What Can I Bring?

Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport. Know what you can pack in your carry-on and checked baggage before arriving at the airport by reviewing the lists below. Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. Read about civil penalties for prohibited items.

For items not listed here, simply snap a picture or send a question to AskTSA on Facebook Messenger or Twitter. We look forward to answering your questions, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET weekdays; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends/holidays.

 

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

 

Officers may ask you to power up your electronic device, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. TSA does not read or copy information from your device.

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Hair Clippers

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Hair Dryers

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Hair Straightener, flat iron (with cord)

  • Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
  • Checked Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Electric curling irons and hair straighteners with cords are not restricted unless they also include batteries or gas/fuel cartridges See Hair Straightener (cordless) for more information.

Laptops

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Please remove the laptops from your bag and place it in a separate bin for X-ray screening.

TSA PreCheck® travelers do not need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets. Please see TSA PreCheck® for more information.

Lithium batteries with 100 watt hours or less in a device

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are limited to 2 grams of lithium per battery. Lithium ion (rechargeable) batteries are limited to a rating of 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery. These limits allow for nearly all types of lithium batteries used by the average person in their electronic devices.

This instruction covers spare lithium metal and spare rechargeable lithium ion batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. This instruction also includes external battery chargers (portable rechargers and power banks) containing a lithium ion battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries.

For lithium batteries that are installed in a device (laptop, cell phone, camera, etc.), see FAA regulations for "portable electronic devices, containing batteries".

Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours

  • Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
  • Checked Bags: No

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

With airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101–160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams). This size covers the larger after-market extended-life laptop computer batteries and some larger batteries used in professional audio/visual equipment. There is a limit of two spare batteries per person for the larger lithium ion batteries described above (101–160 watt hours per battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries.

This instruction covers spare lithium metal and spare rechargeable lithium ion batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. This instruction also includes external battery chargers (portable rechargers and power banks) containing a lithium ion battery. For lithium batteries that are installed in a device (laptop, cell phone, camera, etc.), see FAA regulations for "portable electronic devices, containing batteries."

Microwave

  • Carry On Bags: Check with Airline
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Microwave is allowed through the checkpoint. Please check with your airline for their policy.

Mixer

  • Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Mixer is allowed in carry-on bags. Please check with your airline for any size or weight restrictions.

Navigation GPS

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Playstation

  • Carry On Bags: Yes
  • Checked Bags: Yes

Please carefully pack your electronics items and make sure all cords are wrapped. While you can pack expensive, fragile electronics items in checked or carry-on bags, we recommend packing them in your carry-on. For items you wish to carry on, you should check with the airline to ensure that the item will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.