What can you pack in your carry on luggage

Priority items: passport, boarding pass and a photocopy in a clear sleeve; a fully charged phone with wall charger; a power bank up to 100 Wh stowed in cabin baggage (batteries 100–160 Wh require airline approval; >160 Wh prohibited); prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor’s note; a transparent liquids pouch with containers ≤100 ml (3.4 fl oz) each and total volume ≤1 L, or a sealed duty-free bag purchased after security.

Electronics and batteries: laptop, tablet and camera should be placed for easy removal during screening; spare lithium-ion batteries must remain in cabin baggage with terminals protected – do not place spare cells in checked items. Cover exposed terminals and isolate loose cells.

Sharp items and personal care: cartridge razors and disposable razors are usually allowed; straight razors and loose razor blades are not. Small scissors with blades under 4 inches are commonly accepted. Prefer solid shampoo bars, a travel toothbrush and a compact toiletry kit to stay within liquid limits. Solid snacks are permitted; sauces, soups and gels must follow the liquids rule.

Size, weight and prohibited goods: common cabin dimensions hover around 55 × 40 × 20 cm with weight allowances often between 7–10 kg – verify exact limits with the airline. Prohibited items include flammable aerosols, most tools and sporting weapons, fireworks and most self-defense sprays. Keep valuables (jewelry, large sums of cash, irreplaceable documents) in cabin baggage only.

Special cases and practical tips: baby formula, milk and medication exceeding 100 ml are generally allowed but should be declared at security. Gate-checking bulky items like strollers is typically free; duty-free liquids are acceptable if the tamper-evident seal remains intact and connecting-flight security policies permit carriage.

Liquids and gels: 3-1-1 rule, travel-size tips and clear bag packing

Limit each liquid or gel container to 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) or less and stow all containers inside a single clear quart-size resealable plastic bag; one bag allowed per passenger and it must be removed separately during screening.

Quick rules and practical tips

Use bottles labeled 100 ml / 3.4 fl oz; leave ~1 cm headspace for pressure changes; secure lids with tape or heat-shrink bands; place the clear resealable bag in an outer pocket or top compartment for fast removal at the checkpoint. Decant with a small funnel and label bottles with contents and date. Choose silicone travel bottles with measurement marks and locking caps to reduce leakage risk.

Prefer solid alternatives where possible: shampoo and conditioner bars, solid sunscreen sticks, deodorant solids and toothpaste tablets eliminate liquid limits and simplify screening.

Exceptions, documentation and duty-free handling

Medically necessary liquids (prescription medications, insulin, saline for medical devices) may exceed 100 ml but must be declared and presented separately for inspection; carry prescriptions or a clinician’s note when available. Baby formula and breast milk are permitted in reasonable quantities and require declaration. Duty-free liquids bought beyond security are permitted if sealed in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt visible; connecting-flight rules can vary, so retain the sealed bag and receipt until reaching the destination.

Extra measures: store the resealable quart bag inside a secondary zip pouch to contain possible leaks; fill bottles no more than 95% full; consolidate grooming items into multifunction formulas (leave-on serums, solid sun sticks) to reduce the number of liquid containers and speed up screening.

Reference: which of these does not contain a structural protein

Medication, medical equipment and documentation for security checks

Keep prescription medicines in original pharmacy‑labelled containers and present printed prescriptions plus a concise physician’s letter at the security checkpoint; store them in cabin baggage for immediate access.

Documentation – exact items to present

Mandatory: current pharmacy label, prescription name and dose, prescriber’s contact number. Recommended: one-page physician statement (diagnosis not required; state need for medication/equipment and any special handling), translated summary in local language when travelling internationally, and digital copies stored in the phone and cloud for backup.

For syringes/needles: include prescription or pharmacy invoice showing medical necessity. For oxygen or POC (portable oxygen concentrator): carry the prescribing physician’s order and the device manufacturer’s user manual; many airlines require advance approval – initiate communication at least 72 hours before departure.

Devices, batteries and security procedures

Remove medical devices from protective cases when requested and place them in separate screening trays; devices with internal batteries (insulin pumps, implanted devices) may be kept on the body but may require additional inspection or swabbing. Request private screening if sterility or medical privacy is a concern.

Battery limits (IATA/FAA guidance): lithium‑ion cells up to 100 Wh are permitted in the cabin without airline approval; 100–160 Wh require airline approval and are commonly limited to two spare batteries; >160 Wh are prohibited in passenger aircraft. Lithium‑metal cells with >2 g lithium content are not permitted as spares. Always place spare batteries in protective pouches or original packaging, isolate terminals with tape or terminal covers, and stow spares in cabin baggage.

For CPAP and other assistive devices: confirm FAA approval for in‑flight use where applicable, test battery runtime against flight duration plus 50% reserve, label device with passenger name and device model, and carry printed verification of prescription along with the instruction manual.

Organize a compact medical kit with sealed compartments, duplicate documentation (paper + electronic), and clearly labelled containers; for portable storage solutions at home before departure consult best luggage racks for home to keep supplies orderly and accessible.

Electronics, batteries and chargers: placement, spare battery limits and screening

Store spare lithium batteries and power banks in cabin baggage only; spares are prohibited in checked bags.

Quick limits

Lithium‑ion (rechargeable): up to 100 Wh per battery allowed in cabin without airline approval. Batteries between 100–160 Wh require airline approval and are limited to two spare units per passenger. Batteries over 160 Wh are not permitted on passenger aircraft.

Lithium‑metal (non‑rechargeable): permitted in cabin when lithium content does not exceed 2 g per cell and 5 g per battery.

Placement, protection and screening

Keep devices with installed batteries in main compartments or a personal item, but position laptops and large tablets near the top for easy removal at security unless cleared by a trusted‑traveler program. Spare batteries must have terminals insulated (electrical tape, terminal caps) or remain in original manufacturer packaging or individual plastic pouches to prevent short circuits.

