Airplane toiletry bag: cabin rules, 100 ml liquids and checklist

🕓 11 min read 📅 April 2026 ✈️ Travel Guide

Want to get through security without stress and without having your favorite perfume confiscated? Preparing a compliant airplane toiletry bag is simple: in the cabin, containers ≤ 100 ml gathered in one transparent 1 L bag (≈ 20 × 20 cm), one per passenger. This guide gives you the rules, a ready-to-copy standard kit, and a practical checklist.

Essential Rules: Cabin vs. Checked Baggage

In the Cabin

Only one transparent 1 L bag, re-sealable, containing all your liquids, gels, and creams in containers ≤ 100 ml. The 1 L bag and electronic devices must be easily accessible for security checks. This rule applies throughout the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and most countries worldwide — it was harmonized after 2006 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Specifically, at the security checkpoint, you must remove your 1 L bag from your carry-on luggage and place it in a separate bin. Agents visually check that each bottle complies with the limit. If a container exceeds 100 ml — even partially filled — it will be confiscated with no possibility of recovery.

In Checked Baggage

You can carry standard bottles (250 ml shampoo, 150 ml perfume, 200 ml sunscreen, etc.) with no individual volume limit. Protect the caps well with adhesive tape or individual zip bags, as pressure variation at altitude can cause poorly sealed bottles to leak. Respect the rules for flammable products and aerosols: individual containers must not exceed 500 ml, and the total per passenger is limited to 2 L.

What is Considered "Liquid"

The definition is broad: any product that flows, spreads, or sprays is considered "liquid" by airport security. This includes gels, creams, lotions, oils, toothpaste (paste), mascara, liquid foundation, nail polish, remover, perfumes, contact lens solutions, hairsprays, styling mousses, body butter, antibacterial gel — and even foods like honey, jam, hummus, or cream cheese.

However, solid products are not concerned: solid shampoo, bar soap, deodorant stick, solid balm, loose powder, compact blush, classic lipstick (non-liquid). This is a key point for optimizing your 1 L bag: each product you replace with its solid version frees up space for essential liquids.

Useful Exceptions

• Liquid medications: allowed in the cabin over 100 ml if essential during the trip (keep the prescription)
• Baby products: water, milk, baby food in necessary quantities — present them separately
• Specific diets/care: tolerated with justification if required during the flight

Next-generation Scanners

Some airports are deploying next-generation scanners, but the 100 ml limit remains the default rule. Always check your airport's instructions the day before departure.

100 ml Liquids: Understanding and Applying the Rule

The Container, Not the Content

A 150 ml bottle that is half empty is refused in the cabin. Security checks look at the capacity written on the container, not what's left inside. This is the most frequent confusion and the primary cause of confiscation at security. Use bottles ≤ 100 ml, even for micellar water or sunscreen — and carefully check the capacity indicated on the bottle, not just its apparent size.

How many items in 1 L?

As a guide, a 1 L bag can hold:

• 4 × 100 ml + 2 × 50 ml
• or 6 to 8 mini-bottles of 50/30/10 ml

The bag must close without forcing. If it bulges, reduce or transfer products to checked baggage.

Optimize Space

• Solids: solid shampoo, soap, solid deodorant do not count as liquids — they free up space
• Samples and sticks: mini-bottles 10-30 ml, multi-purpose stick (lip balm + dry areas)
• Repackaging: 100 ml graduated, labeled bottles (product name, date)

Cosmetic Aerosols

In the cabin: only if they are ≤ 100 ml and placed in the 1 L bag, with a safety cap. Be careful, many hairsprays and spray deodorants are 150 or 200 ml — too large for the cabin. Beyond 100 ml, they go in checked baggage, protecting the valve with adhesive tape to prevent accidental diffusion in the suitcase.

1 L Transparent Bag: How to Choose and Organize It

How to choose your 1 L bag

The transparent 1 L bag is a regulatory item, not just an accessory. Here are the criteria for choosing it well:

• Material: Flexible PVC or EVA, smooth and transparent walls. Agents must be able to see the contents without opening it
• Closure: Sturdy zipper that opens and closes easily. Avoid bags that are too rigid or have snap closures — the classic zipper remains the most practical
• Format: Approximately 20 × 20 cm to meet the 1 L capacity. Bags that are too large will be refused even if they are not full
• Reusable: A quality bag lasts dozens of flights. No need to buy a disposable zip bag for each trip

You can buy compliant 1 L bags at pharmacies, supermarkets, or online for a few euros. Some airlines distribute them for free at departure, but it's better to have your own to avoid improvising.

Internal Organization

• Face: Cleanser 50 ml, moisturizer 30 ml, SPF 50 ml
• Hair: Shampoo 100 ml, conditioner 50 ml, serum 30 ml
• Hygiene: Hand sanitizer 50 ml, deodorant 50 ml (or solid outside the bag)
• Makeup: Mascara (counted as liquid), concealer, mini foundation 30 ml, lip gloss

Placement in Carry-on Baggage

Store the 1 L bag at the top of your carry-on baggage so you can quickly remove it at the security checkpoint. Ideally, place it in the exterior pocket of your carry-on suitcase or in the most accessible compartment of your backpack. If you have to rummage through your baggage in front of agents, you waste time and block the line — which we all want to avoid. Also keep your electronic devices (laptop, tablet) easily accessible, as they must be removed separately.

