Understanding TSA Liquid Rules: What Changed in 2025
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has made updates to its liquid rules that travelers need to understand before heading to the airport. These rules apply to carry-on bags and checked baggage differently, and knowing the distinctions can save time and frustration at security checkpoints. The TSA's liquid restrictions have been in place for many years as a security measure, but 2025 brings clarifications and adjustments to how these rules are applied.
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The basic liquid rule limits containers to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) each, and all containers must fit inside a single quart-sized clear plastic bag. However, the 2025 updates provide more detailed guidance about what counts as a liquid and how exceptions are handled. The TSA has also expanded its list of materials that fall under liquid restrictions, including gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols. This means that items like peanut butter, honey, and hair gel are subject to the same restrictions as traditional liquids like shampoo and toothpaste.
Understanding these rules matters because prohibited items will be confiscated at security checkpoints, and TSA officers have the final say on whether an item meets liquid restrictions. The updates also reflect feedback from travelers and airports about common confusion points. For example, the TSA clarified rules around frozen items, powders, and medications, which have been sources of questions at checkpoints across the country.
Practical takeaway: Before packing, categorize all toiletries and food items into liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols. Check each item's consistency—if it moves around in its container, it likely counts as a liquid.
Carry-On Bag Liquid Restrictions Explained
When traveling with carry-on luggage, the TSA's liquid rules are much stricter than for checked bags. Each liquid container must not exceed 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), and every single liquid container must fit into one clear plastic bag that is approximately 1 quart in size. This is often called the 3-1-1 rule: 3.4 ounces per container, 1 bag total, and 1 bag per person. This applies to shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cologne, perfume, contact lens solution, and most other personal care items you might pack.
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The 2025 updates clarified which items are considered liquids for purposes of carry-on restrictions. The TSA now provides more specific examples: yogurt, peanut butter, jam, honey, and hummus all count as liquids because of their consistency. Soft cheeses, butter, and sour cream also fall into this category. This means travelers cannot bring these food items through security in carry-on bags, even in small amounts. However, solid foods like cheese blocks, crackers, sandwiches, and whole fruits remain allowed.
The TSA introduced a new exception in 2025 for certain medications and medical liquids. Passengers with prescriptions, insulin, or other medically necessary liquids may bring these in quantities larger than 3.4 ounces in their carry-on bags. However, these items must be declared to TSA officers during screening, and the containers must remain separate from the quart-sized bag. Infant formula and breast milk also receive special consideration and do not need to follow the 3-1-1 rule if a baby is traveling.
The clear plastic bag requirement remains unchanged but gained additional emphasis in 2025. TSA officers must be able to see all liquid containers at a glance. Common acceptable bags include one-gallon freezer bags or purpose-made TSA-approved bags. The bag itself must be removed during security screening, which is why keeping it easily accessible in your carry-on is wise.
Practical takeaway: Pack all carry-on liquids in a clear quart-sized bag and place it at the top of your carry-on luggage before arriving at security. This speeds up the screening process since TSA officers can quickly remove and inspect it without searching through your entire bag.
Checked Baggage Liquid Rules and Updates
Checked baggage has significantly more lenient liquid rules compared to carry-on luggage. Items in checked bags are not subject to the same 3.4-ounce limit, which makes checked bags the appropriate place for larger bottles of shampoo, body wash, lotion, and other liquids. In 2025, the TSA reaffirmed that checked bags can contain any quantity of most household liquids, provided they are properly contained and packed safely. This means you can pack full-sized bottles of your regular toiletries without concern about quantity restrictions.
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However, certain dangerous goods remain prohibited in checked bags under federal aviation regulations, which are separate from TSA screening rules. These prohibited items include flammable liquids, aerosols with flammable propellants (like some spray deodorants), and certain cleaning products. The 2025 update provided clearer guidance distinguishing between items prohibited entirely and items that have different rules in checked versus carry-on bags. For example, certain aerosols are permitted in checked bags in limited quantities, while the same product would be prohibited in carry-on luggage.
Alcoholic beverages fall into a special category for checked bags. Passengers may pack alcohol in checked luggage if it is unopened, in its original container, and adheres to quantity limits set by the airline. Duty-free alcohol purchased after security also has specific rules about where it must be transported. The 2025 clarifications addressed confusion about whether partially consumed bottles of alcohol could be checked, stating that opened bottles are generally not permitted.
The TSA also clarified rules around gels and pastes in checked bags, which do not have the same restrictions as carry-on bags. Full-sized containers of toothpaste, gel deodorant, hair styling products, and similar items can go in checked baggage without limitation. This makes checked bags ideal for people who prefer their regular-sized products and are willing to check a bag.
Practical takeaway: If you have a flight longer than a few hours and want to bring full-sized toiletries, consider checking a bag. The savings in packing restrictions often outweigh the baggage fee, and you'll have all your preferred products available at your destination.
Common Liquid Items and Their 2025 Classifications
One of the most confusing aspects of TSA liquid rules involves determining which everyday items count as liquids. The 2025 update included an expanded reference guide of common items with their classifications. Understanding these classifications prevents frustration at security checkpoints and helps with packing decisions.
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Toiletries have clear classifications under 2025 rules. Toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, cologne, perfume, lotion, sunscreen, and deodorant (aerosol and gel) all count as liquids or aerosols and must follow carry-on restrictions. Solid deodorant sticks, dry shampoo powder, and solid soap bars do not count as liquids. Lip balm, solid lipstick, and powder makeup products are generally permitted in carry-on bags without restriction. Eye drops and contact lens solution are classified as liquids and must follow the 3.4-ounce rule in carry-on bags.
Food items received increased attention in the 2025 update. The following items count as liquids in carry-on bags: peanut butter, nutella, honey, jam, jelly, yogurt, pudding, soft cheese, hummus, guacamole, salsa, and marinara sauce. Solid foods including whole fruits, vegetables, cheese blocks, sandwiches, crackers, cookies, and wrapped candy do not count as liquids. The key distinction is whether the item flows or spreads—if it moves around in its container, it is classified as a liquid.
Medication rules received significant clarification in 2025. Liquid medications, including cough syrup, liquid antibiotics, and insulin, do not follow the 3.4-ounce rule and can be brought in larger quantities in carry-on bags if medically necessary. However, these items must be declared to TSA officers and packed separately from the quart-sized bag. Solid medications, including pills and capsules, have no restrictions in either carry-on or checked bags.
Other common items clarified in 2025 include: frozen items (not permitted in carry-on bags if they are liquid when thawed), hair gel (classified as