What is not allowed in carry-on baggage in the United States?
Souleymane Enok
Are you preparing for a trip to the United States and wondering what you can actually pack in your carry-on luggage? This is one of the most frequent — and most poorly understood — questions for travelers getting ready to cross the Atlantic. While airline security rules are similar for most destinations, the United States enforces particularly strict regulations, overseen by a dedicated agency whose name comes up constantly in American airports: the TSA.
In the event of a breach of air travel rules, you could be prevented from traveling by agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or worse, face fines and legal action. The TSA was created after the September 11, 2001, attacks, and its rules apply to all passengers, regardless of their nationality, on all flights to or from the United States.
Prohibitions for carry-on luggage cover several distinct categories. The main bans to be aware of concern liquids over 100 ml, including gels and aerosols, and sharp objects like scissors, knives, and open razors. But beyond these standard rules, the TSA also prohibits certain specific items on flights to or from the USA, such as pasty foods, "strike-anywhere" matches (prohibited everywhere, including in the cabin), and liquids in opaque, unidentifiable containers.
Knowing these prohibitions precisely before arriving at the security checkpoint not only prevents the confiscation of your belongings but also avoids embarrassing delays and stressful situations at the airport. In this article, we provide a comprehensive breakdown of everything that is not allowed in carry-on luggage in the United States, along with the exceptions and special cases you absolutely must know.
Liquids, gels, and aerosols: the 100 ml rule explained
The 100 ml rule is probably the most well-known carry-on luggage restriction, yet it is also the most poorly applied by travelers. Many arrive at the security checkpoint with an oversized bottle of shampoo or an non-compliant tube of toothpaste, only to have their items confiscated at the conveyor belt. Here is everything you need to know to avoid these mishaps.
The principle is simple but allows for no exceptions. Each passenger is only allowed to carry a limited quantity of liquid products in their carry-on: each product must not exceed a volume of 100 ml, and all products must be placed and contained in a transparent, zip-top plastic bag with a volume of no more than 1 liter, which corresponds roughly to a 20 cm by 20 cm bag. This transparent bag must be presented separately at the security checkpoint; it must not remain in your carry-on bag when passing through X-ray machines.
The first essential clarification concerns what the TSA considers a "liquid." The category is much broader than just bottled water. It includes all liquids, notably beverages, creams, toothpaste, perfumes, gels such as shower gel, shampoo, and hand sanitizer, aerosols like deodorant, oils, and lotions. In practice, if a product can flow, spread, or be sprayed, it is subject to the 100 ml rule. Shea butter, sunscreen, mascara, nail polish, and liquid lipstick all fall into this category.
One important nuance is worth noting: it is the container's capacity that counts, not the amount of product inside. A 150 ml tube of toothpaste that is half empty remains prohibited because the container exceeds the 100 ml limit. The TSA checks the volume indicated on the bottle, not its actual fill level. Always purchase 100 ml travel-size containers or transfer your products into empty containers of the permitted size before your departure.
The 100 ml rule does, however, have some important exceptions to be aware of. Electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage but remain allowed in carry-on luggage. Special provisions have been adopted for individuals who need to transport special foods or medications. Travelers accompanied by young children may bring the baby food needed for the flight into the cabin without restriction. Any form of liquid food must, however, be presented separately during the screening process. Prescribed liquid medications are also exempt, provided they are presented with their prescription at the security checkpoint.
Purchases made in duty-free areas after the security checkpoint constitute another notable exception. The only way to carry alcohol in the cabin is to buy the bottle just before departure in the duty-free area after clearing security, while keeping the packaging and the receipt. These purchases must remain in their original sealed bag until your final destination; opening the bag on the plane or during a connection can lead to confiscation.
Finally, a rule specific to the United States deserves special attention. Since 2018, it is prohibited to carry powdered products of more than 340 grams in your carry-on. If you do not pack these items in your checked luggage, they will simply be thrown away. This restriction includes spices, coffee, talcum powder, powdered makeup, and protein powder—a little-known rule that regularly surprises travelers during security checks at American airports.
Sharp and dangerous objects prohibited in the cabin in the United States
The category of sharp and dangerous objects is the one that causes the most confiscations at American airport security checkpoints. Many travelers tuck everyday objects into their carry-on bags without realizing they are strictly prohibited by the TSA. Here is a complete overview of everything you absolutely cannot take into the cabin on a flight in the United States.
