If you are planning to take a flight anytime soon, then it is very important to understand the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) rules for traveling with liquids.
If you don’t follow these guidelines strictly, then you risk having to hand your liquids over before you will be allowed through security to board the plane.
This can be devastating, especially if those liquids include pricey perfumes or luxurious skincare products!
The TSA states that you may only take one clear, quart-sized bag of liquids, gels, aerosols, pastes, and creams in your carry-on bag.
Within this quart-sized bag, each individual container of liquid must be 100 ml in size or less.
Any containers larger than this must go into your checked baggage, no matter how much liquid is actually inside them.
These guidelines are commonly known as the 3-1-1 rule.
If you’ve been wondering, “But what does 100 ml look like?”, “How much is 100 ml in ounces?”, “Which are the best travel containers with a 100 ml bottle size?” – you’re at the right place.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at just how much 100 ml equals in other units of measurement – including grams, cups, and ounces.
Plus, I’ll share with you the best TSA-approved travel bottles and containers that let you take the guesswork out of measuring your liquids and allow you to pack with confidence.
100 ml Conversions
First, let’s talk about conversions to find out how much 100 ml equals in other units you may be more familiar with.
100 ml To Ounces
There’s a reason why the TSA guidelines are known as the 3-1-1 rule. That’s because the ‘3’ refers to the number of ounces of liquid you are allowed.
It’s slightly misleading, though, as 3 ounces is only 85.2 ml. To get your full 100 ml, you can actually measure out 3.4 ounces of liquid!
The first ‘1’ in the 3-1-1 rule refers to the one quart-sized bag you are allowed to bring your 100 ml containers in.
And the final ‘1’ refers to the fact that only 1 bag is allowed per passenger.
To sum up – 100 ml equals 3.4 oz.
100 ml To Cups?
If fluid measurements are easier for you to visualize than units of weight, then it might help to know that 100 ml is also 3.4 fluid ounces.
One US measuring cup is 8 fluid ounces, so 3.4 fluid ounces is less than half of one US cup.
Another way to think of it is that 100 ml is equivalent to 64 US tablespoons – although you are very unlikely to try to measure it that way!
100 ml equals 3.4 fluid oz – under half a cup.
100 ml To Grams?
Converting milliliters to grams is the easiest calculation of all.
That’s because one milliliter of water weighs exactly one gram.
So: 100 ml equals 100 grams.
What Does 100 ml Look Like?
But how much is 100 ml of liquid to look at? What could it be compared to?
The easiest way to see for yourself is to have a look at some travel-sized toiletries in the store.
They usually come in 3-ounce containers to make them appropriate for flying with.
Remember, though, that 3 ounces are a little less than you are allowed and that you can actually carry 3.4 ounces of liquid per container.
There are some other easy ways you can visualize 100 ml of liquid. Think of a classic can of soda, for example.
That holds 12 fluid ounces of liquid. So 100 ml isn’t quite a third of a standard soda can (it’s 28%, in fact).
Alternatively, think of miniature bottles of gin, vodka, whisky, etc. These usually hold 50 ml each. So 100 ml is the equivalent of 2 miniature bottles of alcohol.
Travel Toiletries Bottles And Containers For Liquids
If the thought of trying to measure out such small quantities of liquid is a bit daunting, then it’s worth investing in a good set of travel containers.
Using travel containers is a very cost-effective alternative to buying travel-sized toiletries for each trip.
It is also much kinder to the environment, as you can simply wash them at the end of the trip and keep them to use again in the future.
Given that the allowance for each container should be 100 ml, a set of 100 ml travel bottles should be ideal, right?
Well actually, a set consisting of 100 ml bottles and a few smaller ones too would be the best option.
Remember that you are only allowed to carry on ONE one-quart bag. This will become full very quickly if every container you place inside it is a full 100 ml.
For some toiletries, you may not need your full 100 ml allowance, so packing a container bigger than you need would be wasting precious space.
These sets all give you the option of packing smaller quantities, too, allowing you to bring a broader range of toiletries if needed.
If you want to learn more about travel bottles and containers, make sure to read our guide comparing the best silicone travel bottles and the best travel containers.
TSA APPROVED – GLOBEGEAR Travel Bottles
This set of travel bottles and containers for liquids contains everything you will need to pack your toiletries and stay safely within the TSA guidelines.
All the items come in a clear, one-quart bag which is fully compliant with the rules.
The bag itself is well made, with a strong frame, high-quality zipper, and O-puller for convenient opening and closing.
Inside the bag you’ll find 4 x 50ml bottles, 1 x 30ml soft tube, and 3 x 10g jars, making the most of your space and giving you separate containers for individual items.
You don’t even need to worry about how you will transfer your toiletries to these containers, as the set comes with a handy pipette, small funnel, and mini spatula.
You are also provided with a handy set of labels – some pre-printed, and some blank for you to customize. This makes it so much easier to identify the contents of each container.
Everything is well sealed and leakproof, and the 50 ml bottles all have different types of lids (pump, spray, etc.) that make them perfect for dispensing a variety of liquids.
