Hand Warmers
Disposable, air-activated hand warmers are allowed in carry-on and checked bags; gel-based warmers must follow the liquids rule.
Carry-on
Allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Allowed. Disposable, air-activated hand and toe warmers (the iron-powder, salt, and carbon packets like HotHands) are treated as solid chemical items, not liquids, so they're allowed in carry-on without size restrictions. Reusable gel-based or liquid warmers (the kind you snap or reheat) count as a liquid and must follow the standard 3.4 oz (100 mL) rule and fit in your quart-size bag.
Checked-bag details
Allowed. Disposable air-activated warmers are also fine in checked baggage. Gel-based warmers can go in checked bags without the liquids-rule size limit.
Quantity limit
25 oz (per passenger)
Special instructions
Fuel-burning or catalytic hand warmers (the kind that use lighter fluid) are treated like lighters and are not allowed in checked baggage. Air-activated, disposable warmers are capped at about 25 oz (700 g) total per passenger.
Related rules
FAQ
- Do disposable hand warmers count as a liquid?
- No. Air-activated disposable hand warmers are a solid chemical mixture, not a liquid, so the 3.4 oz rule doesn't apply to them.
- What about reusable gel hand warmers?
- Reusable gel or liquid hand warmers are treated as a liquid in carry-on and must be 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less per container, packed in your quart-size bag.
- Can I bring lighter-fluid hand warmers?
- No. Fuel-burning catalytic hand warmers are treated like lighters and are not permitted in checked baggage.
Related items
Source: TSA — What Can I Bring? · Last verified: 2026-07-31
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.