What’s Allowed in a Carry On Bag?

Man putting a Travelpro X Travel + Leisure carry on suitcase inside the trunk of a car.

With the ever-increasing costs of checking a bag, many travelers prefer to get by with just a carry-on. Airline restrictions, however, can be confusing. Below, we’ve compiled a detailed list of what you are and are not allowed to bring in your carry-on bag.

Personal Care

One of the most asked questions is whether you can bring deodorant on a plane. Short answer: yes. But there are specific rules regarding the type of deodorant and whether it is solid deodorant or liquid.

The rules about the personal items you are allowed to bring on an airplane have changed. For example, after 9/11, it was commonly thought that nail clippers were not allowed. They never actually made the list of prohibited items, but many were confiscated at the discretion of the TSA agent.

Don't risk it. Make sure you know what you can pack in your carry-on bag and what you will need to place in your checked luggage. Remember, purchasing items upon arrival is usually an option.

ITEM NAME	ALLOWED ON CARRY-ON?	LIMITATIONS
Hairspray	Yes	You can take hairspray on a plane, including powdered hair spray and aerosol spray, but they mist be in 3.4-ounce containers or smaller
Hair Gel	Yes	You can bring hair gel on a plane, but it must be in a 3.4-ounce container or smaller
Scissors	Yes	You can bring scissors on a plane but they must be less than 4 inches long from the pivot point
Electric Toothbrush	Yes	None. You can take an electric toothbrush on a plane
Razors	Yes	You can take razors on a plane; those with disposable cartridges are allowed; others, like safety razors and straight razors, are not
Curling Iron	Yes	You can bring a curling iron on a plane; only one per person. It must have a safety cover, and it must be protected from accidental activation
Makeup	Yes	You can bring makeup on a plane; liquid, lotion, gel, paste, or creams must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Electric Razors	Yes	None; Electric razors are allowed on planes
Nail Clippers	Yes	None; you can bring nail clippers on a plane
Perfume	Yes	You can bring perfume on a plane, but it must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Spray Deodorant	Yes	You can bring spray deodorant on a plane, but liquid deodorants must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Stick Deodorant	Yes	None; you can take stick deodorant on a plane without restriction
Shaving Cream	Yes	You can bring shaving cream on a plane, but it must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule

Medical Items

Most medical items are allowed on an airplane. In fact, it is recommended to carry them on in case they’re necessary for immediate use. That means items like contact lens solution should be packed in checked luggage unless you have a bottle under 3.4 ounces. Other items, like prescription medication, are allowed on the plane.

Can you take needles on a plane? Yes, needles are allowed on the plane if they are accompanied by injectable medication.

Can you take a heating pad on a plane? Yes, air-activated or electric heating pads are allowed on planes as long as they don’t contain flammable liquids or gasses.

Can I bring pill bottles on a plane? Yes, pill bottles are allowed. TSA does not require medication to be in prescription bottles.

When you travel with medical items, many of them will need to be declared to the TSA agent and screened. Items such as needles and liquids larger than 3.4 ounces will need to be inspected.

Sporting Equipment

Sporting equipment is generally prohibited as carry-on, as items like baseball bats, ski poles, golf clubs, and pool cues could all be used as weapons.

You can, however, pack roller skates, rollerblades, and somewhat oddly, ice skates in your carry-on, according to the TSA website. Whether the airport security agent on duty will allow ice skates through depends on individual judgment, but try to useshoe travel bags as an extra precautionary measure.

ITEM NAME	ALLOWED ON CARRY-ON?	LIMITATIONS
Baseball Bat	No	Any equipment that can be used to bludgeon must be checked
Balls	Yes	None
Hiking/Ski Poles	No	Any equipment that can be used to poke or bludgeon must be checked
Golf Clubs	No	Any equipment that can be used to bludgeon must be checked
Pool Cues	No	Any equipment that can be used to bludgeon must be checked
Fishing Poles	Yes	Check with the airline to determine if it meets the size limitations
Fishing Lures	Yes	Large, sharp tackle must be in checked luggage
Bows and Arrows	No
Canoe/Kayak Paddles	No
Longboards/Skateboards	Yes	Check with the airline to determine if it meets the size limitations
Skis/Snowboards	Yes	if it meets the size limitations; most will need to be checked
Tennis Racket	Yes

Self-Defense Items

Travelers often ask whether you can fly with pepper spray. While it's understood that travelers may want to protect themselves, self-defense items are not allowed in carry-on luggage. This includes pepper sprays and mac.

By their very nature, self-defense items have the potential to cause harm and should be transported in checked luggage. Even then, you can only pack one four-ounce container of self-defense spray in checked luggage. It must have a safety mechanism that prevents accidental discharge.

ITEM NAME	ALLOWED ON CARRY-ON?	LIMITATIONS
Knife	No	Plastic or round-bladed butter knives are allowed
Pepper Spray/Mace	No	Only allowed in checked luggage and meet the requirements
Bear Spray	No
Taser	No	In checked luggage, they must be inoperable and not contain lithium batteries
Pocket Knife	No
Brass Knuckles	Yes

E-Cigarettes and Vaping Devices

Given the rules prohibiting smoking on planes, you might think vaping devices would have to be in checked luggage. The opposite is true. You cannot pack e-cigarettes in checked luggage; all vaping devices must be packed in a carry-on. Any liquids needed for the device must comply with carry-on liquid rules.

Please note that while you must pack vaping devices in a carry-on, you are not allowed to vape on planes. Doing so carries hefty legal fines.

