Dangerous items

Some items you use every day can be considered dangerous during flight. To help you pack, we’ve listed the policies for the most common dangerous items below.

Want more details about dangerous items? Check out these pages:

Dangerous items we don’t allow on board

Federal laws don’t allow you to pack hazardous materials in your luggage. Some common examples include:

  • Bags that are self-balancing or self-riding
  • Camping equipment that contains fuel
  • Defense sprays like mace, pepper sprays and tear gas
  • Explosives like fireworks, gunpowder, flares, flare guns and novelty items
  • Shock absorbers
  • Smart bags with nonremovable batteries
  • Tasers

Dangerous items that have some restrictions

Personal items such as deodorant, hairspray, nail polish, perfume and certain medicines have some restrictions. If you’re packing them in your carry-on bag, each container can’t be more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). You should also place them in a clear, quart-sized bag. If you’re packing these items in your checked bag, each container can’t be more than 16 ounces. There’s a limit of 70 ounces total for each traveler.

Batteries

You can pack the following batteries in your luggage. Make sure you pack them to prevent short circuiting.

  • AA-9V
  • AAA
  • C
  • Carbon zinc
  • D alkaline
  • Nickel metal hydride
  • Silver oxide

Recalled, damaged or defective batteries

Any batteries or devices known to be recalled, damaged or defective aren’t allowed in checked or carry-on bags. You aren’t allowed to have them on you when you fly as well.

Lithium batteries

You can pack personal devices that have lithium batteries of less than 100-watt hours in your bags. However, we don’t allow devices like e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers.

You can’t pack loose lithium batteries in checked bags. For loose lithium batteries in carry-on bags, you must individually protect each one to prevent short circuiting. To do this, you can place each battery in original retail packaging, separate plastic bags or protective pouches. You can also insulate the batteries by taping over exposed terminals. Spare batteries can’t touch metal objects like coins, keys or jewelry. Take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing or putting pressure on the battery as well.

In most cases, you can pack up to two larger lithium batteries (more than 100-watt hours, but not more than 160-watt hours) in carry-on bags if the terminals are properly covered or insulated. If you’re traveling with a battery-operated mobility device, please contact us in advance.

For the most up-to-date information about lithium batteries, visit the DOT’s Air Travel Tips page and the FAA’s website.

Firearms

We accept shooting equipment as checked bags in hard-sided, securely locked firearms cases or containers only.

Gasoline-powered tools and equipment

We only allow gasoline-powered tools and equipment, such as chainsaws and weed cutters, if they’re brand new, you remove the fuel source or you purge the fuel. If the latter, you must provide a letter from the company that purged the fuel.

Household items

Some household items are flammable or corrosive. We don’t allow the following items:

  • Aerosol items, like spray paint, household cleaners and pesticides
  • Bleach
  • Drain cleaners
  • Epoxy
  • Fuel
  • Gel fuel
  • Glue
  • Insecticides
  • Matches (the strike-anywhere kind)
  • Paint (only certain kinds)
  • Torch lighters
  • Spray starch

We allow medicinal or toiletry aerosol cans if:

  • They don’t go over 16 ounces per container in checked bags
  • They don’t go over 3 ounces per container in carry-on bags

Life jackets

  • We accept one carbon dioxide-powered inflatable life jacket. You must pack carbon dioxide cartridges as checked bags.
  • We’ll also accept up to two small nonflammable gas cylinders fitted into the life jacket and up to two small spare cartridges.
  • If the life jacket has flares or flare guns attached to it, you must remove them or we won’t accept the jacket.

Powered air purifying respirators

Powered air purifying respirators (PAPR devices) are not permitted for use on board the aircraft. These devices have been linked to incidents of inflight fires and pose an unacceptable risk to passengers and aircraft. You may pack PAPR devices in your checked or carry-on bags, however you must remove and store batteries prior to transport.

Scuba tanks

  • We don’t allow tanks under 40 PSI in carry-on or checked bags. We allow anything higher only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected and the tank is no longer sealed. If the tank is sealed, we won’t allow it regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator.