Everything You Need to Understand About TSA's Liquid Rules
- Maria DiCicco
- Nov 10, 2022
- 11 min read
Updated: Feb 9
Understanding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is like trying to decipher a codex or cipher wheel in the movie National Treasure. It seems like the TSA is constantly in the news - cats found riding in suitcases through the bag claim, luggage loaded with cooked meats in tagines...it is actually a humorous thing to see what does and does not pass in the eyes of the TSA, but it's not so humorous when it is your stuff not making muster.
So, stay prepared and know exactly what the TSA carry-on restrictions are before you travel. In this article learn about:
What the size limits are for liquids
What is an appropriate bag for carry-on liquids
What counts as a liquid to the TSA
Rules about liquid carry-ons in the US and around the world
Liquid rules and restrictions for security checks in and out of airports (think, cruise ships!)
...and more!
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What is the TSA Liquid Rule in the US?
First, let's address the elephant in the room before we have a little fun in this post - is the TSA removing the liquid rule for the United States in 2024? The short answer is no. Here in the grand ole' USA it's business as usual. We all still abide by the 3-1-1 liquid rule, meaning tiny little bottles and gels in tiny little bags.
In short, the TSA Liquid Rules Are:
Keep it under 3.4 ounces
Always bag it up (clear bags are best)
Always take them out of your carry-on (unless you have pre-check)
If you can spread it on toast, it's a liquid
If you can drink it, it's a liquid
Do you need a good TSA approved cosmetic bag? There's about a million options on Amazon like this viral makeup bag style, but this 3 pack comes in multiple colors and there is one for everyone in the fam. At around $4 a bag, it's kind of a no brainer, and I love being able to see into my goodie bag without fussing too much in the security line.
But there is SO much more to it than just bagging up your cosmetics. Let's dive deeper.
What is the Rest of the World Doing?
Prior to now, the UK and many EU countries had been toying with and implementing a new bomb detection scanner for liquids, which would allow up to 2 liters of liquid in your carry on luggage. This effectively would undo the current liquid rules as we know them, which would be a huge advancement for airport security.
In fact, the EU wasn't alone in this. A girlfriend told me that traveling within Japan last month there were no restrictions on domestic flights for liquids at all. I had a hard time believing that, but with minimal research I found this might actually be true (you can look here as an example).
But - technologically, this new system isn't quite ready yet. Starting September 1st, 2024, the EU countries who had started implementing this changed their carry-on rules BACK.
After some trepidation surrounding the software fueling this technology, it was decided that they would need to "temporarily" switch back to the old system of 100ml or 3.4 fl oz limit instead.
Welcome back, ya'll! Let's suffer small liquid rules together!
So to boil it all down in a nutshell, the world is generally all business as usual everywhere, meaning small liquids only. Just keep on packing light.
Let's read more about what this entails.
What are the liquid limits then?
100ml or 3.4 fl oz
Traveling abroad and shopping?
Most of the world doesn't operate in ounces. Look for bottles and jars that are 100mL or less.
When you start operating in grams (lets say you are looking at a Nutella jar in Italy) you need to be able to eyeball the jar for sizing. Think 'travel sized'. When the measurement is in grams, you have to think of density, and it's a little murky. A 50g jar of jam should be safe.
What is a liquid in the eyes of the TSA?
From experience I know, having the TSA rifle through your luggage is never fun. On the outside you put on a sweet and innocent act, but on the inside you know darn well you're packing. Yea, you've got the heat packed in your bag for sure - fig jelly from the farmer's market, jars of creamy hazelnut Nutella, and maybe a unique honey packed with Mediterranean nuts.
But the sweet act remains, until TSA inevitably comes over to tell you,
"Jam is a liquid. So is peanut butter. Jelly, jams, honeys, all liquids!"
A very frank TSA agent yelped this at me traveling through Portland's PDX airport. I just kept insisting sternly, "it's JAM! it's....JAM!". Completely befuddled, I thought, how do you possibly classify this as a liquid? And peanut butter? Are you high?
What Counts As a Liquid?
I love this endless back and forth of "what can I bring?" and "what will wind me up the customs jail?". Get this - in London Stansted airport practically all your cosmetics are liquids.
Gel deodorant? Liquid.
Toothpaste? Liquid.
Shampoo? Liquid.
Hand lotions? Liquids.
They must be smoking what the PDX guy is smoking, because last I checked those aren't drinkably juicy like a liquid. So what the heck constitutes as a liquid?
