The rules for hand luggage liquids at UK airports have changed significantly, but there’s an important catch: the same liquid limit doesn’t currently apply at every airport.
New security scanners have allowed some UK airports to increase the size of liquid containers passengers can take through security. Other airports or terminals may still apply the traditional 100ml limit.
That means you shouldn’t assume the rules you encountered on your last flight will apply to your next one.
Before travelling, check the current hand luggage liquids rules at your departure airport, any airport where you’ll pass through security during a connection, and the airport you’ll use for your return journey.
Here’s what UK travellers need to know.
What Counts as Hand Luggage Liquids?
Airport security uses a broader definition of liquids than you might expect.
According to GOV.UK’s official hand luggage guidance, liquids include:
- Water and other drinks
- Soup
- Jam
- Honey
- Syrups
- Creams
- Lotions
- Oils
- Perfume
- Mascara
- Lip gloss
- Sprays
- Shaving foam
- Hairspray
- Spray deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Hair gel
- Shower gel
- Contact lens solution
Other solutions and products with a similar consistency can also be treated as liquids.
So don’t think only about bottles of water when packing hand luggage liquids. Toiletries, cosmetics and certain foods may be subject to the same security restrictions.
Is the 100ml Liquid Rule Still in Place?
Yes — but not at every UK airport.
GOV.UK currently advises that at most airports, passengers cannot take liquids through security in containers larger than 100ml.
Some airports, however, allow hand luggage liquids in containers holding up to 2 litres.
This distinction is important.
A 500ml bottle that passes through security at one UK airport could potentially be rejected at another airport applying the 100ml limit.
That’s why there is no longer a sensible one-size-fits-all answer to how you should pack hand luggage liquids.
Check your specific airport before travelling.
Which UK Airports Allow Liquids Up to 2 Litres?
Several major UK airports have introduced security equipment that allows larger containers of hand luggage liquids.
London Gatwick
Gatwick currently allows passengers to take liquids through security in individual containers of up to 2 litres.
Hand luggage liquids can remain inside your bag during screening.
Gatwick says metal and double-walled containers must be empty when going through security.
You can check the latest requirements on Gatwick Airport’s security page.
Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport also currently permits liquids, pastes and gels in containers of up to 2 litres.
Passengers are instructed to leave these items inside their hand luggage rather than putting them into a separate liquids bag.
Insulated containers need to be empty when passing through security.
Check Birmingham Airport’s current security guidance before travelling because airport procedures can change.
London Heathrow
Heathrow has upgraded much of its security screening, but there is currently an important terminal difference.
Passengers departing from Terminals 2, 3 and 5 can take hand luggage liquids in containers up to 2 litres and leave them inside their cabin baggage.
However, Heathrow says Terminal 4 is still undergoing security upgrades. Passengers there may be asked to remove liquids, and containers remain restricted to 100ml.
Because the rules can differ even between terminals at the same airport, check Heathrow’s current security and baggage guidance shortly before travelling.
Why Do Liquid Rules Differ Between Airports?
The difference comes largely from the security screening equipment being used.
Newer scanners can produce more detailed images of cabin baggage, allowing security teams to inspect its contents differently.
The rollout hasn’t resulted in identical rules everywhere at the same time.
That’s why hand luggage liquids are now a particularly important part of your pre-flight checks.
Don’t rely on an old news story saying that the 100ml rule has been abolished across the UK.
It hasn’t disappeared universally.
What Are the Traditional 100ml Rules?
If you’re departing from an airport or terminal that still applies the traditional restrictions, hand luggage liquids generally need to be in containers holding no more than 100ml.
A larger container doesn’t become acceptable simply because it’s nearly empty.
For example, a 200ml bottle containing only 50ml of shampoo would still be too large if the airport applies a 100ml container limit.
You may also be required to place your hand luggage liquids into a separate transparent, resealable plastic bag.
Where this requirement applies, GOV.UK says the bag should:
- Hold no more than one litre
- Measure approximately 20cm x 20cm
- Be transparent
- Be resealable
- Close comfortably
- Contain your liquid containers
- Be limited to one bag per passenger
You may need to present the bag separately at security.
However, you do not have to do this at every airport, so follow the instructions for the airport you’re actually using.
Can You Leave Liquids Inside Your Bag?
It depends on the airport.
At airports using newer security equipment, you may be able to leave hand luggage liquids inside your cabin bag while it’s screened.
At other airports, you may still need to remove your transparent liquids bag and place it separately in a security tray.
Don’t assume that because you left everything inside your bag on the outbound journey, you can do the same on your return flight.
Follow the instructions displayed at the security checkpoint and those given by security staff.
What Happens on the Return Flight?
This is one of the easiest mistakes to make.
The rules at your UK departure airport don’t determine the rules at the airport overseas.
You might leave the UK from an airport allowing larger hand luggage liquids, only to return through an airport applying a 100ml limit.
The same issue can arise during a connecting journey.
GOV.UK specifically advises passengers to check the rules at their departure airport and any other airports they’ll travel through, including for their return journey.
If you’re uncertain, packing hand luggage liquids in containers of no more than 100ml remains the more conservative option for a multi-airport journey.
Can You Take Liquid Medicine in Hand Luggage?
There are exemptions for essential medicines.
GOV.UK says essential liquid medicines can be carried in containers larger than 100ml.
If the medication is liquid, in a container larger than 100ml and prescribed to you, you’ll need evidence such as a doctor’s letter or copy of your prescription.
You don’t need this proof merely because you’re carrying tablets or liquid medication in a container of 100ml or less.
Security staff may need to open and screen medicines separately.
