An Essential Carry-On Packing List (+ the Things You CAN’T Take on a Plane)

You’re about to go on a trip, and you need to know: what can you take on a plane and what are the things you can’t take on a plane? Don’t worry. We’ve made an essential carry-on packing list to help you out, including all the things you can’t take on a plane!

Any frequent flier has mastered the airport security dance. Oh you know, the whole shoe-removing, bin-filling, conveyor belt-following, TSA X-raying, bag-scanning, body-patting show you must perform every time you waltz through an airport.

Yes, frequent fliers certainly learn a lot about traveling on airplanes, especially the things to bring on airplanes, and the things you can’t take on a plane.

For every can I bring it on the plane? question you have, frequent fliers like myself have an answer, because there’s nothing worse than finally getting to the front of a long airport security line just to find you violated carry-on luggage restrictions.

Before We Get Started…

Now before we get into what can you take on a plane, and what you should bring, there are some things you should know first:

• what carry-on bags you need
• and what airline carry-on rules you should research.

After that, you’ll find our:

• carry-on packing list 
• and the things you can’t take on a plane.

If you’re only looking for the packing list, then you better skip ahead past the first two sections.

For more information specific to to American travel, check out our guide: TSA Rules You Need to Know: A Guide to TSA Carry-On Restrictions.

Note: this carry-on packing list was written for those who are also checking in bags. If you are not checking in any bags, and intend to bring everything with you on the plane, then this carry-on packing list will be incomplete for you!

What Carry-on Bags You Need

Carry-on luggage restrictions will vary, as each company will have its own airline carry-on rules. However, there are a set of general guidelines that tend to satisfy most airline carry-on luggage restrictions.

What can you take on a plane for most airlines? While there are exceptions, most airlines allow two carry-on items:

• one full-sized carry-on bag
• and a personal item.

Full-sized Carry-on Bag

We recommend: Wrangler Smart Spinner Carry-On Luggage

For your full-sized carry-on bag, the Wrangler Smart Spinner Carry-On Luggage is a traveler’s favorite for carry-on luggage. Best part, it’s affordable! In addition to being compact, durable, and light-weight, the bag has some killer perks.

The Wrangler Smart Spinner comes loaded with a cup & phone holder, and a USB port, allowing you to charge your devices conveniently and easily as long as you provide a battery pack. Luckily, they’re pretty cheap. We use several battery packs; these are the cheapest power banks we use. If you don’t mind spending a few more bucks for something more durable, this is a fantastic, rugged power bank.

Wrangler Smart Spinner Carry-On Luggage

Alternative Full-sized Carry-on Bag

We recommend: Think Tank Bags

For those bringing along cameras, laptops, or tablets, we highly recommend Think Tank bags. Perfect for photographers both amateur and professional, Think Tank has a whole range of bags from durable backpacks, rolling cases, laptop bags, and tons more. Think Tank also has a brand new line of very chic camera bags that do just as much for your outfit as they do to protect your gear. And if you use our link, you can get free shipping and a bonus gift!

We use the Think Tank Airport Helipak for traveling with our DJI Phantom and it’s seriously the best thing in the world. Make sure to check out our full Think Tank bag review for more information!

Personal Item

We recommend: Travelon Anti Theft Classic Backpack

What’s a personal item? A small bag such as a purse, laptop bag, shoulder bag, camera bag, or a compact backpack, ideally one that can also serve as a travel day bag once I arrive to my destination).

Upon arrival to my destination, this bag will hold most of my daily needs (except my money, as I will keep all money safely stored in a travel money belt). This day backpack is extremely versatile, and works just as well for a Prague rendezvous as it does for a getaway in Italy, or even a stroll on a beach in Sri Lanka or South Korea!

For stylish travelers, we recommend: MAHI Leather Roma Backpack

I’m using my adorable leather day backpack as my personal item to hold all my plane essentials, as it’s the perfect size for comfortably stashing under the chair in front of me, while still being super fashionable when I arrive to my destination.

What can you take on a plane as your personal item?

As I mentioned, I’ve been using this small backpack, as it satisfies three important checks off my list: comfortable, sizeable enough for all my essentials, and small enough to stow comfortable under the chair in front of me while in transit.

As a bonus, its chic, gorgeous vintage brown leather compliments any outfit when traveling to stylish cities. Check out our full MAHI Leather Roma backpack review.

Stowing Your Bags on the Plane

Where do you store these bags on the plane?

Your full-sized carry-on bag will be stashed in the overhead bin, while the personal item should be small enough to fit under the chair in front of you.

It’s smart to keep the things you know you’ll need within an arm’s reach in your personal item, and keep everything else stowed in the full-sized carry-on bag.

Research Your Airline Carry-On Rules

Before you look at a carry-on packing list, you should research a few airline carry-on rules.

Different airlines will have different carry-on luggage restrictions, so it’s important you check on the airline website.

