What counts as a liquid at airport security, and how do you pack carry-on toiletries?
At most airports, anything you can pour, pump, squeeze, spread, or spray counts as a liquid — including gels, creams, toothpaste, mascara, and soft foods like jam, honey, or yogurt. The common rule is containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less in one small clear bag. Some airports with newer scanners have relaxed this, so check every airport on your route.
The quick test
If it is runny, spreadable, squeezable, or sprayable, treat it as a liquid. If it holds its shape at room temperature, it is usually a solid. Screening officers have the final say, so when something is borderline, assume it counts.
Usually counts as a liquid
- Drinks, soup, sauces, and dressings
- Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and sunscreen
- Toothpaste, mouthwash, and gel or roll-on deodorant
- Mascara, liquid foundation, lip gloss, and perfume
- Aerosols: hairspray, spray deodorant, dry-shampoo spray
- Spreadable foods: jam, honey, peanut butter and other spreads, soft cheese, yogurt
- Contact-lens solution and hand sanitizer
Usually fine as a solid
- Bar soap, shampoo bars, and conditioner bars
- Solid stick deodorant
- Lipstick and lip-balm sticks; powder makeup
- Toothpaste tablets
- Solid chocolate, hard cheese, bread, and snacks
Filled chocolates — the caramel- or fruit-centered kind sold as souvenirs — are a gray area. They are generally treated as solid food, but the officer decides. If losing them would really hurt, ask at the airport or put them in checked luggage.
Exceptions worth knowing
Medically necessary liquids and baby food or formula are usually allowed above 100 ml in reasonable quantities, but you may need to declare them at screening — keep prescription labels on. Duty-free liquids bought after security normally come in a sealed, tamper-evident bag; keep it sealed with the receipt until your final destination, especially if you connect through another airport.
The rules are changing — pack for the strictest airport
Some airports with newer CT scanners now let you leave liquids in your bag, and a few allow larger containers. Others have not changed, and some that relaxed the rules have brought the 100 ml limit back. A relaxed departure airport says nothing about your connection or your return flight. The safe default is to pack every leg to the classic rule and keep the clear bag handy.
How to pack toiletries for a carry-on
- Use one clear, resealable bag (commonly about one litre or quart-size) and keep it on top or in an outer pocket so you can pull it out fast.
- Decant into small bottles and leave a little air at the top — pressure changes in flight push liquid out of brim-full bottles. Squeeze soft bottles before capping, and tape or wrap the caps of anything that has leaked before.
- Switch to solids where you can: bar soap, a shampoo bar, stick deodorant, toothpaste tablets. That frees the clear bag for things with no good solid version, such as sunscreen or contact-lens solution.
- Buy bulky toiletries at your destination. Shampoo and sunscreen are easy to find in most places.
- If you travel with only a personal item, the liquids bag goes in that bag — put it where you can reach it under the seat and at security.
Security rules for liquids differ between countries and airports and change over time. This page is general packing guidance, not official screening policy — check the security pages for each airport on your itinerary.
FAQ
Is toothpaste a liquid at airport security?
Yes. Toothpaste is a paste, so at most airports it counts as a liquid and needs to be in a container of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less inside your liquids bag. Toothpaste tablets avoid the issue.
Does stick deodorant count as a liquid?
Solid stick deodorant is usually treated as a solid. Gel, roll-on, and spray deodorants count as liquids.
Can I bring a bigger bottle if it is only partly full?
Usually not. Under the 100 ml rule, the size printed on the container is what matters, not how much is left inside it.
Do I still need a clear liquids bag?
At many airports, yes. Some airports with newer scanners no longer require it, but rules differ between airports and change. Bring one anyway — it weighs almost nothing.