The first category concerns knives and cutting objects. Metal knives of any type or length, box cutters, ice picks, and straight razors are strictly prohibited in the cabin. This prohibition has no exception regarding size or length—even a small Swiss Army knife will be confiscated. Disposable razors with fixed, non-removable blades are allowed in the cabin because the blade cannot be easily removed. Electric razors are also accepted without restriction. If you wish to bring knives, long-bladed scissors, or straight razors, they must be packed in your checked luggage.
The second category is weapons and replicas of weapons. As a general rule, no object that could be used as a weapon may be transported in carry-on luggage on flights to the United States. This generally includes all firearms and replicas of weapons. Furthermore, sharp objects like scissors or knives and blunt objects like baseball bats are not allowed. Firearms can be transported in checked luggage under very strict conditions: they must be declared, unloaded, and placed in a locked, hard-sided case. However, they are completely banned from the cabin, without a single exception.
The third category concerns matches and lighters. American regulations here are particularly specific and deserve special attention. Lighters are prohibited in checked luggage but accepted if carried on your person. U.S. Tourism Office A standard gas lighter can therefore be in your pocket or carry-on bag, but not in your checked suitcase. Conversely, "strike-anywhere" matches—those that can ignite by friction against any surface—are prohibited everywhere, including in the cabin. A maximum of four books of safety matches, which can only be ignited by friction against the matchbox, may only be carried in carry-on luggage.
The fourth category is flammable and explosive products. Flammable products like lighter fluid are prohibited in both the cabin and checked luggage. This absolute ban for both cabin AND checked luggage also includes fireworks, firecrackers, flares, ammunition of any caliber, and all explosive or incendiary substances. These items can under no circumstances be transported on an airplane, regardless of quantity. Confiscation is automatic and legal action may be taken depending on the nature and quantity of the products involved.
The fifth category is tools and blunt objects. Certain objects that could be used as weapons—sharp objects, knives, razors, scissors, box cutters, tools, golf clubs, ski poles—are strictly prohibited in the cabin and must therefore be placed in checked luggage. Roadtrippin Tools longer than seven centimeters, such as hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches, are also banned from carry-on luggage. Smaller tools, like a small flathead screwdriver, can theoretically be accepted, but they remain subject to the discretion of the TSA security officer at the time of screening. If in doubt, the golden rule is simple: put your tools in your checked luggage.
Finally, pyrotechnic articles, gas cylinders, and hazardous materials are prohibited on the entire flight, in both the cabin and checked luggage. Certain items, such as fireworks and gas cylinders, are strictly forbidden on a flight for safety reasons, whether in the cabin or checked bags. If you have any doubt about a specific item, the official TSA website, tsa.gov, has a "What Can I Bring?" search engine that tells you in seconds whether an item is allowed in carry-on, in checked luggage only, or is completely prohibited.
Electronic products and batteries: what the TSA requires
Electronic products and batteries constitute one of the most complex categories of TSA regulation because the rules apply differently depending on the battery type, power, and the chosen method of transport. A very common confusion is believing that anything electronic can travel indiscriminately in either carry-on or checked luggage. This is false, and the consequences can be serious.
The fundamental rule to remember is this: lithium batteries—whether lithium metal or lithium-ion—are subject to strict regulations that prohibit their transport in checked luggage in most cases. Lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage but can be carried in a plastic bag in carry-on luggage. This rule is explained by the fire hazard that lithium batteries pose in the event of a short circuit in the hold, an area difficult for the crew to access in an emergency.
This prohibition directly affects external batteries or power banks that many travelers use daily. They must absolutely be placed in carry-on luggage, never in a checked suitcase. The battery's power determines the conditions for acceptance: batteries under 100 Wh are accepted without restriction in the cabin. Between 100 and 160 Wh, they are tolerated in the cabin with prior approval from the airline. Beyond 160 Wh, they are totally prohibited on commercial flights.
Personal electronic devices—laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, portable game consoles—are allowed in the cabin without any specific quantity restriction. Everyone should charge their electronic device batteries before their flight so they can potentially prove they are functioning correctly during airport security checks. This requirement might seem trivial, but it is serious: a device that does not turn on at the security checkpoint can be refused at boarding because TSA agents cannot verify that it is an electronic device and not a modified object. Charge your devices before leaving for the airport.
Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are subject to a specific rule in the United States that regularly surprises travelers. Electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, lithium batteries (like power banks), and cordless hair straighteners/curling irons powered by butane gas cartridges or containing lithium metal or ion batteries are prohibited in checked luggage. The TSA and FAA consider these devices to be hazardous materials. However, they remain authorized in carry-on luggage. Be careful, though: if you are carrying e-liquid in your e-cigarette, the liquid content remains subject to the 100 ml rule.
Equipment with integrated batteries such as hoverboards, electric scooters, or certain medical devices are generally prohibited on flights to the United States due to the power of their batteries. These devices contain high-capacity lithium batteries that far exceed the authorized thresholds. If you need to travel with an electronic medical device like a pacemaker or insulin pump, contact your airline before departure to obtain the necessary authorizations and appropriate transport conditions.
Finally, devices with radio transmitters or GPS are not subject to any specific TSA restrictions in the cabin—but some airlines may impose usage restrictions during certain phases of the flight. The general rule is simple: whatever can be turned off must be turned off during takeoff and landing.
Sources:
- Transportation Security Administration — tsa.gov
- USA Tourism Office — office-tourisme-usa.com United States Tourism Office
- Sunsetbld.com — USA Luggage and Regulations Guide SUNSET BLD
- Federal Aviation Administration — faa.gov
Food and drinks prohibited in carry-on luggage on flights to the United States
The issue of food in carry-on luggage is one of the most complex aspects of American aviation regulation because it combines two distinct and complementary sets of rules. On one hand, TSA restrictions on what can be carried in the aircraft cabin. On the other, U.S. customs restrictions on what can enter U.S. territory. These two levels apply simultaneously and can both lead to the confiscation of your food items either at security before boarding or at customs upon your arrival.
The first level concerns the 100 ml rule applied to food. All foods with a liquid, paste-like, or gel consistency are subject to this restriction in the cabin. The TSA prohibits certain specific items on flights to or from the USA, notably paste-like foods such as pâtés, creamy cheeses, and unsealed sauces. In practice, this means your 200-gram jar of artisanal jam, your tube of mustard, your jar of tahini, or your spreadable cheese will be confiscated if their container exceeds the authorized 100 ml. Hard cheeses like Comté or Parmesan, however, pass through without issue, as they are not considered liquids or pastes.
Drinks are the most obvious case of this rule. You cannot bring a bottle of water, fruit juice, wine, or any other beverage purchased before the security checkpoint. Bottles and drink containers larger than 100 ml are systematically confiscated. The solution is simple: buy your water or drinks after the security checkpoint, in the boarding area. Drinks purchased in duty-free after the checkpoint are authorized, provided you keep them in their original sealed bag until your destination.
The second level concerns U.S. customs restrictions, independent of the TSA, regarding food products you can import into the United States. It is forbidden to import certain food products into U.S. territory, notably all fresh products such as non-sterilized cheese or charcuterie. The same applies to fruits, vegetables, and plants. These restrictions apply whether the food is in carry-on or checked luggage, meaning they will be confiscated by U.S. customs even if they passed the security checkpoint at the departure airport.
Meat products and charcuterie are particularly monitored by U.S. customs. Artisanal French charcuterie—saucisson, Bayonne ham, pâté—is generally prohibited from import unless it is industrially sterilized and vacuum-packed with a clearly identifiable label. Industrially sealed canned products can, however, be accepted in checked luggage. Any industrially vacuum-packed food, such as industrial canned goods, is authorized in checked luggage only.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are prohibited from import into the United States without exception. This rule also applies to seeds, plants, and cuttings. Artisanal jams and fruit preserves can be problematic depending on their packaging and capacity. If you wish to bring food products from France, always prioritize products that are industrially packaged, clearly labeled, and placed in checked luggage.
An important exception worth mentioning is for baby food. Travelers accompanied by young children can bring the baby food needed for the flight into the cabin without restriction. Any form of liquid food must, however, be presented separately during the screening process. Liquid formula, baby food jars, and pouches for infants are therefore allowed in reasonable quantities corresponding to the needs of the flight, even if their volume exceeds the regulated 100 ml.
