Travel Explained
What Can You Bring in a Carry-On?
Most everyday travel essentials can go in your carry-on, but liquids, batteries, sharp objects, medication, food, and certain personal items follow additional rules.
Baggage, Packing & TSA Rules • Travel Explained
The Quick Answer
You can bring most clothing, electronics, solid food, travel-size toiletries, medication, and everyday personal items in a carry-on. Some items are restricted, while others must remain in your carry-on instead of being packed in checked luggage.
Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes generally must be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces and fit inside one quart-size bag. Medically necessary liquids have exceptions, while power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in the aircraft cabin. Always check unusually large, sharp, flammable, or battery-powered items before packing.
What Can You Bring in a Carry-On Bag?
Most ordinary travel items can go in a carry-on bag. Clothing, books, solid snacks, small electronics, travel documents, empty reusable water bottles, and toiletries that meet the liquids limit are generally permitted through airport security.
The rules become more specific when an item is liquid, sharp, flammable, unusually large, or powered by a battery. The Transportation Security Administration’s What Can I Bring tool is the most reliable place to check a particular item before leaving for a U.S. airport.
For liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes, the standard TSA limit is 3.4 ounces—or 100 milliliters—per container. Those containers must fit inside one quart-size, clear, resealable bag. Toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen, liquid makeup, and many spreadable foods all count toward this limit.
Medically necessary liquids, medications, and certain supplies can be allowed in larger quantities. Tell a TSA officer about them before screening and keep them accessible in case they require additional inspection.
Solid food is generally allowed in a carry-on, although liquid and gel foods must follow the liquids rule. Our guide to bringing food through TSA explains how the rules apply to snacks, packed meals, frozen food, baby food, and other common items.
Battery safety is governed by aviation rules as well as security screening. The Federal Aviation Administration requires power banks and spare lithium batteries to remain in the aircraft cabin. If your carry-on is checked at the gate, remove those items and keep them with you.
TSA approval also does not guarantee that an item will fit within an airline’s carry-on size or weight limits. Airlines establish their own baggage allowances, and international security rules may differ from those used at U.S. airports. When an item is unusual, check both the relevant government guidance and your airline’s policy before packing.
At a Glance
What can you bring in a carry-on?
Most everyday belongings are allowed, but liquids, batteries, sharp objects, and hazardous materials require closer attention.
Generally Allowed
Everyday essentials
Clothing: Regular clothing, shoes, and accessories
Electronics: Phones, tablets, cameras, and laptops
Food: Most solid snacks and packed meals
Personal items: Books, documents, and empty water bottles
Allowed With Conditions
Check before packing
Liquids: Usually limited to containers of 3.4 ounces or less
Medication: Exceptions apply for medically necessary items
Batteries: Size, condition, and packaging requirements apply
Tools and blades: Permission depends on the item and dimensions
Not Allowed in a Carry-On
Restricted items
Firearms: Not permitted in carry-on baggage
Large blades: Knives and many cutting tools are prohibited
Explosives: Fireworks, flares, and similar materials are prohibited
Hazardous materials: Many fuels, chemicals, and flammable products are forbidden
What Applies to You?
Start with the type of item
The easiest way to determine whether something can travel in your carry-on is to identify which rule applies to it.
It pours or spreads
Treat it as a liquid, gel, cream, paste, or aerosol and check whether the 3-1-1 rule applies.
It contains a battery
Check the battery type and watt-hour rating. Power banks and spare lithium batteries must remain in the cabin.
It is medically necessary
Medication and medical supplies may qualify for exceptions, but they should be declared before screening.
It could cause injury
Sharp objects, tools, sporting equipment, and self-defense items require an item-specific TSA check.
The 3-1-1 Liquids Rule
Remember three numbers at security
TSA’s standard rule applies to liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes packed in a carry-on bag.
The container size matters—not the amount remaining inside it. A half-full six-ounce bottle is still too large for the standard liquids bag.
Common Carry-On Items
How the rules apply to what you pack
Toiletries
Shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, liquid makeup, sunscreen, and similar products must follow the liquids rule. Solid alternatives do not need to fit inside the liquids bag.
Food and drinks
Most solid food is allowed. Drinks and spreadable or gel-like foods generally follow the 3.4-ounce limit unless an exception applies.
Medication
Pills and other medications are generally permitted. Medically necessary liquids can exceed the usual limit but should be declared for screening.
Electronics
Phones, tablets, cameras, and laptops can travel in the cabin. Some electronics may need to be removed from the bag during standard screening.
Battery Safety
Power banks, portable chargers, and spare lithium batteries belong in your carry-on—not in checked baggage.
Protect spare batteries from damage and short circuits. Most personal lithium-ion batteries up to 100 watt-hours are permitted, while larger batteries may require airline approval or be prohibited. If your carry-on is checked at the gate, remove all power banks and spare lithium batteries first. Review the FAA PackSafe guidance for the current requirements.
Common Mistakes
Carry-on packing mistakes to avoid
Using an oversized liquid container. A container larger than 3.4 ounces does not qualify simply because it is nearly empty.
Packing a power bank in checked luggage. Portable chargers and spare lithium batteries must remain in the aircraft cabin.
Assuming every food is treated as a solid. Yogurt, dips, sauces, nut butter, and other spreadable foods can be treated as liquids or gels.
Ignoring the airline’s baggage rules. TSA may allow an item through security even when the bag exceeds the airline’s size or weight allowance.
Applying U.S. rules everywhere. Security requirements at foreign airports may differ from TSA rules.
Key Takeaways
Carry-on rules, explained simply
Most everyday essentials are allowed. Clothing, electronics, documents, and solid food can generally travel in a carry-on.
Liquids usually follow the 3-1-1 rule. Each standard container must hold no more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
Medical exceptions are available. Declare medically necessary liquids and supplies before screening.
Keep spare lithium batteries in the cabin. Power banks and portable chargers cannot be placed in checked baggage.
Check unusual items individually. Use TSA’s official database and confirm airline restrictions before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carry-on luggage FAQ
Can you bring full-size toiletries in a carry-on?
Full-size liquid, gel, aerosol, cream, and paste toiletries generally cannot pass through a U.S. checkpoint unless they qualify for an exception. Standard containers must hold no more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.
Can you bring food in a carry-on?
Most solid foods are allowed. Liquid, creamy, and spreadable foods generally must follow the liquids limit unless a specific exception applies.
Can you bring medication through TSA?
Medication is generally permitted. Medically necessary liquids can exceed the usual liquids limit, but travelers should declare them before screening so they can be inspected separately.
Can you bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, most ordinary personal power banks can travel in a carry-on. They are treated as spare lithium batteries and cannot be packed in checked baggage. Larger batteries may require airline approval or be prohibited.
Can you bring a reusable water bottle through TSA?
Yes. The bottle must normally be empty when it passes through security, but it can be refilled after the checkpoint.
Does TSA decide how large a carry-on can be?
No. Airlines establish their own carry-on dimensions, weight limits, and baggage allowances. Check the operating airline’s current policy before traveling.
Still Unsure?
Check the exact item before packing
Search the official TSA database for the specific object, then check your airline if the item is unusually large, battery-powered, hazardous, or subject to a separate onboard policy.
Search TSA’s Item ListRelated Guides
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