Key takeaways
- TSA limits carry-on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes to travel-sized containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item, all in one quart-sized bag.
- The limit applies to the container, not the amount left inside, so a large bottle that is mostly empty still belongs in checked baggage.
- Medications and infant and child nourishments are exempt, and you should tell the officer about them at the start of screening.
- Duty-free liquids over 3.4 ounces can come through only on a connection to a US-bound flight, in a sealed tamper-evident bag with the original receipt, bought within 48 hours.
- The shoes-off requirement ended in July 2025, but a TSA spokesperson said the liquids rule will likely stay until 2040, when CT scanners are fully deployed.
Yes, the TSA 3-1-1 rule is still in force: in a carry-on bag you may bring liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes only in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, packed together in one quart-sized bag. Anything bigger goes in checked baggage, with a short list of exceptions for medications, infant and child items, and sealed duty-free purchases.
This guide explains what counts as a liquid, how to pack the bag, which items are exempt, what is different on flights abroad, and what could change. Rules here reflect TSA's published guidance as of October 2026. If you have a flight soon, check tsa.gov before you pack, because an officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.
What does 3-1-1 actually mean?
The name is shorthand for the three parts of the rule: 3.4 ounces per container, 1 clear bag, 1 bag per traveler.
TSA's wording is that liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. They must fit in a quart-sized bag. TSA also asks you to keep that bag separate from the rest of your carry-on to speed screening, which in practice means taking it out of your bag at the checkpoint and placing it in a bin.
- 3: each container holds 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less.
- 1: all containers fit in a single quart-sized clear bag.
- 1: one bag per passenger.
The measure is the printed size of the container, not what is left in it. TSA says to pack items in containers larger than 3.4 ounces in checked baggage. A 6-ounce tube of toothpaste that is nearly empty is still a 6-ounce tube, and it can be stopped at the checkpoint.
What counts as a liquid, gel or aerosol?
Anything that pours, spreads, sprays, smears or squeezes out of a tube is treated as a liquid for screening, not only drinks.
TSA's rule names liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes. That covers a long list of everyday items. The examples below follow that category definition; if you are unsure about a specific product, TSA runs a searchable "What can I bring?" tool on its website, and you can also message the agency through its Ask TSA service.
| Usually treated as a liquid, gel or paste | Usually not |
|---|---|
| Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sunscreen | Solid deodorant sticks |
| Toothpaste, hair gel, face cream | Bar soap |
| Hairspray, dry shampoo, other aerosols | Powder makeup |
| Liquid foundation, mascara, lip gloss | Stick lip balm |
| Perfume and cologne | Solid perfume sticks |
| Peanut butter, hummus, yogurt, jam | Dry snacks, hard cheese |
The right-hand column is only a rule of thumb, not a TSA list: a solid that holds its shape generally is not treated as a liquid, but TSA's "What can I bring?" tool is the authority. Items that sit between categories, such as soft cheese or a thick spread, tend to be where travelers get stopped, and an officer decides on the spot. Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste that alarms during screening gets additional screening, according to TSA.
How should you pack your quart-sized bag?
Use one clear, resealable bag that closes without bulging, and keep it where you can reach it in seconds.
- Check each label. Every container must read 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or less. Travel-size bottles are the easy route; you can also decant from larger bottles.
- Use one quart-sized clear bag. A standard quart zip-top bag is the usual choice. Do not stack a second bag of extras into your carry-on.
- Fill it with essentials only. Skip duplicates. If the bag will not close, something has to move to your checked bag or be left behind.
- Pack it on top or in an outside pocket. TSA asks you to keep it separate from other carry-on items so it can be pulled out for screening.
- Put leftovers in checked baggage. Full-size bottles, large aerosols and anything over 3.4 ounces belong there.
- Empty your water bottle. A reusable bottle is fine empty. Fill it after the checkpoint at a refill station.
