Air travel hand baggage and hold luggage rules
There are rules on what you can and can't carry in your hand baggage and hold luggage on an aircraft. This includes dangerous and restricted items. Other restrictions may be in place, so contact your airline directly if you have any questions.
Airport security
All baggage items, including hand luggage and hold luggage, must be screened by airport security.
It's important to pack with this in mind to avoid unnecessary delays at airport security.
Airport security staff won’t let anything through if they consider it dangerous - even if it’s normally allowed.
Size and type of hand baggage
You should always check with the airline before you travel how many and what size bags you can take.
Contact them if you have any questions.
Electronic devices and electrical items
The electronic devices and electrical items you’re allowed to take on a flight depend on the country and airport you’re travelling to or from.
Some airlines might also have different restrictions. Check with your airline before you travel if you’re not sure about what you can take as hand luggage.
Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device does not switch on when asked, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.
The following restrictions apply to what you can take on a plane.
| Item | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone | yes | yes |
| Laptop | yes | yes |
| Tablet devices | yes | yes |
| MP3 player | yes | yes |
| Hairdryer or hair straighteners | yes | yes |
| Travel iron | yes | yes |
| Electric shaver | yes | yes |
| E-cigarettes | yes | no |
Cameras
You can usually take camera equipment in your hand and hold luggage. There might be restrictions on specialist equipment, for example professional video cameras.
Batteries
Check the restrictions on certain types of batteries or contact your airline if you’re not sure what you can carry.
Gas-powered hair curlers
You can take hair curlers containing a gas cartridge in hand or hold luggage as long as the safety cover is fitted at all times. You must not take separate gas cartridges on board.
Medicines, medical equipment and dietary requirements
You’re allowed to carry essential medicines of more than 100ml in your hand luggage, including liquid dietary foodstuffs and inhalers.
You'll need to carry proof that the medication is prescribed to you (for example, a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription).
You do not need to show proof if the medication is either in tablet form or liquid in a container that’s 100ml or smaller.
Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids at the security point.
There are different rules if you are travelling with medicine that contains a controlled drug.
You can take medical equipment with you if it’s essential for your journey.
The equipment is screened separately and you must show documents from a qualified medical professional, such as a letter from your doctor.
| Item | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling gel packs | yes | yes |
| Medical equipment (for example, CPAP and TENS machines) | yes | yes |
| Tablets and capsules | yes | yes |
| Essential liquid medicines | yes | yes |
| Hypodermic syringes | yes | yes |
| Inhalers | yes | yes |
| Special food and liquids needed for medical reasons | yes | yes |
| Ice packs | contact the airport | yes |
| Oxygen cylinders |
check with airline before you travel |
check with airline before you travel |
Liquids
There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in).
The rules for taking liquids through security in your hand luggage have changed for some UK airports. At some airports:
- you can take liquid in containers that hold up to two litres of liquid in your hand luggage
- you may not have to put the containers in a separate, transparent bag
Check with the airport before you travel.
Also check the rules at other airports you’ll be travelling through - for example, on your return journey.
Liquids include:
- all drinks, including water
- liquid or semi-liquid foods, for example soup, jam, honey and syrups
- cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip gloss
- sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants
- pastes, including toothpaste
- gels, including hair and shower gel
- contact lens solution
- any other solutions and items of similar consistency
If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:
- containers must hold no more than 100ml
- containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures around 20cm by 20cm
- contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
- the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
- you’re limited to one plastic bag per person
- you must show the bag at the airport security point
You cannot carry frozen liquids or items in your hand luggage, but there are some exceptions for baby food, medicines and dietary requirements.
Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally cannot go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions.
Exemptions
You can take liquid containers larger than 100ml through security if they are for essential medical purposes, for special dietary requirements, or contain baby food or baby milk.
You can also take liquids bought at an airport or on a plane (for example duty free) through security if:
- the items are sealed inside a security bag when you buy them
- the receipt for the items is sealed in the security bag and visible
You must not open the security bag until you reach your final destination. Airport staff may need to open the items to screen the liquid at the security point.
Liquid restrictions outside the UK
Countries outside the UK might have different rules on carrying liquids as a transit or transfer passenger. You should check these rules with the airline(s) and airports before travelling.
Baby food and baby milk
When travelling with a baby, you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. There is no legal limit to how much you can take, however check with the airport before you travel.
You can carry breast milk in hand luggage even if you’re not travelling with a baby. You cannot carry frozen breast milk in hand luggage.
Individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2,000ml (two litres). Each container will need to be screened at the security point.
Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids.
| Item | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Breast milk | yes, in containers up to 2,000ml (two litres) | yes |
| Frozen breast milk | no | yes |
| Formula milk, cow's milk | yes (baby must be present) | yes |
| Sterilised water for the baby | yes (baby must be present) | yes |
| Soya milk for babies | yes (baby must be present) | yes |
| Baby food | yes (baby must be present) | yes |
| Cooling gel packs | yes | yes |
| Ice packs | yes | yes |
Food and powders
Food items and powders in your hand luggage can block images on x-ray machines. Your bags may need to be checked again by security (by hand).
You can put these items in your hold luggage to reduce delays.
Lighters
You can only carry one lighter on board. You should put it inside a resealable plastic bag (like the ones used for liquids), which you must keep on you throughout the flight. You cannot:
- put it in your hold luggage
- put it in your hand luggage after screening
Mobility aids
Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are usually allowed in the cabin, but they will need to be security screened first.
For battery-powered wheelchairs or mobility aids, check with your airline first.
Musical instruments
Contact your airline before you book if you want to travel with a large musical instrument. You may need to make special arrangements, such as buying an extra seat.
Musical instruments will be screened separately.
Personal items
| Items | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Corkscrew | no | yes |
| Spoon | yes | yes |
| Knife (with a sharp or pointed blade and/ or a blade longer than 6cm) | no | yes (check with airline) |
| Small scissors (with blades no longer than 6cm) | yes | yes |
| Large scissors (with blades longer than 6cm) | no | yes (check with airline) |
| Round-ended/ blunt scissors | yes | yes |
| Fixed-cartridge razor blades (disposable razor) | yes | yes |
| Nail clippers/ nail file | yes | yes |
| Tweezers | yes | yes |
| Knitting needles | yes | yes |
| Sewing needle | yes | yes |
| Umbrella | yes | yes |
| Walking stick/ cane, walking aid | yes | yes |
| Pushchair | yes | yes |
| Wheelchair | yes | yes |
| Safety matches | yes | no |
| Non-safety matches | no | no |
| Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics, including party poppers and toy caps | no | no |
| Cigarette lighter | no (but you can put a lighter in a plastic liquids bag and keep it on your person) | no |
| Contact lens solution | yes (up to 100ml) | yes |
Sports equipment
| Item | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Sports parachute | yes | yes |
| Heavy bats and sticks (including baseball, softball and cricket bats) | no | yes |
| Tennis racquet | yes | yes |
| Snooker, pool or billiard cue | yes | yes |
| Golf clubs | no | yes |
| Darts | no | yes |
| Walking/ hiking poles | no | yes |
| Fishing rod | yes | yes |
| Catapult | no | yes |
| Firearms (including replica firearms) | no | check with airline before you travel |
| Harpoon or spear gun | no | check with airline before you travel |
| Crossbow | no | yes |
| Martial arts equipment (including knuckledusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails and nunchuks) | no | yes |
| Diving equipment | check with airline before you travel | check with airline before you travel |
Work tools
| Item | Allowed in hand baggage? | Allowed in hold baggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Tool with a blade or shaft longer than 6cm (for example, chisel) | no | yes |
| Drill and drill bits | no | yes |
| Stanley knife | no | yes |
| Saw (including portable power saw) | no | yes |
| Screwdriver | no | yes |
| Hammer | no | yes |
| Pliers | no | yes |
| Wrench or spanner | no | yes |
| Bolt gun or nail gun | no | yes |
| Crowbar | no | yes |
| Blowtorch | no | yes |
Chemicals and toxic substances
You cannot take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:
- oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
- acids and alkalis (for example spillable ‘wet’ batteries)
- corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
- vehicle batteries and fuel systems
- self defence or disabling sprays (for example mace, pepper spray)
- radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
- poisons or toxic substances (for example rat poison)
- biological hazards (for example infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
- materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
- fire extinguishers
Ammunition
You cannot take any guns or firearms (including air rifles and starting pistols) as hand luggage. You may be able to take them as hold luggage - check with your airline before you travel.
You cannot take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:
- blasting caps
- detonators and fuses
- imitation explosive devices (including replica or model guns)
- mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
- fireworks and pyrotechnics
- smoke canisters
- smoke cartridges
- dynamite
- gunpowder
- plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
- flares
- hand grenades
- gun cigarette lighters