Yes, TSA still checks liquids at airport security, and the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids remains in force across U.S. airports.
Travel headlines about new scanners and changing liquid limits at some airports leave many travelers asking, “does tsa still check liquids?” in the United States, the short answer is still yes. Every carry-on bag passes through security screening, and liquid rules remain part of that process.
U.S. checkpoints still apply the familiar 3-1-1 standard: small liquid containers, a clear quart-size bag, and one bag per traveler. Officers can ask you to remove liquids for separate screening, run extra tests, or even discard items that do not meet the rule. Knowing what TSA looks for takes the tension out of packing and gets you through the line with fewer surprises.
Does TSA Still Check Liquids? What Travelers Can Expect
When you reach the front of the security line, TSA officers care less about brand names on your bottles and more about quantity, container type, and risk. They still check liquids by running your bag through X-ray or CT machines, visually inspecting your clear bag, and occasionally swabbing containers for extra screening.
If officers cannot see a container clearly or if something flags on the screen, they can open your bag and look at the liquids more closely. They might ask you what an item is, ask you to move it to checked luggage, or dispose of it. This applies to toiletry bottles, drinks, gels, creams, sprays, and pastes that fit the liquid category under TSA rules.
The bottom line for U.S. airports is steady: TSA still checks liquids, still enforces limits on size and packing, and still reserves the right to deny items that raise security concerns.
TSA Still Checks Liquids: 3-1-1 Rules At A Glance
The core rule comes from the TSA liquids, aerosols, and gels rule. It says each traveler may bring one quart-size, clear, resealable bag filled with travel-size containers of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes. Each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less.
Not every product in your bathroom behaves the same at the checkpoint, though. This table gives a quick view of how TSA usually treats common liquid-related items in carry-on bags.
| Item Type | Counts As Liquid? | Carry-On Screening Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bottled water, soda, juice | Yes | Must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and fit in liquids bag, or bought after security |
| Shampoo, conditioner, body wash | Yes | Travel-size bottles only, 3.4 oz or less, inside quart bag |
| Liquid foundation, mascara, lip gloss | Yes | Treated as liquids; must follow 3-1-1 limits in the clear bag |
| Stick deodorant or solid bar soap | No | Usually allowed outside the liquids bag unless it has a gel texture |
| Liquid medicine | Yes | Exempt from 3-1-1 in reasonable amounts, but must be declared for inspection |
| Baby formula, breast milk | Yes | Exempt from 3-1-1; screened separately and may be tested |
| Duty-free alcohol in tamper-evident bag | Yes | Usually allowed through connecting checkpoints when sealed and with receipt |
| Food spreads like peanut butter or hummus | Yes | Must follow 3-1-1 rule, even if packed in a small tub or jar |
| Frozen gel packs | Liquid once melted | Must be frozen solid unless used for medical or infant items that are declared |
If anything spreads, pours, smears, or sprays, TSA likely treats it as a liquid or gel. Treat those items as part of your 3-1-1 allowance unless they fall into a clear exemption category.
How TSA Checks Liquids At The Security Checkpoint
The way TSA checks liquids can look slightly different from airport to airport, but the core steps stay the same. You place your carry-on bag, personal item, and bins with loose items on the conveyor belt. Liquids in your quart-size bag may sit inside your carry-on or in a separate bin, depending on local instructions and the type of scanner in use.
The screening machine produces an image of your bag and flags dense or unclear areas. Officers look for oversized liquid containers, items that do not match their shape on the scanner, and anything that might hide a threat. If something needs a closer look, they pull the bag aside for a hand search.
During a bag check, officers may open your liquids bag, inspect labels, or run a swab over bottle openings or the outside of containers. This test checks for traces of dangerous substances. When bottles meet 3-1-1 standards and clear the test, they go back into your bag and you move on.
Exceptions To The TSA 3-1-1 Liquid Rule
Not every liquid in carry-on luggage has to squeeze into that single quart-size bag. TSA allows larger quantities of certain items, as long as you follow extra steps during screening.
Medications And Medical Liquids
Liquid medicines, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter syrups, and some saline or contact lens solutions, can exceed 3.4 ounces in carry-on bags. You must take them out of your bag, tell the officer that you have medically necessary liquids, and present them for inspection.
Officers may ask you to open bottles or move them to a separate bin. In some cases, they run extra tests. Keeping medicines labeled and bringing a copy of a prescription or doctor’s note can smooth the conversation if questions come up.
Baby Formula, Breast Milk, And Child Drinks
Infant formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food in liquid or puréed form can exceed 3.4 ounces in carry-on bags. TSA allows parents and caregivers to bring the amounts they need for the flight.
You still need to remove these items and declare them, and officers may ask to test them. Gel or ice packs that keep these liquids cold are allowed in larger sizes when used for this purpose, even if they would normally count as liquids once thawed.
Duty-Free Liquids On Connecting Flights
Duty-free purchases like wine, spirits, or perfume often come in bottles larger than 3.4 ounces. At international hubs, these items are usually sealed in tamper-evident bags with receipts. When packed that way, TSA may allow them through a connecting checkpoint, as long as the security chain remains clear.
