Liquids in carry-on luggage in 2026 - at which airports in Europe can you take 2 liters?

The 100 ml limit is no longer the rule across the continent. More and more airports in Europe have new scanners that let you carry containers of up to 2 liters in your cabin baggage without taking liquids out of your bag. The catch? Rules differ not only between countries, but often even between terminals at the same airport. We’ve checked where the cabin-baggage liquid limit has already been lifted, where the 100 ml rule still applies, and how to pack so that no security check is a problem.

As of October 2026. The list of airports changes every few weeks - always check your airport’s website before departure.

Why is the limit 100 ml, and why is it changing?

The 100 ml rule has been in effect since 2006. It was introduced after a plot to carry out an attack using liquid explosives was foiled in the United Kingdom. Since then, passengers have had to fit liquids into containers of up to 100 ml, packed in one transparent 1-liter bag.

The change is being brought about by new computed tomography (CT) scanners. They create a three-dimensional image of baggage contents and can distinguish safe liquids from dangerous ones. At airports that have installed them and received approval from the relevant authorities, you can bring containers with a capacity of up to 2 liters, and you don’t need to take laptops or toiletry bags out of your bag.

Important: there is no single date when the limit will be lifted across Europe. Each airport is introducing the change at its own pace, often initially at selected security checkpoints only.

Which airports in Europe allow you to bring 2 liters of liquids?

The list below covers European Union countries. Airports are listed with their IATA code, which you can find on your ticket and boarding pass.

Country	Airport (code)	Where the 2 L limit applies
Poland	Kraków (KRK)	all security lanes, no limit on the number of containers
Poland	Poznań (POZ)	new security lanes
Poland	Rzeszów (RZE)	new security lanes
Poland	Warsaw Chopin (WAW)	security areas AB and E; area CD still has the 100 ml limit
Poland	Gdańsk (GDN)	new scanner lanes only (rollout ongoing)
Ireland	Dublin (DUB)	entire airport, no limit on the number of containers
Germany	Berlin Brandenburg (BER)	T1 (areas 1 and 5) and T2; in T1, areas 2 and 4 still have the 100 ml limit
Germany	Frankfurt (FRA)	most checkpoints in T1 and all of T3
Germany	Munich (MUC)	security checkpoints with CT scanners in T1 and T2
Italy	Rome Fiumicino (FCO)*	most departures, except flights to the USA and Israel
Italy	Milan Linate (LIN)	entire airport
Italy	Milan Malpensa (MXP)	Terminal 1 only; T2 still has the 100 ml limit
Italy	Bologna (BLQ)*	entire airport
Italy	Turin (TRN)*	paid Fast Track only
Austria	Vienna (VIE)	central security checkpoints in all terminals
Czechia	Prague (PRG)	Terminal 2 only: one additional container up to 2 L alongside the standard 100 ml
Lithuania	Vilnius (VNO), Kaunas (KUN)	entire airports
Romania	Cluj-Napoca (CLJ)	entire airport
Denmark	Billund (BLL)	containers up to 2 L
Malta	Malta (MLA)	central security checkpoint

* Information comes from press reports from September–October 2026; the airport’s official website does not mention it.

How to read this table? If the limit applies only at selected checkpoints, areas or terminals, you may encounter older security screening where the 100 ml limit still applies. At airports with a partial rollout, it is safer to pack as if the 100 ml limit still applied.

Liquid limits in the UK - separate rules

The UK is not in the European Union, so the British government and individual airports decide the security rules there. Changes are happening faster than in most EU countries: several of the largest airports already allow liquids of up to 2 liters.

Airport (code)	Liquid limit
London Heathrow (LHR)	up to 2 l, Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5
London Gatwick (LGW)	up to 2 l
Birmingham (BHX)	up to 2 l, no limit on the number of containers
Bristol (BRS)	up to 2 l
Edinburgh (EDI)	up to 2 l, multiple containers
Belfast International (BFS) and Belfast City (BHD)	reportedly up to 2 l, but official airport websites still state 100 ml
London Luton (LTN)	100 ml
London Stansted (STN)	100 ml
Manchester (MAN)	100 ml

What else is worth knowing about UK airports:

• A transparent bag is not always needed. At many major airports, such as Manchester and Stansted, liquids can stay in your carry-on baggage, even where the 100 ml per container limit still applies. However, this does not apply at all airports.
• Number of bottles. Some airports, such as Birmingham, explicitly allow any number of containers of up to 2 liters. Others only specify the capacity of a single container.
• Thermoses and metal bottles. At airports with a 2-liter limit, metal, insulated and double-walled bottles must be empty at security, because the scanner cannot see what is inside.
• A flight to the UK is not the same as a flight from the UK. If you depart from Heathrow with a 2-liter bottle, on your return from an airport with a 100 ml limit, you must leave it behind or put it in your checked baggage.

