What Can You Pack in Carry-On Luggage? A Global Guide

Packing for an international flight means dealing with several sets of rules at once. Your airline controls the size and weight of your bag, airport security examines its contents, and aviation safety requirements govern batteries and other dangerous goods. Transfer airports and destination-country laws can add further restrictions.

There is no single worldwide list that answers every carry-on question. Check your airline for baggage and battery conditions, then consult the official security guidance for every airport where you may be screened. Keep essential documents, medicines and valuables accessible, and never place a power bank or loose lithium battery in checked baggage.

Start with the three rulebooks that apply to your bag

Travelers often treat “carry-on rules” as one system, but three separate authorities may be involved:

1. The airline sets cabin-bag dimensions, weight limits, permitted quantity and fare conditions.
2. The airport or national security authority decides which liquids, tools, blades and other objects may pass through screening.
3. Dangerous-goods rules and airline policies govern lithium batteries, power banks, electronic cigarettes and other potentially hazardous items.

Airline baggage allowances can vary by carrier, route, cabin and ticket type. A bag accepted on one flight is therefore not guaranteed to qualify on another, even when the aircraft or destination is similar. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai))

International itineraries can also involve more than one security check. Review the rules at your departure airport and any connecting airport where passengers must be rescreened.

Liquids: 100 ml is common, but not a universal promise

Many airport-security systems restrict liquids, aerosols and gels in cabin baggage to containers holding no more than 100 milliliters or 3.4 US fluid ounces. They may also require the containers to fit inside a transparent, resealable bag with a capacity of approximately one liter. The United States applies the 3.4-ounce or 100 ml container limit, while IATA describes the 100 ml system as one used in many countries rather than a universal rule. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai))

The container’s stated capacity normally matters, not the amount remaining inside it. A partly empty 200 ml bottle may therefore be rejected where a 100 ml limit applies.

Security authorities generally treat more than drinks as liquids. Creams, gels, pastes, sprays and semi-liquid foods may fall under the same restrictions. Examples can include toothpaste, perfume, sunscreen, yogurt, jam and spreadable foods, although the final classification belongs to the local screening authority.

Do not assume that newer screening equipment allows large bottles. Procedures can differ between terminals and may change before your return journey. Check the departure airport’s current instructions shortly before traveling.

Medicines, baby food and special diets

Many security regimes provide exceptions for medically necessary liquids, baby food and special dietary products. Additional screening may be required, and passengers can be asked to explain why an item is needed. IATA advises travelers carrying medical supplies such as syringes to have documentation of the medical need and to keep supplies professionally packed and labeled. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai))

Security permission does not automatically establish that a medicine may legally enter another country. Check the destination’s health, customs or embassy guidance for controlled medicines, prescription documents and quantity limits.

Power banks and spare batteries belong in the cabin

Power banks are treated as spare lithium batteries. They must be carried in hand baggage rather than checked baggage, and their terminals should be protected against short circuits. Suitable protection can include the original packaging, terminal covers, a protective pouch or tape over exposed contacts. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/?utm_source=openai))

Check the watt-hour rating printed on the battery. Batteries up to 100 Wh are generally accepted in carry-on baggage, while larger batteries may require airline approval or may not be accepted. Current treatment of power banks above 100 Wh is not uniform enough to assume approval: ask the operating airline before traveling. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/?utm_source=openai))

If only voltage and milliamp-hours are shown, calculate the rating as follows:

• Wh = volts × amp-hours
• Wh = volts × milliamp-hours ÷ 1,000

For example, a battery marked 20,000 mAh at 3.7 V has a nominal capacity of 74 Wh.

Airlines may impose limits on the number of power banks and may restrict where they are stored or whether they can be used or recharged in flight. IATA’s current passenger guidance includes tighter recommendations, but it also notes that adoption into regulation takes time and that airlines may set more stringent conditions. Treat the operating carrier’s published policy as the practical requirement for your flight rather than assuming one industry document is a universal law. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd5788561d6e/passengers_travelling_with_lithium_batteries.pdf?utm_source=openai))

Never travel with a swollen, damaged, recalled or overheating battery. If a device or power bank becomes hot, emits smoke, expands or develops an unusual smell during a flight, stop using it and alert cabin crew immediately. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/?utm_source=openai))

What to do if your cabin bag is checked at the gate

Before surrendering a carry-on bag for loading into the hold, remove all power banks and spare batteries. Keep them with you in the cabin. It is also sensible to remove phones, tablets, laptops and other valuable electronics rather than leaving them in a gate-checked bag. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/?utm_source=openai))

Phones, laptops, cameras and smart luggage

Portable electronic devices are best carried in hand baggage. If an airline allows a device with an installed battery in checked baggage, it generally must be protected from damage and accidental activation and switched off completely—not left in sleep or hibernation mode. Some airlines apply stricter policies. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dangerous-goods/dgr-guidance-passengers/?utm_source=openai))

Camera and drone batteries removed from their devices count as spare batteries and must remain in carry-on baggage with protected terminals. Larger professional batteries require advance confirmation from the airline.

