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What toiletries can you bring in your carry-on bag?

  • Erin Lizzo

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    Portrait of a friendly flight attendant helping woman with her carry-on luggage in an airplane and smiling - travel concepts

    It’s every traveler’s worst nightmare — you’re late for a flight and stuck behind someone who packed a full-sized bottle of shampoo, and who knows what else, into their carry-on, prompting TSA to take apart every single thing in their bag. No one wants to be the person holding up the whole line. The good news is that by understanding exactly what toiletries you can and cannot bring in your carry-on bag, you can pack smarter and move through those lines without disruption. 

    TSA carry-on regulations

    Keeping the current TSA carry-on regulations in mind when packing can not only help you have an easier experience when you are at the airport, but also help you avoid watching the TSA agent throw away that expensive bottle of perfume you forgot to put in your checked bag. There are a few important principles to keep in mind when you are putting together the items in your carry-on. 

    There are two exceptions when it comes to liquids — both medications and infant or children’s nourishments (for example, breast milk and juice) are permitted in larger quantities, and it is helpful to notify the TSA that you are carrying these before the screening begins. 

    Toiletries you can bring in your carry-on

    Whether you’re packing for a business trip, a weekend getaway, or a longer adventure, taking a single carry-on can help save you money on extra baggage fees and can save you time checking a bag before your flight and waiting for it to show up after you land. One of the keys to packing a carry-on is understanding which (and how many) liquids, gels, makeup, and other toiletries are permitted on the plane with you. 

    There are a lot of seemingly strange items that you can pack in your carry-on (antlers and artificial skeleton bones, for example), but what toiletries can you actually take on to the plane with you? TSA has an entire list of the items are allowed and prohibited, so it’s helpful to check before you go. Frequently packed toiletries that are permitted in your carry-on include: 

    Here are some common questions and answers around packing toiletries in your carry-on:

    Tips for packing your carry-on

    Packing a carry-on is always a delicate balance. On one hand, you might be attempting to keep things simple and avoid checking a bag altogether. In this case, there’s no back up for you to divert those toiletries into a different bag if you get to the airport and find out they aren’t permitted in your carry-on. And even if you are checking a larger bag, it’s nice to have some toiletries with you, especially if you’re taking a longer flight and want to brush your teeth and wash your face before putting on your eye mask and taking an Ambien. 

    Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are packing your carry-on: 

    Bottom line

    Packing for a trip can seem daunting, especially when you are attempting to skip checking a bag and instead opting for just a carry-on. When putting together items in your carry-on, packing toiletries remains one of the greatest mysteries. To avoid holding up the TSA line and potentially watching as the TSA agent tosses your favorite shampoo in the trash, plan ahead and make sure that the toiletries you are bringing with you meet the TSA guidelines for carry-on luggage.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)