TSA Liquids Rule in 2026: The 3-1-1 Rule, Exceptions, and What Actually Gets Confiscated

The 3-1-1 liquids rule has been in effect since 2006. As of 2026, it still applies everywhere in the United States, regardless of what you may have read about CT scanners changing things. The rule is simple in outline and more specific in practice — particularly around what counts as a liquid. Here is the current, accurate version.

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The 3-1-1 rule

• 3.4 oz (100 mL) maximum per container. This is the container’s stated size, not the fill level. A half-empty 12-oz shampoo bottle fails the rule even if it only contains 2 oz of shampoo.
• 1 clear, quart-sized resealable bag per traveler. The bag must close comfortably without bulging. You are allowed one bag — not two, not a larger ziplock.
• 1 bag in the bin at the checkpoint. The quart bag comes out of your carry-on and goes into a separate security bin for screening. (Exception: TSA PreCheck — see below.)

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What counts as a liquid

The broad category matters here because it catches travelers who know the rule but miss the scope.

Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes all fall under 3-1-1:

• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, sunscreen
• Toothpaste, mouthwash
• Deodorant — spray, roll-on, gel, and cream formats all count; solid stick deodorant does not
• Makeup in liquid or gel form: foundation, mascara, lip gloss
• Aerosols: dry shampoo, hair spray, shaving cream
• Food items: peanut butter, honey, yogurt, hummus, salsa, jam, applesauce, olive oil, maple syrup — all subject to the 3.4 oz limit in carry-on

Solid food is fine. A jar of peanut butter is not.

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Exemptions — what is allowed in larger quantities

Medications

Prescription and over-the-counter medications in liquid form are exempt from the 3.4 oz limit in reasonable quantities (typically a 7-day supply plus a day or two of contingency). Declare medications to the officer at the checkpoint — they do not need to go in the quart bag, and they will be screened separately. Keep them accessible rather than buried in your bag.

Baby formula, breast milk, and juice for infants

Permitted in quantities reasonable for the flight duration. Ice packs or gel packs for keeping them cold are also allowed. These may require additional screening — declare them before you reach the scanner.

Duty-free alcohol from international destinations

Permitted if purchased on a connecting international itinerary, still sealed in the tamper-evident retail bag from the duty-free shop, and accompanied by a receipt dated within 48 hours. You cannot self-serve alcohol onboard regardless.

Hand sanitizer

The COVID-era exception allowing 12-oz bottles has expired. Hand sanitizer is back to the standard 3.4 oz limit.

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Alcohol and ABV limits

• Over 70% ABV (140 proof): never permitted in carry-on. Everclear, certain overproof rums. Can be checked.
• 24–70% ABV: must be in original retail packaging; miniature bottles (~1.7 oz) comply with 3-1-1 and are the format people bring on board.
• Under 24% ABV (wine, beer): no quantity limit in carry-on from a proof standpoint; still subject to 3.4 oz per container if not in checked baggage.

You cannot open or serve your own alcohol onboard a US flight. Flight attendants must serve.

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CT scanners and the 2026 update

In 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that TSA was “reevaluating the liquids policy” as CT scanners expanded. As of August 2026, the 3-1-1 rule remains the national standard. TSA is deploying CT scanners at approximately 250 airports, and at a limited number of CT-equipped lanes — primarily at major hubs including ATL, JFK, and LAX — certain exemptions may be extended at the officer’s discretion. But this is not consistent, not passenger-controllable, and not something you should rely on.

The operating rule: assume 3-1-1 applies at every checkpoint. If a CT-equipped lane happens to pass your larger bottle, consider that a bonus, not a policy.

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TSA PreCheck and liquids

TSA PreCheck does not change the 3-1-1 size restrictions. Your liquids still need to follow the same 3.4 oz / quart bag rules.

What PreCheck changes: the quart bag stays in your carry-on. You do not need to remove it from your bag and place it in a separate bin. Everything goes through the scanner together.

This is the practical reason the PreCheck line moves faster — fewer bins, less shuffling. The liquids themselves are the same.

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Common mistakes that get containers pulled

1. Oversized container, regardless of fill level. A 6-oz travel shampoo that is three-quarters empty still fails. TSA reads the label, not the contents.

2. Food items. Peanut butter is the most commonly confiscated food item at checkpoints. Honey, hummus, and jam follow. If it spreads or pours, assume it is a liquid.

3. Multiple quart bags. One bag per traveler. Bringing two will result in one being consolidated or one being left behind.

4. Forgetting to declare medications. Undeclared medications in a quart bag may slow screening. Declared medications screened separately move faster.

5. Powder confusion. Powders are not liquids and are not subject to 3-1-1. However, powder substances over 350 mL (approximately 12 oz) from international flights may require additional screening — TSA recommends packing large powder quantities in checked baggage to avoid delays.

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Checked baggage

The 3-1-1 rule does not apply to checked bags. Bring the full-size shampoo, the 32-oz sunscreen, the jar of peanut butter. Standard hazmat rules still apply (no aerosol cans in excess of 18 oz each with 70-oz total per person, no flammables, no gases). Double-bag anything that might spill.

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The practical packing version

If you are packing a carry-on only:

• Move the 3.4 oz limit into your shopping: buy travel sizes, or transfer into reusable TSA-approved containers. Silicone squeezable bottles are the most reliable format.
• One quart bag, closed completely. If it does not close, something comes out.
• Solid alternatives where they work: solid shampoo bars, solid deodorant, solid sunscreen — these skip the rule entirely.
• Medications, baby items, and disability-related liquids go in a separate accessible pocket; declare at the checkpoint.

The rule has not changed since 2006 in its fundamentals. What changes is what people forget is a liquid.