Yes, with limits. Air-activated hand warmers are fine in carry-on and checked bags. Rechargeable lithium warmers are allowed and best carried on. Warmers that burn lighter fluid or gas are banned from all bags.
Air-activated (iron/charcoal) hand warmers are allowed with no quantity limit, and TSA lists hand warmers as allowed. Rechargeable lithium hand warmers are allowed and should be in the cabin. Fuel-burning warmers using flammable liquid or gas are forbidden.
Air-activated warmers are allowed. Rechargeable lithium warmers may be checked only if completely powered off and protected from accidental activation. Flammable liquid or gas warmers are forbidden in checked bags too.
Checked against official TSA, FAA and government pages on . These are US rules unless we say otherwise; the TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.
The rules in numbers
- Air-activated (carbon, charcoal or iron) warmers: not regulated as hazmat, no quantity limit
- Hand warmers using flammable liquids or gases (e.g. lighter-fluid catalytic warmers): forbidden in carry-on and checked bags
- Rechargeable lithium warmers: lithium-ion batteries: up to 100 wh allowed without approval; 101-160 wh needs airline approval; over 160 wh forbidden
- Lithium battery devices in checked bags: completely powered off and protected from accidental activation or damage
Packing tips
- Leave air-activated warmers sealed until you need them; they work fine in the cabin.
- Rechargeable warmers often double as power banks; airlines may set their own power bank rules, so check your carrier.
- An empty, purged fuel warmer may still be refused by some airlines because of fuel residue; leave it at home.
Outside the US
- CanadaCATSA treats air-activated hand warmers as a powder/granular item, capped at 350 ml total in carry-on; there is no such cap in checked bags. Source
Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Questions people ask
Can I bring HotHands hand warmers on a plane?
Yes. FAA does not regulate air-activated warmers as hazardous materials, and TSA allows hand warmers in carry-on and checked bags.
Can I fly with a Zippo or lighter-fluid hand warmer?
No. FAA forbids warmers that use flammable liquids or gases in both carry-on and checked bags.
Are rechargeable hand warmers allowed on planes?
Yes. They follow lithium battery device rules: keep them in your carry-on, or if checked, fully powered off and protected from activation.