TSA Rules 2026: What You Can and Cannot Bring Through Security
What can you bring through TSA in 2026? The short answer is simple: liquids still follow the 3-1-1 rule, sharp tools and weapons stay out of carry-on bags, spare lithium batteries stay with you in the cabin, and medically necessary liquids get special handling when declared.
The airport reality is less simple. TSA rules are national, but the lane you enter, the scanner being used, the officer on duty, and your bag organization can change how smooth the checkpoint feels.
What can you bring through TSA?
You can bring most solid food, electronics, medications, and travel-size toiletries through TSA, but carry-on liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes are still limited to 3.4-ounce or 100 mL containers in one quart-size bag. Spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in carry-on bags, and the TSA officer makes the final checkpoint decision.
What travelers should know before packing in 2026
TSA rules have not become “anything goes” in 2026. DHS and TSA announced the end of the long-running shoes-off policy on July 8, 2025, but the practical checkpoint lesson is still simple: follow the lane signage and the officer in front of you. Screening can vary by airport, scanner, alarm resolution, and passenger situation.
- Shoes: TSA announced the end of the broad shoes-off policy, but officers may still direct extra screening when needed.
- Liquids: The 3-1-1 carry-on liquid rule still applies. Newer scanners do not remove the size limit.
- Batteries: FAA and TSA guidance continues to place spare lithium batteries and power banks in carry-on bags only.
- Powders: Powders over 12 ounces or 350 mL may need extra screening at the checkpoint.
The TSA rule most travelers need
The easiest way to pack for TSA is to separate your bag into four buckets: travel-size liquids, solid food, electronics, and risky items. Liquids go in small containers. Solid food usually passes. Spare batteries stay in carry-on. Blades, tools, and oversized liquids cause most checkpoint problems.
| Item type | Carry-on rule | Airport catch |
|---|---|---|
| Liquids, gels, creams, pastes | 3.4 oz or 100 mL per container, all inside one quart-size bag. | TSA looks at the container size, not how much product is left inside. |
| Solid food | Usually allowed in carry-on. | Spreads like peanut butter, hummus, salsa, and yogurt count as liquids or gels. |
| Power banks and spare lithium batteries | Carry-on only. | Do not put them in checked luggage or gate-checked bags. |
| Pocket knives and multi-tools with blades | Not allowed in carry-on. | A tiny blade can disqualify the entire tool. |
Who this TSA guide helps most
This guide is built for travelers who want to pack correctly before they reach the conveyor belt. It is most useful if you travel carry-on only, fly with children or medications, carry electronics, or use TSA PreCheck but still want to avoid bag pulls.
Carry-on-only travelers
Use this guide to keep toiletries, food, power banks, and tools out of the “maybe” zone. The goal is to avoid unpacking your whole bag at the belt.
Families and medical travelers
Use the exemption rules for breast milk, formula, toddler drinks, medications, cooling packs, and medical devices before you pack.
PreCheck travelers
PreCheck reduces unpacking, but it does not override the 3.4-ounce liquid limit, battery rules, or the TSA officer’s final decision.
The 3-1-1 liquid rule
The TSA 3-1-1 rule means each carry-on liquid, gel, aerosol, cream, or paste must be in a container of 3.4 ounces or 100 mL or less. Those containers must fit inside one quart-size clear bag, with one bag per traveler.
- Counts as a liquid: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, lip gloss, sunscreen, yogurt, peanut butter, hummus, salsa, honey, jam, and salad dressing.
- Usually not a liquid: bar soap, solid shampoo, solid deodorant, dry snacks, sandwiches, chips, protein bars, and most solid toiletries.
- Container rule: a 6-ounce toothpaste tube that is almost empty can still fail because the container is larger than 3.4 ounces.
- Checkpoint reality: some lanes with newer scanners may not require you to remove the liquids bag, but the size limit still applies unless the item is medically necessary or covered by a family exception.
Medical liquids, breast milk, formula, and toddler drinks
TSA allows medically necessary liquids, gels, aerosols, breast milk, formula, toddler drinks, and baby food in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces when declared for screening. These items do not need to fit inside your quart-size liquids bag.
- Declare medical or family liquids to the TSA officer before screening begins.
- Keep them easy to remove from your bag.
- You do not need to be traveling with your child to carry breast milk through TSA.
- Cooling accessories such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs may be allowed when needed for medically necessary items or infant feeding items.
This is one of the few places where the standard 3-1-1 rule does not tell the full story. Declare first, then let TSA screen the item separately.
