Airport liquid rules are simple in principle and surprisingly easy to get wrong in practice. The key point is that security staff look at the capacity printed on the container, not at how much product remains inside it. A half-full 200 ml bottle is still a 200 ml container and normally belongs in checked baggage when you depart from an airport in the European Union.

This guide turns the current EU rules into a packing routine you can use before leaving home. Airline cabin-bag dimensions and weight limits are separate: your carrier decides those, while the liquid restrictions are aviation-security requirements.

The basic EU rule

Liquids, aerosols and gels carried through security in cabin baggage must be in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100 ml. Those containers must fit inside one transparent plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one litre.

The category is broader than drinks. It includes toothpaste, creams, lotions, gels, liquid make-up, perfume, sprays, shaving foam and similar products. If an item can be poured, spread, sprayed or squeezed, treat it as a liquid unless your departure airport says otherwise.

Why the container size matters

Decant shampoo, sunscreen and other toiletries into travel containers clearly marked 100 ml or less. Do not rely on a large bottle being nearly empty. Security officers cannot verify the remaining volume precisely, so the labelled capacity is the practical test.

Place every compliant container in the same one-litre transparent bag and make sure it can close. Overstuffing it creates avoidable delays and may lead to items being refused. A quick check the night before travel is much easier than reorganising toiletries at the screening lane.

Medicines and baby food are exceptions

The 100 ml volume restriction does not apply to medicines and baby food needed for the journey. That exception is not a promise that every item will pass without questions: security staff may inspect or test it, and procedures can vary by airport.

Keep medicines in their original packaging where practical. For prescription treatments, carry the prescription or a medical letter, especially if you have liquid medication, syringes or a quantity that might prompt questions. Check the destination’s rules as well, because permission to take medicine through airport security does not automatically mean it is legal to import every medicine into another country.

For infant feeding, pack a realistic amount for the journey and allow extra for delays. Keep baby milk, sterilised water and food easy to reach so they can be presented separately if requested.

What about duty-free liquids?

Liquids bought at an airport or from an airline may be carried as cabin baggage when the product and receipt remain sealed inside the security bag supplied at purchase. Do not open that bag before reaching your final destination.

If security officers need to open it for screening and you have an onward connection, tell them about the next flight. The official EU guidance says the liquids can be resealed in a new security bag. Keeping the receipt inside the bag is essential because it shows where and when the purchase was made.

Connecting flights need extra planning

A transfer can involve a second security check, particularly when you enter a different security zone or arrive from outside the EU. The sealed duty-free bag is designed for this situation, but local processes still matter. When an itinerary includes several countries, check the airport websites for every point where you expect to pass security.

Do the same when using newer scanners. Some airports may temporarily apply different screening procedures, but travellers should not assume that a modern scanner automatically removes the standard restrictions. Follow the published rule of your departure airport and be ready to use the 100 ml format.

A five-minute packing checklist

• Move every ordinary liquid, aerosol or gel into a container of 100 ml or less.
• Fit all those containers into one transparent bag of no more than one litre.
• Put larger toiletries in checked baggage, or buy them after arrival.
• Keep medicines, supporting documents and baby food together and accessible.
• Leave duty-free purchases and their receipts sealed until the final destination.
• Check your airline for cabin-bag size and weight, and your airport for local screening instructions.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most frequent errors are bringing a partly used oversized bottle, scattering liquids across several pouches, forgetting that pastes and creams count, and opening a duty-free security bag during a connection. Frozen or unusually packaged products can also attract additional screening, so pack conservatively when the airport’s guidance is unclear.

A little preparation protects both time and money: use small, labelled containers; keep exceptions separate; and verify the airport-specific page shortly before departure. Rules can change, and the final decision at the security checkpoint always belongs to the responsible officers.

Official source: Your Europe — Luggage restrictions (last checked by the service on 16 June 2026).