Hand luggage at UK airport security · liquids, gels and pastes · checked 14 September 2026
Can I pack this?
Heathrow lets a 2-litre container through hand-luggage security. Stansted still stops an ordinary liquid over 100 ml. Choose the airport and the item, and get a yes, a no or the conditions, in the airport's own words.
- 230 ml toothpaste · HeathrowYES
- 230 ml toothpaste · StanstedNO
- 500 ml water, plastic bottle · GatwickYES
- 500 ml water, metal bottle · GatwickNO
- 150 ml prescription medicine · StanstedYES, WITH CONDITIONS
- 200 ml shampoo, half full · LutonNO
- 250 ml sunscreen · Bristol out, Manchester backNOT BOTH WAYS
- 1 litre baby milk · NewcastleYES, WITH CONDITIONS
22 selected airports: size and screening rules
This checker covers selected UK departure airports, rather than every UK airport. Cardiff is not included: its current website shows a maintenance landing page instead of usable security guidance. Check your airport and airline if your departure airport is missing.
The 100 ml rule was introduced in 2006, as Edinburgh airport recalled when it dropped it. Airports that have installed CT scanners and been approved to use them raise the limit to 2 litres per container; the rest keep 100 ml. GOV.UK now says outright that the rule depends on the airport, and tells you to check every airport on the way out and the way back.
Belfast City, Belfast International, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow, Southend.
Aberdeen, East Midlands, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London City, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton, Teesside.
Exeter requires a single clear, resealable bag of no more than 1 litre (about 20 × 20 cm), presented separately. Southampton does not require a separate transparent bag; follow screening staff instructions about removing liquids. At the other airports listed, ordinary liquids can stay in hand luggage without a separate clear bag. Liverpool and Aberdeen still take oversized medicine out for separate screening. What differs is the size of the container, and what happens to a metal bottle with a drink in it. Newcastle's page says a metal bottle cannot be scanned, so it refuses any liquid inside one, even under 100 ml; Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh want it empty.
| Airport | Per container | Liquids at screening | Metal or insulated bottle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast City | 2 litres“liquids, creams, pastes, gels, and aerosols can be taken through security providing they are 2 litres or less.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Belfast International | 2 litres“Leave liquids up to 2 litres in their hand luggage” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Birmingham | 2 litres“You are allowed to carry liquids, pastes and gels in containers up to 2 litres hand luggage, there is no limit on the amount of containers that can be carried.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Must be empty | Airport page |
| Bournemouth | 2 litres“liquids are restricted to containers of up to 2,000ml” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Bristol | 2 litres“The current maximum size of each liquid container at Bristol Airport is 2 litres. Keep your liquids in your bag (there's no need to use a clear plastic bag).” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Must be empty | Airport page |
| Edinburgh | 2 litres“You can now bring through up to two litres of liquids through security.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Must be empty | Airport page |
| London Gatwick | 2 litres“containers of up to two litres, provided they are not in metal or double walled containers” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Must be empty | Airport page |
| London Heathrow | 2 litres“Liquids in containers of up to 2 litres can stay inside your cabin bag”Heathrow allows containers up to 2 litres through its security checkpoint, but says liquids in containers over 100 ml cannot be taken on flights to Australia. This security verdict does not override that flight restriction. Check with Heathrow and your airline before travelling. | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Must be empty | Airport page |
| London Southend | 2 litres“Liquids and gels are only allowed in containers of up to 2 litres.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Aberdeen | 100 ml“Liquids under 100ml can stay in your cabin baggage without using a liquid bag, with no restriction on how many 100ml containers you can bring.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| East Midlands | 100 ml“Liquids in containers larger than 100ml cannot go through security even if the container is only part full.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page (page dated April 2026) |
| Exeter | 100 ml“Liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less” | One clear resealable bag, no more than 1 litre; remove for screening. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Glasgow | 100 ml“Liquids carried in containers capable of holding more than 100ml will not be permitted through security - please pack them in your hold baggage.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Leeds Bradford | 100 ml“Liquids/gels must be in containers of 100ml or less.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Liverpool John Lennon | 100 ml“Liquids in containers of 100ml or less are permitted to remain in your hand luggage without the need of a clear plastic bag.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| London City | 100 ml“Liquids and gels only allowed in containers of up to 100ml in hand luggage” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| London Luton | 100 ml“Liquids and gels should be kept in your hand luggage. They are allowed in containers of up to 100ml” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| London Stansted | 100 ml“Liquids in containers larger than 100ml cannot go through Security even if the container is only part full.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page (page dated September 2026) |
| Manchester | 100 ml“You can pack liquids, gels, and aerosols under 100ml each in your hand luggage.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page (page dated April 2026) |
| Newcastle | 100 ml“Any liquids, aerosols or gels being carried in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100ml.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Refused with liquid in it | Airport page |
| Southampton | 100 ml“you can bring liquids in containers of 100ml or less in your hand luggage” | No clear bag; follow screening staff instructions. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
| Teesside | 100 ml“All liquids, gels and creams in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100ml.” | No clear bag; ordinary liquids stay in hand luggage. | Not stated on the page | Airport page |
Two airports have older pages online that say the opposite of their current rule. Birmingham's June 2024 news item said 100 ml would stay until approval; its security-advice page now says 2 litres. A London City press release announced the end of 100 ml; its security page says a Department for Transport directive brought 100 ml back on 9 June 2024. The current security pages are what is used here.