Laptops, electronics, and lithium batteries
Electronics are usually allowed through TSA, but the packing rule changes when batteries are loose, spare, or built into luggage. Laptops and tablets may need to come out in a standard lane. Spare lithium batteries and power banks must stay in carry-on bags.
| Battery type | Carry-on | Checked bag | Airport catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank or portable charger | Yes | No | Must be protected from damage and short circuit. |
| Spare lithium battery under 100 Wh | Yes | No | Common for camera batteries and many laptop-sized batteries. |
| Spare lithium battery 101 to 160 Wh | With airline approval, up to two | No | Ask the airline before travel. |
| Battery installed in a device | Usually yes | Usually yes | Carry-on is still safer and easier if the bag is pulled. |
The common items that cause TSA problems
Most checkpoint problems are not dramatic. They are usually forgotten pocket knives, tools with blades, oversized liquids, sports equipment, or items that look harmless at home but fall into a TSA category at the airport.
| Item | Carry-on | Checked bag | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket knives and multi-tools with blades | No | Yes | Check every pocket in backpacks, work bags, and jacket pockets. |
| Scissors under 4 inches from pivot | Yes | Yes | Measure from the pivot point, not the handle. |
| Safety matches | One book allowed | No | Strike-anywhere matches are not allowed. |
| Alcohol 24% to 70% ABV | Only if 3.4 oz or less and fits in liquids bag | Up to 5 liters per passenger in unopened retail packaging | Alcohol over 70% ABV is prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags. |
| Medical marijuana or cannabis | Do not rely on state legality | Do not rely on state legality | TSA screening is under federal law and officer discretion. |
Can you bring food through TSA?
Solid food usually goes through TSA in carry-on bags. The confusion starts with food that spreads, pours, pumps, or gels. Peanut butter, hummus, yogurt, salsa, jam, honey, gravy, and salad dressing follow the 3-1-1 liquid rule.
| Food | Carry-on rule | Airport catch |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwiches, chips, crackers, protein bars | Usually allowed | Keep dense food easy to remove if your bag is pulled. |
| Peanut butter, hummus, salsa, yogurt | 3.4 oz or less in carry-on | These feel like food, but TSA treats them as liquids, gels, or spreads. |
| Snow globes | 3.4 oz or less if carried on | Most souvenir snow globes are too large for carry-on. |
| Powders over 12 oz or 350 mL | Allowed but may need additional screening | Protein powder, spices, and bulk powders can slow the lane. |
What changes with TSA PreCheck?
TSA PreCheck reduces the amount of unpacking at the checkpoint. In a PreCheck lane, eligible travelers usually keep electronics and 3-1-1 liquids in the bag and keep belts, light jackets, and shoes on. It does not override prohibited item rules.
- Liquids still need to meet the 3.4-ounce container rule unless an exception applies.
- Laptops and tablets usually stay in your bag in a PreCheck lane.
- If there is no dedicated PreCheck lane, TSA says you may still receive modified screening after showing your PreCheck boarding pass, but procedures can vary.
- PreCheck does not guarantee a specific wait time.
The most common TSA mistakes
The biggest TSA mistake is assuming an item is allowed because it “feels normal.” Peanut butter feels like food. A power bank feels like an electronic accessory. A tiny blade feels harmless. TSA looks at categories, not traveler intent.
- “PreCheck means the liquid rule does not apply.” Wrong. PreCheck changes what you remove from the bag. It does not change the 3.4-ounce limit.
- “Only the liquid amount matters.” Wrong. The container capacity matters. A mostly empty oversized tube can still fail.
- “Frozen or thick spreads are solid.” Do not count on that. TSA still treats spreadable foods as liquid, gel, or paste items.
- “A power bank is fine in checked luggage.” Wrong. Power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in carry-on bags only.
- “The app says yes, so the officer cannot stop it.” Wrong. TSA states the final decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint.
What this guide is based on
This guide does not pretend that every checkpoint works the same way. It combines official TSA and FAA rules with public traveler discussions, TSA creator posts, and recent travel-news examples about the items people actually lose, question, or pack incorrectly. Community examples are treated as practical reminders, not official policy.
The practical airport pattern is simple: the faster bags are the bags with no surprises. Put liquids together, keep batteries with you, separate medical or family liquids early, and do not make the officer hunt through a packed bag for the item that triggered the scanner.
The airport moment to picture is the conveyor belt, not your closet. A jar, cable, battery, or tool that made sense when you packed can become a five-minute bag search when it appears on the scanner with no context.