If you are looking for a toiletry bag suitable for travel, consult our guide toiletry bag: the complete guide to find the right format. And if you are hesitating between different types of toiletry bags, our guide to toiletry bags by use will help you compare.

Scissors, Razors, and Sensitive Items: What's Allowed (or Not)

Scissors and Nail Clippers

For simplicity, put scissors and nail clippers in your checked baggage. Officially, scissors with blades less than 6 cm are tolerated in the cabin in the EU, but this tolerance varies from one security checkpoint to another — and an agent can always refuse them. To avoid unpleasant surprises, always put them in checked baggage. Tweezers and nail files (non-metallic) generally pass without problem.

Razors

• Disposable (molded head): generally accepted in the cabin
• Safety razors (removable blade): put the blade in checked baggage, the handle can travel in the cabin
• Electric: in the cabin in principle, depending on the airline's battery policy

Perfumes, Nail Polish, Removers

In the cabin: ≤ 100 ml in the 1 L bag. Beyond that: checked baggage, secured caps. Handle flammable products with care.

Needles and Syringes (Medical Use)

Allowed in the cabin if necessary during the flight (diabetes, severe allergies, etc.). Keep your prescription handy and present the equipment separately at the security checkpoint. Some airlines require a medical certificate translated into English for international flights — check your airline's conditions before departure.

Standard 1 L Kit: The Ready-to-Copy List

Face, Body, Hair (≤ 1 L total)

• Makeup remover or cleanser — 50 ml
• Face moisturizer — 30 ml
• Face sunscreen — 50 ml
• Shower gel — 100 ml
• Shampoo — 100 ml
• Conditioner — 50 ml
• Hair serum — 30 ml
• Hand sanitizer — 50 ml
• Perfume — 10 ml (travel spray)
• Toothpaste — 50 ml

Medications and Health

• Painkiller, bandages, antiseptic (stick if possible)
• Contact lenses + solution ≤ 100 ml in the cabin (otherwise in checked baggage) + case
• Prescription for any essential liquid over 100 ml

Minimal Makeup

• Mascara (counted as liquid), concealer, gloss/balm
• Foundation: mini 30 ml or compact stick
• Powder and bronzer: solids → outside the 1 L bag

Checklist: D-2, D-1, D-Day

D-2: Prepare

• Make a list of your essentials and repackage them into bottles ≤ 100 ml (label and date)
• Prepare a 1 L zip bag and a suitable travel toiletry bag
• Check your airport and airline guidelines

D-1: Check

• Test the 1L bag's seal — put large bottles in checked luggage
• Place the 1L toiletry bag at the top of your carry-on luggage
• Ensure sensitive items (scissors, safety razor) are in checked luggage

D-Day: At security control

• Take the 1L toiletry bag out of your luggage and place it in the tray
• Empty your pockets before the archway
• Keep prescriptions and baby products accessible if needed

Which toiletry bag to choose for air travel?

The ideal toiletry bag for air travel combines a compact size, good organization, and durable material. Here are the most suitable formats:

For a weekend trip, a small pouch is enough. For a longer trip, a hanging toiletry bag is ideal — it hangs up, and you can find everything easily.

As for materials, coated cotton and thick canvas are perfect for travel: durable, washable, and lightweight. For a more premium look, a leather toiletry bag ages well and better protects its contents. Discover our complete guide to toiletry bags to compare all formats.

Checked luggage stress-free: tips for checked baggage

If you check a bag, you can bring shampoos, gels, creams, and perfumes in standard sizes — no more 100 ml restrictions. But checked luggage has its own risks: pressure variations at altitude and sometimes rough handling of bags can cause leaks. Here's how to avoid them:

• Use individual zip-lock bags around each bottle. In case of a leak, the liquid stays in the bag instead of spilling onto your clothes
• Expel air from flexible bottles before closing them. At altitude, pressure decreases and the remaining air in the bottle expands, pushing liquid towards the cap
• Place liquids in the center of the suitcase, wedged and surrounded by textiles (rolled clothes). Avoid placing them against rigid sides
• Protect aerosol caps with adhesive tape and turn them upside down in a bag
• If you're bringing perfume in a glass bottle, wrap it in a thick piece of clothing or a sock — glass can break if the suitcase is thrown

For long trips where you need many products, consider travel sizes (50-100 ml) rather than standard bottles. You save space and weight without sacrificing your essentials. If you're looking for a suitable travel bag, consult our guide which travel bag to choose.

FAQ: toiletry bag and airplane

Toiletry bags

Travel sizes, durable materials, colorful designs.

Discover the collection