Yes. Lotions and creams must be in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less inside your carry-on quart bag. Full-size bottles and jars are fine in checked bags.
TSA allows lotion in carry-on bags in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, packed in your one quart-size bag. Face creams, body butters and hand creams count as creams under the same rule.
Lotion and face cream are allowed in checked bags with no TSA size limit.
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
- Carry-on: 3.4 oz (100 ml) per container, in your quart-size bag
- Checked: no size limit
Packing tips
- A jar's printed capacity is what counts; a 4 oz jar of face cream that is half empty will still be refused.
- Solid lotion bars are not creams or liquids, so they don't need to go in the quart bag.
- Prescription creams are medications; declare larger amounts at the checkpoint rather than squeezing them into the quart bag.
Outside the US
- UKGOV.UK lists creams and lotions as liquids: 100 ml per container at most UK airports, while some allow up to 2 litres. Source
- EUCosmetic creams must be 100 ml or less per container in one transparent bag of up to 1 litre. Source
Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Questions people ask
Can I bring lotion in my carry-on?
Yes, in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less that fit in your quart-size bag.
Is face cream considered a liquid by TSA?
Yes. The 3-1-1 rule covers creams, so face cream over 3.4 oz (100 ml) must go in checked luggage.