Lotion is a must-have for keeping your skin soft and hydrated, whether you’re heading on a short trip or a long-haul flight, but can you bring lotion on a plane?
The short answer is yes, you can take lotion on a plane, but there are some rules to keep in mind. When taking lotion in your carry-on, the container should be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, and it must be placed in a quart-sized toiletries bag along with any other liquids, gels, and creams. You can carry multiple small containers as long as they all fit in the quart-sized bag.
For larger containers of lotion, you can pack them in your checked baggage without any size restrictions.
This post covers everything you need to know about bringing lotion on a plane in both domestic and international flights, so you can keep your skin moisturized and hydrated while you travel.
Let’s dive in.
TL;DR
- Carry-on: max 3.4 oz / 100 ml per container, must fit in a quart-sized bag with other liquids, gels, and creams; multiple small containers allowed
- Checked baggage: no strict size limits; each container must be 18 oz / 500 ml or less, total 2 kg / 2 L per person; aerosols allowed with the same limits
- Medical lotion: can exceed carry-on limits if you inform TSA; prescription not always required
- Lotion bars: unlimited quantity, solid, good carry-on alternative
- International flights: same rules as domestic; larger bottles go in checked baggage
Can you take lotion through the TSA security checkpoint?
TSA carry-on lotion size.
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulates what you can and can’t bring on planes within and from the United States.
They have limited the size of lotion you can take on a plane.
According to them, body lotion is allowed through the security checkpoint, but it needs to follow the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule.
No more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml of liquids per container, placed in a resealable quart-sized bag.
If you are not sure what the TSA liquids rule covers, here is what the TSA says:
Any item that you can pump, squeeze, spread, smear, spray, or spill must follow our liquids rule in carry-on bags.
I checked the TSA social media to find some answers.
Brian wanted to bring an unopened 150 ml bottle of lotion as a gift in a carry-on bag.
The TSA customer service replied that lotion must be 3.4 ounces or less and fit comfortably in a single quart-sized resealable bag containing other travel-sized liquid items.
If the container exceeds the permitted size and you want to fill it only with 3.4 oz / 100 ml, the TSA still does not allow that; you need to take only small containers.
Remember, you will be required to remove your toiletries from your bag at the security checkpoint.
On the other hand, if you purchase your lotion after the security checkpoint or you have a prescription for medical lotion, you can take larger quantities.
Here is an answer from the TSA customer service:
They replied to Frida that medically necessary products, including creams, are good to go in carry-on bags and can exceed the 3.4 oz / 100 ml size, but she will need to inform the security officer that she has medical liquids and place them in a separate bin for x-ray screening.
Although a prescription is not always required, if you don’t have one, you may need to use some persuasion to convince the security officer that your lotion is for medical use.
If you are traveling carry-on only and need to take more, lotion bars are a good replacement, as there are no limits on the quantity of solid items you can take on board the airplane.
Additionally, lotion bars contain fewer chemical ingredients and are reasonably priced compared to liquid lotions.
Can you bring lotion in checked luggage?
You can pack lotion in checked luggage without any limits.
Taking liquids in checked baggage is generally more lenient compared to carry-on bags.
The capacity of each container must not exceed 0.5 kg (18 ounces) or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces).
The total quantity per person cannot exceed 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2 L (68 fluid ounces).
Jim wanted to know if he can fly with a can or two of aerosol suntan lotion in checked baggage.
The TSA gave him the green light, but as we mentioned above, lotion in aerosol form is allowed in checked bags, and each bottle must not exceed 18 ounces.
Can you take lotion on international flights?
Can you take lotion through customs?
Yes.
I can say the rule on traveling with lotion on international flights is almost the same as traveling domestically.
Unless for medical use, the maximum size for each bottle is 3.4 oz / 100 ml in carry-on baggage; you can put larger containers in checked baggage.
It is probably better to take lotion in checked baggage on international flights.
If you want to take more than the allowed amount, you will need to save space in your carry-on baggage for more essential items.
Final thoughts on taking lotion on a plane.
You can bring lotion in both carry-on and checked baggage along with your other toiletries.
Pack only containers of 3.4 oz / 100 ml or less in carry-on luggage. Large bottles (for instance, an 8 oz lotion bottle / 230 ml) need to be placed in checked bags.
If you are traveling with a type of medical lotion or buy lotion after the security checkpoint, then it is fine to bring any quantity, and you don’t even have to place it inside a quart-sized bag.
I hope this helps.
Happy travels.
Got more travel questions? Check out our guides on what toiletries you can bring on a plane:
- Can You Bring Body Wash On a Plane?
- Can you bring shampoo on a plane?
- Can you take Hairspray on a plane?
- Can you bring a bar of soap on the plane?
- Can You Take Vaseline On A Plane?
- Can You Bring Skin Care Products On a Plane?
Can I bring a large and full 16oz bottle of lotion on a plane?
Hi, yes but only in your checked bag, not your carry-on. the airport security will take it away if it is more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml in your carry-on.