Can you take deodorant on a plane? Carry-on and checked bag rules
What Australia's carry-on and checked bag rules say about aerosol, roll-on and balm deodorant, with the US and UK limits for the flight home.
Quick answer
Yes. On an international flight from Australia, each deodorant in your carry-on has to be 100 mL or 100 g or less and fit in one clear resealable bag. On a domestic flight there is no carry-on quantity limit. Home Affairs lists deodorant as an aerosol and creams as liquids. Our 50 g and 15 g balms are both under 100 g.
What are the carry-on rules for deodorant on an international flight?
The Australian Government limits liquids, aerosols and gels in carry-on bags on international flights. Home Affairs lists deodorant under aerosols and creams and oils under liquids (Home Affairs, what you can and can't bring).
Each container has to be 100 mL or 100 g or less. They all go in one clear resealable bag, and the four sides of its sealed area can add up to no more than 80 cm, so a 20 x 20 cm bag works. You get one bag each. Aerosol containers need a fitted cap or locking device.
A container bigger than 100 mL or 100 g isn't allowed even if it's only part full. Home Affairs gives a half-used 200 g toothpaste tube as the example. Screening officers have the final say on what goes through.
The same limits apply when you transit through Australia, and on a domestic leg that leaves from an international terminal. They don't apply to checked bags.
Can you take deodorant on a domestic flight?
Yes. Home Affairs says the quantity limits don't apply to most domestic flights. Brisbane Airport says the same and adds that aerosol containers still need a fitted cap or locking device (Brisbane Airport). Qantas lets you carry toiletries up to 500 g or 500 mL each, with 2 kg or 2 L in total (Qantas).
Can you pack deodorant in checked baggage?
Yes. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says toiletries and aerosols can go in checked bags, with each item at 0.5 kg or 0.5 L at most, 2 kg or 2 L in total per person, and the aerosol valve protected by a cap (CASA, toiletries including aerosols). Qantas gives the same limits and says the 100 mL security rule still applies to carry-on on international flights.
Flight rules by country
Other countries set their own limits. They apply at the airport you leave from, including on the way home.
| Flying from | Carry-on limit for deodorant | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, international | 100 mL or 100 g per container, one clear resealable bag, aerosol cap fitted | Home Affairs |
| Australia, domestic | No quantity limit on most flights, aerosol cap fitted | Home Affairs, Brisbane Airport |
| United States | 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less per item, in one quart-sized bag. TSA lists creams and pastes, as well as aerosols and gels | TSA liquids rule |
| United Kingdom | At most airports, containers of 100 mL or less. GOV.UK lists creams, oils, pastes and spray deodorants | GOV.UK liquids in hand luggage |
GOV.UK adds that some UK airports allow larger containers, so check your airport.
Taking a deodorant balm on a plane
Home Affairs doesn't name balms. Its liquids list includes creams and oils, and our balms are made from oils and butters, so we'd treat one the same way and put it in the clear bag. A 50 g balm and the 15 g sample balms in the Scent Sampler Bundle are both under the 100 g limit.
If you aren't sure whether something will pass screening, Home Affairs says to pack it in your checked baggage.
The label on our balms says to store them below 25°C. A hot car boot or a bag left in the sun can go past that. Our article on deodorant balm melting covers what to do if it softens.
Aerosol, roll-on, balm, stick and powder compared
Here is how each type of deodorant is treated on an international flight from Australia. The aerosol row comes straight from the Home Affairs list. For the other rows the lists don't name the product, so the notes are our reading of them.
| Type | Carry-on, international | Named on the lists? |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosol | 100 mL or less, in the clear bag, cap fitted | Yes, "deodorant" is listed under aerosols |
| Cream or balm | 100 g or less, in the clear bag | Creams and oils are listed under liquids. Balms aren't named |
| Roll-on | 100 mL or less, in the clear bag | Not named. It's a liquid, so we'd treat it as one |
| Solid stick | Not named, so pack it in checked baggage if you aren't sure | No |
| Powder | Qantas lists powdered deodorants as inorganic powders: 350 g or 350 mL per person, in a separate tray and not in the bag (Qantas Travel Insider) | Yes, by Qantas |
FAQ
Can I take a 50 g deodorant balm in hand luggage on an international flight?
Yes, in the clear resealable bag. It's under 100 g. Home Affairs doesn't name balms, though, and security staff make the final call.
Does the 100 mL rule apply on domestic flights in Australia?
No, not on most domestic flights. It does apply on a domestic leg that departs from an international terminal.