Can you brush your teeth with it?
Can you smear it on your face?
Can you spread it on a sandwich?
Unless it is a hard packed solid, the line between liquid and solid is a very loose one in the eyes of the TSA. Play it safe and keep those jammy things down to 3.4 oz.
Understanding TSA Carry-On Restrictions
TSA's Clear Bag Rule
I'm going to be honest here and tell you that of all the flights I've been on, the only place I ever had a problem with my clear bag was in London's Stansted airport. They literally have kiosks at the front of the security line where you can pick up quart sized baggies and they are super strict about it. Everywhere else? No problem.
You don't really need to put your stuff in quart sized plastic bags, but if you like to follow the rules, I typically use a dedicated toiletry bag that is clear, square and reusable. This TSA-approved toiletry kit has saved me countless headaches at security checks. Every now and then I need to clean it out, but for the most part it is packed and ready to go for each adventure. I only need to refill empties on some things but that's it.
No one ever gives me a hard time about the size or shape of my clear bag, and in many cases if it is not in a clear bag, they still don't care. So basically, don't stress about that.
What you do need to focus in on is what is allowed through the security checkpoints. Here's some considerations:
Does Your Item Look Suspicious?
I've seen people eyeball my jars of strange foods and spices from exotic markets, wondering are they drugs? Is this contraband? What is this gold paste from Dubai in Islamic writing? Oh lord what is tiny vial of liquid? She looks like a sweet American girl, but she's got two passports! Is she a spy!?
Consider what you are bringing back - is it easy to explain? I had a jar of garlic aioli from Spain and the unknowing TSA agent in JFK airport examined the plastic sealed jar with curiosity. I had to explain to her that it was basically a mayonnaise.
By the above "jelly rule" as I'll call it, they should have confiscated it. But, in many cases it is up to the agent. She shrugged and let me through with the aioli.
Are you bringing back spices with foreign writing on it? Or maybe no writing at all? "It's pencil shavings, ma!" isn't going to cut it here. Be prepared to explain that they are cooking spices from the Turkish market, or whatever the story may be.
Kids Get Special Treatment
It's amazing to me what gets through security and what doesn't. Tiny nail clippers in my cosmetics bag? No problem. Full sized, oversized, 3 ounces or 10 ounces of goopy fruit or juicy juice? No problem, so long as it is for your baby.
Bottles of milk, apple juice, even kids water are all passable.
They'll do a little bomb test swipe on it, or maybe try to sniff at it (are you a bomb sniffing dog now too, Mr. TSA?) and then ultimately you'll be approved to pass.
There are many airports worldwide that also have dedicated children's lanes (especially if you are traveling with a stroller), making the process a little bit more empathetic since everyone else in the line is also dealing with bags of kids stuff. If you are unsure if your airport has one, ask one of the airport staff standing at the start of your security line.
Rules for Flying with Alcohol
Your Duty Free Items Shall Not Pass (Over 3 ounces)
Folks, listen to me closely - when you travel home from overseas and you are CONNECTING to your home airport, you cannot take the things you bought at duty free through security.
You will lose your liquor purchase, your ceramic jar of olive oil or balsamic vinegar from Modena. They will take your high end perfume (over 3 ounces!) and the mega liter bottle of water you bought to help you survive the legs home.
In Mexico City's airport, they even make you chug your water down to the last drop - I guess to prove you're not smuggling in Mezcal, eh? My god can you imagine if you had to chug mezcal...?
I digress...
Hear me again - if you are CONNECTING from overseas, you have to pass security again after customs.
Pro Tip for Flying with Alcohol
One way to battle this (especially if you are in the habit of flying with wine or bringing alcohol home) is to get yourself a wine suitcase. The folks over at VinGardeValise.com have created some awesome products to bring your wine home safely. (Clicking this link gets you an automatic 20% off!)
I have the 12-bottle wine suitcase, and I've brought all sorts of different alcohols home from my travels. You can read more about these suitcases here, or check out the products at the link above. Use my code ALWAYS20 to get 20% off at checkout.
You won't regret getting one of these suitcases - you'll never really have to think about liquid rules again!
How Much Wine Can I Bring Through Customs?
I've actually detailed this in a separate post, which you can navigate to here. The thing is, alcohol is never allowed through security for onboard baggage, unless it meets the 3.4 FL oz rule. That means those little baby sized bottles can fly, but that's it.