Knowing your airline carry-on rules is ESSENTIAL to problem-free travel. Bringing prohibited items could potentially end up in questioning by security officials and even civil penalties of up to $12,856 for the worst violations.

What airline carry-on rules should you look for?

• How many bags you may carry on without an additional charge (if any)
• If you are allowed a personal item in addition to your carry-on luggage
• The dimensions allowed for your carry-on luggage(s)
• The weight limit for your carry-on luggage(s)
• If the weight limit applies to each luggage individually, or in total
• The things you can’t take on a plane

These airline carry-on rules will determine how much you can bring in your carry-on luggage.

Also, depending on how strict the airline carry-on rules are, they may require you to reevaluate your own carry-on packing list and take out any non-essentials (are you really going to read those 4 magazines?!). 

Additionally, while different airlines may have different procedures, our list of all the things you can’t take on a plane apply no matter which airline you fly! Skip to the end section to find our list of all the things you can’t take on a plane!

Keep in mind that the same airline company may have different airline carry-on rules for international versus domestic flights, for different flight classes, and for members of special airline promotions and programs, so be specific in your research.

Free Carry-On Packing List Printable

Get instant access to a FREE printable download of the Carry-On Packing List below by joining our travel community:

Our Essential Carry-On Packing List

Now it’s time to break out our essential carry-on packing list. Here’s everything you should make sure to bring in your personal item and/or carry-on luggage when going on an airplane!

If you’re flying in the winter, you should also have a look at our Essential Winter Travel Packing List!

Health & Sustenance

• Prescription Medication

One of the most important parts of your carry-on packing list is your prescription medications. Make sure that all medications you carry-on are in their original, clearly-labeled bottles with your name visible. You may be asked to verify that the medications are yours with your ID.

• Food

Can you take food on an airplane? Absolutely! So long as any liquids or liquidy foods (yogurts, creams, dips, jams, jellies, etc.) abide by the 3.4 oz/100 mL liquids rule. It’s smart to bring snacks and/or more when you’re going on an airplane, so you’re not dependent on the cabin crew! Many airlines charge for food these days, so packing something to munch on ahead of time will save you money and a grumbling tummy.

• Empty Bottle

Flying is extremely dehydrating, and drinking water is essential when on an airplane! Since you can’t bring a filled bottle of water through airport security, we recommend bringing an empty bottle and filling it up once you’ve gotten past security.

Nomader BPA-Free Collapsible Water Bottle

Cleanliness

Depending on the length of your flight, you might find it more comfortable to add small toiletries to your carry-on packing list to help freshen you up. And since airplanes are known for being a hotbed of germs, anything to stay clean is welcomed warmly! What can you take on a plane to keep yourself clean and groomed? We recommend:

• • Toothbrush/Toothpaste

Marvis Travel Whitening Mint Toothpaste 

Violife Slim Sonic Electric Travel Toothbrush

• Hand sanitizer and/or wipes

Travel Mini Hand Sanitizer

Surviveware Biodegradable Wet Wipes 40 Individually Wrapped Wipes

• Your favorite toiletries, such as lotion, deodorant, face spray

Burt’s Bees Fabulous Mini’s Travel Set

Men’s Premium 20 Count Necessities Travel Kit

• Change of clothes, including underwear, socks, slippers

Compression Socks for Flight Travel

• Travel hair brush

Spornette Carry-On Wooden Hair Brush

• Small mirror

Lighted Foldable Travel Magnifying Mirror

• Hair ties

Scunci No Damage Hair Ties

Entertainment & Electronics

Flights are tedious, so you’ll definitely want to add something to keep you busy or entertained to your carry-on packing list. Of course there’s the old way: magazines, books, etc.

But technology also makes it super easy to bring a whole digital stack of magazines and books in your phone or tablet—just make sure you don’t run out of battery!

What can you take on a plane for entertainment? Here’s what we recommend for your carry-on packing list:

• Magazines/books (the old way)

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

• Kindle, iPod/iPhone or other smartphone, laptop (the new way)

Kindle Paperwhite E-reader

• SD card or flash drive loaded up with movies

SanDisk 64GB Memory Card

• Phone, tablet, and/or Kindle Charger

• Back-up power bank charger

Anker Ultra-Compact High-Speed Power Bank

Comfort

Beyond the boring tedium of flying, an airplane can be downright uncomfortable! What can you take on a plane to make your life a little easier? Add these comfort essentials to your carry-on packing list and your body will thank you later:

• Ear plugs

Lewis N. Clark Pressure Reducing Ear Plugs

• Eye Mask

MZOO Ultra-Soft Concave Sleep Mask

• Scarf, sarong, or blanket

 Travel Scarf with Hidden Pocket

• Inflatable neck pillow

Push-Button Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow

• Sleeping pills

JET SET NATURAL, Jet Lag Relief & Prevention Pills

Travel Documents

Another essential carry-on packing list tip is to keep all your important travel documents close to you.