TEAPILE Travel Bottles Set
This high-quality set of containers and bottles for liquids is both functional and colorful, making it a handy addition to your travel accessories.
There are nine pieces in the set – 4 x 3 oz. silicone bottles, 3 x smaller containers for cosmetics or powders, and 2 x toothbrush covers.
There is also a set of pre-printed labels for you to attach to the bottles to allow for quick and easy identification.
All the bottles and containers have an effective 3-layer leak detection design, so you don’t need to worry about your toiletries seeping out.
Free of BPA, the silicone is food-grade, which means that these bottles can also serve double duty for edible items, allowing you to take sauces on picnics, for example.
What’s more, silicone is an ideal material for carrying liquids when you travel, as it is durable and lightweight, and soft enough to squeeze.
This means that you can easily use up every drop of your toiletries! Everything comes in a clear, quart-sized zippered bag.
KIKOMO TSA Approved Leak Proof Squeezable Travel Accessories
This versatile set will help you quickly and confidently clear security whilst carrying on all the toiletry items you will need.
It’s just packed with handy containers, including 6 silicone bottles in three different sizes (3 ounces, 2 ounces, and 1.5 ounces), plus 2 x 30 ml spray bottles, 3 x 20 ml cream jars, and two toothbrush covers.
Also included is a clear, quart-sized bag.
Lightweight and soft for easy squeezing, the BPA-free food-grade bottles are completely leak-proof, with no-drip valves.
A rotating label is included for each bottle.
All you need to do is take off the lid for each bottle, choose the tag you need by rotating the inner ring (your choices are Sun, Cond, Lotion, Soap, Shamp, and one blank tag to customize), then screw the cap back on.
Unlike some travel containers for liquids, these have wide mouths and are pretty easy to fill. Just to make things easier, though, a little plastic spatula is supplied.
What Types Of Liquids Should You Pack In Your Carry-On?
There are all kinds of liquids, pastes, gels, and creams that you may wish to pack in your carry-on. Sometimes this is to allow you to freshen up at the airport or on the plane.
Or sometimes you might wish to avoid checking in anything at all, to save you time when you disembark.
Some of the liquids (and substances that fall under the ‘liquids’ category) you might want to bring include the following items.
1. Toothpaste
It’s always nice to have toothpaste available when you’re traveling, especially when your flight is long.
Standard tubes of toothpaste are larger than 100 ml, so you can’t bring one in your carry-on – even if it is almost empty.
But the amount permitted for travel is more than adequate – if you brush your teeth twice per day with the recommended amount of toothpaste, then 100 ml should last you more than a month!
So it might even be worth using one of your smaller-sized travel containers for toothpaste.
2. Shampoo
Whether or not you should pack shampoo in your carry-on really depends on how much you think you will be using.
It’s a good idea to monitor your usage at home for a couple of weeks before you travel, to gauge how much you get through and how quickly.
Remember, though, that you may need to wash your hair more often if your travels involve lots of swimming or trips to the beach.
On average, a 100 ml bottle of shampoo will last most women for around 10 washes – although this could be a bit more for women with short hair and less for women with long hair.
If this isn’t enough for you but you won’t have any checked baggage, then you will need to pack extra containers of shampoo, or simply wait to buy shampoo at your destination.
Alternatively, invest in a solid shampoo bar – the perfect solution for frequent travelers!
3. Sunscreen
Experts recommend that we use 4 to 6 teaspoons of sunscreen in every application for adequate protection against the sun.
100 ml equals 20 teaspoons, so one travel-sized container of sunscreen won’t go very far.
For this reason, it’s best to put sunscreen in your checked luggage if possible.
If you really don’t want to check a bag, then another good alternative is to use solid sunscreen, as this does not need to be packed in your quart-sized bag, and you can bring enough to last your trip.
4. Cosmetics
Some make-up items count as liquids, and others don’t, so it’s important to be clear about which ones are which.
Solid make-up or cosmetics in powder form can be brought in your carry-on in any quantity, so you don’t need to waste space on them in your quart bag.
But items like foundation, mascara, moisturizer, nail polish, primer, concealer, lip gloss, and cream eyeshadow all come under the TSA liquids rule.
Other items that get forgotten (but also count as liquids) include eyebrow gel, eyelash or nail glue, and hairstyling lotions.
5. Deodorant
This is a nice item to have in your carry-on as it makes it easy to have a quick freshen-up when you want one.
The good news is that there are no restrictions on the size of the deodorant you bring if it is the solid, stick variety.
This means you won’t have to put it in your quart bag.
However, liquids (like roll-ons) and semi-liquids (like cream and gel deodorants) are subject to the rules and must be placed in your 100 ml containers if you plan to bring them in your carry-on.
Final Thoughts On 100 ml Liquids
I hope this guide has helped you clearly understand the 100 ml bottle size rules and the best way to pack your toiletries to comply with the guidelines.
With a bit of careful planning and a good set of travel containers, you can easily bring along everything you’ll need for your next trip.
That said, you may want to consider bringing check-in luggage with you if you need more cosmetics and toiletries with you.
The rules are different with check-in luggage vs cabin luggage.
Want to learn more about packing for travel? Read one of the following guides:
