Type any item and see whether TSA allows it in your carry-on, checked bag, or not at all — with the exact rule and why.
Type an item and we match it against our TSA-grounded database, then show the ruling for the bag you asked about. Each item carries two verdicts — carry-on and checked — because many items are allowed in one but not the other (a power bank is the classic reversal: carry-on only, never checked).
Rules are grounded against the TSA “What Can I Bring?” pages, the 3-1-1 liquids rule, and the lithium-battery, sharp-object, flammable and firearm guidance, cross-checked in August 2026.
Guidance only — TSA officers have final say. The officer at the checkpoint can prohibit any item, and airline or destination-country rules may be stricter. Never travel with illegal items. Always confirm on tsa.gov before you fly.
| Item | Category | Carry-on | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel-size toiletries (3.4 oz / 100 ml or less) | Liquids & toiletries | Allowed | Allowed | Fine in carry-on under the 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all fitting in one quart-size bag. |
| Full-size shampoo, conditioner or liquid soap (over 3.4 oz) | Liquids & toiletries | Not allowed | Allowed | Any liquid, gel, cream or paste over 3.4 oz (100 ml) must go in a checked bag. In carry-on it will be surrendered at the checkpoint. |
| Sunscreen (over 3.4 oz) | Liquids & toiletries | Not allowed | Allowed | Sunscreen counts as a liquid/gel. Over 3.4 oz it must be checked; a travel-size 3.4 oz tube is fine in carry-on. |
| Toothpaste (over 3.4 oz) | Liquids & toiletries | Not allowed | Allowed | Toothpaste is a paste and follows the 3-1-1 rule. Use a travel tube for carry-on. |
| Peanut butter | Liquids & toiletries | Not allowed | Allowed | TSA treats peanut butter (and similar spreadable/pourable foods) as a liquid. Over 3.4 oz it must be checked — a famously counter-intuitive rule. |
| Perfume or cologne | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Allowed in carry-on only in containers of 3.4 oz or less. Larger bottles must be checked. |
| Stick deodorant | Liquids & toiletries | Allowed | Allowed | Solid stick deodorant is not a liquid — no size limit in carry-on. Gel or aerosol deodorant follows the 3-1-1 rule. |
| Aerosol or gel deodorant / hairspray | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Toiletry aerosols and gels follow 3-1-1 in carry-on (3.4 oz or less). Larger sizes checked; total per passenger in checked bags is capped at 70 oz. |
| Nail polish and remover | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Allowed in carry-on at 3.4 oz or less. Remover with acetone is also flammable — keep quantities small. |
| Contact lens solution | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Under 3.4 oz follows 3-1-1. Larger amounts are allowed as a medically-necessary liquid if you declare them for separate screening. |
| Baby formula, breast milk & juice | Liquids & toiletries | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed in carry-on in reasonable quantities over 3.4 oz. Remove from your bag and tell the officer for separate screening; a traveling child need not be present. |
| Water bottle (filled) | Liquids & toiletries | Not allowed | Allowed | A filled bottle over 3.4 oz is not allowed through the checkpoint. Bring an EMPTY reusable bottle and fill it past security. |
| Alcoholic beverages (mini bottles, 3.4 oz or less) | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Under 3.4 oz is fine in carry-on. In checked bags, drinks 24-70% ABV are limited to 5 liters per passenger; over 70% ABV is prohibited entirely. |
| Power bank / portable charger | Batteries & electronics | Allowed | Not allowed | MUST be in carry-on — spare lithium-ion batteries (including power banks) are prohibited in checked bags. Up to 100 Wh is unrestricted; 101-160 Wh needs airline approval. |
| Spare lithium batteries | Batteries & electronics | Allowed | Not allowed | Uninstalled (spare) lithium batteries must travel in carry-on only. Protect terminals from short-circuit. Batteries installed inside a device may be checked. |
| Laptop, tablet or phone | Batteries & electronics | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed in both. Keep valuable electronics in carry-on. Laptops usually come out of the bag at screening (unless you have PreCheck). |
| E-cigarette / vape / vape pen | Batteries & electronics | Allowed | Not allowed | Vapes and e-cigarettes must be in carry-on (they contain lithium batteries). Using or charging them on board is prohibited. |
| Scissors (blades under 4 inches) | Sharp objects | With limits | Allowed | Allowed in carry-on only if the blades are shorter than 4 inches from the pivot. Longer scissors must be checked. |
| Scissors (blades 4 inches or longer) | Sharp objects | Not allowed | Allowed | Blades 4 inches or longer from the pivot are prohibited in carry-on. Pack in checked baggage, sheathed or wrapped. |
| Pocket knife | Sharp objects | Not allowed | Allowed | All knives (except round-bladed butter knives) are prohibited in carry-on. Pack in checked baggage, securely sheathed or wrapped. |
