Carry-On Liquids in Australia: The 100ml Rule Explained (2026)

Last verified: 14 May 2026

The 100ml liquids rule is the most common reason carry-on items get binned at Australian security. The rule is well-defined and consistent across every international airline operating in or out of Australia. This is the 2026 version: per-container limit, total pouch volume, what counts as liquid, and how the rule differs between domestic and international flights.

The 100ml rule, in one sentence

Every container of liquid, aerosol or gel in your carry-on must be 100ml or smaller, and all your containers must fit inside a single transparent re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre. The pouch must come out at the security tray for separate X-ray screening.

This is the LAGs rule (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels) administered by the Australian Government and applied by every airline operating international flights from Australia. It's also restated in airline policies: Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas all reference the same 100ml-per-container, 1-litre-total framework.

What counts as a "liquid"?

More than most travellers expect. The 100ml rule applies to anything with the consistency of a liquid, gel, paste, or aerosol. Specifically:

• Obvious: water, juice, soft drinks, alcohol, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, perfume, aftershave.
• Sometimes missed: toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm in a tube, hair gel, hair mousse, hand sanitiser, mascara, liquid foundation, contact lens solution.
• Almost always missed: peanut butter, honey, soft cheese, dips, yoghurt, soup, jam, soft chocolate spread. These trip more security alarms than you'd think.
• Aerosols: deodorant spray, dry shampoo spray, body spray. All subject to the 100ml cap.

Powders are technically not "liquids" but international departures from Australia restrict powder volumes above 350ml per container on US-bound flights.

Exemptions: what's allowed over 100ml

A small set of items can travel in larger volumes if declared at security:

• Prescription medicines in any volume, with the prescription or doctor's letter. Insulin, EpiPens, asthma puffers all included.
• Baby formula and baby food in volumes reasonable for the trip duration, with an infant travelling.
• Special dietary items with medical documentation (e.g. nutritional supplements, allergy medicines).
• Duty-free liquids bought after security in sealed STEBs (Security Tamper-Evident Bags) provided by the duty-free shop. The bag must remain sealed until you reach your final destination.

Declare any of these at security before screening starts. They go through a separate process and don't count against the 1-litre pouch.

Does the rule apply to domestic flights?

This is the most common point of confusion. The short answer: international departures and arrivals strictly enforce the 100ml rule. Domestic flights within Australia generally apply it loosely, with some exceptions on certain departures.

The longer answer: airports apply screening based on aircraft type and destination. Most major Australian airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth) apply the 100ml rule to all departures by default. Smaller regional airports often don't, especially on turboprop routes. The safest assumption: pack to the 100ml rule regardless of route. The cost of being wrong is a binned bottle of shampoo; the cost of being right is zero.

What size pouch do I actually need?

The rule specifies a pouch with maximum 1-litre capacity. In practice, most travel-friendly toiletry pouches come at 20 x 20 cm (square) or 18 x 25 cm (rectangular), both around 1 litre. The pouch must be:

• Transparent. Security needs to X-ray and visually inspect the contents.
• Re-sealable. Zip-lock or zipper closure. Not a tied-off plastic bag.
• Single bag. Multiple smaller bags aren't allowed; everything in one pouch.
• Capacity 1 litre maximum. A larger pouch fails the test even if it's not full.

The Cubey Hang-Up Toiletry Kit's TSA-friendly clear section is sized to exactly this rule.

How to pack liquids for the security tray

The fastest move through security:

1. Decant shampoo, conditioner, body wash and any other liquids into 60-100ml silicone or hard travel bottles before you leave home. Label each bottle with masking tape if you can't tell them apart.
2. Put all bottles in the clear 1-litre pouch.
3. Pack the pouch on the top of your carry-on so you can pull it out at security in under 10 seconds.
4. Pack solid items (toothbrush, deodorant stick, razor) in the main compartment of your toiletry bag. These don't need to come out.
5. Pack medication and items needing declaration in a separate small pouch, easily accessible.

For the full pack-the-bag method, our how to pack a carry-on guide walks the 8-step process.

International variations

The 100ml rule is broadly consistent across Australia, the EU, US, UK, and most of Asia. Two variations worth knowing:

• UK and EU: Some airports have rolled out new CT scanners that allow liquids over 100ml without removing the pouch. Coverage varies by terminal; assume the old rule applies unless told otherwise at screening.
• US TSA: Same 100ml / 1-litre rule, branded as 3-1-1 (3.4 oz per container, 1 quart-size bag, 1 bag per passenger).
• Powders on US-bound flights: Containers of powder over 350ml may be required to come out separately or be checked. Loose tea, ground coffee, baby powder all caught.

FAQ

What is the 100ml liquids rule in Australia?

Every container of liquid, aerosol or gel in carry-on must be 100ml or smaller. All containers fit inside one transparent re-sealable plastic bag of maximum 1 litre capacity. The pouch comes out at security for separate X-ray screening.

Can I take liquids in carry-on on a domestic flight?

Generally yes, with the 100ml rule applied loosely on most domestic departures within Australia. International departures and arrivals always enforce. Safest move: pack to the 100ml rule regardless of route.

Does sunscreen count as a liquid?

Yes. Sunscreen (cream, spray, or stick gel form) is subject to the 100ml cap. Buy travel-size at destination if you need more than 100ml for a beach trip.

Does toothpaste count as a liquid?

Yes. Toothpaste is technically a gel and subject to the 100ml cap. A standard 110g toothpaste tube usually exceeds 100ml by volume; use a travel-size tube (50-75g) or decant.

What size pouch do I need for liquids?

A transparent re-sealable plastic bag with maximum 1 litre capacity. Typical sizes that work: 20 x 20 cm square or 18 x 25 cm rectangular. The pouch in the Cubey Hang-Up Toiletry Kit is sized to this rule.

Can I take prescription medicine in carry-on over 100ml?

Yes. Prescription medicines (insulin, asthma puffers, EpiPens, liquid medications) in any volume can travel in carry-on with the prescription or doctor's letter. Declare at security before screening.

What about duty-free liquids I bought after security?

Allowed in larger volumes if sealed in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) provided by the duty-free shop, with the receipt visible. The bag must stay sealed until your final destination. If you have a connecting flight, the second security check may require re-sealing or transfer to a 100ml-compliant pouch.

Can I take peanut butter in carry-on?

Technically yes if the container is 100ml or smaller. Most jars exceed this and trigger an alarm at X-ray (paste density is similar to plastic explosives, which screening machines flag). Save peanut butter for checked baggage or buy at destination.

What Cubey makes for this

The Hang-Up Toiletry Kit ($59) handles the 100ml rule cleanly. The TSA-friendly clear pouch detaches from the main kit so you can pull it out at security in one motion, run it through X-ray, and put it back in the kit on the other side. The main compartment holds solid items (toothbrush, deodorant stick, razor) that don't need to come out. The detachable third pouch holds medication and small items.

Hanging hook on the back means you can hang the whole kit on a hotel bathroom door, which beats unpacking onto a wet sink.

Free local delivery on orders over $149. 30-day returns from Sydney.

The practical takeaway

The 100ml rule is one of the easiest carry-on rules to comply with and one of the most expensive to break (the cost is a binned full-size bottle of whatever you paid for). Decant before you leave, use a 1-litre clear pouch, and pack the pouch on top of your bag so it's out in 10 seconds at security. For the full set of carry-on rules across every Australian airline, see our all-airlines pillar; for the international comparison, the international carry-on rules guide covers Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar, United and Air NZ.