TSA prohibited items: what you can't bring on a plane

The things that get stopped at security, sorted the way it actually matters: what has to go in your checked bag, what must stay in the cabin with you, and what does not fly at all.

Updated on September 2, 2026

This is a general guide, not the final word. Rules change and vary by airline, so confirm any item with TSA's What Can I Bring? tool before you pack. For a single item, our carry-on checker gives a quick answer.

Leave it out of your carry-on (pack it in checked)

Anything that is a liquid over the limit, a blade, a tool or a potential club has to go in your checked bag.

Liquids, gels and aerosols over 3.4 oz (100 ml)
Full-size toiletries, drinks, sunscreen and sprays. In carry-on only under the 3-1-1 limit; larger sizes go in checked.
Knives and blades
Pocket knives, box cutters, utility and hunting knives, straight razors, loose razor blades. Disposable and cartridge razors are fine in carry-on.
Scissors longer than 4 inches
Measured from the pivot. Shorter scissors are allowed in carry-on.
Tools longer than 7 inches
Wrenches, pliers, hammers, drills, crowbars and saws. Tools 7 inches or shorter may be allowed in carry-on.
Sporting goods that double as a club
Baseball and softball bats, golf clubs, hockey and lacrosse sticks, ski poles, pool cues, bows and arrows. Balls themselves are fine.
Self-defense weapons
Billy clubs, brass knuckles, nunchucks, throwing stars, tasers. Checked only.
Firearms and ammunition
Checked only, unloaded, in a locked hard-sided case, declared to the airline. Ammunition in its own packaging.
Pepper spray or mace
Checked only: one 4 oz (118 ml) container with a safety cap. Not allowed in carry-on. Bear spray is banned from the plane entirely.

Keep it in the cabin (never in checked)

A cargo-hold fire cannot be reached in flight, so anything with a lithium battery flies with you.

Power banks and spare lithium batteries
Portable chargers, phone battery cases and loose lithium batteries must be in your carry-on, never in checked baggage.
E-cigarettes and vapes
Carry-on only. Do not charge or use them in flight, and prevent accidental activation.
Safety matches
One book, carried on you. All matches are banned from checked bags. Strike-anywhere matches are not allowed at all.

Banned from the plane, in any bag

Fire, explosion or federal-law reasons. These do not fly, carry-on or checked.

Flammable liquids and gases
Gasoline, butane, propane, cooking spray, gas torches and flammable paint.
Fireworks, flares and explosives
Firecrackers, sparklers, flares, blasting caps and dynamite.
Fire extinguishers and compressed-gas cylinders
Pressurized cylinders are a hazard in the hold.
Bear spray and bear bangers
Different from personal pepper spray, which is allowed in checked. Bear spray is too large and too concentrated to fly.
Alcohol over 70% ABV (140 proof)
Not allowed in either bag. Between 24 and 70% is capped at 5 liters per person in checked.
Marijuana, including medical
Federally illegal to fly with, in either bag, regardless of state law.

The surprising ones people ask about

Peanut butter (and hummus, honey, jam, yogurt, dips, syrup)
TSA counts them as liquids. Under 3.4 oz in carry-on, or pack them in checked. Solid food like bread, chocolate and hard cheese is fine at any size.
Snow globes
Carry-on only if the whole globe looks to hold under 3.4 oz (about tennis-ball size) and fits in your quart bag. Otherwise checked.
Lighters
One common lighter on you in the cabin. In checked only if it is empty of fuel.
CBD oil
Allowed if it is federally legal hemp-derived CBD (0.3% THC or less under the 2018 Farm Bill) or FDA-approved. Marijuana-derived products are not.

Recent changes (2025 to 2026)

Since May 2025, several airlines (Southwest first) require power banks to stay visible while charging: no charging inside a bag or an overhead bin. That is an airline rule, not a TSA rule, and more carriers keep adding versions of it.

You may read that TSA “banned power banks from checked bags in 2025.” That is a misconception. The checked-bag ban on spare lithium batteries is longstanding FAA policy, not a new rule. What changed in 2025 was in-flight usage rules from individual airlines.

Common questions

Can I bring a power bank on a plane?

Yes, but only in your carry-on. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are banned from checked bags for fire safety, because a cargo-hold fire cannot be reached in flight. Most airlines allow power banks up to 100 Wh without approval.

Are power banks allowed in checked baggage?

No. Spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin, never in checked. This is longstanding FAA policy, not a 2025 change. What changed in 2025 was in-flight usage rules from individual airlines.

Does peanut butter count as a liquid at TSA?

Yes. TSA treats peanut butter, along with hummus, honey, jam, yogurt and other spreads, as a liquid. Keep it under 3.4 oz in your carry-on, or pack it in your checked bag. Solid food is fine at any size.

Can I bring pepper spray?

In checked baggage only: one 4 oz container with a safety cap to prevent accidental discharge. It is not allowed in carry-on. Bear spray is banned from the plane entirely.

What is banned from planes entirely?

Flammable liquids and gases, fireworks, fire extinguishers, bear spray, alcohol over 70% ABV, and marijuana. These are not allowed in either bag.

NanoPack flags the tricky items on your packing list before you leave.Get the app

Sailing instead of flying? See what you can't bring on a cruise. Packing a carry-on? Our hand luggage rules cover sizes, liquids and batteries.

Sources

Airlines and cruise lines can be stricter than these rules and can change them without notice. For the final word on any item, check TSA's What Can I Bring? tool and your airline or cruise line's own page.