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 more frustrating than being in a hurry to catch a flight and only being stuck behind some idiot in the security line who has toiletries all over their carry-on bag rather than 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, including how big a quart-sized bag is and how strict the TSA quart-sized bag rule is.

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 added after 9/11, even though liquids had nothing to do with that.

However, the added advantage is that if one of the bottles of liquids leaks, 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. How can anyone tell the maximum capacity of a bag for liquids? After all, no one will 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 ziplock bag (the sort you may put sandwiches in), then it doesn’t really have a depth, although the TSA states it should be no larger than 9 x 6 inches.

A more rigid plastic bag does have three dimensions, so it is at least easier to calculate the volume.

A quart is the equivalent of 57.75 cubic inches.

The TSA does not specify the dimensions of a carry-on liquid bag. They state that a carry-on liquid 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, 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 a 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 contains only 2-3 containers of liquid no larger than 3.4 ounces.

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 several 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

This exception may sound obvious, but you must have the baby with you to qualify for it. It just means that you can’t carry it for someone to your destination. It is only for use on the flight until you reach your 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.

Live Fish

If you are taking your goldfish on vacation with you, 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 liquid 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, you will be allowed to bring this through security, not in a quart bag, provided none of it has melted. However, the screening process still needs to go through.

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

Can you use freezer bags for airport security?

Provided they are clear, resealable, and have a capacity of no larger than one quart, you can store your liquids in a freezer bag when you pass through airport security.

TSA approved quart sized bags:

Actually, that is a little untruthful. The TSA does not endorse or approve any quart-sized bags, but their description as 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 its being a zippered bag, it is more durable than inferior zip-top bags.
IDEAL—With the EzPacking 1-quart clear PVC pouch, you won’t have to worry about getting through airport security checks, and you’ll be able to carry on your favorite toiletries in their purchased containers or sets.
VERSATILE—This bag conveniently holds liquids, such as shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, perfume, cosmetics, cologne, medicine or pills. It is also 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. The 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 you will receive a prompt replacement or refund.

Check the price of the 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 pressure changes, so they won’t blow out or crack 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 unsuitable 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 fully operational 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), clear (see-through), and resealable.

A TSA toiletry bag is an essential item, as airport security worldwide requires them. The maximum liquid allowed on a plane in carry-on is 3.4 ounces each.

FAQs

Does deodorant have to go in the quart size bag?

Almost all deodorants are classified as liquids (aerosols, roll-on, gel, etc.), so they must be no larger than 3.4 fluid ounces (100 milliliters) and go in a quart-size bag. Solid “stick” deodorant is not considered a liquid, so it 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″.