Yes. In your carry-on, toothpaste counts as a gel/paste under the 3-1-1 rule, so the tube must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and go in your quart-size bag. Any size is fine in checked bags.
TSA allows toothpaste in carry-on bags only in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, packed with your other liquids in one quart-size bag. A larger tube is not allowed even if it is nearly empty, because the limit is based on container size.
Toothpaste of any size is allowed in checked bags with no TSA restriction.
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) or smaller tube, inside your one quart-size liquids bag
- Checked: no size limit
Packing tips
- The size printed on the tube is what counts, so a half-used 6 oz tube will still be pulled at the checkpoint.
- Toothpaste tablets or powder are not pastes, which frees up space in your quart bag (powders over 12 oz / 350 ml may need a separate bin).
- If you only fly with a carry-on, buy a full-size tube at your destination rather than risking a confiscation.
Outside the US
- UKGOV.UK lists toothpaste as a liquid: most UK airports limit it to 100 ml containers in one 1-litre clear bag, though some airports with newer scanners allow containers up to 2 litres, so check your departure airport. Source
- EUEU rules treat toothpaste as a liquid: each container must be 100 ml or less inside one transparent bag of up to 1 litre, and larger tubes must go in checked baggage. Source
Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Questions people ask
Does toothpaste count as a liquid at TSA?
Yes. TSA groups pastes and gels with liquids, so toothpaste in a carry-on must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and go in your quart-size bag.
Can I bring a full-size toothpaste in my checked bag?
Yes. TSA places no size limit on toothpaste in checked luggage.