Free checker
Can I take this on a plane?
Pick an item to see whether it can go in your hand luggage, your checked baggage, or neither — with the conditions and the official UK source.
Quick answers
A summary of the official UK rules. Airlines can be stricter, and liquids also depend on your departure airport.
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Toiletry aerosols (hairspray, shaving foam, perfume sprays) | With conditions | With conditions |
| Non-flammable sport or home aerosols | With conditions | With conditions |
| Formula, baby food or sterilised water | With conditions | Yes |
| Breast milk (not frozen) | With conditions | Yes |
| Frozen breast milk | No | Yes |
| Spray (aerosol) deodorant | With conditions | With conditions |
| Roll-on or gel deodorant | With conditions | Yes |
| Electric toothbrush | Yes | Yes |
| Solid food (sandwiches, cakes, fruit, snacks) | Yes | Yes |
| Liquid or semi-liquid food (soup, jam, honey, yoghurt, sauces) | With conditions | Yes |
| Frozen food or frozen liquids | No | Yes |
| Hair dryer | Yes | Yes |
| Corded (plug-in) straighteners | Yes | Yes |
| Cordless (battery-powered) straighteners | Yes | With conditions |
| Gas-powered straighteners or curlers | With conditions | With conditions |
| Laptop or tablet | Yes | Yes |
| Ordinary cigarette lighter | With conditions | No |
| Jet, blue-flame or windproof lighter | No | No |
| Small packet of safety matches | With conditions | No |
| Drinks, toiletries, creams, gels and pastes | With conditions | Yes |
| Contact lens solution | With conditions | Yes |
| Tablets and capsules | Yes | Yes |
| Essential liquid medicine | With conditions | Yes |
| Inhalers, syringes and needles | Yes | Yes |
| Medical equipment (e.g. CPAP or TENS machine) | Yes | Yes |
| Oxygen cylinders | Check airline | Check airline |
| Power bank | With conditions | No |
| Disposable or cartridge razor | Yes | Yes |
| Electric shaver | Yes | Yes |
| Safety razor, straight razor or loose blades | No | Check airline |
| Small scissors (blades 6cm or shorter) | Yes | Yes |
| Large scissors (blades longer than 6cm) | No | Check airline |
| Round-ended or blunt scissors | Yes | Yes |
| Spare lithium batteries (camera, drone, laptop spares) | With conditions | No |
| Ordinary batteries (AA, AAA — dry cell or NiMH rechargeable) | Yes | Yes |
| Vape or e-cigarette | With conditions | No |
Batteries and power banks
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must go in your hand luggage, never in the hold. Up to 100Wh needs no airline approval; over 100Wh up to 160Wh needs your airline’s approval. Since March 2026 the CAA also says you can carry no more than two power banks, and they mustn’t be recharged on board.
Also check: your departure airport’s liquid rules and whether your cabin bag fits.