Can I take it?
What can I take on a plane?
Most everyday items are fine in either bag. The ones that trip people up are batteries (power banks must go in the cabin, never the hold), liquids and sprays (the limit depends on your departure airport) and blades. Find your item below.
Batteries and electricals
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank | With conditions Allowed in the cabin only, within the watt-hour (Wh) limits. | No Power banks are not allowed in checked (hold) baggage. |
| Spare lithium batteries (camera, drone, laptop spares) | With conditions Spare lithium batteries go in the cabin only, within the watt-hour (Wh) limits. | No Spare lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. |
| Ordinary batteries (AA, AAA — dry cell or NiMH rechargeable) | Yes Allowed in the cabin. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Laptop or tablet | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage, but the CAA says these devices should be carried in the cabin. |
| Corded (plug-in) straighteners | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Cordless (battery-powered) straighteners | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. Lithium-battery devices up to 100Wh need no airline approval. | With conditions The CAA says lithium-battery devices should be carried in the cabin. If checked in, it must be completely switched off. |
| Gas-powered straighteners or curlers | With conditions Allowed with the safety cover fitted at all times. One per person. | With conditions Allowed with the safety cover fitted. One per person; no spare gas cartridges. |
| Hair dryer | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Electric toothbrush | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage under the CAA rules for battery-powered devices. |
Toiletries and liquids
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Spray (aerosol) deodorant | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | With conditions Allowed: up to 0.5 litres per can and 2 litres of toiletry aerosols in total per person, with the cap on. |
| Roll-on or gel deodorant | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Toiletry aerosols (hairspray, shaving foam, perfume sprays) | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | With conditions Allowed: up to 0.5 litres per can and 2 litres in total per person, with the cap on. |
| Non-flammable sport or home aerosols | With conditions Allowed within the CAA limits, but they also count as liquids at security, so the airport’s container limit applies. | With conditions Allowed: up to 0.5 litres per can and 2 litres in total per person, with the cap on. |
| Drinks, toiletries, creams, gels and pastes | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage — GOV.UK suggests packing liquids there where possible. |
| Contact lens solution | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
Sharp items
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Disposable or cartridge razor | Yes Allowed in hand luggage (blades fixed into the cartridge). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Electric shaver | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Safety razor, straight razor or loose blades | No Treat as not allowed in hand luggage. | Check airline Pack it in checked baggage if you need it — check with your airline. |
| Small scissors (blades 6cm or shorter) | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Large scissors (blades longer than 6cm) | No Not allowed in hand luggage. | Check airline Allowed in checked baggage — check with your airline. |
| Round-ended or blunt scissors | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
Lighters and vapes
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary cigarette lighter | With conditions One lighter per person, kept on your person — not in your hand luggage bag. | No Not allowed in checked baggage. |
| Jet, blue-flame or windproof lighter | No Forbidden. | No Forbidden. |
| Small packet of safety matches | With conditions One small packet, carried on your person. | No Not allowed in checked baggage. |
| Vape or e-cigarette | With conditions Allowed, but only carried on your person. | No Not allowed in checked baggage. |
Food, medicine and baby
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Solid food (sandwiches, cakes, fruit, snacks) | Yes Solid food is allowed in hand luggage at the airports we’ve checked. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Liquid or semi-liquid food (soup, jam, honey, yoghurt, sauces) | With conditions Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container). | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Frozen food or frozen liquids | No You can’t carry frozen liquids in hand luggage. | Yes Pack it in checked baggage instead. |
| Tablets and capsules | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. You don’t need to show proof for tablets. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Essential liquid medicine | With conditions Essential medicines over 100ml are allowed. If it’s liquid and in a container over 100ml, carry proof it’s prescribed to you. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Inhalers, syringes and needles | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Medical equipment (e.g. CPAP or TENS machine) | Yes Allowed in hand luggage if it’s essential for your journey. It’s screened separately. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Oxygen cylinders | Check airline Contact your airline before you travel. | Check airline Contact your airline before you travel. |
| Formula, baby food or sterilised water | With conditions Allowed in hand luggage when your baby is travelling with you — enough for the journey. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Breast milk (not frozen) | With conditions Allowed in hand luggage in containers of up to 2,000ml each, even if you’re not travelling with a baby. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Frozen breast milk | No Not allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
Nothing matches. Try the item checker, or check GOV.UK’s hand luggage rules.
Need a definite answer for your item?
The checker asks the follow-up questions — like your power bank’s watt-hours or your departure airport — and gives a verdict with the source.
Detailed guides
- Power bank Allowed in the cabin only, within the watt-hour (Wh) limits.
- Hair straighteners Allowed in hand luggage.
- Razor Allowed in hand luggage (blades fixed into the cartridge).
- Deodorant Counts as a liquid, so the container size limit depends on the airport you fly from (100ml or up to 2 litres per container).
- Food Solid food is allowed in hand luggage at the airports we’ve checked.
Why hand luggage and checked baggage differ
The two lists exist for different reasons. Hand luggage rules are about security screening — liquids, blades and anything that could be used as a weapon. Checked baggage rules are mostly about fire risk in the hold, which is why lithium batteries and lighters are restricted there but fine in the cabin. Airlines can add their own restrictions on top of both.
Liquids depend on the airport
For anything that counts as a liquid — drinks, toiletries, sprays, gels, soups, jams — the container limit is set by the airport you fly from. Some UK airports allow up to 2 litres per container, others 100ml. See UK airport liquid rules.