If you’re traveling abroad for the first time in a while, you may be confused about the rules regarding liquids in your luggage. What liquids can I bring in my carry-on baggage and how much is allowed?
With ridiculously long lines at airports and long delays at airport security right now, the last thing you want is to be stuck waiting because you’ve got the wrong liquid in your carry-on.
At Manchester Airport last week, people who had to have their bags rescanned at security had to wait for hours more, but most of these rescans were due to people having random liquids in their bags. It was by people who
So don’t get me wrong. Follow my guide to traveling with liquids in your hand luggage. That way you can avoid long delays at security!
For those of you who don’t read much, I’ll give you a quick explanation.
With these bags, bottles and pots, you’ll be ready for airport security like a pro!
If you want a little more information, keep reading…
20cm x 20cm clear plastic bag
first, all liquids must be placed in clear plastic resealable bags no larger than 20cm x 20cm. Yes, some airports measure it so you don’t have to be tempted to go big.
Only one bag is allowed, no more. All liquids must fit in this bag.
if you have lip balm hidden at the bottom of your bag or a few sips of water left in your water bottle, the machine will find it and ask you to search inside your bag. Therefore, make sure that all liquids are in a liquid bag in your carry-on bag and that it is no larger than 20cm x 20cm!
Most airports will give you these bags at security, so don’t worry if you don’t have one.
However, the one they provided was flimsy, so I prefer to use my own to avoid single-use plastic waste and the possibility of it breaking if filled to the top!
I have a TSA approved luggage toiletry bag from Amazon and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s as big as it can be without being too big, so there’s plenty of space.
No liquid bottles bigger than 100ml
the second thing to remember is that there can be no more than 100ml.
For many products, this will likely mean decanting the liquid into a smaller bottler or purchasing miniature sizes.
i know it doesn’t really make sense because you can take eight 100ml bottles of the same shampoo, but you can’t take an 800ml bottle of shampoo!
It’s much more cost-effective to buy a liquid bottle for your luggage and transfer your regular products into it. Miniature bottles are expensive and even single-use plastic.
it has a nice little jar that’s perfect for traveling. Holds 10ml of product and comes with a scoop and stickers for easy filling and labeling. Although it looks small, it can hold enough for a week.
What are the best hand luggage liquids bottles?
The best liquid bottles for hand luggage are silicone bottles. It’s more durable, easier to fill, and allows you to squeeze out every last drop of product.
Regular plastic bottles break easily when squeezed and don’t last as long as silicone bottles.
We recommend purchasing a high-quality silicone bottle with a wide neck for easy filling.
Whittle down what liquids you really need
This is everything I use on a daily basis, but you definitely don’t need all of this for a short vacation!
If you’re traveling with just carry-on luggage, you probably won’t be away for very long, so think about what you actually need and keep it to the bare minimum.
Can I leave the conditioner hair mask on for a few days? Probably.
Can I keep anti-wrinkle serums and lotions at home? I think so.
Will the world end if I don’t use my teeth whitening gel for a few days? No.
Before you start packing your luggage liquid bag, cut it down to what you really need.
Some miniatures are worth buying
some are tedious, tricky, or impossible to decant into smaller bottles. For me, it’s toothpaste and hairspray. I travel with a small tube of toothpaste and a small can of 75ml hairspray. Or, wait until the 100ml tube of toothpaste is almost finished, then roll it up and carry it with you.
Switch to solid toiletries where you can
Switch to solid toiletries whenever possible, not just when traveling but throughout your life. They are cheaper, better for the environment, and usually better for your skin.
I switched to bar soap and bar shampoo, and I can honestly say I won’t go back to liquid now. I think that’s really unnecessary!
I like Garnier Ultimate Blends Solid Shampoo Bar and I also really like XHC. I found an XHC bar in B&M for £1.00. You can buy a pack of three on Amazon for £9.99, which feels like a real bargain even if you can’t make it to B&M.
Airport security liquids: What is classed as a liquid at security!?
What actually classifies as a liquid can be a little confusing. I once heard a guard say, “If it’s spreadable, it’s liquid!’
So this is obvious:
- liquid medicine
- shampoo
- conditioner
- tooth paste
- Facial wash
- liquid foundation
- roll-on deodorant
- contact lens solution
And there are some less obvious ones, such as:
- Lip balm
- lipstick
- aerosol
Can you take liquids on a plane if you bought them in duty free?
Yes, if you purchase liquids from a duty-free shop, you can bring them onto the plane regardless of their size.
If I’m traveling with just hand luggage, I often buy my favorite brand of sunscreen at Boots at the airport.
You can also buy products online at Boots and pick them up instantly at our duty free store!
Some airlines make it fun to fly with large duty-free bags, so you always want to be careful not to buy too much.
Does toothpaste count as a liquid in your hand luggage?
Yes, it is!
You can buy dry toothpaste or “tooth tabs” at stores like Lush, but let’s be honest: They’re disgusting. They’re dry and unpleasant, and don’t have the clean, minty, refreshing feel of regular toothpaste.
Maybe it just takes some getting used to, but I don’t like it!
yes, toothpaste must be placed in a clear plastic luggage liquid bag and it must be less than 100ml. But in reality, a 100 ml toothpaste tube is quite large and can be used by the whole family for several weeks.
How can I take perfume in my hand luggage?
you must get one of these refillable 5ml perfume bottles. All you have to do is remove the perfume cap and infuse the perfume into this small bottle.
i recommend one of these even if your perfume bottle is less than 100ml. It’s cheap, easy, and lightweight, making it much easier than lugging around bulky perfume bottles.
Do I need to put my liquid medication in my hand luggage liquids bag?
that’s right.
What happens if I try to take liquids on a plane in bottles bigger than 100ml?
The liquid will be confiscated and will not be returned.
So don’t try to board a plane with a liter of expensive whiskey or a bottle of champagne or a huge bottle of perfume. Please note that it will be confiscated.
Can I take a refillable water bottle through airport security?
Yes, you can pass through security if your water bottle is empty. Most airports have drinking fountains and you can refill your water on the other side of security. If you don’t have a water fountain, you can ask a bar or cafe to fetch water for you.
How many 100ml bottles can I take in my hand luggage?
you can bring as many 100ml bottles as you want as long as they fit in your liquids bag in your hand luggage.
if you have a large bag measuring 20cm x 20cm, you can easily fit around 8 100ml plastic bottles.
That’s why we highly recommend purchasing this small bag on Amazon that can hold a lot of things. It’s wider than the ones handed out at the airport, so it can fit a lot more!
Here’s everything I put in my hand luggage liquids bag
Here’s what I put in my liquid bag in my hand luggage:
- tooth paste
- Conditioner (I couldn’t find a solid conditioner suitable for my dry hair)
- roll-on deodorant
- Facial wash
- Facial SPF 50
- moisturizer
- face serum
- foundation
- concealer
- cream blush
- 2 x contour stick
- Lip balm
- Creamy eyebrow pencil (I’m not sure if I actually need to put this in)
- liquid eyeliner
- mascara
- lipstick
- hair spray
Read more:
Can I take a razor on a plane as hand luggage?