As of this week, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports have lifted the rule just in time for the summer holidays. This means passengers can keep liquids in their bags as they pass through security and each liquid container can be up to two litres.
Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols. Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion.
Transparent plastic bags are no longer required, and there is no maximum total volume limit for liquids. The rollout began in 2024, with Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El-Prat becoming the first Spanish airports to lift the 100ml limit. Palma de Mallorca Airport followed at the end of 2024.
How many 100ml bottles can I take in my hand luggage?
Understand the 100ml rule and how it applies today
At most airports, you can only bring liquids in containers of 100ml or less. These containers must fit inside one transparent, resealable plastic bag (no larger than 20cm x 20cm), with a total capacity of no more than 1 litre.
Does deodorant count as liquid? Spray, gel, and liquid deodorants count as liquids. If you're packing them in your carry-on, they must be packed in a clear quart-sized bag and be 3.4 ounces or less.
We recommend packing all liquids, gels, and aerosols that are over 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your checked baggage, even if they are in a secure, tamper-evident bag. Liquids more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml not in a secure, tamper-evident bag must be packed in checked baggage.
Listen to the instructions, but you'll be asked to take mobile phones, tablets and lap tops out of your case, and remove watches, belts and anything metal. Any liquids must be less than 100ML and in a plastic bag, which you should take out of your case.
Do creams, like concealer and lipstick still count as liquid? And what about lotions and gels? Unfortunately, it's not great news for the over-packers. The Department for Transport defines liquids as “including creams, lotions, oils, perfume, mascara and lip gloss”.
The new rule would allow passengers to bring one cabin bag measuring up to 100 centimeters (about 40 inches) and weighing up to seven kilos (15.4 pounds), plus an under-the-seat personal item with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 centimeters. (That's about the size of a small backpack.)
For example, many stick deodorants and antiperspirants come in sizes under 3.4 ounces, so it's fine to bring in your carry-on bag. However, roll-ons tend to be larger, meaning they must be packed in checked luggage.
Toothpaste—because it's considered a gel—falls under this regulation just like shampoo or lotion. Key points to remember: 3 – Size limit: Each bottle, tube, or stick of paste or gel must be 3.4 oz or less. 1 – Bag limit: All eligible liquids, gels, and aerosols go in one transparent, resealable plastic bag.
According to TSA regulations, nail polish is considered a liquid, so if you plan to carry it in your hand luggage, it must adhere to the 3-1-1 rule: each container should be no more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), and all liquid containers must fit within a single quart-sized, clear, resealable plastic bag.
Do you still need to put toiletries in a plastic bag in 2025?
Do you still have to put liquids in plastic bags at UK airports in 2025? Of the biggest airports, this is only the case in some security lanes at Heathrow, Stansted and Manchester. Manchester Airport Group (which also owns Stansted) told us that it has the new scanners in place on most of its security lanes.
Do you need to put liquids in a clear bag when flying?
All 3.4-ounce containers must fit into a clear one-quart bag: that's the first “1.” Only one bag is allowed per passenger (that's the last “1” in 3-1-1). Any liquids that don't meet these limitations cannot go through security and will be thrown away or confiscated.
You can bring tweezers into the cabin, and scissors with rounded ends and blades less than 6cm long. Razor blades are only allowed in the cabin if they're set in plastic. Knives with a blade not exceeding 6cm can be taken on board.
Essentially, any liquid exceeding 3.4 ounces is not permitted in your carry-on luggage and must be placed in your checked bag. The 3-1-1 Liquid Rule also applies to beverages, including water. This means you cannot bring a water bottle filled with water through TSA security.
If under 100ml and in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag, passengers are permitted to take liquids, gels and pastes through security separately from their hand baggage.
1 quart-sized, clear, resealable bag: All liquids containers must fit into a single quart-sized, clear plastic, resealable bag (such as a Ziploc bag). 1 bag per passenger: Each passenger is allowed to bring one quart-sized bag containing the allowed containers through the security checkpoint.
Makeup wipes, baby wipes and other wet wipes do not count as liquids, so can be taken through security. However, makeup is one area that can be confusing because many types of makeup are liquid-like in nature.
Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked baggage. TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.
A Safety Razor is allowed through the screening checkpoint without the blade. The blade must be removed prior to entering the screening checkpoint. TSA officers are not authorized to remove the blades from the holder.
The 311 liquid rule applies to all liquid and semi-liquid items you pack in your carry-on luggage – including gels and thicker makeup liquids. Put small items in 3.4 ounce containers in a clear quart-sized bag. You can bring one of these bags in your carry-on. The 3 1 1 rule for makeup is the same.
