UK hand luggage rules: the complete guide to what you can and can't bring on board

Important for return journeys: Just because your departure airport has lifted the 100ml rule doesn't mean your return airport has. Many airports abroad, including popular holiday destinations, still enforce the old rules. Always check before you fly home.

What counts as a liquid?

Where the 100ml rule still applies, the following all count as liquids and must comply with current cabin bag rules:

• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, shower gel
• Makeup: foundation, lip gloss, mascara
• Aerosols: deodorant, hairspray, dry shampoo
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
• Perfume and aftershave
• Contact lens solution
• Honey, jam, peanut butter, hummus, yoghurt, and similar spreadable or semi-liquid foods

Exemptions at all airports regardless of the rule in place

The following are exempt from liquid restrictions at all UK airports:

• Liquid medicines: quantities over 100ml permitted with a prescription or GP letter
• Baby milk, formula, and baby food: exempt for the duration of the journey; declare at security
• Breast milk: permitted whether or not your baby is travelling with you
• Duty-free liquids: permitted if sealed in a security bag with the receipt visible inside

Airports where the 100ml rule has been lifted (up to 2 litres permitted)

Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast International, Belfast City, and Bournemouth have upgraded to new CT security scanners.

At these airports, passengers can leave liquids in their cabin bags and carry containers of up to 2 litres through security. You no longer need to remove liquids from your hand luggage or pack them in a clear plastic bag.

Airports where the 100ml rule still applies

At London Stansted, Manchester, London Luton, London City, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, Aberdeen, Cardiff, and Southampton, the 100ml rule still applies. Although, at most of these airports you no longer need to remove liquids from your bag for screening.

Which rule applies at your airport?

*This table reflects the position as of March 2026 but the rollout is ongoing. Always verify the current rules on your specific airport's website before you travel, as airports can upgrade without much public notice.

Batteries: the rules that catch people out

Batteries are one of the most misunderstood areas of hand luggage policy because most passengers have never had to think about them.

Standard, non-lithium batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, button cell) are permitted in both hand luggage and checked baggage, provided they're packed to prevent short-circuiting. Keep them in their original packaging or use a battery case.

Lithium batteries are where it gets more specific:

Loose lithium batteries must travel in hand luggage only. They are never permitted in hold baggage due to fire risk

Lithium batteries installed in devices (phones, laptops, cameras) can travel in either hand or hold luggage

Spare lithium batteries over 160Wh are generally prohibited in both cabin and hold on commercial flights, but check with your airline for specific equipment

This rule exists because lithium battery fires are more easily detected and managed in the cabin than in the hold.

Electronics

Most portable electronics are permitted in hand luggage, including:

• Laptops and tablets
• Mobile phones and cameras
• Electric razors and hair dryers
• Portable chargers and power banks (subject to lithium battery rules above)
• Headphones and earbuds

At airports with new CT scanners, you no longer need to remove laptops and other electronic items from your bag at security. At airports without them, you'll still be asked to take them out and place them in a tray separately.

Drones occupy a grey area. Airlines have their own policies on whether they're permitted in the cabin, so check directly with your carrier before travelling.

E-cigarettes and vapes

Vaping and smoking are prohibited on all commercial flights, but what catches people out is the rule around carrying these devices.

E-cigarettes, vape pens, and any device containing a lithium-ion battery are a safety risk and must be kept in your hand luggage. These items are expressly prohibited from checked baggage.

E-liquids are subject to the standard liquids rule: 100ml containers at airports where that rule still applies.

FYI: Single-use disposable vapes have been banned for sale in the UK since June 2025. You can still travel with devices purchased legally, but they must remain in hand luggage.

Sharp items

Anything that could be used as a weapon won't get through security. This means certain sharp knives, ammunition, guns, and some scissors are banned from being taken into the cabin of the plane, whether in hand luggage or on your person.

If you're ever in doubt, pack it in your checked bag, wrapped safely to protect baggage handlers.

Food

Dry, solid food is generally fine in your hand luggage. Complications only arise in two specific situations.

Foods that are liquid or gel-like: yoghurt, peanut butter, hummus, jam, soft cheese, honey all fall under the liquids rule where it applies and must be in containers of 100ml or less.

Foods subject to import restrictions, and this is where it gets particularly important for UK passengers.

There are now significant food restrictions for both inbound and outbound UK flights.

Travelling from the UK to the EU: The EU prohibits passengers arriving from non-EU countries (including Great Britain post-Brexit) from bringing meat and dairy products into the region.

Returning to the UK from the EU: Since 12 April 2025, bringing meat or dairy products from any EU country into Great Britain has been illegal. This includes sandwiches, cured meats, cheese, and milk, whether packaged or bought at duty-free. If you get caught with these products you can be fined up to GBP 5,000.

These rules can change, so always check GOV.UK before you travel.

Sports and outdoor equipment

Most sports equipment is not permitted in the aircraft cabin but only because items like ski poles or hockey sticks could be used as weapons or are just too large for the cabin's limited space.

A note on walking sticks: Standard walking sticks and crutches used as mobility aids are permitted in the cabin and typically do not count towards your hand baggage allowance. This is different from collapsible trekking or hiking poles, which must go in the hold.

Firearms and ammunition

In the UK, the rules on travelling with firearms are far stricter than in many other countries. Civilian ownership of most firearms is heavily restricted, and the rules for travelling with them are just as strict.

Firearms and ammunition are absolutely prohibited in hand luggage. If you are legally authorised to travel with a firearm as checked baggage, for example, as a licensed sport shooter, you must:

• Declare the firearm to your airline before check-in
• Transport it in a hard-sided, locked container in the hold
• Comply with both UK departure rules and the destination country's import regulations
• Carry supporting documentation for the firearm

For more specifics, contact your airline and the UK Civil Aviation Authority well in advance of travel.

What to always keep in your hand luggage

Even if you plan to check your main bag, there are certain items that should always travel with you in the cabin, both for security and because airlines can lose or delay baggage.

Keep these items in your hand baggage:

• Medications, including all prescription and essential over-the-counter medicines, including a sufficient supply for delays
• Valuables, like jewellery, cameras, laptops, and anything irreplaceable
• Important documents, such as your passport, travel insurance details, accommodation bookings
• Cash, in a reasonable amount in the relevant currency
• A change of clothes, particularly useful if your checked bag is delayed
• Basic toiletries to get through a night if your bag doesn't arrive

A note on airline size and weight rules

The size and weight of hand baggage varies according to the airline and aircraft type. Always check your baggage allowance in advance with the airline. Some carriers will require you to check in bags that are too large to be hand luggage, and many will charge you to do this.

Budget carriers in particular have tightened their cabin bag policies, with some now charging for bags that exceed your personal item allowance. If your bag doesn't comply with the rules, you may be asked to check it at the gate, and that means you'll have to pay hold baggage fees plus the risk of delay or damage.

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