Can You Bring Bar Soap on a Plane? Including Packing Tips

Although I try to restrict the plane travel I make I do have family overseas and so take the occasional flight to visit them. When travelling by airplane I always like to take my home comforts and for me, that includes a travel-sized natural soap bar but when I first flew I wondered if I could take a bar soap on a plane, perhaps you’re wondering that too?

As a general rule, you can bring bar soap on a plane. According to the US TSA and UK government rules carrying soap bars is allowed in both checked bags and carry-on luggage. Soap bars are considered solids and therefore not restricted in the same way liquids are.

So In summary, what I found when carrying out my research is that you are allowed to bring solid soap on a plane in both carry-on and checked baggage without any restriction. For further reading and answers to other related questions please do read on.

But before you do, are you still wondering if bar soaps are better – Then why not read my article “Are Natural Soaps Better? Why switching is a game changer” next?

Best Eco Friendly Products - Our Recommendations

Best Eco Friendly Products - Our Recommendations

• Best Eco Friendly Products
• Tested and approved by our team
• Only the best products make the list

Here at greenerlyfe we've tested hundreds of products and pride ourselves on only sharing the best with you. No email or password needed - just visit the page.

Take Me There

Is Bar Soap Considered a Liquid When Flying?

So is bar soap a solid or a liquid?

Well, I’ll leave that question to the scientists but for air travel the answer is important.

I get asked this question a lot and to be fair it was at the top of my mind when I started the pack my hand luggage the first time I flew with bar soap.

The answer is that according to most of the aviation authorities around the world including those from the US and UK, bars of soap, including medicated soap are considered a solid and therefore are not subject to the same rules as liquids.

Can I Pack Bar Soap in Carry-On Baggage?

Yes, you can bring soap on a plane in your carry-on baggage/hand luggage.

The main concern here is that a bar of soap could be considered a liquid and so would be subject to the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule but as we’ve already established bar soap is not considered liquids.

One tip I would mention though is to pack the soap securely to avoid damaging it or soiling your other belongings.

Does Bar Soap Need to Be in a Quart Bag?

As bar soap is not considered a liquid the TSA’s liquids rule, which requires liquids and gels to be placed in a clear, quart-sized plastic bag does not apply.

Bar soap can be simply packed in the main part of your bag with your other belongings and unlike liquids and gels, there’s no requirement to remove bar soap from your luggage as you pass through security.

Is Soap Allowed in Checked Baggage?

You bet bar soap is allowed in checked luggage whether you are travelling with bars of soap or liquid soap.

There are no restrictions (apart from weight) when it comes to carrying soap in your luggage and so you can be confident in packing as much as you like.

As with carry on luggage, it’s still a good idea to wrap it in a bag or container to prevent it from getting wet or soiling other items in your luggage.

How Many Bars of Soap Can You Bring on a Plane?

From the research I’ve done aviation authorities such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) do not have any specific limit on the total number of bars of soap you can take on a plane.

One thing to mention is that multiple bar soaps can be quite heavy and so you would need to consider the total weight of the soap you’d like to travel with.

Most airlines have weight restrictions which are usually less for carry on baggage than it is for checked.

As always it’s worth weighing your bags before you travel to ensure your bags are not overweight which might result in additional costs, or worse not being able to fly.

How to Carry Bar Soap When Traveling?

When I first travelled with a soap bar I made the mistake of not wrapping it properly and during the flight, it managed to soil some of my clothes.

So it is important, especially if you are likely to carry several soaps, to learn how to wrap your soap bars or find a suitable container.

This will ensure your belongings and the soap itself is protected, not only on the plane but throughout your journey.

The TSA Bar Soap Rules

For those travelling in the US the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific rules and regulations regarding what items are allowed or prohibited on airplanes including bars of soap.

As mentioned earlier, bar soap is permitted both in carry on and checked baggage.

It is not subject to the 3-1-1 liquids rule, and you can bring as many soaps as you need for your trip.

Common FAQs

What Is Considered Travel Size Soap?

As a general rule, travel size soap bars are smaller than regular bars and while there is no specific size requirement, travel sized soap is often available in sizes ranging from 1 ounce to 3 ounces making them very convenient for all types of travel including air travel.

What Are the Rules for Flying with Toiletries?

There are regulations related to flying with liquid and gel toiletries in your carry on bags. Each item must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less and all containers must fit into a single quart-sized plastic bag (approx. 20cm x 20cm). There are no restrictions for checked luggage.

However, as mentioned earlier, bar soap is not subject to this rule and can be packed in carry on or checked baggage without any size restrictions.

Can You Bring Liquid Soap on a Plane?

As a general rule, you can bring liquid soap onto a plane however to avoid restrictions it must be in your checked luggage. If you want to bring liquid soap in your carry on bag then it must comply with aviation authority regulations, usually no more than 100ml can travel with you.

Conclusion

So in summary you can take as much bar soap onto a plane as your weight restriction will allow.

My personal preference is to carry my natural bar soap in my checked luggage and have a small hand sanitiser spray in my hand luggage for the airport and plane itself.

If you are still in any doubt then it’s worth checking the aviation authorities websites for the countries you’re flying to and from.

For the US you can visit the TSA website and for the UK, the UK Government website.

Products Featured in this Article

For products featured in this article visit our Eco Friendly Recommended Products page.

Best Eco Friendly Products - Our Recommendations

Best Eco Friendly Products - Our Recommendations

• Best Eco Friendly Products
• Tested and approved by our team
• Only the best products make the list

Here at greenerlyfe we've tested hundreds of products and pride ourselves on only sharing the best with you. No email or password needed - just visit the page.

Take Me There