TSA Liquid Rules for Carry-On (3-1-1 Explained for 2026)

You are standing in the security line, and that familiar knot tightens in your stomach.

Did you pack the shampoo in the right-size bottle? Does toothpaste count?

What about that sunscreen?

The rule is simpler than the worry it causes. Each liquid container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, and they all go in one clear, quart-sized zip-top bag.

That is it.

Below is the full rule, every exception worth knowing, and a packing routine you can follow the night before so you walk through security without a second thought.

The 3-1-1 Rule, Explained Plainly

The TSA calls it the “3-1-1 rule.” Each number stands for one part of the restriction.

• 3.4 ounces (100 ml): The maximum size for any single container of liquid, gel, cream, paste, or aerosol in your carry-on.
• 1 quart-sized bag: All of those containers must fit inside a single clear, resealable plastic bag. A standard quart-sized zip-top bag works perfectly.
• 1 bag per passenger: Each traveler gets exactly one bag of liquids.

At the checkpoint, you pull that one bag out and set it in a separate bin. Done.

A few details people miss:

• The container size is what matters, not how much liquid is inside. A half-empty 6-ounce bottle still gets confiscated because the container exceeds 3.4 ounces.
• “Quart-sized” is approximate. TSA officers will not measure your bag with a ruler, but a gallon freezer bag will get flagged.
• The bag must be clear so officers can see the contents without opening it.

The TSA website lists the official 3-1-1 policy with a searchable database for specific items.

Bookmark that page if you want to check a specific product before you pack.

The TSA explains the 3-1-1 liquids rule in under two minutes:

TSA's 3-1-1 Liquids Rule

What Counts as a “Liquid” (More Than You Think)

The TSA uses “liquid” loosely. If it can spread, pour, spray, smear, or spill, it counts.

That catches more items than you would expect.

Obvious liquids:

• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• Perfume, cologne
• Contact lens solution
• Mouthwash
• Liquid makeup (foundation, mascara)

Items people forget count as liquids:

• Toothpaste (it is a paste, and pastes count)
• Gel deodorant (stick deodorant is fine)
• Lip gloss and lip balm in tubes
• Cream cheese, hummus, peanut butter, and other spreadable foods
• Yogurt, pudding, and jelly
• Hair gel, mousse, and hairspray
• Sunscreen (cream or spray)
• Bug spray
• Snow globes (yes, really)

Items that are NOT liquids:

• Solid deodorant sticks
• Powder makeup (pressed powder, powder foundation)
• Bar soap
• Solid food items (sandwiches, granola bars, fruit)
• Wipes (makeup wipes, baby wipes, disinfecting wipes)

When in doubt, the TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” tool lets you search any item by name.

Exceptions to the 3-1-1 Rule

Not every liquid has to squeeze into that quart bag. A few categories get a pass.

Medications

Prescription and over-the-counter liquid medications are exempt from the 3-1-1 size limit.

You can bring them in containers larger than 3.4 ounces.

• Declare them to the TSA officer at the start of screening.
• Keep them in a separate, easily accessible spot in your carry-on (not buried at the bottom).
• Having the prescription label visible helps, but is not strictly required.
• Eye drops, cough syrup, liquid vitamins, and medically prescribed creams all qualify.

Baby and Infant Supplies

If you are traveling with an infant or toddler, you can bring:

• Formula (liquid or powdered, mixed with water)
• Breast milk
• Juice and other child nutrition items

These do not need to fit in your quart bag.

Tell the officer at the start of screening so they can process them separately.

They may test the liquids with a quick test strip, but they will not confiscate them.

Duty-Free Purchases

Liquids bought after the security checkpoint (at airport shops or on international flights) are allowed in your carry-on, even if they exceed 3.4 ounces.

For international connecting flights in the U.S., keep the receipt and the sealed tamper-evident bag from the duty-free shop.

If the bag is opened or the receipt is missing, the liquid may be confiscated at your connecting security checkpoint.

How to Pack Your Liquids (Step-by-Step)

Do this the night before your flight, not the morning of.

Packing the quart bag at home takes two minutes and saves you from scrambling at the airport.

