Liquids in hand luggage: the 100 ml rule

The rule, place by place

These rules belong to the country you fly from, not the airline: the same flight can have different rules on the way out and the way back. Each comes from the government’s own page, or the airport operator’s where it’s the one that publishes them.

United States

Set by Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Scanners: In lanes with CT scanners you don’t need to take travel-size 3-1-1 liquids out of your bag (TSA, 13 July 2026). The 3.4 oz limit still applies there.

• Covers liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes. Containers over 3.4 oz (100 ml) go in checked baggage.
• Medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols are allowed in larger amounts, in reasonable quantities for your flight. Declare them to the officer and take them out of your bag for screening.
• Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby or toddler food (including puree pouches) over 3.4 oz are allowed, and don’t have to fit in the quart-sized bag. Tell the officer and take them out for separate screening.
• Duty-free liquids over 3.4 oz are allowed only if you bought them abroad and are flying to the US with a connecting flight, the retailer sealed them in a transparent tamper-evident bag, and you have the receipt from within 48 hours. TSA still recommends packing them in checked baggage.
• Solid makeup is allowed in carry-on bags, with no liquids limit.
• Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste that alarms needs additional screening.

From Liquids, aerosols, and gels rule, Liquids, aerosols and gels rule: FAQ, Disabilities and medical conditions, Traveling with children, TSA installs new computed tomography screening technology (13 July 2026), What can I bring? Solid makeup.

United Kingdom

Set by Department for Transport (GOV.UK).

Scanners: Depends on the airport. GOV.UK says most keep the 100 ml limit, but some may allow containers up to 2 litres and may not ask for a separate bag. It names no airports and no date, so check every airport on your route, the return journey too. The 100 ml limit came back at the six airports then running new scanners on 9 June 2024.

• Liquids include drinks and water, soup, jam, honey and syrup, creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, lip gloss, sprays, toothpaste, gels and contact lens solution.
• The limit is the container size: a 100 ml limit still applies if the container is only part full. Frozen liquids aren’t allowed in hand luggage.
• At every UK airport you can take containers up to 2 litres through security for essential medical purposes, special dietary requirements, or baby food or milk.
• Liquid medicine over 100 ml needs proof it’s prescribed to you, such as a doctor’s letter or a copy of the prescription.
• Formula, cow’s milk, sterilised water, soya milk and baby food need the baby to be with you. Breast milk is allowed without the baby, in containers of up to 2,000 ml; frozen breast milk isn’t allowed in hand luggage.
• Duty free bought at an airport or on a plane is allowed sealed in a security bag with the receipt sealed inside and visible. Don’t open it until your final destination.
• Where a bag is required, the contents must fit so it seals, it can’t be tied at the top, and you show it at security.

From Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: liquids, Hand luggage restrictions: essential medicines and medical equipment, Hand luggage restrictions: baby food and baby milk, DfT statement on airport liquid restrictions (7 June 2024).

European Union

Set by European Commission.

Scanners: No Commission page says the limit is lifted anywhere. Since 1 September 2024, airports with C3 scanners approved before 1 August 2024 must keep the 100 ml cap (Regulation (EU) 2024/2108, still in force); it can lift once newer configurations pass testing. The Commission names no airports, so check yours.

• Liquids include gels, aerosols, pastes, lotions, liquid and solid mixtures, drinks, toothpaste, soups, syrups, perfumes and shaving foam.
• Essential medicines, baby food and milk are allowed over 100 ml, for use during the trip. You may be asked to prove they’re genuine.
• Duty free bought at an EU airport or on board an EU airline is allowed in a sealed tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase from that airport that day.
• Duty free bought at certain airports in Croatia, Malaysia, Singapore, or international airports in Canada or the US is also allowed, in a sealed bag with proof of purchase from the preceding 36 hours.
• At security, put the liquids bag in a tray, and take out laptops and other large electrical devices.
• The same rules apply in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

From Liquids, aerosols and gels, Information for air travellers, Commission enforces temporary restrictions on liquid screening at certain EU airports (31 July 2024), Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2108.

Canada

Set by Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

Scanners: In lanes marked with a CT sign, permitted liquids of 100 ml or less can stay in your carry-on; anything over 100 ml still goes in a bin. Some lines at YVR, YEG, YOW, YUL, YYC, YYZ, YQB, YHZ, YWG and YLW have CT.