What traveler reports add to the official rules
Traveler reports are useful because they show where people misunderstand official rules. For this topic, the strongest real-world examples are not edge cases. They are peanut butter, power banks, powders, and ordinary items packed in the wrong bag.
- Peanut butter is the “food but not carry-on food” trap. TSA creator Patricia Simmons posted a 2026 reminder telling travelers to stop bringing peanut butter through checkpoints, which matches TSA’s rule that spreads count as liquids, gels, or pastes. (TSA Simmons Instagram, checked May 2026)
- Power banks are not just a packing preference. A London-bound EasyJet flight from Hurghada diverted to Rome in May 2026 after a passenger reported a power bank charging a device inside checked luggage. (People and The Times, May 2026)
- Protein powder and dense food can cost time even when allowed. Traveler discussions repeatedly mention allowed items that still trigger secondary screening because they are dense, powdery, or hard to identify on the scanner. (Reddit r/travel and Tripadvisor Air Travel forum, checked May 2026)
“Stop bringing peanut butter through my security checkpoint.” (TSA Simmons Instagram post, checked May 2026)
The item people argue about is often not a weapon. It is food. Peanut butter, hummus, salsa, yogurt, and similar spreads cause more surprise because travelers think in grocery categories, while TSA screens by physical behavior: liquid, gel, aerosol, cream, or paste.
What travelers like and dislike about TSA screening rules
The official rules tell you what is allowed. Traveler feedback shows what creates relief or frustration at the checkpoint. The pattern is clear: travelers like rules that reduce unpacking, and dislike rules that turn ordinary household items into bag pulls.
- PreCheck reduces unpacking. Keeping liquids and laptops in the bag makes the lane feel less chaotic when PreCheck is open. (TSA PreCheck, checked May 2026)
- Medical and family exemptions are practical. Parents and medical travelers can carry larger liquids when they declare them early. (TSA breast milk and medication guidance, checked May 2026)
- Clear battery rules prevent bigger problems. Keeping power banks in the cabin makes the issue visible and reachable. (FAA battery guidance, checked May 2026)
- Food rules feel unintuitive. A sealed jar of peanut butter feels like food at home, but it behaves like a spread at TSA. (TSA Simmons Instagram, checked May 2026)
- Powders can slow down the lane. Protein powder, spices, and dense snacks may be allowed but still invite extra screening. (TSA powder guidance, checked May 2026)
- Officer discretion creates uncertainty. The official list helps, but TSA still says the final decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint. (TSA food list, checked May 2026)
How to check an item before you leave home
Search the official list
Use TSA’s official What Can I Bring tool for the exact item.
Check the bag type
Some items are allowed in checked bags but not carry-on bags.
Plan for officer discretion
If the item matters, pack a backup or leave it at home.
What to do if TSA flags your bag
If TSA flags an item, your best move depends on value and timing. Do not turn a low-value item into a missed flight. For expensive tools, batteries, medications, or family liquids, plan before you reach the checkpoint.
- If the item is cheap: surrender it and move on.
- If the item is valuable: ask whether you can leave security and check it, but only if you have enough time.
- If the airport has mail-back service: use it only when the item is worth the delay.
- If the item is medical: explain before screening starts and ask for separate screening.
- If the item is a battery: keep it with you in the cabin or confirm airline approval before travel.
TSA rules FAQ
What is the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule in 2026?
The TSA 3-1-1 rule means carry-on liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 mL or less, inside one quart-size bag, with one bag per traveler. The rule still applies in 2026 unless a medical or family exception applies.
Does TSA care about container size or how much liquid is left?
TSA uses the container capacity for the 3-1-1 rule. A 6-ounce toothpaste tube can still fail even if it is almost empty because the container itself is larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 mL. Use travel-size containers for anything going in carry-on.
Can I bring food through TSA?
Yes, most solid food can go through TSA in a carry-on bag. The problem foods are spreads, gels, creams, and liquids. Peanut butter, hummus, salsa, yogurt, jam, honey, and salad dressing need to meet the 3.4-ounce carry-on limit unless packed in checked luggage.
Can I bring medications through TSA?
Yes. TSA allows medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, but you must declare them for separate screening. Keep medications accessible and tell the officer before the bag goes through the scanner.
Can I bring breast milk or formula through TSA?
Yes. TSA allows breast milk, formula, toddler drinks, and baby or toddler food in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces. They do not need to fit inside the quart-size liquids bag. TSA also states you do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk.
Can I bring a power bank through TSA?