If you want to bring in a full sized bottle of liquor or wine, you need to first consider packing it securely (see the wine suitcases above!), and also you need to be ready to defend what you're packing to the TSA customs agents.
You will be asked how much you are bringing, and for the most part a few bottles per person is alright. Some agents say 2, some go by the liter, and others impose no limit whatsoever. It's kind of up to who you speak with.
The federal law, however, imposes no limits on alcohol or low percentage liquors. You can read more about this at my wine suitcase post, again here.
Things to Consider at Other Types of Security Checkpoints
Things to Consider at an Agricultural Check
You cannot bring meat, cheese or fruit across borders. Period.
Now, despite my knowledge of this, for some reason there is always an event like I experienced in Miami recently. People look for incoming flights from places with good food, I swear it!
As my husband and I were sent down a maze to the bowels of the security area to agricultural check I wondered why we were chosen to be randomly searched for illegally smuggled meats or produce.
“Does he have a jamon loving face or something?”, I joked with the TSA agent as she rifled through our bags for the smuggled contraband. “Any fruits? Vegetables? Meats?” Inside I was sweating, I always stash an orange for the airplane or a vacuum sealed package of jamon for snacking - but did I eat it all? Was the ham-sniffing dog about to pounce on me?
“Nope!”, I sighed a sigh of relief remembering we’d wolfed down our jamon serrano bocadillos earlier on the airplane from Madrid.
Although a relatively stress-free and streamlined experience, we didn't have much time for these shenanigans and honestly there was no concrete reason for us to be sent to agricultural check. All that to say - don't get caught with your pants down if you are sent there for some reason.
Always abide by the rules.
STOP: Before continuing, are you aware of the upcoming ETIAS fees needed to travel to Europe as an American? If not, head here in a new tab now to learn more.
Even more recently in Japan there were signs everywhere about not bringing in meat products. In fact, there was a huge sign with a picture of Jack Link's beef jerky with a red X through it. Crap, I had bought the mega pack of beef jerky to-go bags from Sam's Club for this trip. I didn't think about it at all.
Meanwhile, a woman was wolfing down a sandwich in line (there was a no sandwiches photo) and another woman of Asian descent starts handing literally half a dozen hard boiled eggs to the agent from her handbag. What?!
It happens everywhere and people smuggle crazy stuff without even thinking about it. Needless to say, I too was wolfing down my beef jerky. I'm not about to have a Midnight Express scenario on my hands. No thank you.
Always abide by the rules!
Things to Consider Cruise Ship Security
Let's also go on to realize that this does not just apply to airports. Once at the security line boarding my Royal Caribbean cruise to Nassau Bahamas from Florida, I was questioned again, "Any fruits? Meats?" Yes I had bananas and little oranges for my kid, is this a problem? I mean, I'm just going on a boat to the Bahamas. Well friends, yes! It is a problem.
Not only could you cross-pollinate whatever they have going on in the Bahamas, you are also messing with the feng shui of the cruise kitchen. Don't bring your own fruits, they have them on board.
Also, there's oodles of different alcohol rules for cruise ships, but the general rule of thumb is that each 21+ passenger may bring on one bottle of wine, not liquor, on board for consumption in their stateroom.
I've Heard Some Weird Things Pass Security, What Gives?
I literally hand carried a turn of the century Edison phonograph and it's odd shaped horn in my backpack on a Frontier flight many years ago. No one batted an eye or asked any questions.
It's so curious what causes a fuss and what doesn't. Shall we go back to the "jelly rule"!?
This led me to get the truth, right from the source. I was digging around TSA's website to look up wine allowances and I have to say, the things that are OK in your carry-on are truly baffling.
Check some of these oddballs:
Antlers
Artificial skeleton bones
Bread machine
Cowboy spurs
Geiger counters
Handcuffs
Harry Potter Wand
Laser hair remover
License Plate
Light Saber
Live coral and live fish
Night vision goggles
Shock collars
Tortilla press
Vacuum Robots
Waffle Iron
The Bottom Line
Overall, I really want to give the TSA a hard time, but they've got a job to do and we need to do our best to be educated and stick to the tsa liquid rules. Do I agree with them? I can't remember the last time a plane went down because I brought too much jam on board, but rules are rules, I guess.
Be smart, make good choices, and be willing to let your beloved carry on item go, if it comes down to it. You can always go back to check-in and check your bag if it is that important to you, or mail your stuff home.
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