Yes, most airport security rules send carry-on liquids through screening in a small clear bag, though medicines and duty free often follow separate steps.
Stand near any security belt and you will hear the question “does liquids have to be in a clear bag?” as often as you see the same scramble: bottles pulled from bags, plastic pouches handed out, and trays going back for another scan. The rule on liquids and clear bags sounds simple, yet the mix of global rules and new scanners leaves many travellers unsure what actually applies to their flight.
Do Liquids Need To Be In A Clear Bag?
On most routes, small liquid containers in cabin bags still need to sit together inside one transparent, resealable plastic pouch. Security staff can then see all your liquids in a single glance on the X-ray screen, rather than hunting for scattered bottles in a backpack or suitcase.
These rules trace back to liquid explosives plots in the mid-2000s. Aviation authorities in the United States, Europe, and many other regions agreed on strict limits for container size and on the idea of a shared clear bag for hand luggage. The exact numbers vary from place to place, but the pattern below still covers most airports today.
| Region Or Airport Group | Typical Carry-On Liquid Limit | Clear Bag Rule |
|---|---|---|
| United States (TSA) | Containers up to 3.4 oz / 100 ml each; all in one quart-sized bag | Yes, liquids go in a single clear quart-sized bag at screening |
| European Union Airports | Containers up to 100 ml; all together up to 1 litre total | Yes, one transparent re-sealable bag per passenger in most airports |
| United Kingdom Airports With Older Layouts | Containers up to 100 ml; total up to 1 litre | Usually yes, clear bag shown separately at security |
| UK And Irish Airports With CT Scanners | Often allow larger liquid volumes in cabin bags | Rules differ; some no longer need clear bags or removal from luggage |
| Other European Airports With Upgrades | May allow bigger containers while trials run | Sometimes no separate bag, but rules can switch back during changes |
| Most Other International Airports | Follow 100 ml per container and 1 litre total as a guide | Yes, clear plastic bag still used for screening |
| Checked Baggage Worldwide | Large bottles usually allowed, subject to airline and safety rules | No clear bag needed, though bottles should be sealed to avoid leaks |
Because scanner projects roll out at different speeds, the safest default is to assume your hand luggage liquids will need a clear bag, unless your departure airport clearly says the rule has changed. That way you turn up prepared, even if staff at the belt move quickly and expect everything to be ready in one tray.
Clear Bag Rules For Liquids In Carry-On Luggage
In the United States, the system known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule still guides packing at standard lanes. Each passenger may bring liquids, gels, creams, and pastes in containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 millilitres or less. All those containers together must fit inside a single quart-sized clear plastic bag, which goes through the scanner with your cabin bag.
Across much of Europe, the picture looks similar. Airports that follow the EU cabin liquids rules limit each liquid container in the cabin to 100 millilitres. All liquid items together must fit inside one transparent bag with a capacity of no more than one litre, and that bag usually needs to be resealable rather than knotted or taped.
What Counts As A Liquid At Airport Security
The clear bag rule covers more than just bottled drinks. Security staff treat many everyday travel items as liquids or gels, even when they seem solid or thick. If something can pour, spread, spray, pump, squeeze, smear, or drip, it probably falls under the liquid rules.
- Drinks such as water, juice, soda, and alcohol
- Toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and liquid soap
- Creams and lotions like moisturiser, sunscreen, and makeup primer
- Gels such as hair gel, aloe gel, and styling products
- Pastes and semi-solids like toothpaste, ointments, and lip balm sticks
- Sprays and aerosols such as deodorant sprays, hairspray, and shaving foam
- Soft or spreadable foods, from yoghurt pouches to sauces and soft cheese spreads
Do Liquids Need To Be In A Clear Bag For Every Airport?
New scanner technology means the answer is no for some terminals. Several airports, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland, now run advanced CT scanners that build a three-dimensional image of each bag. Those machines can check liquid contents without forcing passengers to unpack every small bottle.
There is a catch, though. Even if your departure airport drops the clear bag rule, your return airport or a transit stop may still apply the classic system. To avoid wasting toiletries or having to check a bag unexpectedly mid-trip, pack your small liquid items so they can shift back into a clear pouch when needed.