If your trip is short, a checked bag is not always necessary: many travelers buy full-size toiletries at the destination instead. If you are flying somewhere that charges for checked bags, the cost of the bag usually outweighs the cost of a replacement bottle. Check your airline's bag fees before deciding what to check; you can compare fares on our Los Angeles to Las Vegas flights page, for example.
Which items are exempt from the 3-1-1 limit?
TSA exempts medications, infant and child nourishments, and some sealed duty-free liquids, but you must separate them and tell the officer.
Medications
TSA's page on liquid medications says larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols are allowed than standard carry-on limits, as long as the amount is reasonable for your trip. It also says you must tell the officers about these medications at the checkpoint so they can be inspected, and that the officer makes the final decision on whether an item passes through. The page does not set a specific maximum quantity. The officer's judgment is final.
Infant and child nourishments
TSA's liquids rule lists infant and child nourishments as exempt. TSA's rule page does not go into detail on formula, breast milk or juice. Expect them to be taken out for separate inspection, and tell the officer before screening starts.
Duty-free liquids on international connections
This is the exemption people misunderstand most. TSA allows liquids over 3.4 ounces in carry-on only if every condition below applies:
- You bought them internationally and are connecting to a US-bound flight.
- The retailer sealed them in a transparent, tamper-evident bag that shows no signs of tampering at screening.
- You have the original receipt, and the purchase was made within 48 hours.
- The items are screened and cleared; anything that alarms or cannot be screened is not allowed in carry-on.
TSA also recommends putting these items in checked baggage even when sealed, and says unsealed liquids over 3.4 ounces must be checked. A bottle bought at a duty-free shop at your origin, then opened on the plane, is no longer eligible for the exemption.
What happens if your liquids are too big?
You will usually have to surrender the item, move it to a checked bag if the airline will still accept it, or leave the checkpoint.
TSA does not publish a menu of options for oversized items on its liquids page, so the practical choices are the ones every traveler already knows: throw the item away at the checkpoint, go back to your airline counter and check a bag, or, if you have time and bag space, ship it. After the checkpoint, you may buy a new bottle at an airport shop, since purchases made past security are not subject to the 3.4-ounce limit.
The cost of a mistake is often the item itself, so it helps to pack the quart bag first and build around it.
Is the liquids rule different abroad?
Yes, and it varies by country and by airport, so check your departure airport and any connecting airports.
The 100-milliliter limit is not unique to the United States. GOV.UK says that at most UK airports you cannot take liquid containers over 100 ml through security, even if they are only partly full. It says some airports may allow containers up to 2 liters, and tells travelers to check the departure airport and any connecting airports. Where a bag is required, GOV.UK says liquids must go in one resealable transparent bag of no more than 1 liter (about 20 cm by 20 cm), one per person, shown at the security point.
The UK exceptions are similar in spirit to TSA's. GOV.UK says containers up to 2 liters are allowed through security at all UK airports if they are for essential medical purposes, for special dietary requirements, or contain baby food or baby milk. Duty-free and other liquids bought at an airport or on a plane are allowed if sealed in a security bag with a visible sealed receipt, and the bag should stay closed until your final destination. Frozen liquids are not allowed in hand luggage.
If you fly between the two countries, as on flights between New York and London, you pass through each country's screening on departure, so the bag that worked in New York has to meet UK rules on the way back. Pack for the stricter of the two.
| Question | TSA (US airports) | GOV.UK (UK airports) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard container limit | 3.4 oz / 100 ml | 100 ml at most airports |
| Bag | One quart-sized bag per traveler | One resealable transparent bag, up to 1 liter, where required |
| Larger containers | Checked baggage | Some airports allow up to 2 liters |
| Medical and infant items | Exempt; declare to officer | Up to 2 liters at all UK airports |
| Duty-free | Sealed bag, receipt, within 48 hours, US-bound connection | Sealed security bag with visible receipt |
Trips with a connection are the riskiest. A bottle that is fine at your origin can be confiscated at the connecting airport if that airport applies a different rule. If your layover is short or the rules are unclear, put it in a checked bag, and consider our EU261 guide for what to do if the connection itself goes wrong.
