The TSA liquid rules have not changed. Despite a run of headlines suggesting otherwise, the 3-1-1 rule still applies as of 28 September 2026: liquids in containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 millilitres or less, all of them fitting inside one quart sized clear bag, one bag per passenger.
What has actually changed is the scanning equipment, not the packing requirement, and the difference between those two matters when you are deciding what to put in your bag. The section below explains it.
Rules change. This was checked on 28 September 2026. Confirm on tsa.gov before you fly, particularly if you are reading this months later.
TSA liquid rules: what 3-1-1 actually means
| The number | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| 3 | 3.4 ounces, or 100ml, the maximum size of any single container |
| 1 | One quart sized, clear, resealable bag to hold them all |
| 1 | One such bag per passenger |
The single most misunderstood part: the size printed on the container is what counts, not how much is in it. A 6 ounce bottle with an inch of shampoo left is not allowed through. An officer is looking at the labelled capacity, not the contents, and arguing about it at the checkpoint does not work.
The bag has to close properly too. A quart bag straining at the seal with items pressed against the sides is routinely rejected, and the fix at that point is to bin something. The TSA liquid rules are enforced on what the officer can see, not on intent.
What counts as a liquid under the TSA liquid rules
Far more than people expect, and this is where most confiscations come from. The TSA category is liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes, which sweeps in a lot of things that do not pour.
| Counts as a liquid | Does not |
|---|---|
| Toothpaste | Toothpaste tablets |
| Deodorant, roll on or gel | Deodorant, solid stick |
| Mascara, liquid foundation, lip gloss | Powder makeup, lipstick |
| Sun cream and moisturiser | Sunscreen stick |
| Peanut butter, hummus, yoghurt, jam | Solid food, sandwiches, dry snacks |
| Aerosol dry shampoo | Dry shampoo powder |
| Shaving foam and gel | Bar soap, shampoo bar |
| Perfume and aftershave | Solid perfume |
| Soft cheese, dips, sauces | Hard cheese |
| Snow globes over 3.4oz | Snow globes that fit the limit |
Peanut butter is the classic. It is confiscated constantly because nobody thinks of it as a liquid, and the TSA firmly does. The same goes for yoghurt, hummus and any sauce or dip.
The right hand column is also the cheapest way to solve this problem. Swapping to solid toiletries, a shampoo bar, a deodorant stick and toothpaste tablets can empty your liquids bag almost completely, and takes you out of the TSA liquid rules entirely.
What is exempt from the TSA liquid rules
Several categories are allowed in reasonable quantities above 3.4 ounces, and do not have to fit in the quart bag. They do have to be declared.
- Medication, liquid or gel, prescription and over the counter. Not limited to 3.4oz. Declare it at the checkpoint and expect additional screening.
- Baby formula, breast milk and toddler drinks, in reasonable quantities. The child does not have to be travelling with you. That surprises people and it is the rule.
- Baby food and puree pouches, on the same basis.
- Ice packs and freezer packs needed to keep medication, formula or breast milk cool, including when partly melted.
- Liquids needed for a disability or medical condition, including saline, contact lens solution above the limit, and nutritional drinks.
- Duty free liquids bought airside, if sealed in a secure tamper evident bag with the receipt visible inside it. Do not open that bag before your final destination.
How to handle an exemption: take those items out separately, tell the officer before screening starts rather than after, and allow a few extra minutes. You are not required to provide a prescription or a doctor’s letter for medication, though having the original labelled packaging makes the conversation shorter.
What the new CT scanners changed, and what they did not
This is the part the headlines have muddled. Computed tomography scanners, which build a 3D image of a bag’s contents, are now installed at most checkpoints in large US airports.
| What changed | What did not change |
|---|---|
| You are often not asked to remove the liquids bag | The 3.4oz container limit |
| Laptops frequently stay in the bag too | The one quart bag limit |
| Screening is faster in those lanes | One bag per passenger |
| Fewer bag searches for clutter | The rule applies at every airport |
So the practical advice under the TSA liquid rules is unchanged: pack to 3-1-1 regardless. Not every lane at every airport has the new equipment, older and smaller airports are further behind, and you do not find out which lane you are getting until you are in it. Packing correctly costs nothing and being wrong costs you your toiletries.
