Can I take perfume from the UK to the USA?
Yes — you can take perfume from the UK to the USA, in cabin or checked luggage.
Cabin bottles must be 100ml (3.4oz) or smaller and fit in your 1L clear bag. Full-size bottles travel fine in checked. US customs has no personal-use limit on perfume.
Triple check before you pack
Airport security, airline baggage rules, and destination border rules are three different checks. Passing one does not guarantee passing the others.
Each cabin container must be 100ml or smaller and fit in your 1L liquids bag.
Container size is what security measures — a half-full 150ml bottle is still refused.
Larger bottles travel fine in checked luggage. Cap tightly, wrap, and keep upright.
Personal-use quantities of perfume are usually fine entering the USA.
Cabin baggage — 100ml limit
UK airports apply the 100ml hand-luggage rule. Bottles up to 100ml fit in your 1L resealable bag with other liquids. Larger bottles will be confiscated at security — including half-full 150ml bottles, because container size is what's measured. Some UK airports (Edinburgh, Birmingham, parts of Gatwick) have CT scanners allowing up to 2L, but Heathrow currently still requires 100ml.
Checked luggage — no size limit
Full-size perfume bottles travel fine in checked baggage. Wrap glass in clothes, keep upright, away from the case edges. Aerosol perfumes (body sprays) are limited to 500ml per container and 2L total per passenger under IATA dangerous goods rules.
Duty-free perfume — keep the STEB sealed
Perfume bought airside in a sealed Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with the receipt visible can travel in your cabin to the USA. Don't open the STEB before clearing US customs. On a US domestic connection, TSA may re-screen.
US customs — no declaration needed for personal use
US Customs and Border Protection allows perfume for personal use without declaration. Commercial quantities (broadly, more than 1L of any single fragrance) must be declared and may incur duty. Counterfeit branded perfume can be seized at the border.
Common mistakes
- Bringing a half-full 150ml bottle through cabin security — the bottle size is measured, not the contents.
- Opening a duty-free STEB before clearing US customs on a connecting flight.
- Packing aerosol body sprays over 500ml in checked luggage (dangerous goods limit).
- Packing perfume loose in checked baggage — broken glass ruins the case.
Pre-flight checklist
- Cabin perfume bottles are 100ml or smaller
- All cabin liquids fit in one 1L clear resealable bag
- Large bottles packed upright in checked luggage, wrapped in clothes
- Duty-free STEB stays sealed until after US customs
- Aerosol body sprays under 500ml per can in checked luggage
Official sources
- UKGOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions
- UKHeathrow Airport — Security guidance
- USTSA — Liquids Rule (3-1-1)
- USUS CBP — Prohibited and restricted items
Last reviewed May 26, 2026. Rules can change at short notice. Airport security staff and customs officers have final discretion at the checkpoint or border.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a 150ml perfume in my cabin bag from the UK?
No. UK security measures bottle size, not contents. A 150ml bottle is refused even if half empty. Move it to checked luggage.
Do I need to declare perfume at US customs?
Not for personal use. Only declare if you're carrying commercial quantities (broadly more than 1L of a single fragrance).
Can I take duty-free perfume on a US connecting flight?
Yes, if the STEB stays sealed with the receipt visible. Some TSA checkpoints still re-screen STEBs on connections — allow extra time.
Packing checklist for this trip
A short checklist for this trip — pack what you need to stay within the rules above.
Get a return-flight reminder
We'll remind you before your return flight if your airport uses stricter liquid rules.
Related corridor guides
LiquidLimits.com is a travel planning tool, not an official airport or government source. Rules can change between trips and between terminals. Always check the official airport or aviation security guidance before you travel, and when in doubt pack to the stricter 100ml cabin-bag rule.