number of ounces for all products combined. Instead, each container must meet the size limit and the containers must fit in the single permitted bag.
I treat the bag as a space limit as well as a container limit. If everything will not fit and the bag will not close, remove some ordinary toiletries or move them to checked baggage. Don’t split them between multiple bags to bypass the allowance.
Pack and Present Items for Screening
Packing means putting qualifying ordinary toiletries in the required bag before you reach the checkpoint. Keep the bag accessible, and follow the officer’s instructions about when to remove or present it. Screening steps can vary, so having it ready helps without guaranteeing a particular process.
Use this sequence:
- Sort: Gather liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. Set aside possible medical or infant exceptions.
- Check: Read each ordinary container’s labeled capacity. It must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or smaller.
- Pack: Place qualifying containers in one clear, resealable, quart-sized bag per passenger. Check that it closes.
- Present: Keep the bag easy to reach. Follow the screening officer’s directions, including any request to remove or screen an item separately.
A common source of confusion is the difference between a container and its contents. A mostly empty oversized bottle still exceeds the carry-on limit. Another is the difference between a personal allowance and a family’s packing plan: the rule allows one bag per passenger, not one extra bag for each person’s toiletries inside a single traveler’s carry-on.
For example, if I were packing shampoo, toothpaste, and face cream, I would check all three labels before putting them together. If the face cream came in a 5-ounce jar, I would not rely on the fact that only a little remained. I would choose a smaller container or pack the larger jar in checked baggage.
Keep the bag where you can reach it, but don’t open it or remove items unless asked. The main takeaway is to arrive with the ordinary toiletries sorted and packed, then let the officer direct the screening steps.
Verify Exceptions and Checked-Bag Alternatives
Some medical liquids and certain infant or child items may be allowed in quantities beyond the ordinary limit. These items are screened separately, and you should tell the officer about them. Permission is subject to TSA screening; an exception does not mean an item will skip inspection.
Medically necessary liquids may include items needed for a medical condition. TSA also allows certain infant and child items, such as breast milk, formula, and related cooling accessories, under separate screening procedures. Check TSA’s current guidance before travel for details on the item you plan to bring and how to present it.
At the checkpoint, separate these items from the ordinary toiletry bag and tell the officer they are for medical or infant use. Follow the officer’s directions if they ask to inspect the item or use a different screening method. Do not assume that every product marketed as “medical,” or every drink or food for a child, is automatically exempt.
For toiletries you do not need during the trip, checked baggage is often the practical option for larger containers. However, checked baggage has its own restrictions. Aerosol products and other items can be subject to hazardous-material limits, so check the relevant TSA and airline rules before packing them. A checked bag is not a way to carry every product without limits.
| Packing choice | When it may fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on quart bag | Ordinary toiletries you need in flight or at your destination | Each container is 3.4 ounces or less; one bag per passenger |
| Separate screening | Qualifying medical or infant items | Current TSA guidance and officer instructions |
| Checked baggage | Larger ordinary toiletries you do not need in the cabin | Restrictions for aerosols and other regulated products |
Before you leave, confirm that each exception applies to your item and that any checked product is permitted. If the rules are unclear, use TSA’s official guidance or ask the airline about checked-baggage restrictions.
Conclusion and FAQ
A reliable packing check is straightforward: identify liquid-like toiletries, confirm that each ordinary carry-on container is no larger than 3.4 ounces, and put them in one clear, resealable, quart-sized bag. Keep qualifying medical or infant items separate for screening, and check restrictions before placing larger products in checked baggage.
Can I bring a 4-ounce bottle that is almost empty?
No. The container’s labeled capacity must be 3.4 ounces or less. The amount left inside does not change its capacity.
Does toothpaste count as a liquid?
Toothpaste is treated as a paste under the rule. Use a container of 3.4 ounces or less and place it in your quart-sized bag.
Do creams and gels need to go in the bag?
Yes. Ordinary creams and gels are covered, along with liquids, pastes, and aerosols.
Can I bring two quart-sized bags if one is not enough?
No. The allowance is one quart-sized bag per passenger for ordinary liquid-like items. Remove some items or consider checked baggage.
Does each person in a family get a bag?
The rule allows one bag per passenger. Each person should keep to their own allowance rather than treating another passenger’s bag as extra capacity.
Can I carry prescription liquid medication over 3.4 ounces?
Medically necessary liquids may qualify for an exception. Tell the officer and follow directions for separate screening. Screening is still required.
Can I bring breast milk or baby formula?
Certain infant and child items, including breast milk and formula, may be allowed beyond the ordinary limit and screened separately. Check current TSA instructions and declare them at screening.
Can I put larger shampoo or lotion in checked baggage?
Larger ordinary toiletries may generally go in checked baggage, but other restrictions can apply. Check rules for aerosols and any product that may be regulated.
Does a solid deodorant need to go in the quart bag?
A solid stick is not a liquid, gel, cream, or paste under the 3-1-1 rule. Spray, gel, or cream deodorant should be checked against the size limit.
What should I do if the officer asks to inspect an item?
Follow the officer’s instructions. Keep possible exceptions separate and explain what they are when you present them.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Steven Langford. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