| Utility knife / box cutter | Sharp objects | Not allowed | Allowed | Prohibited in carry-on. Must be checked and wrapped to protect handlers. Replacement blades also go in checked bags. |
| Multi-tool with a blade | Sharp objects | Not allowed | Allowed | Any multi-tool that includes a knife blade is prohibited in carry-on. Bladeless multi-tools may be allowed, but pack it checked to be safe. |
| Disposable razor / cartridge razor | Sharp objects | Allowed | Allowed | Disposable and cartridge razors are fine in carry-on. Safety-razor blades and straight razors are NOT — those must be checked. |
| Safety razor blades / straight razor | Sharp objects | Not allowed | Allowed | Loose safety-razor blades and straight razors are prohibited in carry-on. Remove blades and pack them in checked baggage. |
| Knitting needles | Sharp objects | Allowed | Allowed | Knitting and crochet needles are permitted in carry-on. Circular thread cutters or scissors with blades over 4 inches must be checked. |
| Disposable or Zippo lighter | Flammables & lighters | Allowed | Not allowed | One disposable or Zippo lighter is allowed in carry-on (on your person). In checked bags a lighter is only allowed WITHOUT fuel, or with DOT-approved case (max two). |
| Torch lighter / jet lighter | Flammables & lighters | Not allowed | Not allowed | Torch (jet-flame) lighters are prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage. |
| Lighter fluid / butane refills | Flammables & lighters | Not allowed | Not allowed | Lighter fluid and gas refills are flammable and prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags. |
| Matches (safety matches) | Flammables & lighters | Allowed | Not allowed | One book of safety (strike-on-box) matches is allowed on your person in carry-on. Strike-anywhere matches and all matches in checked bags are prohibited. |
| Aerosol spray paint / flammable aerosol | Flammables & lighters | Not allowed | Not allowed | Flammable aerosols like spray paint and some lubricants are prohibited in both. Non-flammable and toiletry aerosols follow the 3-1-1 / 70 oz rules. |
| Fireworks / sparklers | Flammables & lighters | Not allowed | Not allowed | All fireworks, sparklers and flares are prohibited in carry-on and checked baggage. |
| Firearm (pistol, rifle, shotgun) | Weapons | Not allowed | Allowed | Firearms are NEVER allowed in carry-on. In checked baggage they must be unloaded, in a locked hard-sided case, and declared to the airline at check-in. State/local laws also apply. |
| Ammunition | Weapons | Not allowed | Allowed | Prohibited in carry-on. Allowed in checked baggage in the manufacturer's box or a proper container; airlines cap quantity (often 11 lb / 5 kg). Declare with the firearm. |
| Stun gun / taser | Weapons | Not allowed | Allowed | Prohibited in carry-on. Allowed in checked baggage only if it has a safety mechanism preventing accidental discharge. Some jurisdictions ban them entirely. |
| Pepper spray / mace | Weapons | Not allowed | With limits | Prohibited in carry-on. One 4 oz container with under 2% tear gas is allowed in checked baggage; bear spray is not permitted at all. |
| Brass knuckles / martial arts weapons | Weapons | Not allowed | Allowed | Self-defense and martial-arts weapons are prohibited in carry-on. Pack in checked baggage; local laws may still forbid possession. |
| Baseball bat / sports club | Weapons | Not allowed | Allowed | Bats and similar clubs can be used as bludgeons and are prohibited in carry-on. Pack them in checked baggage. |
| Solid food & snacks (sandwich, chips, cookies) | Food | Allowed | Allowed | Solid foods are fine in carry-on. Anything spreadable, pourable or spillable over 3.4 oz counts as a liquid and must be checked. |
| Solid cheese | Food | Allowed | Allowed | Solid/hard cheese is allowed in carry-on. Soft, creamy or spreadable cheese follows the 3-1-1 liquids rule. |
| Cake, pie or baked goods | Food | Allowed | Allowed | Cakes and pies are allowed but often get extra screening. The officer may ask to inspect them separately. |
| Coffee, protein powder or spices (over 12 oz) | Food | With limits | Allowed | Powders over 12 oz (350 ml) may require separate screening and can be opened; consider packing large amounts in checked bags to speed up the line. |
| Canned or jarred food | Food | With limits | Allowed | Cans and jars with liquid over 3.4 oz are treated as liquids in carry-on and may be flagged. Larger cans should go in checked baggage. |
| Fresh fruit & vegetables | Food | Allowed | Allowed | Fine for domestic U.S. flights. International and to/from Hawaii, Puerto Rico or U.S. territories, agricultural rules may prohibit fresh produce. |
| Golf clubs | Sports & outdoor gear | Not allowed | Allowed | Golf clubs are prohibited in carry-on and must be checked, usually in a hard travel case. |
| Tennis / squash / badminton racket | Sports & outdoor gear | Allowed | Allowed | Rackets are allowed in carry-on if they fit your airline's size limits; otherwise check them. |