ITEM NAME	ALLOWED ON CARRY-ON?	LIMITATIONS
Cigarettes	Yes	You may not smoke cigarettes on the plane
Disposable Vape/Pen	Yes	You may not use the vape on the plane. Lithium batteries must not exceed 100 Wh.
Cartridge Vape	Yes	You may not use the vape on the plane. Lithium batteries must not exceed 100 Wh
Loose Tobacco	Yes	flying internationally, there are import rules to follow
Cigars	Yes	You may not smoke cigars on the plane
E-Cigarettes	Yes	It may not be used on the plane
Pipes	Yes	They are for tobacco use only; traces of other drugs can lead to confiscation, fines, and more

Food and Drink

Airport food is expensive. Instead of paying a premium for snacks at the airport or onboard, greatly lower those costs by bringing food from home on the plane.

For the budget-minded traveler, most food items won’t have any issues getting through security. The one limitation you have to pay attention to is that 3.4-ounce rule; any liquids, gels, or creams will need to be under that amount or purchased once you’re inside.

ITEM NAME	ALLOWED ON CARRY-ON?	LIMITATIONS
Hairspray	Yes	You can take hairspray on a plane, including powdered hair spray and aerosol spray, but they mist be in 3.4-ounce containers or smaller
Hair Gel	Yes	You can bring hair gel on a plane, but it must be in a 3.4-ounce container or smaller
Scissors	Yes	You can bring scissors on a plane but they must be less than 4 inches long from the pivot point
Electric Toothbrush	Yes	None. You can take an electric toothbrush on a plane
Razors	Yes	You can take razors on a plane; those with disposable cartridges are allowed; others, like safety razors and straight razors, are not
Curling Iron	Yes	You can bring a curling iron on a plane; only one per person. It must have a safety cover, and it must be protected from accidental activation
Makeup	Yes	You can bring makeup on a plane; liquid, lotion, gel, paste, or creams must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Electric Razors	Yes	None; Electric razors are allowed on planes
Nail Clippers	Yes	None; you can bring nail clippers on a plane
Perfume	Yes	You can bring perfume on a plane, but it must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Spray Deodorant	Yes	You can bring spray deodorant on a plane, but liquid deodorants must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule
Stick Deodorant	Yes	None; you can take stick deodorant on a plane without restriction
Shaving Cream	Yes	You can bring shaving cream on a plane, but it must adhere to the 3.4-ounce rule

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of items that we rarely bring on a plane. But there are exceptions. For example, you can bring a fishing pole on the plane as long as it meets the size limits for travel.

Other items are much more common. We lay out a few of those rules below.

Carry-on Liquid Rules

Let’s start with the TSA carry-on liquid rules, the regulations that affect the most people. All liquids must be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces, and all liquid containers must fit into a one clear quart size bag. This includes any liquid, including carry-on toiletries and over-the-counter cold medication. Gels are considered liquids for purposes of travel.

Medically necessary liquids are exempt from this rule, as are liquid foods for infants. If you are packing such items in your carry-on, be sure to let the TSA security officer know.

For carry-on toiletries, the fewer liquids, the better. Pack solid soaps, deodorants, and shampoo instead of liquids if possible. You can buy liquid shampoo and toothpaste in travel size.

For most carry-on bags, follow the carry-on liquid rules and pack your ziplock of liquids at the top of your bag for easy access. Some carry-on luggage include removable TSA-compliant clear toiletry bags which can be easily taken out and repacked during security checks, making them perfect for traveling with liquids. Examples of such bags include the Travelpro® Platinum® Elite 21” Expandable Carry-On Spinner and the Crew™ VersaPack™ Max Carry-on Expandable Spinner.

Can you Bring Glass Items on a Plane?

Glass items, including glass picture frames, are among the items you can surprisingly pack in your carry-on. Essentially, if the glass item can be wrapped safely and fits into your carry-on, you’re allowed to take it on a plane.

Carry-on luggage is the safer option for glass and other delicate items, as checked baggage can be roughly handled. Be sure to wrap glass items securely to ensure nothing breaks during travel. You can wrap glass items in clothing to provide some protection. Bubble wrap offers more protection, but does have the disadvantage that it takes up more space in your carry-on. For glasses and bottles, fill the glassware with paper or small, soft items of clothing and wrap them in two or three layers of paper before wrapping them in clothing.

Snow globes are subject to carry-on liquid rules and must be small enough to fit into your quart-sized bag along with other liquid containers. Larger snowglobes should be packed in checked luggage, as they would otherwise be confiscated under TSA’s liquid regulations.

What Can't You Bring on a Plane?

Carry-on luggage rules determine everything from how much liquid you can take on a plane to what type of toiletries and sports equipment are permissible.

Knowing what is allowed in a carry-on bag can mean the difference between breezing through TSA security and having items confiscated. But, the list of items you cannot bring on a plane is too long to cover in its entirety here.

Firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are prohibited, as are all knives and safety razors (including pocket knives and Swiss Army knives). Straight razors and replacement blades for straight razors are also not allowed. Most tools also cannot be packed in carry-on luggage, as they have the potential to cause harm.

Certain foods are prohibited if you’re traveling internationally or from Hawaii to the US mainland, including meats, vegetables, and plants. You may be able to take such food onto the plane to eat during the journey, but if you try to take it off the plane at your destination, it will be confiscated, and you may face fines or legal repercussions.

Check out the TSA website before packing your carry-on for a full list of what you can and cannot pack in carry-on and checked luggage. And if you’re looking for a new piece of carry-on luggage, be sure to join us as we put carry-on luggage to the test.