Do you still need to take your shoes off?
No. DHS ended the shoes-off requirement at checkpoints in July 2025, ending a policy in place since 2006.
The Boston Globe reported on July 9, 2025 that TSA had dropped the requirement that passengers remove shoes, and it quoted the position that policies on liquids would remain in place. So the two rules travelers most often confuse moved in opposite directions: shoes are off the list, and the 3-1-1 limit is still on it. Officers can still ask for additional screening in individual cases, and the other screening steps, such as removing items from pockets, still depend on the checkpoint and the equipment in use.
Will the 3-1-1 rule ever go away?
Not soon, according to what TSA has said publicly: a TSA spokesperson told Travel + Leisure that the rule will likely stay in effect until 2040.
The reasoning is about equipment. Travel Market Report, citing Travel + Leisure, said TSA began installing CT (computed tomography) scanners at some checkpoints in 2020, and that with about 430 airports in the US, a nationwide change would have to wait until the machines are deployed across the system. The Boston Globe repeated the spokesperson's 2040 statement in July 2025, saying the rule would likely remain until CT scanners are fully deployed.
You may still see differences at the airport. Some airports have newer scanners than others, and the officers at your checkpoint set the instructions you follow on the day. Do not assume you can leave liquids in your bag because a friend did at another airport. Public statements about possible changes have come and gone, but TSA's liquids page still lists the 3.4-ounce limit as the rule, and as of October 2026 we found no official announcement lifting it. If that changes, TSA's website is where the announcement will appear first.
What is the safest way to pack for a flight?
Pack the quart bag first, declare medical and infant items up front, and move everything else to checked baggage.
- Check the printed size on every container before you leave home, including sunscreen, deodorant sprays and toothpaste.
- Keep the clear bag at the top of your carry-on so you can pull it out in a few seconds.
- Mention medications to the officer before your bag goes on the belt.
- On international trips, check the rules at every airport on your itinerary, not only your first one.
- Leave extra time if you are bringing infant items, because they are screened separately.
- For a trip with checked baggage, put full-size toiletries there and keep only essentials in the quart bag.
Liquid rules are one piece of airport readiness. Your ID is another: see our guide to REAL ID and which ID you need to fly so nothing else trips you up at the checkpoint. If you fly often, our comparison of Global Entry and TSA PreCheck shows whether a trusted traveler program is worth the fee. And if a mistake does cost you a flight, our guide to US airline refund rules explains what you are owed.
Sources
- TSA: Liquids rule
- TSA: Medications (liquid)
- GOV.UK: Hand luggage restrictions, liquids
- The Boston Globe: TSA ends shoes-off requirement, liquids rules stay
- Travel Market Report: TSA won't drop liquid rule anytime soon
Frequently asked questions
What is the TSA 3-1-1 rule?
It is the carry-on liquids rule: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, all fitting in one quart-sized clear bag, one bag per traveler. Anything in a larger container goes in checked baggage.
Can I bring a half-empty large bottle of shampoo in my carry-on?
No. TSA's limit is on the size of the container, 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, not on how much liquid is inside, so a larger bottle belongs in checked baggage even if it is nearly empty.
Are medications exempt from the liquids rule?
Yes. TSA exempts medications and allows medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols in reasonable amounts for your trip. Tell the officer at the start of screening so they can inspect them.
Can I bring baby formula or breast milk through TSA?
TSA lists infant and child nourishments as an exception to the 3-1-1 limit. Take them out of your bag, tell the officer, and expect extra screening.
Can I bring duty-free alcohol or perfume on a flight to the US?
Only in specific cases. TSA allows liquids over 3.4 ounces bought internationally if you are connecting to a US-bound flight and they are sealed in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt, bought within the last 48 hours. TSA still recommends packing them in checked baggage.
Do I still have to take my shoes off at TSA?
No. DHS ended the shoes-off requirement at checkpoints in July 2025, according to coverage by The Boston Globe, which also reported that the liquids policy remained in place.
General information, not legal advice. Found an error? Tell us and see our corrections policy.