Can you take sunscreen in hand luggage?
Yes, in containers up to 100ml in your cabin bag. For a beach holiday, buy a full bottle at the destination — cheaper than buying duty-free and saves your liquids allowance.
Rule basis: Treated as a gel at airport security. Based on general aviation security guidance — rules can vary between airports.
What to do: Default to 100ml per container in a single 1-litre clear bag. Anything larger goes in checked luggage.
Liquid Limits is a travel planning tool, not an official aviation source. Always confirm with the airport before you travel.
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Triple-check
Security · Airline · Border
Will sunscreen pass the checkpoint?
LimitedSunscreen counts as a liquid, gel or paste — cabin containers must be 100ml or less inside your 1L clear bag.
Can sunscreen travel in cabin or checked baggage?
Cabin OKFine in cabin within the 100ml rule, and fine in checked baggage if sealed.
Can you bring sunscreen into the destination country?
Usually OKPersonal-use quantities are rarely a customs problem on most routes.
Three separate rule systems · Any one can stop your item
In cabin baggage
Most airports treat this as a liquid. The standard rule is containers up to 100ml, all fitting inside a single 1-litre clear plastic bag, with one bag per passenger. A few airports with new CT scanners (e.g. London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Bristol) allow containers up to 2 litres — but you cannot count on it both ways.
In checked luggage
Full-size bottles travel happily in the hold. Cap can pop in heat — bag it.
Examples
- •100ml SPF stick: fine in cabin
- •200ml beach bottle: hold luggage
- •Local supermarket > airport prices for sunscreen at the destination
Liquid Limits focuses on airport security and liquid-like travel items. Separate customs, import, airline, or destination laws may apply. For non-liquid items like plants, meat, weapons, cash, electronics, or luxury goods, check official customs guidance. What this site covers and doesn't cover.
Liquid Limits helps with airport security rules. Border and customs rules vary by destination, so always check official destination guidance before travelling internationally.
Check your airport liquid rulePacking checklist for sunscreen
A short checklist for this trip — pack what you need to stay within the rules above.
Decant into 100ml bottles for the cabin.
Standard 1-litre clear bag for security.
Double-bag in case of pressure leaks.
Sunscreen on specific routes
Border and customs rules change by country. Pick the closest match to your trip.
- Greece → the UK
- Spain → the UK
- the UK → Spain
- the UK → Greece
- Gatwick (LGW) → Rhodes (RHO)
- France → the UK
- Italy → the UK
- Germany → the UK
- Portugal → the UK
- Turkey → the UK
- the US → the UK
- the UK → France