Lip Balm
Solid stick lip balm has no size restriction, but liquid or gel-based lip balm and gloss must follow the 3.4 oz liquid rule in carry-on.
Carry-on
Allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Allowed, no restriction — if it's a solid stick. TSA doesn't count solid stick lip balm (like standard Chapstick or Burt's Bees) as a liquid, so it doesn't need to go in your quart-size liquids bag and has no size limit. Liquid or gel-based lip balm and lip gloss are different — those count as a liquid and must be 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less in carry-on, packed with your other liquids.
Checked-bag details
Allowed. Lip balm in any form — stick, gel, or liquid — has no size restriction in checked baggage.
Special instructions
If your lip balm is gel-based (squeezes out of a jar or tube rather than gliding on as a solid), treat it like a liquid for carry-on purposes.
FAQ
- Is Chapstick considered a liquid by TSA?
- No. Standard solid-stick lip balm is not treated as a liquid, so there's no size limit and it doesn't need to go in your liquids bag.
- What about tinted lip balm or lip gloss?
- If it's a gel or liquid that squeezes or smears rather than a solid stick, TSA treats it as a liquid and it must be 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less in carry-on.
Related items
Source: TSA — What Can I Bring? · Last verified: 2026-07-31
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.