| Trekking / hiking / ski poles | Sports & outdoor gear | Not allowed | Allowed | Pointed poles can be used as weapons and are prohibited in carry-on. A genuine medical walking cane is allowed. |
| Hand weights / dumbbells | Sports & outdoor gear | With limits | Allowed | Often refused in carry-on as a potential bludgeon, and heavy for the bin. Best packed in checked baggage. |
| Fishing rod | Sports & outdoor gear | Allowed | Allowed | Fishing rods are allowed in carry-on if they fit size limits. Hooks and other sharp tackle should be sheathed and checked. |
| Screwdriver, wrench or pliers under 7 inches | Tools | Allowed | Allowed | Tools 7 inches or shorter are allowed in carry-on. Anything longer must be checked. |
| Wrench, pliers or hammer over 7 inches | Tools | Not allowed | Allowed | Tools longer than 7 inches (and hammers, drills, crowbars) are prohibited in carry-on and must be checked. |
| Nail clippers | Tools | Allowed | Allowed | Nail clippers, files and tweezers are allowed in carry-on. Cuticle scissors are fine if blades are under 4 inches. |
| Prescription pills / medication (solid) | Medical | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed in both. Keep meds in carry-on in case bags are delayed. Pills are not screened for identification, but labeled containers ease the process. |
| Liquid medication (over 3.4 oz) | Medical | Allowed | Allowed | Medically-necessary liquids are allowed in carry-on over 3.4 oz. Declare them to the officer for separate screening; they don't need to fit the quart bag. |
| Syringes (with medication) | Medical | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed in carry-on when accompanied by the injectable medication. Declare them at the checkpoint; a label is recommended. |
| Insulin & diabetes supplies | Medical | Allowed | Allowed | Insulin, pumps, CGMs and supplies are allowed in carry-on, including cool packs. Tell the officer you have diabetes supplies. |
| CBD oil (hemp-derived, under 0.3% THC) | Restricted & prohibited | With limits | With limits | FDA-approved or hemp-derived CBD under 0.3% THC is allowed, following the 3-1-1 rule for liquids. Officers may refer anything that appears to be marijuana to law enforcement. |
| Marijuana / cannabis (incl. medical) | Restricted & prohibited | Not allowed | Not allowed | Marijuana remains illegal under federal law and is prohibited on flights even between states where it is legal. TSA refers discovered marijuana to law enforcement. |
| Mercury thermometer or barometer | Restricted & prohibited | Not allowed | Not allowed | Devices containing mercury are generally prohibited. Digital thermometers are fine in both bags. |
| Bear spray | Restricted & prohibited | Not allowed | Not allowed | Bear spray exceeds the size and concentration limits for personal pepper spray and is prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage. |
| Umbrella | Everyday items | Allowed | Allowed | Umbrellas are allowed in both. Officers may inspect a large or unusually rigid one. |
| Camera & tripod | Everyday items | Allowed | Allowed | Cameras and tripods are allowed in both. Keep cameras and spare batteries in carry-on. |
| Aerosol sunscreen or shaving cream (travel size) | Liquids & toiletries | With limits | Allowed | Non-flammable toiletry aerosols follow 3-1-1 in carry-on (3.4 oz or less). Larger sizes go in checked bags (70 oz total cap). |
| Empty reusable water bottle | Liquids & toiletries | Allowed | Allowed | An empty bottle passes fine — fill it at a fountain after security. A bottle with liquid over 3.4 oz will be stopped. |
Spare lithium-ion batteries — including power banks — can overheat, and a fire in the cabin can be dealt with, while one in the cargo hold cannot. TSA and the FAA require all spare lithium batteries and power banks to travel in carry-on only.
In carry-on, liquids, gels, creams, pastes and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all fitting in one quart-size bag, one bag per passenger. Anything larger goes in a checked bag. Peanut butter, sunscreen and yogurt count as liquids under this rule.
It’s permitted, but only under a condition: a 3.4 oz size cap for liquids, a blade-length limit for scissors, a quantity limit for alcohol or ammunition, or a medical declaration for larger liquid medications. The item note spells out the exact condition.
Try a simpler word (for example “battery,” “knife,” or “spray”). If it still isn’t listed, apply the general rule shown and check the official TSA “What Can I Bring?” search before you fly.
The rulings are TSA (U.S.) rules for the security checkpoint you leave from. On international trips the destination country’s security and customs rules can be stricter — especially for food, plants, medication and cannabis products — so check those too.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law and prohibited on flights even between states where it’s legal. Hemp-derived CBD under 0.3% THC is allowed following the liquids rule, but officers refer anything that appears to be marijuana to law enforcement.