• The bag is about 15 × 23 cm (6 × 9 in) or 20 × 17.5 cm (8 × 7 in). Take it out of your carry-on and put it in a bin at screening.
• Exempt from the 100 ml limit, with no bag needed but declared at screening: baby food, milk, formula, water and juice when travelling with an infant under 2.
• Also exempt on the same terms: breast milk (with or without the child), prescription and essential non-prescription medicines, juice or gels for diabetes, and distilled water for CPAP.
• Duty-free liquids are accepted in an official security bag with an itemised receipt, valid for 48 hours; don’t open the bag before screening.
• Food isn’t exempt: yogurt, peanut butter and jam count. Food over 100 ml frozen solid is refused, because it must be solid at room temperature.
• Lip gloss, gel lip products and gel-based cosmetics count as gels.

From Liquids, non-solid food and personal items, CT X-ray, Duty-free purchases.

Australia

Set by Department of Home Affairs (Australian Government).

• Applies to international flights only: leaving Australia, transiting, the domestic leg of a flight from an international terminal, and before an inbound flight’s last departure point. Not to checked bags or most domestic flights.
• Containers over 100 ml or 100 g are refused even if part full: a half-full 200 g tube of toothpaste isn’t allowed.
• Carers may carry bags for people in their care, children included. You may need to show all liquids separately, and every aerosol needs a cap or lock.
• Inorganic powders such as salt, sand and some talc must be in containers of 350 ml or 350 g or less, 350 ml in all per person. Organic powders, powdered baby formula among them, aren’t limited.
• You may bring a reasonable amount of medicine for the flight; you may need proof such as a doctor’s letter, and a prescription label must match your boarding pass. Medical devices are exempt.
• Duty free stays sealed in its tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase until you arrive.
• Expressed breast milk is listed as a liquid. Home Affairs prints no exemption for liquid baby milk or food.

From What you can and can’t bring.

Singapore

Set by Changi Airport (airport operator).

• Applies to all flights leaving Singapore. Containers over 100 ml are refused even if part full; grams and millilitres count the same.
• Show the bag separately at the security screening point.
• Baby food and breast milk are exempt if your infant is travelling with you. Other items may be exempt with a doctor’s letter.
• Liquids over 100 ml bought in Changi’s departure transit area must stay in a sealed tamper-evident bag with the receipt on show. Flying to the EU or Switzerland, only bags with the SGP code bought at Changi are accepted.
• Flying to Australia or the US, or on United Airlines, check whether you may buy liquids, and buy them at least 90 minutes before departure.
• Singapore’s aviation regulator, CAAS, says the same: liquids over 100 ml go in checked baggage.

From Security and baggage restrictions, Pack for your flight.

Malaysia

Set by Malaysia Airports (airport operator).

• Applies to international flights from Malaysian international airports, transfers included, and to international passengers leaving domestic airports.
• The bag can be about 20.5 × 20.5 cm, 25 × 15 cm or 21 × 17.5 cm. Show it to security separately from your hand luggage.
• Baby milk, baby food, prescribed medicines (the name must match the ticket), insulin and other essential medicines are allowed outside the bag, shown separately; you may need a prescription.
• Liquids bought after security or on board are allowed sealed in a tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase; on-board purchases need a receipt dated that day.
• Transit passengers are re-screened at the gate, and extra liquids without a sealed bag and proof of purchase are taken away.

From Liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions at KLIA1, LAGs restricted items FAQ (PDF).

Hong Kong

Set by Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong SAR Government.

Scanners: At Hong Kong International Airport’s smart security channels with CT scanners, liquids and electronics can stay in your bag. The 100 ml limit is unchanged.

• Containers over 100 ml are refused even if only part full.
• The Civil Aviation Department says to show the bag separately, except in the CT channels above.
• Medicines, baby milk or food, and special dietary requirements are exempt, subject to checks. Show containers over 100 ml separately; your baby must be with you. Powdered formula doesn’t count as a liquid.
• Solid lipstick and solid deodorant are fine. Lip gloss, lip balm and mascara count as liquids.
• Liquids bought at the airport after security can go on departing flights, but check with your airline if flying to the US or Australia.
• Transfer passengers may bring liquids over 100 ml bought at an earlier airport or on board, sealed in a tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase; they’re screened again.

From Packing tips for air passengers, Airport security, FAQ.

What airlines add

Airlines don’t change the liquids rule, but they do set their own rules for what goes in the cabin. See power bank rules by airline and the carry-on size limits.