New TSA Rules 2025: 16 Items Banned From Checked Bags

Flying this year? Before you zip up your suitcase, you’ll want to check the TSA’s updated list of banned items for checked luggage. As of April 2025, sixteen items are officially prohibited from your checked bags—many for safety reasons you might not expect.

While TSA agents don’t open bags randomly, they rely on scanning technology and flagged items to determine which bags need inspection. If your luggage contains anything from this list, it could be pulled aside, confiscated, or worse—cause flight delays.

For a full breakdown of what’s allowed in your luggage—from shampoo to curling irons—be sure to check out my complete guides to Flying with Toiletries and Air Travel with Grooming Tools.

1. What Items are Banned by the New TSA Rules?

1. High-Proof Alcohol Over 140 Proof

You can still pack wine, sake, or a bottle of whiskey in your checked bag—just don’t go overboard with the alcohol content. Any spirits over 140 proof (70% alcohol by volume) are now banned due to the risk of ignition in the cargo hold.

Examples banned:

• Everclear
• Golden Grain
• John Crow Batty Rum
• King of Spirits Absinthe

Keen Tip: The FAA limits you to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) of alcohol per person in checked baggage, and it must be unopened and in its original retail packaging.

2. Lighters and Matches

Strike-anywhere matches are banned entirely from planes. Regular safety matches or a single lighter are allowed—but only in your carry-on.

What’s banned from checked bags:

• All matches (yes, even safety matches)
• Lighters with fuel, unless in a DOT-approved case

Carry-on only: One lighter or one pack of safety matches

3. E-Cigarettes and Vapes

These are never allowed in checked bags. Lithium batteries inside e-cigs and vape pens can overheat and catch fire. TSA insists all vapes stay in your carry-on where cabin crew can act quickly in an emergency.

4. Loose Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries must be stored properly to prevent fire risk.
Banned from checked bags:

• Spare lithium batteries
• Power banks not in protective cases

Allowed if installed in devices:

• Phones
• Cameras
• Laptops
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Smartwatches

5. Cordless Curling Irons (Butane-Powered)

These compact styling tools seem convenient for travel—but the butane cartridge inside can explode mid-air.

Allowed only in carry-on ONLY if:

• The iron has a safety cover
• It’s protected from accidental activation

Keen Tip: Old-fashioned plug-in curling irons are still fine in both checked and carry-on bags.

6. Replica Weapons and Grenade-Shaped Souvenirs

Anything resembling a weapon—even if it’s a toy or a novelty item—is likely to get your bag flagged and searched. TSA may let it through eventually, but not without a delay and an inspection notice in your bag.

7. Meat, Produce, and Animal Products

Domestic flights: You can pack most food, if it’s clearly identifiable.
International flights: Be very careful. Most meats, fruits, and animal products are banned due to agricultural import restrictions.

Banned examples:

• Jamón Ibérico (Spain)
• Sausages, pâtés, fresh cheeses
• Fresh fruit or vegetables from overseas

Allowed: Coffee, tea, dry packaged goods

8. Camp Stoves and Propane Canisters

Banned in checked bags:

• Full propane canisters
• Camp stoves with fuel residue

Allowed only if empty and visibly cleaned

Keen Tip: Buy or rent fuel at your destination to avoid hassle.

9. Aerosols and Compressed Gas Cans

Items like bear spray, fire extinguishers, spray paint, and even cooking spray fall under dangerous goods. Banned if over 3.4 oz or flammable

Allowed in carry-on (if personal care item and under 3.4 oz):

• Deodorant
• Hair spray
• Sunscreen spray

10. Ammunition

Permitted in checked bags only with strict conditions.

Rules:

• Ammo must be under .75 caliber or any shotgun shell
• Must be in a manufacturer’s box
• Stored in a hard-sided, locked case
• Declared to your airline at check-in
• Not to exceed 11 pounds per passenger (some airlines)

Banned:

• Black powder
• Homemade rounds
• Percussion caps
• Loose primers

11. Ammonia and Bleach

These cleaning products are banned due to chemical reactivity.
Why:

• Ammonia can be explosive when mixed
• Bleach is an oxidizer and fire risk

Stick to travel-sized wipes or cleaner sprays that meet TSA’s liquid rules.

12. Fireworks and Sparklers

All forms of fireworks—including sparklers—are banned in both checked and carry-on luggage.

13. Specialty Glues and Flammable Adhesives

While regular school glue is okay, flammable adhesives are not.

Banned:

• Rubber cement
• Model glue
• Certain superglues

Check the label or the manufacturer’s safety data sheet (MSDS) if you’re unsure.

14. Pressurized Air Tanks

Pressurized tanks can explode due to air pressure changes at altitude. These include scuba tanks, paintball canisters, and portable oxygen cylinders.

Allowed only if clearly marked EMPTY and visibly open for inspection

15. Flavored or Recreational Oxygen Canisters

Trendy oxygen shots sold in canisters for use at high altitudes are not allowed on board, whether checked or carried. They are considered highly flammable pressurized gases.

16. Personal Defense Aerosols

While some pepper sprays are allowed in small sizes in checked bags (with caps and labels), self-defense spray is banned entirely.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

2.1 What Happens If I Accidentally Pack a Banned Item?

If TSA finds a prohibited item in your checked bag, they will remove it. You won’t get it back, and you might find an inspection notice inside your luggage. In rare cases, your bag could be delayed or held for additional screening.

2.2 Can I Pack a Full-Size Hairspray in My Checked Bag?

Yes, you can pack a full-size aerosol hairspray in checked luggage as long as it’s for personal care use and under 18 ounces (500 mL). The total amount of all aerosols per person must not exceed 70 ounces (2 liters). It must also have a protective cap to prevent accidental discharge.

2.3 Are Laptops and Tablets Allowed in Checked Bags?

Yes, you can check laptops, tablets, and other electronics that contain lithium batteries—as long as the battery is installed in the device. However, it’s safer to carry them in your carry-on to avoid damage or theft.

2.4 Can I Bring Ammunition in My Checked Bag?

You can bring certain types of ammunition in a checked bag, but it must be packed in a manufacturer’s box, placed in a hard-sided locked container, and declared to the airline at check-in. Some airlines also limit the amount to 11 pounds.

2.5 Are Cordless Hair Tools Allowed in Checked Luggage?

Cordless curling irons or straighteners powered by butane are not allowed in checked bags. You may bring one in your carry-on if it has a safety cover and is protected from accidental activation. Corded hair tools are allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage.

2.6 Can I Pack Food Like Cheese or Fruit in My Suitcase?

If you’re flying domestically, most food—including cheese and fruit—is allowed in your checked bag. But for international flights, many animal- or plant-based foods are banned. U.S. Customs may confiscate them upon arrival to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

3. Wrap Up

It’s always smart to check TSA’s What Can I Bring? tool before heading to the airport. Just because something seems harmless doesn’t mean it’s allowed.

Keen Tip: When in doubt, pack it in your carry-on—or better yet, leave it at home. TSA agents are trained to err on the side of safety, and once something is confiscated, it’s gone for good.