Liquid medication on a plane

Allowed, with conditions

Short answer: Under TSA and FAA rules: yes, in carry-on bags with volume of one container up to 500 ml (17 fl oz) and total volume up to 2 l (68 fl oz), and in checked bags with volume of one container up to 500 ml (17 fl oz) and total volume up to 2 l (68 fl oz) (reviewed 2026-10-27).

These are the reviewed rules for a liquid medication on flights departing the United States. Each rule is listed as its official source states it, with the date we last reviewed it. A rule from security screening, from the dangerous goods regulations and from your airline can all apply at once, and you need to meet every one of them.

Most recent review on this page: 2026-10-27. Also called: liquid medicine, cough syrup, medicine.

Check your liquid medication with the item checker

Liquid medication in a carry-on bag

Security screening (TSA)

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Liquid medication: allowed in carry-on bags; larger amounts of medically necessary liquids must be declared at the checkpoint.

    Also note

    • Larger amounts of medically necessary liquids must be declared to security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.

    Source: TSA: What Can I Bring? Liquid Medications. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Dangerous goods (FAA)

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Liquid medication as a medicinal or toiletry article: each container not over 500 ml (17 fl oz), not over 2 L (68 fl oz) in total per person.

    Limits
    Volume of one container: up to 500 ml (17 fl oz)
    Total volume: up to 2 l (68 fl oz)

    Also note

    • By weight the limits are 0.5 kg (18 oz) per container and 2 kg (70 oz) in total; this rule checks the volume figures.
    • Liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on baggage are further limited to 100-ml (3.4 oz) containers at the TSA security checkpoint.

    Source: FAA: PackSafe - Medicinal & Toiletry Articles. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Liquid medication in a checked bag

Security screening (TSA)

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Liquid medication: allowed in checked bags by the TSA.

    Source: TSA: What Can I Bring? Liquid Medications. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Dangerous goods (FAA)

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Liquid medication as a medicinal or toiletry article: each container not over 500 ml (17 fl oz), not over 2 L (68 fl oz) in total per person.

    Limits
    Volume of one container: up to 500 ml (17 fl oz)
    Total volume: up to 2 l (68 fl oz)

    Also note

    • By weight the limits are 0.5 kg (18 oz) per container and 2 kg (70 oz) in total; this rule checks the volume figures.

    Source: FAA: PackSafe - Medicinal & Toiletry Articles. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Before you pack liquid medication

Use this list with your actual item and itinerary. It summarizes the current source-reviewed entries below; it does not replace the complete conditions or the airline's instructions.

  1. Check the reviewed Carry-on bag and Checked bag rules below. If a bag type is not listed, that does not mean it is allowed: verify it with the airline and relevant authority.
  2. Check the item's specifications against the listed requirements:
    • Carry-on bag · dangerous goods: Volume of one container: up to 500 ml (17 fl oz); Total volume: up to 2 l (68 fl oz). Official source.
    • Checked bag · dangerous goods: Volume of one container: up to 500 ml (17 fl oz); Total volume: up to 2 l (68 fl oz). Official source.
  3. Confirm the operating airline, connecting airports and destination rules. This site does not verify destination customs or quarantine restrictions.
  4. Recheck the linked official sources shortly before departure; published guidance and your flight circumstances can change.

What you need to know about your liquid medication

The rules above depend on:

  • Volume of one container
  • Total volume

Commonly confused

  • Allowed in a carry-on bag does not mean allowed in a checked bag. The rules for each are listed separately above.
  • Security screening (TSA) and dangerous goods rules (FAA) are different rules. An airline can also set stricter limits. Where a source has no rule for a case, we say so instead of guessing.
  • Airline rules come from the airline that operates the flight, which can differ from the one you booked with.
  • Being allowed on board does not mean the item is allowed into your destination. Customs rules are not covered.

Official sources

This page lists rules as the official sources state them, for travel departing the United States. It is not a decision about your item: security officers and your airline make the final call, and rules can change after the review dates shown. Destination customs and quarantine rules are not checked. See the terms and disclaimer.