Power banks are classified as spare batteries and must be kept in cabin baggage; display watt‑hour ratings when present, since airlines may refuse unlabelled units. Do not place spare batteries in checked bags. Damaged, swollen or modified batteries are prohibited from transport; hand such items to a screening officer for safe disposal or guidance.

Screening checklist: be ready to remove laptops/tablets for X‑ray (unless an expedited lane applies), present power banks separately if requested, and declare batteries above 100 Wh to airline staff. Protect chargers and cords in a small pouch; tape exposed terminals and use insulated sleeves for spares. Limit the number of spare batteries to the minimum required, note Wh or lithium content on each unit, and check airline or national regulator rules before departure. For easier movement of a heavy cabin bag consider best luggage cart for carseat.

Food, baby food and duty-free purchases: packing, declaration and international limits

Declare all food items and baby provisions at border control and security screening; non-declared agricultural goods frequently result in seizure and fines.

• General rules for food items

  • Commercially sealed, vacuum-packed or factory-labelled products are accepted more often than homemade goods.
  • Fresh meat, dairy, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables are widely prohibited when arriving from non-approved countries; avoid transporting such items unless originating from or transiting within approved zones.
  • Always present food separately at security and customs counters for inspection.

• Baby food, formula and breast milk

  • Baby formula, expressed breast milk and baby food are permitted in quantities exceeding standard liquid limits for security screening but require declaration to security officers.
  • Preparation for screening: place jars, bottles and pouches in a clearly labelled bag and request manual inspection or alternate screening if X-ray is declined for infant nutrition items.
  • Bring proof of infant need when possible (boarding pass or child’s passport) to speed inspection and avoid delays.

• Duty-free liquids and transfers

  • Duty-free alcohol and perfume purchased airside must remain sealed in tamper-evident bags with the original receipt visible; removal of the receipt or unsealing before the final security checkpoint risks confiscation.
  • When connecting through an intermediate country, verify whether the transfer requires re-screening – if so, sealed duty-free liquids may be subject to the same liquid restrictions as other cabin items.
  • Keep all receipts and purchase documentation accessible for customs declaration on arrival.

• Typical duty-free allowances (illustrative examples)

  • European Union (arrivals from non-EU): 1 litre spirits >22% ABV OR 2 litres fortified wine OR 4 litres still wine OR 16 litres beer; tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco. Minimum age generally 17 or older depending on member state.
  • United States (returning residents): commonly 1 litre alcohol duty-free and tobacco limits roughly 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars; age limit 21 for alcohol.
  • Australia (strict biosecurity): most fresh fruits, meats, dairy and seeds prohibited; small duty-free alcohol allowance (example: 2.25 litres) and limited tobacco allowance (example: 25 cigarettes) – agricultural declaration mandatory.
  • These examples represent common rules; individual countries apply different amounts, age thresholds and product lists.

• Declaration & inspection workflow

  1. Before security: segregate infant nutrition and duty-free UE items into separate, clearly labelled bags.
  2. At security: inform officers about infant food and larger liquid containers; request manual inspection where available.
  3. At arrival customs: declare all food and agricultural products on the landing card or electronic form and present receipts for duty-free purchases if requested.

• Documentation, labelling and receipts

  • Keep commercial packaging and purchase invoices for duty-free goods; receipts dated within 48 hours of boarding strengthen proof of legitimate airside purchase.
  • Label baby food containers with contents and date opened where feasible; unopened factory seals reduce the likelihood of seizure.

• Penalties and enforcement

  • Penalties range from seizure and disinfecting/destruction to monetary fines and, in severe breaches, prosecution; fines escalate when undeclared or prohibited animal/plant products are involved.
  • Border officers apply strict biosecurity measures in high-risk countries; treating declarations as mandatory avoids delays and penalties.

Sharp items, tools and sporting gear – permitted items and safe transport

Store blades, large hand tools and rigid sports equipment inside checked baggage; only small grooming scissors (blades ≤4 in / ≤10.2 cm measured from pivot), tweezers, nail clippers and disposable cartridge razors are allowed in cabin baggage.

Knives: folding knives, pocketknives and fixed blades are prohibited in cabin baggage and must be stowed in checked baggage with blade sheaths or inside a durable case. Scissors with blades longer than 4 in / 10.2 cm are also prohibited in cabin areas.

Razors and blades: safety razors with removable blades, loose razor blades and straight razors must not be carried in cabin baggage; disposable cartridge razors and electric shavers are permitted. Keep replacement blades secured inside checked baggage in original packaging.

Tools: individual hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches) exceeding 7 in / 17.8 cm measured end-to-end are prohibited from cabin areas and must travel checked. Power tools, fuel-operated equipment and tool batteries require airline approval and typically belong in checked consignments after removing fuel and securing moving parts.

Sporting equipment: bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, ski poles, pool cues, fishing spears, lacrosse sticks and similar long or rigid items are not permitted in cabin areas. Small sports items such as tennis balls, yoga mats, swim fins, goggles and compact inflatable gear are acceptable in cabin baggage when they meet size limits.

Packing for the hold: sheath blades, immobilize moving parts with tape or locks, pad sharp tips with foam and place items inside a hard-sided case or wrap with heavy-duty material. Label cases as sports equipment if checked and declare oversize or overweight items to the airline at booking or check-in to avoid surcharge surprises.

Security screening and international rules: present checked sports gear for inspection when requested; items exceeding cabin-length or tool-size limits will be seized at the checkpoint. Regulations vary by country and airline–check departure and arrival authority lists and airline policy for prohibited items, ammunition, spearheads and import/export restrictions before travel.