All your ID’s, tickets, hotel bookings, directions, and itineraries should be printed in advance and added to your carry-on packing list. When traveling internationally, you will need to know at least one address that you will be staying at when going through customs, so make sure to have that information prepared as well!

The ultimate prepared-traveler should have digital backup copies of all itineraries, booking information, passport photos, visas, and passport scan stored on their phone, SD card, or USB drive. Here’s what we recommend adding to your carry-on packing list to ensure you have all the travel documents you need?

• Wallet

Zoppen Multi-Purpose Rfid Blocking Travel Passport Holder

• Passport and other forms of ID

The Getaway Passport Holder

• Flight tickets

• Visas

• Hotel booking information

• Directions

• Itineraries

• SD card or USB drive with digital backups of important travel documents

SanDisk 32GB Flash Drive

Valuables

It’s important to bring all your valuable items in your carry-on luggage, as putting them in your checked bags leaves them vulnerable to being lost, damaged, or stolen.

In addition, the flammability of certain batteries, such as the LiPo batteries used in many cell phones, drones, and other electronics raise a safety issue for checked bags, and should always be carried on—learn more about traveling with LiPo batteries.

So, what can you take on a plane to ensure your valuables are safe? Here’s what we think you should add to your carry-on packing list:

• Cameras

  (learn more about our top travel cameras)

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera

• LiPo batteries

LiPo Battery Fireproof Bag

• Jewelry

Vegan Leather Travel Jewelry Case

• Fragile items

• Any other irreplaceable or valuable items

Prohibited Items: Things You Can’t Take on a Plane

Just as valid as questions for what can you take on a plane are those for the things you can’t take on a plane! Now a lot of these prohibited items are just common sense. Who needs freaking dynamite or fireworks on a plane, anyway?

Still, this list of prohibited things you can’t take on a plane is worth consulting when making your carry-on packing list. As mentioned previously, bringing prohibited items in your carry-on could potentially end up in questioning by security officials and even civil penalties of up to $12,856 for the worst violations. So make sure to follow the rules!

Note: this list of things you can’t take on a plane is restricted to your carry-on baggage. The rules may vary for your checked baggage.

Here are all the things you can’t take on a plane!

Explosives/Flammable Items

• aerosols larger than 3.4 oz/100 mL, bear bangers, blasting caps, chlorine for pools and spas, dynamite, fire extinguishers and other compressed gas cylinders, fireworks, flammable liquids/gels/aerosol paints, fuels, gas torches, gasoline, gel-type candles, hand grenades, lighter fluid, liquid bleach, realistic replicas of explosives or incendiaries, non-medical/recreational oxygen, spillable batteries, spray paint, strike-anywhere matches, tear gas, torch lighters, turpentine and paint thinner, vehicle airbags

Firearms, Weapons, and Sharp Objects

• Ammunition, BB guns, compressed air guns, firearms, flare guns, flares, gun lighters, gun powder, gun parts, pellet guns, realistic gun replicas, starter pistols
• Billy clubs, black jacks, brass knuckles, kubatons, martial arts weapons, night sticks, nunchucks, self defense sprays (such as pepper spray), stun guns, throwing stars
• Box cutters, ice axes/ice picks, knives, meat cleavers, razors, sabers, scissors, swords

Sporting Goods and Tools

• Baseball bats, bows and arrows, crampons, cricket bats, golf clubs, hiking poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, pool cues, ski poles, spear guns
• Axes and hatchets, cattle prods, crowbars, drills and drill bits, hammers, saws, tools greater than 7 inches in length

There’s everything you need to know for carry-on packing list perfection! We hope we’ve cleared up any carry-on restrictions questions, as well as all those things you can’t take on a plane. Flying isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but with our travel tips and carry-on packing list, you can make this essential part of travel a little less of a pain in the butt. To recap, here’s our essential carry-on packing list:

• Prescription medication
• Food
• Empty bottle
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hand sanitizer and/or wipes
• Your favorite toiletries, such as lotion, deodorant, face spray
• Change of clothes, including underwear, socks, slippers
• Travel hair brush
• Small mirror
• Hair ties
• Magazines/books (the old way)
• Kindle, iPod/iPhone or other smartphone, laptop (the new way)
• SD card loaded up with movies
• Phone, tablet, and/or kindle Charger
• Back-up power bank charger
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Scarf, sarong, or blanket
• Inflatable neck pillow
• Cozy socks
• Sleeping pills
• Wallet
• Passport and other forms of ID
• Flight tickets
• Visas
• Hotel booking information
• Directions
• Itineraries
• SD card or USB drive with backups of important travel documents
• Cameras, drone, etc.
• LiPo batteries
• Jewelry
• Fragile items
• Any other irreplaceable or valuable items

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What essentials do you have on your carry-on packing list?

Or do you know any other things you can’t take on a plane? Share in a comment below!