1. Gather everything that counts as a liquid. Go through your toiletries and pull out anything that spreads, pours, or sprays. Include toothpaste, sunscreen, and any gels you might forget.
2. Check container sizes. Every container must be 3.4 ounces or smaller. If your favorite face cream comes in a 5-ounce jar, buy a travel-sized version or transfer it into a reusable travel bottle set.
3. Load your quart bag. Place all liquid containers inside one clear, quart-sized zip-top bag. If it does not zip closed, you have too much.

Remove the least essential item.

1. Put the bag in an easy-to-reach spot. The top of your carry-on or an outer pocket works best. You will need to pull it out at security, and digging through your bag while people wait behind you is not fun.
2. Leave medications and baby supplies separate. If you have exempt liquids, keep them in their own pouch or pocket so you can declare them quickly.

Away Together walks through TSA carry-on and liquid rules with practical packing examples:

TSA Carry-On and Liquid Rules | Tips and Hacks from Professional Traveler

Airports With CT Scanners (Where You Might Not Need to Remove Liquids)

The TSA has been rolling out advanced CT (computed tomography) scanners at airports across the United States.

At checkpoints equipped with these scanners, you may not need to remove your liquids bag from your carry-on at all.

The CT scanner creates a 3D image of your bag, allowing officers to inspect liquids without requiring the separate bin.

The TSA has confirmed this in an official update on CT technology.

As of 2025, CT scanners are at many major airports, but not all checkpoints within those airports have them.

Follow these guidelines:

• Watch for signs at the checkpoint entrance. If the line has a CT scanner, the signage will tell you whether to leave liquids and laptops in your bag.
• If there are no signs or you are unsure, remove your quart bag as usual. You will never get in trouble for removing it even when you do not have to.
• Do not assume every checkpoint at a given airport has the new scanners. Terminal A might have them while Terminal B does not.

Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

A few of these trip up even frequent flyers.

Packing a regular-size toiletry by accident. You grab your full-size shampoo from the shower instead of the travel bottle.

Check sizes the night before, not the morning of.

Forgetting that food items count. That jar of local honey or salsa from vacation counts as a liquid.

Pack it in your checked bag, or buy a container that is 3.4 ounces or smaller.

Using an oversized bag. A gallon freezer bag is too big.

Stick with the standard quart size.

The difference is noticeable and officers will ask you to repack.

Not declaring exempt items. If you have medications or baby supplies, mention them before your bag goes through the scanner.

Undeclared large bottles create alerts that slow down your screening and raise unnecessary questions.

Leaving the quart bag buried in your carry-on. When you have to fish through your bag at the conveyor belt, it slows you down and stresses you out.

Keep it accessible.

Not sure if your bag fits?

Check it free with our luggage calculator.

For the full airline size and weight rules, see the airline baggage rules guide.

If you want to know what else TSA screens for beyond liquids, our TSA rules explained guide covers the full process.

Quick Reference: What Goes Where

If you are packing and want a fast answer, check this cheat sheet.

Item	Carry-On Quart Bag?	Carry-On (No Quart Bag)?	Checked Bag?
Shampoo (travel size)	Yes	No	Yes
Toothpaste (travel size)	Yes	No	Yes
Solid deodorant	Not needed	Yes, just pack it	Yes
Gel deodorant	Yes	No	Yes
Prescription liquid meds	Exempt, declare separately	Exempt, declare separately	Yes
Full-size sunscreen	No	No	Yes
Perfume (travel size)	Yes	No	Yes
Baby formula	Exempt, declare separately	Exempt, declare separately	Yes
Makeup wipes	Not needed	Yes, just pack them	Yes
Honey jar (souvenir)	Only if 3.4 oz or less	No	Yes

What Happens If You Accidentally Bring a Banned Liquid

Not the end of the world. Happens to somebody in every security line, every day.

If the X-ray or CT scanner flags something in your carry-on, an officer will ask to check your bag.

They will find the oversized or undeclared liquid and give you three options:

1. Surrender it. They dispose of the item. This is the most common outcome. No fine, no record, no consequences beyond losing the product.
2. Go back and check it. If you have time and a checked bag, you can leave the security line, check the item with your luggage, and go through security again.
3. Transfer it. If someone is dropping you off and has not left the airport yet, you can hand the item to them.

You will not get fined or detained for an honest mistake with liquids.

TSA officers deal with this dozens of times a day. Be polite, cooperate, and move on.

Pin this page for the next time you are packing toiletries and want to make sure everything clears security.