How Big Is A Quart Size Bag? TSA Quart Size Bag Dimensions

Having your liquids properly presented at airport security in a TSA-approved quart-sized bag will not only make your passage through security quicker but will also help those passengers behind you in the line.

There is little that is more frustrating than being in a hurry to catch a flight, only to be stuck behind some idiot in the security line who has toiletries in their carry on bag that are all over the place rather than being all in one, easy to inspect, carry on liquids bag. Don’t be that person!

In this article we will explain the quart-sized bag rules, how big is a quart size bag and how strict is the TSA quart size bag rule.

Which Quart Size Liquids Bag Should You Use? 1

Contents

What is the purpose of a ziplock bag for air travel?

Quart-sized bags are designed to allow airport security staff to easily see what liquids you are carrying in your hand luggage without having to go through all of the items in your bag to find them. It also allows them to be easily checked separately during the screening process.

This was one of the security features that was added after 9/11, even though liquids actually had nothing to do with that.

However, the added advantage is that, should one of the bottles of liquids leak, it will not go over the other contents of your carry on bag, which can happen when they are all separate.

How big is a quart sized bag

The description “quart size” is rather odd to be honest because how can anyone tell what the maximum capacity of a bag for liquids actually is? After all, no one is going to pour liquid into it to see if it holds a quart.

Quart size bag vs sandwich bag. If it is just a flat bag, such as a 1 quart size ziploc bag (the sort you may put sandwiches in) then it doesn’t really have a depth although the TSA state it should be no larger than 9 x 6 inches.

A more rigid plastic bag does have three dimensions, so they are at least easier to try and calculate the volume.

A quart is the equivalent of 57.75 cubic inches.

The TSA does not actually specify exactly what the TSA liquid bag dimensions are. They do state that a carry on liquids bag should be no larger than 9 inches by 6 inches but that really only applies to a flat sandwich-type bag as in theory that would be 54 cubic inches (0.935 of a quart).

A more rigid bag that was say 2 inches deep could only be 7 inches wide by 4 inches high to keep below the 1-quart volume.

The dimensions of a quart size bag in cm is approximately 23cm x 15cm.

Important: Only one TSA liquids bag is permitted per passenger in carry on.

The passenger below asked the TSA on their #AskTSA Twitter service about their liquids bag which was 9.5 inches by 5.25 inches. The TSA advised that it was an acceptable size!

How strict is the quart size bag rule?

For example how about a quart vs gallon bag?

Well you certainly couldn’t take a gallon size plastic bag, fill it with containers of liquid and expect to take it through airport security in your carry on baggage.

However, a security agent is unlikely to disallow it if it had only 2-3 containers of liquid that were no larger than 3.4 ounces in it.

What should you put in a quart size bag for liquids?

Firstly, no liquid, nor any of the items listed below, should be larger than 3.4 ounces (100ml). That is the size of the container not the amount of liquid in it. So for example you can’t take a 200ml bottle with 100ml of liquid in it.

This includes the following:

all drinks, including bottled water
sprays, which include shaving foam, hairspray and deodorants and other small aerosols
cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, sun lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip gloss
pastes, including toothpaste
gels, which include shaving gel, hair gel and shower gel
contact lens solutions
all liquid or even semi-liquid foods, which includes soup, honey, syrups, preserves in liquid etc
any other solutions and items that have a similar consistency to the above

Are there any exceptions?

There are a few exceptions to this liquid size restriction. For full details of the exceptions, you can read my post What liquids do not go in a liquids quart bag?

You may take liquid containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100ml) through airport security if they are:

Essential medication

You can take your prescribed liquid medication in your carry on without putting it into the quart size bag with your other liquids. Ideally you should have a letter from your doctor or similar medical professional to show you need it but this probably won’t be required, particularly if you are flying within the US.

Flying with babies or young children

You can take a number of things that are liquids or considered liquids for security purposes if you are traveling with a baby. These include:

made up baby formula
expressed mother’s breast milk
bottled/sterilized water to make baby formula or give to the baby as water
juice
baby food in jars
baby lotion
diaper rash cream

You must have the baby with you in order to qualify for this exception, which may sound obvious but it just means that you can’t carry it for someone to your destination. It is only for use on the flight and until you get to your ultimate destination.

Although these do not have to fit into the quart-size resealable plastic bag, it is probably a good idea to keep them in a separate sealed bag anyway in case of any spillage of course.

Live Fish

If you are taking your goldfish on vacation with you then you will be pleased to hear that when transporting live fish in your carry on they can be in more than 3.4 ounces of water and do not need to go in a liquids bag.

Frozen liquids

This is an odd one. You might think that obviously a frozen liquid is still a liquid but strangely that is not necessarily the case when it comes to airport security.