There has been ongoing public discussion about relaxing the TSA liquid rules, and reporting on it is what most of page one for this question currently consists of. Discussion is not a rule change. Until the TSA publishes one, 3-1-1 is what is enforced.
Checked bags are a different rule
There is effectively no 3.4 ounce limit in checked luggage. Full size toiletries go in the hold without issue, which is the simplest answer for anyone who does not want to think about this at all.
- Aerosols are limited in checked bags, to 18 ounces per container and 70 ounces total per passenger, and the cap must be protected against accidental release.
- Alcohol over 70% ABV is banned outright, in both cabin and hold. Between 24% and 70% you are limited to 5 litres in checked baggage.
- Flammable liquids are prohibited, including lighter fluid, most solvents and paint thinners.
- Bag leaks are your problem, so put liquids inside a sealed bag anyway. Cabin pressure changes push contents out of bottles that seemed fine on the ground.
The mistakes that cost people their toiletries
- Judging by how full a bottle is rather than the size printed on it. The label is what is assessed.
- Forgetting food. Peanut butter, yoghurt, hummus and sauces are liquids under these rules.
- Overpacking the quart bag so it will not seal. If it does not close flat, it does not pass.
- Leaving an exempt item buried. Medication and formula need to come out and be declared, not discovered.
- Opening a duty free security bag before the final destination, which voids the exemption.
- Assuming a connecting airport abroad uses the same rules. Many do, several do not, and duty free bought outside the US is sometimes rescreened.
Get those six right and the TSA liquid rules stop costing you anything at a checkpoint. For more travel guides, see our Travel section.
What is the TSA 3-1-1 rule?
Liquids in carry on bags must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 millilitres or less, all containers must fit in one quart sized clear resealable bag, and each passenger is allowed one such bag. The rule covers liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes.
Have the TSA liquid rules changed in 2026?
No. As of 28 September 2026 the 3-1-1 rule still applies exactly as before. What has changed is screening technology: CT scanners at most large airport checkpoints mean you are often not asked to remove the bag from your luggage. The packing requirement itself is unchanged, so pack to the rule regardless of which lane you expect.
Does a half empty bottle count?
Yes, and it will be taken. The size printed on the container is what is assessed, not how much is inside it. A 6 ounce bottle with a small amount of product left is not permitted, and this is one of the most common reasons items are confiscated.
Is peanut butter a liquid according to the TSA?
Yes. The rule covers gels, creams and pastes as well as liquids, which brings in peanut butter, yoghurt, hummus, jam, soft cheese and most sauces and dips. Food is a frequent source of confiscations because people do not think of it as falling under a liquids rule.
Can I bring medication over 3.4 ounces?
Yes. Liquid and gel medication, prescription and over the counter, is exempt from the 3.4 ounce limit in reasonable quantities and does not need to fit in the quart bag. Declare it at the checkpoint before screening begins and expect additional inspection. A prescription is not required, though original labelled packaging speeds the conversation.
Can I take breast milk or formula through security?
Yes, in reasonable quantities above the normal limit, and the child does not have to be travelling with you. Ice packs and freezer packs needed to keep them cool are also permitted, including when partly melted. Take them out and declare them rather than leaving them in your bag.
Are there liquid limits in checked bags?
Not the 3.4 ounce limit, so full size toiletries are fine in the hold. Aerosols are capped at 18 ounces per container and 70 ounces total. Alcohol over 70% ABV is banned entirely, and flammable liquids such as lighter fluid and solvents are prohibited.
What happens to duty free liquids?
They are allowed above the normal limit if they stay sealed in the tamper evident security bag with the receipt visible inside. Do not open it before your final destination, because opening it voids the exemption and the contents then fall under the standard rule.