Yes, you can bring a 3.4 fl oz liquid on a plane in your carry-on as long as it sits in a clear quart-size bag with other liquids.
Type “can i bring 3.4 fl oz on a plane?” into a search bar and you are really asking two things: is 3.4 fl oz the cabin limit, and how strict are airport screeners about it? 3.4 fluid ounces, which equals 100 milliliters, is the standard maximum size for each liquid container in your hand luggage on most routes for now.
This limit comes from the well known 3-1-1 rule that airport security uses for liquids. Each bottle in your carry-on must be 3.4 fl oz or less, all of those bottles must fit inside one clear quart-size bag, and each traveler may bring one such bag through the checkpoint. Larger liquid containers usually need to ride in checked luggage instead.
Can I Bring 3.4 fl oz on a Plane? Quick Rule Breakdown
Security staff do not just stand at the belt with measuring cups. They check the printed size on the bottle, the shape of the container, and the way it sits in your clear bag. If the labeled volume is 3.4 fl oz or 100 milliliters or less, your bottle meets the basic cabin liquid rule.
The 3-1-1 rule covers liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes. Shampoo, face wash, toothpaste, hair spray, perfume, and many sauces all count. If it can pour, spray, smear, pump, or spread, treat it as a liquid for security.
| Item Type | Carry-On At 3.4 fl oz Or Less | Checked Bag Over 3.4 fl oz |
|---|---|---|
| Water, Soda, Juice | Only after security, or in empty bottle filled later | Allowed in sealed bottle, watch weight limits |
| Shampoo And Conditioner | Travel bottles up to 3.4 fl oz in quart bag | Full size bottles usually allowed |
| Toothpaste And Mouthwash | Up to 3.4 fl oz in quart bag | Larger tubes and bottles allowed |
| Perfume Or Cologne | Small spray bottles up to 3.4 fl oz | Larger glass bottles packed with padding |
| Aerosol Deodorant Or Hair Spray | Travel size canisters up to 3.4 fl oz | Larger cans allowed, subject to airline rules |
| Lotions, Serums, Face Creams | Mini jars or tubes up to 3.4 fl oz | Bigger containers safer in checked bag |
| Sauces, Dips, Nut Butter | Only in small 3.4 fl oz portions | Larger jars and bottles allowed |
| Alcohol From Duty Free | Allowed only in sealed duty free bag on some routes | Often allowed within airline alcohol limits |
What 3.4 fl oz Means In Practice
One 3.4 fl oz bottle is not large. Think travel shampoo or a small tube of sunscreen instead of a family size container. That small size is enough for a weekend, and in many cases several short trips, especially when you combine it with hotel toiletries or products at your destination. That small bottle still lasts longer.
Security looks at the printed size of the container, not the amount that remains in the bottle. A half used 8 fl oz shower gel still counts as an 8 fl oz container and will not pass through the liquids line in your hand luggage.
Checking Labels And Travel Containers
Before you pack, turn each bottle in your wash bag and check the fine print. Look for “3.4 fl oz,” “100 ml,” or a lower number. Many travel kits sold at airports and pharmacies stay within this limit so that they pass global liquid rules with less hassle. If your favorite products only come in large bottles, pour a bit into small reusable travel containers that clearly show the volume.
How Many 3.4 fl oz Bottles Can You Take?
The 3-1-1 rule cares about the size of each container and the total volume that fits into your single quart bag. A typical bag holds between six and ten small bottles, depending on their shape. Solid toiletries, like bar soap and stick deodorant, sit outside that count and leave more room for liquids that you cannot swap so easily.
Lay your quart bag flat as you pack so that security officers can see every label in a single glance. If you overfill the bag to the point where it barely closes, an officer may ask you to remove a few items and leave them behind.
Taking 3.4 fl oz On A Plane: Carry-On Vs Checked Rules
The 3.4 fl oz cabin limit only covers liquids in your carry-on or personal item. Bottles in checked luggage follow different rules. You can usually pack full size shampoo, large sunscreen bottles, and bulk toiletries in your suitcase, as long as they are not on the airline’s banned list and the caps stay tight.