What counts as a liquid
GOV.UK's list is broader than most people's. It covers every drink, including water; liquid and semi-liquid food such as soup, jam, honey and syrups; creams, lotions, oils, perfume, mascara and lip gloss; sprays such as shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorant; pastes, including toothpaste; gels, including hair and shower gel; contact-lens solution; and anything of a similar consistency. Yoghurt, hummus, peanut butter and soft cheese fall in. Hard cheese, chocolate and a sandwich do not.
The container is what is measured, not what is left in it. Stansted and East Midlands say so in as many words: a container larger than 100 ml cannot go through “even if the container is only part full”. A half-used 200 ml shampoo is a 200 ml shampoo.
The limit is per container. Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen say in as many words that there is no cap on how many containers you carry, as long as they fit in your airline's cabin bag.
Medicine, baby milk and special diets
GOV.UK sets one national exemption: containers up to 2 litres go through security at every UK airport if they are for essential medical purposes, for special dietary requirements, or contain baby food or baby milk. The airports add their own conditions.
- Medicine
- GOV.UK asks for proof that a liquid medicine over 100 ml is prescribed to you: a doctor's letter or a copy of the prescription. Liverpool and Aberdeen take it out of the bag for separate screening; Glasgow may test it; Belfast City checks it. Above 2 litres, Heathrow and Gatwick accept a prescription or a doctor's note, and Bournemouth wants medical documentation and the airline's approval as well; the other listed pages do not say. Over-the-counter medicine has no prescription to show, so expect more questions.
- Baby food and milk
- Enough for the journey, and it may be opened or tested. GOV.UK grants the exemption for formula, baby food and sterilised water only when the baby is travelling; Belfast City repeats that. Gatwick caps each container at 2 litres. Powdered formula is not a liquid at all.
- Breast milk
- GOV.UK allows it without the baby, in containers of no more than 2,000 ml each, and never frozen; Bournemouth, Southend and Belfast International repeat the frozen rule on their own pages.
- Special diets
- The same 2-litre national allowance, with evidence of the need. Above 2 litres no airport page says what happens, so ask first.
Three rulebooks, one checked here
The verdicts above answer one question only: will airport security at your UK departure airport let the container through. Two other rulebooks can still stop the same item.
- Your airline's dangerous-goods rules. Aerosols, strong alcohol, nail polish, vapes and e-liquid can pass the liquid rule and still be limited or refused by the airline. Bristol's page carries the Civil Aviation Authority's line: keep vapes and power banks in the cabin, never in the hold.
- The destination's customs rules. Food that clears security here can still be taken from you by customs where you land.
- Airports outside the UK. A return leg from any airport not on the list is not covered. Southend warns its own passengers to expect 100 ml and a clear bag on the way back from abroad.
Flights to Australia: Heathrow allows containers up to 2 litres through its security checkpoint, but says liquids in containers over 100 ml cannot be taken on flights to Australia. This security verdict does not override that flight restriction. Check with Heathrow and your airline before travelling.