Smart luggage needs special attention. If its lithium battery is removable and the bag is checked, remove the battery and carry it in the cabin. Bags with larger non-removable lithium batteries may be refused entirely. Very small batteries used solely for low-energy tracking functions can be subject to separate provisions, so check both the bag specifications and the airline’s policy. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dangerous-goods/dgr-guidance-passengers/?utm_source=openai))

Sharp objects, tools and weapons depend on local security rules

Blades, cutting implements, tools and sporting equipment are evaluated under the rules of the security authority conducting the screening. A small item permitted at one airport may be prohibited at another, so do not rely on a previous trip or an unofficial packing list. IATA notes that baggage is screened under applicable national regulations, while country-specific authorities publish their own item-by-item guidance. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai))

Never place a firearm, weapon or realistic weapon replica in carry-on baggage. Legal transport in checked baggage, where available, can require advance airline approval, secure packaging, declaration and compliance with the laws of every relevant jurisdiction. Rules governing possession may be stricter than aviation baggage rules. ([tsa.gov](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list?pubDate=20250608&utm_source=openai))

For knives, razors, scissors, tools and sporting items, search the official prohibited-items list of the airport or national authority rather than judging an object only by its size. When an item is allowed in checked baggage, cover or securely wrap sharp edges to protect baggage handlers and inspectors.

What should always stay within reach

Keep these items in your personal item or cabin bag whenever possible:

• Passport, visas and travel documents
• Wallet, keys and essential valuables
• Necessary medicines and supporting documents
• Phones, laptops, cameras and data-storage devices
• Power banks and protected spare batteries
• Fragile or irreplaceable belongings
• Basic necessities for a delay or missed connection

IATA recommends keeping valuable and irreplaceable items out of checked baggage. Carrying essential medication and a minimal overnight kit is also practical if checked luggage is delayed. ([iata.org](https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai))

A five-step check before an international flight

1. Open your booking: Confirm the cabin-bag dimensions, weight and number of pieces included in your fare.
2. Check every screening point: Review official liquid and prohibited-item rules for the departure and transfer airports.
3. Inspect every battery: Find the Wh rating, remove damaged batteries and protect spare-battery terminals.
4. Read the airline’s dangerous-goods policy: Look specifically for current power-bank quantity, storage, use and charging restrictions.
5. Check destination laws: Verify rules for medicines, weapons, restricted goods and any items subject to customs or import controls.

The safest approach is to separate questions instead of looking for one universal packing list. Ask the airline whether the bag and batteries are acceptable, ask the relevant security authority whether the contents can pass screening, and check destination authorities for legal import restrictions.

Sources

1. IATA — Safe Travel with Lithium Batteries — https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/
2. https://www.iata.org/contentassets/90f8038b0eea42069554b2f4530f49ea/guidance-to-operators—power-banks.pdf
3. IATA — Guidance for Passengers Travelling with Lithium Batteries, 2026 — https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd5788561d6e/passengers_travelling_with_lithium_batteries.pdf
4. https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/pressroom/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-lithium-batteries/
5. IATA — Dangerous Goods Guidance for Passengers — https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dangerous-goods/dgr-guidance-passengers/
6. IATA — Passenger Baggage Rules — https://www.iata.org/bags/index
7. Transportation Security Administration — What Can I Bring? — https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list?pubDate=20250608
8. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dangerous-goods//dgr-guidance-passengers
9. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/ops-infra/baggage/ped/
10. https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/baggage/
11. European Union Aviation Safety Agency — Dangerous Goods When Flying — https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/dangerous-goods-when-flying
12. https://www.iata.org/en/travelers/
13. https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/lithium-batteries-aviation-powering-future-and-managing-risks
14. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/newsletters/iata-knowledge-hub/what-to-know-about-how-to-ship-lithium-batteries/
15. https://www.casa.gov.au/packright/dangerous-goods
16. IATA – Passenger Baggage Rules — https://www.iata.org/bags/index?utm_source=openai
17. IATA – Safe Travel with Lithium Batteries — https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/?utm_source=openai
18. Passengers travelling with lithium batteries — https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd5788561d6e/passengers_travelling_with_lithium_batteries.pdf?utm_source=openai
19. IATA – Dangerous Goods Guidance for Passengers — https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dangerous-goods/dgr-guidance-passengers/?utm_source=openai
20. Complete List (Alphabetical) | Transportation Security Administration — https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list?pubDate=20250608&utm_source=openai