Think about risk when you decide where to pack a liquid. Fragile glass perfume bottles often ride better wrapped in clothing in the middle of a checked bag. On the other hand, any item that you need during the flight, such as eye drops or lip balm, belongs in your small cabin bag, even if that means decanting a tiny amount into a 3.4 fl oz or smaller container.
How The 3-1-1 Rule Works Step By Step
To keep your packing simple, treat the rule like a mini checklist:
- Pick liquids, gels, and sprays that you truly need in the cabin.
- Pour them into containers that hold no more than 3.4 fl oz or 100 milliliters.
- Place every one of those containers inside a single clear, resealable quart-size bag.
- Keep that bag at the top of your carry-on so that you can slide it into a tray at security.
Following that rhythm removes guesswork from your packing and shortens your time in the screening line.
Exceptions For Medicine And Infant Items
Medical liquids, such as prescription bottles, insulin, or saline, fall into a different category. You may bring larger containers as long as you declare them at the checkpoint and separate them from your standard quart bag. Officers may screen these items with extra tools, yet they usually allow them once they confirm the contents.
Parents can also carry baby formula, breast milk, and baby food in quantities above 3.4 fl oz. These items should travel in containers that close tightly and stay ready for inspection.
3.4 fl oz On A Plane: Rules By Region
The familiar 100 milliliter cabin liquid limit does not only apply in the United States. Airports across Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other regions use similar rules, though the screening process at each airport can feel slightly different. That is one reason so many travelers search about 3.4 fl oz cabin limits right before an international trip.
TSA explains the core steps of its 3-1-1 liquids rule, and Canadian authorities outline a matching 100 milliliter cap on the CATSA liquids and personal items page. Reading those official pages once helps you pack in line with the hosts who run the checkpoint, not only blog posts and social feeds.
| Region | Standard Cabin Liquid Limit | Notes For 3.4 fl oz Bottles |
|---|---|---|
| United States (TSA) | 3.4 fl oz / 100 ml per container in one quart bag | 3.4 fl oz bottles meet the rule when inside the bag |
| Canada (CATSA) | 100 ml containers in one one liter clear bag | 3.4 fl oz bottles match the 100 ml limit |
| United Kingdom | 100 ml containers, one clear bag per traveler | 3.4 fl oz travel bottles treated as standard size |
| European Union | 100 ml rule at most airports, some testing new scanners | 3.4 fl oz bottles still safe at airports that keep the rule |
| Other Regions | Often follow the 100 ml model with local variations | Check airport or airline site for any tighter rules |
Packing Tips So 3.4 fl oz Bottles Work For You
The 3-1-1 rule looks strict on paper, yet smart packing turns it into a simple size filter instead of an obstacle. Focus on items that you truly use during flights or short stays, and push the rest into checked luggage or a shopping list for when you land.
Swap Liquids For Solids When You Can
Many toiletry brands now sell solid shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and even stick fragrance. These items do not count as liquids and can ride in any pocket of your bag. Switching a few liquid items to solid versions frees space in your quart bag for liquid medications, contact lens solution, or other items that do not have a solid twin.
Keep Your Quart Bag Easy To Reach
Pack your clear bag in the outer pocket of your carry-on or at the top of a backpack. When you reach the front of the line, you can place it in a tray without unpacking clothing or electronics. Screeners see a neat line of 3.4 fl oz bottles, and you move on with less stress.
Quick Recap Before You Pack
By now, the phrase “can i bring 3.4 fl oz on a plane?” should feel much clearer. A single 3.4 fl oz, or 100 milliliter, container is the standard upper limit for each liquid item in your carry-on. Those containers must all fit in one quart size clear bag, and that bag must come out at the checkpoint.
When you treat that limit as a simple packing tool, you save time at security and cut the risk of losing toiletries at the belt. Fill a few sturdy 3.4 fl oz bottles with items you truly need in the cabin, lean on solid products for everything else, and let larger bottles ride in checked luggage or wait at the shop near your hotel.