How To Check The Rules For Your Specific Flight
Next, read the security or hand luggage page for your arrival or transfer airport. If you pass through another screening point during a connection, local rules at that point control what happens to your toiletries. Many travellers still type “does liquids have to be in a clear bag?” into search boxes just before a trip, but airport sites give more reliable guidance than old forum posts.
Packing Strategy When You Still Need A Clear Bag
On routes where the old setup remains in place, a little planning saves stress at the belt. The aim is simple: collect all items that fall under the liquid rules, keep them within the volume limits, and place them together in a clear pouch that you can lift out in one move at security.
Step-By-Step Clear Bag Packing Plan
Sort And Size Your Liquid Items
Lay out every product that might count as a liquid, gel, cream, or paste. Include toiletries, liquid snacks, small cleaning sprays, and cosmetic items. Place any container larger than 100 millilitres straight into checked luggage or leave it at home, even if the bottle is half full.
Build Your Clear Bag
Choose a resealable clear bag that matches the size rules at your departure airport. Many security lanes hand out thin plastic pouches, but a reusable quart-sized toiletry bag with a zipper keeps leaks better under control and handles repeated trips without tearing.
Pack Your Carry-On For Easy Access
Once your clear bag is ready, put it near the top of your cabin suitcase or backpack. Pair it with other items that may need to come out, such as laptops or large electronics at airports where those still leave the bag. During screening, you can then lift everything in one simple motion instead of rummaging at the belt.
| Item Type | Where To Pack | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Size Shampoo Or Shower Gel | Checked bag | Place in a separate zip bag or wrap in clothing to contain leaks |
| Travel-Size Toiletries (100 ml Or Less) | Clear carry-on liquids bag | Group daily must-haves only; leave extras in checked luggage |
| Prescription Liquid Medicines | Carry-on outside the 1 litre limit | Keep in original packaging and carry proof of prescription if possible |
| Baby Milk, Formula, Or Food Pouches | Carry-on outside the 1 litre limit | Pack what the child needs for the trip and be ready to show it |
| Duty Free Liquids Bought After Security | Carry-on in sealed airport bag | Keep receipt and do not open sealed bag until your travel is complete |
| Non-Liquid Makeup (Powder, Solid Stick) | Carry-on or checked bag | These usually do not count toward the liquid allowance |
| Drinks Bought Before Security | Checked bag or discard | Finish or pour away before the scanner; refill a bottle after security |
Special Cases: Medicines, Baby Supplies, And Duty Free
Medical liquids and baby items follow a different pattern from everyday toiletries. Most airport security rules allow liquid medicine, baby milk, and baby food in the quantity needed for the trip, even when each container holds more than 100 millilitres. You may be asked to show these items separately or prove that they relate to a current medical need.
For duty free purchases, the picture depends on where and when you buy the items. Liquor, perfume, or other liquids bought after security usually travel in a sealed bag with a receipt. If you change planes, keep that sealed package intact, as staff at your next checkpoint may reject open duty free bottles that exceed local volume limits.
Does Liquids Have to Be in a Clear Bag? Everyday Packing Choices
So where does this leave your packing plan? For now, it is safest to pack as if the classic 100 millilitre and clear bag rules still apply on each leg of your route, then treat any scanner upgrade that relaxes the limits as a bonus. That way you can move through airports that keep the old layout without stress, while still enjoying smoother lanes where clear bags no longer matter.
When you lay out your items before a flight, ask yourself again do liquids need to be in a clear bag for the route your trip follows. If you could shift every small bottle into a one-litre pouch on short notice, you are ready to handle nearly any checkpoint you meet.
Quick Checklist Before You Leave For The Airport
Use this short list as a last check when you pack cabin luggage for a flight that might still apply clear bag rules for liquids.
- Check the security pages for each airport on your route and confirm how they treat liquids in hand luggage.
- Sort all liquids, gels, creams, and pastes you plan to carry, and move any container over 100 millilitres into checked luggage.
- Choose a sturdy clear resealable bag that matches the size limit and can close without stretching.
- Place everyday items in that bag first, then add only what still fits easily.
- Keep prescription medicines and baby items handy, with documents if your route may call for them.
- Pack the clear bag at the top of your carry-on so you can place it in a tray with one smooth movement.
- Carry an empty water bottle and refill it after security so you do not rely on drinks that must pass through the scanner.