In case of doubt about a specific food item, consult the Don't Pack a Pest website, dontpackapest.com, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provides an exhaustive list of food products authorized or prohibited for import into the United States.
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Conclusion: What to remember about carry-on luggage in the United States
Preparing your carry-on luggage for a flight to the United States requires special attention that many travelers underestimate. The TSA regulation is one of the strictest in the world, and its application is systematic, with no room for negotiation at the security checkpoint. Having a prohibited item confiscated at the airport is a total loss and often an unnecessary stress that could have been avoided with careful preparation.
The golden rule to remember is simple: if in doubt about an item, it is always better to put it in checked luggage rather than in carry-on. If you are looking for information on a specific item, inquire with the airline you are flying with; otherwise, you will be forced to abandon the item altogether. The official TSA website, tsa.gov, has a "What Can I Bring?" search tool that allows you to check the status of any item in seconds before your departure.
Anticipate your organization in advance, prepare your transparent liquid bag the day before, charge your electronic devices, and check the capacity of each of your bottles. These simple steps guarantee a smooth passage through security with no unpleasant surprises.
Summary table: Items prohibited in carry-on luggage in the United States
| Category | Object or product | Carry-on | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquids | Any liquid in container > 100 ml | ❌ | ✅ | 100 ml rule; 1L transparent bag required |
| Liquids | Drinks purchased before security | ❌ | ✅ | Purchase allowed in duty-free after security |
| Liquids | Prescribed liquid medication | ✅ | ✅ | Prescription to be presented at security |
| Liquids | Baby food | ✅ | ✅ | Quantity needed for flight, present separately |
| Powders | Powders in container > 340g | ❌ | ✅ | Specific USA rule since 2018 |
| Food | Creamy cheeses, pâtés, sauces | ❌ | ✅ | Considered pastes, 100 ml rule applies |
| Food | Fresh fruits and vegetables | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited from import into USA |
| Food | Non-sterilized charcuterie | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited by U.S. customs |
| Food | Sealed industrial canned goods | ❌ | ✅ | Checked luggage only; customs declaration may be required |
| Sharp objects | Knives of any size | ❌ | ✅ | Prohibited in cabin regardless of length |
| Sharp objects | Scissors with long blades | ❌ | ✅ | Rounded-tip scissors < 4 inches tolerated in cabin |
| Sharp objects | Straight razors | ❌ | ✅ | Disposable fixed-blade razors allowed in cabin |
| Sharp objects | Box cutters and scalpels | ❌ | ✅ | Prohibited in cabin without exception |
| Weapons | Firearms | ❌ | ✅ | Checked baggage only, declaration mandatory, hard case |
| Weapons | Replica weapons | ❌ | ✅ | Same rules as real weapons |
| Weapons | Baseball bats | ❌ | ✅ | Blunt objects prohibited in cabin |
| Fire | Gas lighter | ✅ | ❌ | On person or in cabin only, prohibited in checked baggage |
| Fire | Safety matches | ✅ | ❌ | Maximum 4 books, in cabin only |
| Fire | Strike-anywhere matches | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited everywhere, cabin and checked baggage |
| Fire | Lighter fluid | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited everywhere, cabin and checked baggage |
| Explosives | Fireworks, firecrackers | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited on all flights without exception |
| Explosives | Ammunition | ❌ | ✅ | Checked baggage only, strict conditions |
| Electronics | External lithium batteries | ✅ | ❌ | Power banks in cabin only, limit 100-160 Wh |
| Electronics | E-cigarettes | ✅ | ❌ | Cabin only, e-liquid subject to 100 ml rule |
| Electronics | Hoverboards / scooters | ❌ | ❌ | Battery too powerful, prohibited on all flights |
| Tools | Tools > 7 cm | ❌ | ✅ | Hammers, wrenches, long screwdrivers must be checked |
| Tools | Golf clubs | ❌ | ✅ | Blunt objects, checked baggage only |
| Gas | Gas canisters | ❌ | ❌ | Prohibited on all flights, cabin and checked baggage |
Key: ✅ Allowed ❌ Prohibited
➡️ Final tip: Consult the official tsa.gov website before every trip to check for possible regulation updates; rules can change and certain exceptions apply depending on your airline.
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