Restricted and Prohibited Items in Your Hand Baggage

What you can and cannot bring in hand luggage: liquids, power banks, sharp objects, lighters, and items banned from the aircraft entirely.

Ekin Yalgın

April 27, 2026·4 min read

Restricted and Prohibited Items in Your Hand Baggage

Getting pulled aside at the security checkpoint because of a stray power bank or an oversized bottle of lotion completely kills your travel momentum. Knowing which items you can carry in your hand baggage - and which ones will be confiscated - keeps you moving toward your gate without the stress. The rules below apply to international flights across most countries, following IATA guidelines and mirroring TSA standards.

The Liquid and Gel Rule Explained

Many travelers forget that thick pastes and gels count as liquids. Items like peanut butter, toothpaste, hair gel, and mascara all fall into this category. Every single liquid container must hold 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less to pass through the scanner.

Security officers look at the printed volume on the bottle, not how much liquid is actually inside. A half-empty 200 ml shampoo bottle goes straight into the bin. The rule is absolute.

Pack all small bottles into a single transparent, resealable zip-top bag. The total capacity of this bag cannot exceed 1 liter. Pull this bag out of your backpack before the X-ray scan to speed up the screening process for everyone behind you.

Electronics and Lithium Batteries

The rules around batteries are strict to prevent fire hazards in the cargo hold. You must carry all power banks, spare lithium batteries, and e-cigarettes in your hand baggage. Putting these items in your checked suitcase triggers immediate security concerns and can lead to your bag being pulled from the hold before departure.

Laptops, large tablets, and e-readers also belong in the cabin. Take them out of their protective cases during security screening so the X-ray machine gets a clear image.

Devices must have enough battery charge to turn on if a security officer asks you to power them up. A device that cannot be switched on stays at the checkpoint. Keep your electronics charged before you arrive at the airport.

Power bank limits: Most airlines permit lithium batteries up to 100 Wh without restriction. Batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require airline approval. Anything above 160 Wh is not permitted on passenger aircraft in any baggage.

Food, Snacks, and Baby Formula

Solid foods like sandwiches, apples, or chocolate bars pass through security without any issues. Spreadable foods like jam, honey, or soft cheeses must follow the strict liquid limits. Pack your dry snacks safely in your carry-on to avoid any hold-ups.

Food powders can sometimes obstruct X-ray images. Security staff may need to manually check bags containing large amounts of protein powder or coffee.

Baby food and breast milk are notable exceptions to the volume rules. You can carry quantities larger than 100 ml if you are traveling with an infant. Security staff will perform an additional swab test on these items. The same exception applies to essential liquid medications accompanied by a valid prescription.

Solid snacks and medical supplies organized for air travel security inspection. — Solid foods and essential medications follow different rules than standard liquids.

Sharp Objects and Sports Equipment

Anything that can be used as a weapon goes into your checked baggage. This includes pocket knives, large scissors, tools, and heavy sports gear like baseball bats or hiking poles. Small nail clippers and standard tweezers are perfectly fine for the cabin.

Aerosol cans like hairspray or deodorant are allowed in the cabin only if they respect the 100 ml size limit and have a protective cap. Highly flammable aerosols like spray paint or industrial lubricants are forbidden anywhere on the aircraft.

Lighters and Matches

You are allowed to carry one lighter on your person, kept in your pocket rather than packed in your bag. It must be a standard cigarette lighter. Torch lighters (the kind with a strong, focused flame) are banned entirely on most airlines.

Safety matches follow similar rules - one small box is typically allowed on your person. Strike-anywhere matches are prohibited on all flights.

Items Banned Entirely From the Aircraft

Some items cannot travel with you at all, not even in the cargo hold:

Explosive and incendiary devices of any kind
Gases and highly flammable materials
Firearms and ammunition (unless declared and compliant with strict airline rules for checked luggage)
Radioactive materials
Corrosive substances

If you are unsure about a specific item, check the airline's website before packing. Attempting to pass a prohibited item through security can result in confiscation and, in some cases, fines or further action.

Quick Reference: What Goes Where

Item	Carry-On	Checked Bag
Liquids under 100 ml (in 1L bag)	Yes	Yes
Liquids over 100 ml	No	Yes
Power banks / spare batteries	Yes (under 160 Wh)	No
Laptops and tablets	Yes	Not recommended
E-cigarettes / vapes	Yes	No
One lighter (on your person)	Yes	No
Pocket knives	No	Yes
Nail clippers	Yes	Yes
Aerosols with cap (under 100 ml)	Yes	Yes
Spray paint	No	No
Baby formula / breast milk	Yes (any amount)	Yes
Prescription liquid medicine	Yes (with prescription)	Yes

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you must carry power banks and spare lithium batteries in your hand baggage because they are prohibited in the cargo hold due to fire safety risks. Most airlines allow devices up to 100 Wh without restrictions, and batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh with airline approval. Anything above 160 Wh is not permitted on passenger aircraft at all.

Toothpaste counts as a liquid or gel under aviation security rules and must follow the standard volume restrictions for hand baggage. You need to make sure the tube is 100 ml or less and place it inside your single transparent one-liter resealable bag along with your other toiletries for inspection at the security gate.

Disposable razors and replacement cartridge blades are perfectly fine to pack in your carry-on. However, safety razors with removable blades or straight razors must go in your checked luggage, as the loose blades are considered sharp objects and will be confiscated at the security checkpoint.

Solid food items like sandwiches, crackers, fruit, and nuts are fully permitted in your hand baggage without any volume restrictions. If your snacks include sauces, honey, or soft spreads, remember that these items must comply with the liquid rules and fit inside your transparent toiletry bag.

You can bring an empty water bottle through security and refill it at a water station once you are inside the departures area. If the bottle contains liquid when you reach the security scanner, it will be discarded unless the volume is within the 100 ml limit or it is required for medical or infant needs.

Pack your essential medications in your hand baggage so you have access to them throughout the journey and avoid loss if your checked bag is delayed. Solid pills have no restrictions. Liquid medicines exceeding the 100 ml limit are allowed if you carry a valid prescription or a medical letter confirming the necessity.

Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices must be carried on your person or in your hand baggage and are strictly forbidden in checked luggage. You cannot use or charge these devices while on board the aircraft, and any spare batteries must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation or short-circuiting.

Hairspray and deodorant are allowed in your cabin bag as long as the container does not exceed 100 ml. These aerosols must have a secure cap to prevent accidental release, and they must fit inside your clear resealable plastic bag for inspection at the security gate.

If a prohibited item is found in your hand baggage during screening, security officers will ask you to surrender it. You may be given the option to return to check-in and place the item in your checked luggage if time allows. In some cases, particularly for items that pose a serious safety risk, further questioning or a fine may follow.

You are allowed to carry one standard cigarette lighter on your person, kept in your pocket rather than packed inside your bag. Torch lighters are banned on most airlines. You are not permitted to pack lighters inside your checked baggage either, making keeping it on your person the only permitted option.

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