How to Pack Toiletries for Air Travel

Toiletry products can be very messy things if they spill so the last thing you want is them leaking all over your clothes and other things in your baggage.

There are things you can do to not only ensure that your toiletries arrive at your destination without spilling everywhere but also how you can get around the carry on liquid rules by taking solid equivalents or decanting shampoo etc into travel-size bottles.

Hopefully you will find a few useful tips here to help you pack toiletries safely and also not get your toiletries confiscated at the security checkpoint.

How to Pack Carry on Toiletries

You cannot just scatter your toiletries around in your carry on bag and expect to get through the TSA security checkpoint at the airport without experiencing delays and problems.

Any toiletry items that are considered a liquid under the TSA liquid rules must be placed in a one quart size bag. This is basically a toiletry bag that is both transparent and resealable plastic bag. Your liquid toiletries must go in this together with any other liquids you may be carrying.

However, you cannot pack liquid toiletries that are in a container that is larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) as they are not permitted through airport security at all. Note that it is the size of the container, not the amount of liquid it contains, that is important.

What this means is that you cannot take a 7-ounce bottle that only contains 3.4 ounces of liquid as this would be confiscated by security agents.

You can carry as many liquid toiletries and other liquid items that are below this size as you can pack in your quart-size bag. Only one quart-size bag containing liquids is permitted per passenger.

Toiletries that must go in a liquids bag

The following is a list of the most common toiletry items that are considered to be a liquid so must go in a liquids bag. It is not an exhaustive list so if you have any other toiletries which can either be poured or spread then they will probably also fall within the liquids rule and will also need to go in the quart-size bag.

• Deodorant/antiperspirant – this includes aerosols, roll-on and spray but not solid stick types
• Shampoo
• Dry shampoo
• Face wash
• Body spray
• Body wash
• Shaving cream
• Body lotion
• Perfume
• Cologne
• Suncream
• Mascara

Read my post 9 things considered a liquid when flying that really aren’t!

Toiletries that can stay in your carry on bag

You can take solid versions of most toiletries in your carry on bag without removing them or placing them in a liquids bag including:

• Lip balm
• Wet wipes
• Solid deodorant/antiperspirant
• Solid bar soap
• Solid conditioner bars
• Solid shampoo bar
• Any other solid toiletries

How can you take full sized bottles of toiletries in carry on bags?

As you now know you cannot pack full size toiletries in your carry on bag and take them through airport security. So if that is the case, how can you actually take larger bottles of liquid toiletries on a plane?

The answer is, if you are traveling from a reasonably large airport that has stores in the lounge area after passing through the security checkpoint, you can purchase toiletries from there. Those stores are not limited to simply selling travel size products but can also sell regular size too.

Any size of toiletry you can buy in one of these stores can be taken on board the aircraft with you in your carry on bag.

How to pack toiletries in checked luggage

The checked baggage liquid toiletry rules

Firstly, the regulations on what toiletries you can pack in your checked bag are must less restrictive than those that apply to toiletries and liquids in carry on bags.

The 3.4 ounce rule does not apply to liquids in checked bags so any liquids, including toiletries, can be larger full-size versions and not travel sizes. The one restriction that applies to aerosol toiletries is that the container cannot be larger than 18 ounces and the total no more than 70 ounces.

This is the rule on the TSA website:

“The FAA limits the total amount of restricted medicinal and toiletry articles, including aerosols, in checked baggage. The total aggregate quantity per person cannot exceed 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2 L (68 fluid ounces). The capacity of each container must not exceed 0.5 kg (18 ounces) or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces). See the FAA regulations for more information.”

Also, liquid toiletries do not have to go in a zip-lock quart bag so you can just pack them in your normal toiletries bag if you wish.

Don’t worry about your aerosols as they will not explode in checked bags.

See my post How much liquid can you take on a plane in checked baggage? for full details.

How to pack your toiletries

The most important thing to prevent when you pack liquid toiletries is that the containers do not get squashed and the toiletries leak out.

You can try and stop this by stuffing them into shoes and other items that will protect them.

You can also pack toiletries in a rigid toiletry bag with your other toiletries kit. This will offer them some protection and also protect items outside of the toiletry bag as the bag will be quite leakproof.

Resealable sandwich bags make a great deal of sense to use too. Pack each toiletry item that could leak in individual bags, so should one leak it will not damage anything else in your bag.

Toiletries packing tips

Buy travel-size toiletries

Some toiletry manufacturers are aware of the TSA liquid rules so manufacture small bottle versions of their products in what is referred to as travel sized bottles. These are 3.4 ounces or less in size so are permitted in carry on luggage (in your liquids bag). Hunt them out in your local store or online.

Buy refillable bottles

Decant each of your favorite liquid toiletry products into an individual refillable bottle that is designed for air travel and as they (normally) hold 3 ounces each. This way you should be able to take enough for a week-long trip if traveling with carry on only.

You can purchase them together with a TSA approved toiletry bag on Amazon here – TSA Approved Travel Bottles with TSA Approved Toiletry Bag

Buy solid equivalent toiletries

Since there are no restrictions on the size of solid toiletries you can take on a plane it makes sense to consider substituting your normal liquid toiletries if going on a trip, particularly if you are only taking hand luggage.

They are also easier to pack too and can save space, particularly if you dispose of any unnecessary packaging.

As well as soap there is a whole range of solid toiletries you can buy, some of which I had never heard of before researching this article, such as:

• Solid stick deodorant – Dove Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick (for women) or Degree Deodorant Stick (for men)
• Solid shampoo – Solid Shampoo Bar And Conditioner Effect Hair Soap
• Body butter – NATUREWELL Shea Body Butter Variety Pack
• Perfume – Jasmine & Clary Sage Fragrance Solid Perfume by Roots Rose Radish
• Cologne – Calamity Jane Solid Cologne
• Even solid mouthwash! – Listerine Ready Tabs Chewable Tablets

Share space with a partner

If you are traveling with someone, it may be that they will not be using all of the available space in their liquid bag (particularly if they are male) so you could put some of your additional toiletries that qualify as liquids in that too.

Buy toiletries at the airport

Particularly if you are flying from a larger airport, there are likely to be some stores after you pass through security where you can buy full-size toiletries. There are no restrictions on actually taking these on the flight with you if purchased after the security checkpoint.

You will probably need to use them up and perhaps throw away some that are partially used though as you will be unable to take them through security for your return flight.

Buy at your destination

Believe it or not, if you are flying to most other countries, particularly in Europe and other developed countries, they actually have these items for sale there too!

So just save weight and space in your carry on bags and buy them when you arrive.

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