Toiletry bags and the 100 ml liquid rule
Liquids are the most common reason a cabin bag gets pulled apart at security. The rules are boring, but they are also stable and easy to design around.
The rule, briefly
- Containers of 100 ml / 3.4 oz or less each
- All containers inside one clear, resealable 1 litre bag, about 20 x 20 cm
- One bag per passenger
The container size is what counts, not how much liquid is left in it: a 200 ml bottle with 30 ml inside is refused. Some airports now use scanners that allow larger containers, but do not plan a trip around that.
Pouch designs that work
- Clear TPU front panel so security can see the contents without opening
- Flat, wide footprint — stands up on a narrow sink ledge
- Internal elastic loops to stop bottles tipping
- Hanging hook for hotel bathrooms with no shelf
If you prefer a solid, non-clear bag, keep the 1 litre clear bag separate for security and treat the nice pouch as your bathroom organiser at the destination.
Cutting the liquid count
Solid shampoo bars, solid deodorant, toothpaste tablets and a shave bar remove four containers from your allowance. That is often enough to travel with liquids for a week in one bag.
What to avoid
Oversized "TSA-approved" kits that ship with 150 ml bottles — the bottles, not the bag, are what get confiscated. Compare pouch dimensions and flap designs in Toiletry bags, and check how the rest of the cabin bag fits together with our packing list.
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