Yes, but a power bank must go in your carry-on bag. Power banks and other spare lithium batteries are not allowed in checked luggage. Most common power banks under 100 Wh are allowed in carry-on, but larger batteries may require airline approval.
Can I bring scissors through TSA?
Scissors are allowed in carry-on bags only when the blades are less than 4 inches from the pivot point. Larger scissors should go in checked luggage. Any sharp object in checked luggage should be sheathed or wrapped to protect baggage handlers and inspectors.
Do standard TSA passengers still have to remove shoes?
DHS and TSA announced the end of the broad shoes-off policy in July 2025. Still, checkpoint instructions can vary by airport, lane, scanner, officer direction, and alarm resolution. Follow the signage and the officer at your lane. TSA PreCheck still reduces other friction, including liquids and laptops staying in the bag.
Who makes the final decision at TSA?
The TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final decision on whether an item is allowed through. Official lists and TSA tools are helpful, but they do not override officer discretion during screening. If an item matters, verify it before travel and pack a safer alternative.
Sources used to verify this guide
| Source | What it verifies | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| TSA liquids rule | 3.4 oz or 100 mL liquid limit, quart-size bag, one bag per traveler. | Verified |
| TSA PreCheck | PreCheck lane procedures for shoes, electronics, liquids, belts, and light jackets. | Verified |
| TSA shoes-on policy announcement | July 2025 announcement that passengers can keep shoes on at TSA checkpoints. | Verified |
| TSA power banks | Power banks and spare lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage. | Verified |
| FAA passenger batteries | 100 Wh, 101 to 160 Wh, airline approval, and spare battery carry-on handling. | Verified |
| TSA breast milk, formula, and juice FAQ | Family liquid exceptions and the rule that breast milk can be carried even when not traveling with a child. | Verified |
| TSA liquid medications | Medically necessary liquids may exceed 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities when declared. | Verified |
| TSA powder policy | Powder-like substances over 12 oz or 350 mL may need additional screening. | Verified |
| TSA alcoholic beverages | Alcohol percentage limits and 5-liter checked bag limit for 24% to 70% ABV. | Verified |
| TSA safety matches | One book of safety matches allowed in carry-on, all matches prohibited in checked bags. | Verified |
| TSA scissors | Scissors under 4 inches from the pivot point are allowed in carry-on. | Verified |
| TSA food list | Food screening rules and TSA officer final decision language. | Verified |
| TSA Simmons peanut butter reminder | Real-world TSA officer explanation that peanut butter is a repeated checkpoint confusion point. | Verified |
| People report on EasyJet power bank diversion | May 2026 example of why power banks and lithium batteries must not be packed in checked luggage. | Verified |
| The Times report on EasyJet power bank diversion | Additional reporting on the EasyJet diversion to Rome after a power bank was charging in the hold. | Verified |
| Reddit r/travel peanut butter discussion | Community confusion around peanut butter and the liquid rule. | Verified |
| Tripadvisor Air Travel power bank discussion | Traveler concern around power banks, battery placement, and airline restrictions. | Verified |
This guide is for airport planning only. TSA rules, airline dangerous-goods rules, checkpoint procedures, scanner instructions, and officer decisions can change. Always check TSA.gov, your airline, and the officer at the checkpoint before relying on any rule for a high-value, medical, family, or unusual item.
Keep planning your airport day
TSA PreCheck Guide
How to apply, what it changes, and which cards reimburse the fee.
Global Entry Guide
Why Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and when it is the better application.
TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR
How the programs differ at the airport.
Carry-On Size Rules
Check airline bag size before you pack.
Best Carry-On Luggage
Gear that makes TSA screening easier.
Best Quart-Size Toiletry Bags
Clear bags that make liquids easier to inspect.
Written for practical airport packing
Hank Cai is the founder of JetKonnect, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has taken 75+ flights since 1999 and has firsthand experience at 85+ airport lounges across 50 airports. He writes airport and trusted traveler guides around real airport decisions, official rules, and practical traveler experience.
This guide was built from official TSA and FAA sources, then checked against public traveler discussions and recent travel reports to identify common confusion points. Hank does not claim personal experience with every screening scenario described here. For how JetKonnect researches travel pages, read our methodology. For monetized links, see our affiliate disclosure.
Pack for the rule, then pack for the lane
The official TSA rule tells you whether an item is allowed. The airport lane decides how much time it costs you. Keep liquids small, declare medical or family liquids early, keep power banks in carry-on, and check every pocket for blades before leaving home.