This post covers if you can take nail polish and nail polish remover on a plane. This article focuses on TSA rules and breaks them down into simple terms.
The rules are different depending on if you want to take nail polish in your carry-on or your checked bag. This is all covered below.
Can You Take Nail Polish On A Plane?
The simple answer is yes, you can take nail polish on a plane but the quantity you take will affect how you need to pack it so keep reading to find out the in depth rules on this.
| Item | Carry-On? | Checked Luggage? |
|---|---|---|
| Nail Polish | Yes (some limits) | Yes |
| Nail Polish Remover | Yes (some limits) | Yes (some limits) |
For any toiletries that you take on a plane, it is important to know whether they are classed as a ‘liquid’ or not under TSA rules.
Is Nail Polish Considered a Liquid for TSA?
Yes under TSA rules, nail polish is considered a liquid.
TSA has a liquids rule which limits the amount of liquids you can bring on a plane. This rule applies to carry-on luggage only and not checked luggage.
TSA Liquids Rule
You are allowed to take a quart-sized, resealable bag of liquids in your carry-on. This would include liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes. You cannot take any more liquids in your carry-on – only the liquids that fit into this bag are allowed.
You will need to take this bag out of your carry-on luggage when passing through airport security.
It’s best to be prepared so you don’t get held up at security, you can check the availability of quart-sized, resealable bags on Amazon.
I’d suggest packing your liquids into the bag before you go to the airport to ensure that all your liquids fit. If you take extra liquids that don’t fit in the bag then these will be taken from you by security staff.
It’s also important to note that each liquid item must contain 3.4oz/100 ml or less. Again, if you bring liquids in your carry-on that are over this amount then they will be taken from you by security staff.
Can You Take Nail Polish In A Carry-On?
Yes, you can take nail polish in your carry-on however there are restrictions of how much you can take.
You must ensure that the nail polish contains less than 3.4oz/100 ml.
Most nail polish bottles will clearly state how much liquid they contain so you can easily check this. This limit is per bottle so, for example, if you have 2 bottles of nail polish that you want to pack in your carry-on, each one needs to be less than 3.4oz/100 ml.
Most nail polish bottles contain between 0.3oz – 0.5oz/8 ml -15 ml so they should easily fall below the 3.4oz/100 ml limit.
Can I Take Nail Polish Remover In A Carry-On?
You can also take nail polish remover in a carry-on. Again, this falls under the same rules so ensure that the bottle contains less than 3.4oz/100 ml or you won’t be able to take this with you.
As most nail polish remover bottles contain more than 3.4oz/100 ml, a better alternative is to take nail polish remover wipes instead as these are not considered a liquid by TSA.
This is also useful as nail polish remover can take up a lot of room (you only have 1 quart-sized bag available for liquids). This is a great way to save space in your carry-on.
Even though nail polish and nail polish remover are permitted in a carry-on, if it is flagged as a security concern a TSA officer can make the decision to not allow you to take it. This is pretty rare and would only happen if there was some suspicion that it had been tampered with etc.
Can I Take Nail Polish In My Carry-On That I Purchased In Duty Free?
Yes you can take nail polish purchased in duty free in your carry-on.
There are no size restrictions on the bottles if they were purchased in duty free – this means you can take it in your carry-on even if it contains more than 3.4oz/100 ml of liquid. Ensure you keep your receipt and carry it in a clear, plastic bag.
Can You Take Nail Polish In Checked Luggage?
Yes, you can take nail polish in your checked luggage. There are no size restrictions on taking nail polish in checked luggage.
I’d still suggest packing your nail polish in a resealable bag to ensure they don’t break and leak. It’s not uncommon for nail polish bottles to smash during the journey and this could ruin all your clothes so it’s best to be prepared.
Can I Take Nail Polish Remover In Checked Luggage?
Additionally, you can take nail polish remover in your checked luggage.
The bottle can contain more than 3.4oz/100 ml of liquid however due to nail polish remover being a flammable liquid, you can’t take more than 18oz/530 ml in your bag.
It’s rare for a nail polish remover bottle to contain this much (most contain between 1.7oz – 5oz/50 ml – 150 ml) but it’s best to double check beforehand.
A better alternative is to take nail polish remover wipes instead. Nail polish remover often leaks so taking wipes is a much better option.
The Verdict
Yes, you can take nail polish and nail polish remover on a plane. If you’re taking nail polish in your carry-on, ensure it contains less than 3.4oz/100 ml and ensure it fits inside a quart-sized, resealable bag along with your other liquids.
If you’re taking nail polish in your checked bag then there are no restrictions.
Thanks for reading this post on if you can take nail polish or nail polish remover on a plane.
All information for this article was taken from the official TSA rules. You can visit their website for any additional queries.