Read the latest GOV.UK guidance for medicines and medical equipment before travelling with essential medication.
Also check the rules for taking your particular medicine into the destination country, especially if it contains a controlled drug.
What About Baby Milk and Baby Food?
There are also exemptions for passengers travelling with babies.
GOV.UK currently permits containers up to 2 litres at UK airport security when they contain baby food or baby milk.
There are specific rules covering breast milk, formula milk, sterilised water and baby food, so check the official guidance before travelling.
These items may require additional screening.
Don’t assume ordinary hand luggage liquids restrictions automatically apply to everything you need for a baby.
Can You Take Duty-Free Liquids Through Security?
Duty-free purchases have their own rules.
GOV.UK says liquids purchased at an airport or on an aircraft can be taken through security when the items are sealed in a security bag at the time of purchase and the receipt is sealed inside the bag and visible.
Don’t open the security bag before reaching your final destination.
Airport security staff may still need to open the items for screening.
This becomes particularly important when you have a connecting flight and need to pass through security again.
Check the requirements at your connecting airport before buying large duty-free liquids if you’re uncertain.
Can You Take an Empty Water Bottle Through Security?
An empty reusable bottle can be a useful way to avoid paying airport prices for bottled water.
Many airports allow empty bottles through security, which can then be refilled airside.
But pay attention to the type of bottle.
Some airports applying their new liquid rules specifically require metal or insulated bottles to be empty during screening even though other liquid containers can hold up to 2 litres.
Check your airport’s instructions and empty the bottle before security when required.
Does Toothpaste Count as a Liquid?
Yes.
Toothpaste is specifically included within the UK government’s definition of liquids for hand luggage security.
That means toothpaste is subject to the applicable container limit at your airport.
Other easily overlooked hand luggage liquids include mascara, lip gloss, shaving foam, spray deodorant, creams, gels and contact lens solution.
This is why checking your wash bag before leaving home can save time at security.
Do Aerosols Count as Liquids?
Many sprays and aerosols are covered by the airport liquids rules.
Examples listed by GOV.UK include hairspray, shaving foam and spray deodorants.
There may also be separate safety restrictions on certain aerosols and other potentially hazardous items.
If you’re unsure about a particular product, check both the airport and airline requirements before packing it.
Can You Take Food Through Airport Security?
Many solid foods can be taken through security, but foods with a liquid or semi-liquid consistency can fall under the hand luggage liquids rules.
Examples include:
- Soup
- Jam
- Honey
- Syrup
- Sauces
- Other liquid or semi-liquid foods
This can catch passengers out because something you regard as food may still be considered a liquid by airport security.
Rules concerning food can also become more complicated when crossing international borders because customs and biosecurity restrictions are separate from airport security rules.
Check the destination’s rules if you’re taking food overseas.
Can You Freeze Liquids to Get Around the Rules?
No.
Freezing a drink isn’t a loophole for avoiding airport security restrictions.
GOV.UK states that frozen liquids cannot be carried in hand luggage, subject to specific exemptions such as certain medical requirements.
Pack according to the actual rules instead of trying to work around the container limit.
Hand Luggage Liquids Packing Tips
A few simple preparations can make airport security easier.
Check the Airport, Not Just the Airline
Security screening rules are primarily determined by the airport and relevant authorities.
Your airline determines matters such as cabin-bag size and weight, but airport security controls what passes through the security checkpoint.
Check both where relevant.
Check Every Airport
If your journey involves several airports, check each one individually.
That includes:
- UK departure airport
- Connecting airport
- Destination airport for any onward connection
- Return departure airport
- Any airport used during the return connection
The strictest rules on your itinerary may determine how practical it is to carry larger containers.
Use Smaller Containers When Unsure
Even if your UK departure airport permits 2-litre containers, 100ml travel bottles can still make sense when travelling internationally.
They’re compact, lighter and less likely to cause problems at another airport applying stricter rules.
Don’t Overpack Toiletries
For a short trip, consider whether you genuinely need full-size shampoo, shower gel and other toiletries.
Smaller containers can reduce cabin-bag weight and free up space.
Our guide to avoiding excess baggage fees has more ideas for keeping baggage under control.
Prepare Before Reaching Security
Know what your airport expects before joining the security queue.
If liquids need to be removed, have them accessible.
If they’re supposed to stay inside the bag, leave them there.
Following the airport’s current process is more useful than automatically following the procedure you remember from a previous trip.
For more ways to make the airport experience easier, see our airport hacks guide.
The Biggest Mistake: Assuming All Airports Have the Same Rules
This is the main takeaway from the current hand luggage liquids situation.
The old advice was simple: 100ml containers, one transparent bag.
The current picture is more complicated.
Some UK airports now permit hand luggage liquids in containers of up to 2 litres, while others continue to impose 100ml restrictions. Procedures for removing liquids from your bag can also differ.
And international airports may have entirely different arrangements.
So the safest rule is:
Check every airport you’ll pass through shortly before you travel.
Don’t rely solely on what happened during your previous flight.
TravelHype Verdict: Check Before You Pack
The rules for hand luggage liquids are becoming more convenient at some UK airports, but they aren’t yet completely uniform.
At most UK airports, GOV.UK says containers larger than 100ml cannot be taken through security. Some airports now allow containers holding up to 2 litres.
That difference makes checking your airport more important than ever.
If you’re travelling through several airports and don’t want to research different limits, using containers of 100ml or less is still a practical conservative approach.
For everyone else, check the latest official airport guidance before packing and again shortly before departure in case the procedure has changed.
When you’re ready to organise the rest of your trip, you can find flights, search for hotels and compare car hire with TravelHype.
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