If you break the seal before reaching the next security point, those bottles can lose their special handling and end up checked or discarded. To avoid that, leave the bag intact until you reach your final destination.
Other Special Liquids
Some travelers bring liquid nutrition drinks, ice packs for medical needs, or saline for medical devices. Many of these items fall under the broader liquid exemption rules for health reasons. The DHS air travel packing guide points back to TSA rules and offers examples of items that can receive extra consideration at screening.
For any special liquid, remove it from your bag, tell officers what it is, and pack it so labels stay easy to read. Clear communication in the tray saves time at the inspection table.
CT Scanners, New Tech, And Whether Rules Are Changing
Many airports now use computed tomography (CT) scanners in security lanes. These machines create a much more detailed 3D image of your bag. Some airports with CT units allow travelers to leave liquids and electronics inside carry-on bags instead of pulling everything out in bins.
Even with newer machines, TSA still checks liquids against the 3-1-1 standard in the United States. CT scanners change how bags are screened, not the basic rule about liquid volume and container size. If signs or officers tell you that your airport still wants liquids in a separate bin, follow that instruction; local procedures can differ while equipment upgrades roll out.
You might also read news about airports in other countries relaxing or removing the old 100-milliliter limit as they upgrade scanners. That does not replace TSA policy at U.S. checkpoints. When you fly back into or through the United States, TSA liquid rules apply again, and officers still check what you carry.
Packing Strategy So Your Liquids Clear TSA Quickly
A little planning at home has a big payoff in the line. The goal is simple: put only what you truly need for the flight in your liquids bag and make every item easy for officers to see.
- Lay out every liquid, gel, aerosol, cream, and paste you plan to bring before you pack anything.
- Move full-size bottles to checked luggage or swap them for travel-size containers.
- Choose solid toiletries where you can, such as bar soap or solid shampoo bars, to free space in the liquids bag.
- Pack one clear quart-size zipper bag and fill it with travel bottles that fit flat, not jammed in a tight bundle.
- Keep that liquids bag at the top of your carry-on so you can reach it in seconds if officers ask for it.
- Group larger exempt liquids (medications, baby items) together in another pouch so you can show them easily.
If you tend to carry the same set of toiletries on every trip, keep a pre-packed liquids bag in your suitcase. Refill bottles after a trip and you will be ready for the next airport run with almost no extra effort.
Common Liquid Scenarios And What TSA Expects
Real trips rarely match tidy packing diagrams. Last-minute gifts, snacks, and comfort items sneak into carry-ons and can trigger extra checks. This table walks through frequent situations and how TSA usually approaches them.
| Scenario | Carry-On Expectation | Best Packing Move |
|---|---|---|
| Arriving with a large bottled drink from home | Not allowed through security if over 3.4 oz | Finish or discard before the checkpoint, then buy a drink past security |
| Carrying full-size shampoo and lotion | Too large for carry-on liquids bag | Place in checked luggage or shift to travel bottles that meet 3-1-1 |
| Bringing homemade sauce or jam as a gift | Treated as a liquid; 3-1-1 applies | Pack jars in checked luggage with padding to prevent leaks |
| Flying with an inhaler and liquid asthma medication | Allowed in larger amounts when declared | Keep together in a pouch, present at screening, and tell officers they are medical items |
| Carrying several travel-size perfume sprays | Allowed if each is 3.4 oz or less and all fit in the quart bag | Limit how many you pack so the bag closes easily and items stay visible |
| Connecting with duty-free liquor from an overseas airport | Often allowed when sealed in a tamper-evident bag with receipt | Keep the bag sealed until final destination and pack it where it stays upright |
| Traveling with baby bottles, formula, and purées | Allowed in larger amounts when screened separately | Place all baby liquids together, declare them, and allow extra time at the checkpoint |
Thinking through these kinds of situations before you pack helps you decide which liquids deserve space in your carry-on and which ones belong in checked bags or at home.
Quick Checklist Before You Reach The TSA Line
By the time you join the security queue, you want every liquid in your bag to fit one of three categories: in the quart-size 3-1-1 bag, allowed as an exempt item, or packed in checked luggage. A short checklist keeps that straight.
- Ask yourself once more: “does tsa still check liquids?” and assume officers will see every bottle you pack.
- Confirm each regular toiletry bottle in your carry-on is 3.4 ounces or smaller and inside the clear quart bag.
- Place medically necessary liquids, baby items, and other exempt liquids together where you can grab them quickly.
- Check that any duty-free liquids stay sealed in their tamper-evident bag with the receipt visible.
- Empty reusable water bottles before the checkpoint so they pass through screening without problems.
- Keep your liquids bag near the top of your personal item or backpack so you can pull it out in a single movement.
When you follow these steps, TSA checks on liquids feel predictable and manageable. You spend less time rearranging your bag under pressure, glide through screening, and start your trip already relaxed instead of scrambling with last-minute bottle decisions.