Duty-free bought after security is a separate case too: on a connecting or return leg it goes through only sealed in the tamper-evident bag from the shop with the receipt visible inside, and Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands add that the receipt must show a purchase within the last 24 hours.
Sources
Every verdict quotes the departure airport's own security page. The original nineteen-airport set and national guidance were read on 14 September 2026. Heathrow was rechecked and Southampton, Teesside and Exeter were added on 24 October 2026; their source dates are shown below. Rules are changing airport by airport as scanners are approved, so the date on the verdict is part of the answer.
- GOV.UK, Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: liquids. The national rule that the limit depends on the airport, the list of what counts as a liquid, and the 2-litre exemption for medical, dietary and baby liquids. Read 14 September 2026.
- GOV.UK, baby food and baby milk: breast milk containers of no more than 2,000 ml, no frozen breast milk in hand luggage, breast milk allowed without the baby, formula and baby food only with the baby. Read 14 September 2026.
- GOV.UK, essential medicines: proof of prescription for liquid medicine over 100 ml. Read 14 September 2026.
- Edinburgh Airport, corporate announcement: “lifted at Edinburgh Airport for the first time since it was introduced in 2006”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Aberdeen airport, security page: “Liquids under 100ml can stay in your cabin baggage without using a liquid bag, with no restriction on how many 100ml containers you can bring.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Belfast City airport, security page: “liquids, creams, pastes, gels, and aerosols can be taken through security providing they are 2 litres or less.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Belfast International airport, security page: “Leave liquids up to 2 litres in their hand luggage”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Birmingham airport, security page: “You are allowed to carry liquids, pastes and gels in containers up to 2 litres hand luggage, there is no limit on the amount of containers that can be carried.”. Read 14 September 2026. A Birmingham news item from June 2024 said 100ml would remain in force until regulatory approval. The current security-advice page says 2 litres. The security-advice page is the rule in force.
- Bournemouth airport, security page: “liquids are restricted to containers of up to 2,000ml”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Bristol airport, security page: “The current maximum size of each liquid container at Bristol Airport is 2 litres. Keep your liquids in your bag (there's no need to use a clear plastic bag).”. Read 14 September 2026.
- East Midlands airport, security page: “Liquids in containers larger than 100ml cannot go through security even if the container is only part full.”, page marked “last updated April 2026”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Edinburgh airport, security page: “You can now bring through up to two litres of liquids through security.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Exeter airport, security page: “Liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less”. Read 2026-10-24.
- Glasgow airport, security page: “Liquids carried in containers capable of holding more than 100ml will not be permitted through security - please pack them in your hold baggage.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Leeds Bradford airport, security page: “Liquids/gels must be in containers of 100ml or less.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Liverpool John Lennon airport, security page: “Liquids in containers of 100ml or less are permitted to remain in your hand luggage without the need of a clear plastic bag.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- London City airport, security page: “Liquids and gels only allowed in containers of up to 100ml in hand luggage”. Read 14 September 2026. A 2024 London City press release announced an end to the 100ml limit. The current security page says a Department for Transport directive reintroduced 100ml from 9 June 2024. The security page is the rule in force.
- London Gatwick airport, security page: “containers of up to two litres, provided they are not in metal or double walled containers”. Read 14 September 2026.
- London Heathrow airport, security page: “Liquids in containers of up to 2 litres can stay inside your cabin bag”. Read 2026-10-24.
- London Luton airport, security page: “Liquids and gels should be kept in your hand luggage. They are allowed in containers of up to 100ml”. Read 14 September 2026.
- London Southend airport, security page: “Liquids and gels are only allowed in containers of up to 2 litres.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- London Stansted airport, security page: “Liquids in containers larger than 100ml cannot go through Security even if the container is only part full.”, page marked “last updated September 2026”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Manchester airport, security page: “You can pack liquids, gels, and aerosols under 100ml each in your hand luggage.”, page marked “last updated April 2026”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Newcastle airport, security page: “Any liquids, aerosols or gels being carried in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100ml.”. Read 14 September 2026.
- Southampton airport, security page: “you can bring liquids in containers of 100ml or less in your hand luggage”. Read 2026-10-24.
- Teesside airport, security page: “All liquids, gels and creams in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100ml.”. Read 2026-10-24.