If you wish to take something with you on the aircraft that needs to be kept cold or chilled so you want to pack it with ice or an ice pack then you will be allowed to bring this through the security, and not in a quart bag, provided none of it has melted. It still needs to go through the screening process though.

If it is completely frozen then it will be allowed but if any of it has melted, so that there is some water in liquid form then it will not.

Can you use freezer bags for airport security?

Provided they are clear, resealable and the capacity is no larger than one quart, you can use a freezer bag to put your liquids in when you pass through airport security.

TSA approved quart sized bags:

Actually, that is a little untruthful. The TSA does not actually endorse or approve any quart sized bags but the description of them being a TSA-approved clear bag is generally accepted as their dimensions are checked to be equal to or less than 1 quart.

You will not have a problem taking any of these through airport security with your liquids in them.

Clear TSA Approved 3-1-1 Travel Toiletry Bag

TSA APPROVED BAG – Large Airline Travel 1-quart clear plastic bag case for men and women. Due to it being a zipper bag it is more durable than inferior zip-top bags.
IDEAL – You won’t have to worry about getting through airport security checks with the EzPacking 1-quart clear PVC pouch and you’ll be able to carry on your favorite toiletries in their purchased containers or set.
VERSATILE – You can conveniently carry liquids, shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, perfume, cosmetics, cologne, medicine or pills of your choosing. This bag is the perfect size for small storage when traveling.
EASY TO CLEAN – A large opening makes it easy to pack, wash and clean EzPacking vinyl 1-quart rectangular bags. Bag measures a tidy 7.2 x 5.5 x 2.5 Inches.
LIFETIME WARRANTY: Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! Should you have any issues with our travel bag, just let us know and receive a prompt replacement or refund.

Check the price of EzPacking Travel Toiletry bag on Amazon

Squeezable Travel Bottles Containers TSA Approved with Clear Quartz Size Bag

Stylish Design: TSA carry on 3-1-1 approved clear high quality easy to clean bag
Clear Toiletry Bag Size: 1 Quart, TSA Approved, Durable and fits a lot in a small bag. Complete with an upgraded zipper
4*2 oz refillable plastic squeeze bottles, 1*2oz mini spray bottles, 2*0.33 ounce cream jars and one tablespoon, pipette and a funnel.

Check the price of the Clear Travel Toiletry Bag with accessories on Amazon

Globegear ziplock bag with TSA approved refillable bottles

LEAK PROOF AIRLINE TRAVEL BOTTLES. The silicone travel bottles are soft. They expand and contract with the pressure changes, therefore, they won’t end up blowing out or cracking the lid.
EASY TO SQUEEZE OUT. The top unscrews to allow you to fill the silicone travel bottles. The screw on lid and dispensing hole provide a strong seal. They still dispense the liquid easily when you press the soft sides.
EASILY IDENTIFY CONTENTS. The silicone travel bottles have a ring that is pre-labeled which means you do not need to write on the silicone toiletry bottles to show what is inside. You can easily change what you store inside.
Traveling bottles are not suitable for Hair Serums, Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Caustic, Corrosive or Flammable products.
Clear quart size bag

Check the price of the Globegear toiletry bag and bottles on Amazon

Liquid limits in carry on could be scrapped along with quart bags once 3D scanners are in full operation at airports.

Summary

A TSA approved quart-size bag for air travel is intended to hold any liquids you might have in your carry on luggage.

The bag must be no larger than one quart in volume (1 liter in Europe) and must be clear (see-through) and resealable.

A TSA toiletry bag is an essential item as they are required by airport security worldwide. The max liquid on plane in carry on is limited to 3.4 ounces each.

FAQs

Does deodorant have to go in the quart size bag?

Almost all deodorants are classed as being liquids (aerosols, roll-on, gel etc) so will have to be no larger than 3.4 fluid ounces (100 milliliters) and go in the quart size bag. Solid “stick” deodorant is not considered a liquid so can stay in your carry on bag.

How many quart size bags can I carry on?

Each passenger can take only one quart size bag containing liquids through the airport security checkpoint.

What is a quart size bag for airport security?

To pass through airport security, all liquids must be packed in a single clear plastic resealable bag, that has a volume of no larger than one quart. The liquids contained in it must be no larger than 3.4 fluid ounces (100 milliliters).

How strict is TSA with quart size bags?

TSA Security agents do not appear to try to work out the volume of a liquids bag to see if it falls within the TSA 311 bag size rules, so as long as you are close to 1 quart you should be ok.

Is a quart size bag a sandwich bag?

Resealable sandwich bags can be used to put your liquids in to go through the airport security checkpoint. Most sandwich bags will fall within the TSA quart size bag dimensions of 9″ x 6″.