Where does the 100 ml limit still apply?

At most airports in Europe, the classic rule still applies: containers of up to 100 ml in one transparent 1-liter bag. This applies to popular destinations such as Paris (CDG, ORY), Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), Amsterdam (AMS), Brussels (BRU), Lisbon (LIS), Athens (ATH) and Marseille (MRS), as well as Katowice (KTW), Wrocław (WRO), Lublin (LUZ) and Modlin (WMI) in Poland.

Fun fact: new scanners don’t always mean the 100 ml limit has been lifted. At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, CT scanners allow liquids and electronics to remain in your baggage, but each container can still hold no more than 100 ml. W Helsinki (HEL), the limit is 100 ml per container, but there’s no need for a bag, and passengers can bring up to 2 liters in total. At Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), the new checkpoints in Terminal 5 allow any number of 100 ml containers without a bag, while the standard 1-liter bag rule applies in Terminal 2.

Watch out for your return flight

This is the most common pitfall. The rules apply at the airport you depart from, not throughout your entire trip. If you fly from Kraków to Barcelona, you’ll pass security in Kraków with a 2-liter bottle of body lotion, but in Barcelona that same bottle will be confiscated. When planning your carry-on baggage, always check the rules at both your departure and return airports, and pack according to whichever one has stricter rules.

How to pack liquids in your carry-on baggage without any problems

A higher liquid limit doesn’t change one thing: your carry-on baggage still has to fit within the dimensions set by the airline. And a 2-liter bottle quickly takes up space that’s already in short supply in a small bag.

Free 40x30x20 carry-on baggage - how many liquids can you fit?

With Ryanair and Wizz Air’s cheapest fares, free carry-on baggage means one bag or backpack measuring 40x30x20 cm that must fit under the seat. Other airlines have their own limits; for example, with LOT, a personal item measures 40x35x12 cm, so always check the dimensions with your airline.

With 40x30x20 luggage, every centimeter counts. Instead of a large shampoo bottle, it’s better to use a few smaller containers or solid toiletries. A well-designed 40x30x20 backpack with several compartments lets you keep liquids in a separate, easily accessible pocket - in case you need to take them out at the airport after all.

Cabin suitcase - more room for toiletries

If you’re taking more toiletries or flying for longer, a cabin suitcase is a better choice. If you’re allowed to bring more liquids, a model with an external pocket or an internal compartment that keeps your toiletry bag separate from your clothes is especially useful. Remember that with low-cost airlines, you usually have to pay extra to bring a cabin suitcase.

A universal way to pack liquids

1. Pack for the airport with the stricter rules. If one of the airports on your route has a 100 ml limit, use that as your baseline.
2. Use a transparent toiletry bag. It’s required at airports with a 100 ml limit, and simply makes security checks easier at others.
3. Transfer toiletries into travel containers. Smaller containers take up less space and will pass security at any airport.
4. Secure the caps. Pressure differences on the plane can cause leaks, so it's worth packing liquids in a leakproof toiletry bag.
5. Pack large bottles in checked baggage. If you're unsure about the rules on your return journey, this is the safest option.

Liquids in carry-on baggage - frequently asked questions

Has the 100 ml limit been lifted across Europe?

No. The carry-on liquid limit has been lifted only at airports that have installed new scanners and received approval to change the rules. At most airports in Europe, the 100 ml limit per container still applies.

Does 2 liters mean one bottle or the total amount?

Usually, 2 liters is the maximum capacity for a single container. The number of containers depends on the airport - some allow any number, while others, such as Prague, allow only one larger container alongside the standard 100 ml containers.

At an airport with a 2-liter limit, do you have to remove liquids from your bag?

At security checkpoints with new scanners, liquids and electronics can usually remain in your carry-on baggage. However, if you go through an older checkpoint, the existing rules apply.

Will a 40x30x20 backpack fit a 2-liter bottle?

It will fit, but will take up a significant amount of space. W smaller containers work better in free carry-on baggage, while larger bottles are best packed in a cabin suitcase or checked baggage.

Do the rules also apply to medicines and baby food?

Liquid medicines and baby food can be carried in larger quantities at all airports, regardless of the limit. However, you must declare them at security and keep them handy, as they may be checked separately.

Summary - 100 ml or 2 liters?

The 100 ml era is slowly coming to an end, but not everywhere yet. More and more airports in Europe and the UK allow you to take more liquids and don't require you to remove them from your bag, but the rules remain unchanged on many popular routes. That's why the most important rule is: check the carry-on liquid limit at both your departure and return airports, and pack according to the stricter one.

Whether you're flying with a free 40x30x20 carry-on bag or a cabin suitcase, good organization is half the battle. A clear toiletry bag, a few travel containers and a separate pocket for liquids make security checks quick - no matter which airport you're at. Have a great trip!

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