Quick answer: a TSA quart-size bag is a clear, resealable bag of about 7 x 8 inches (some run 6 x 9). It must hold all your carry-on liquids, each container 3.4 oz or less, and you get exactly one per passenger.
What Size Is a Quart Bag, Exactly?
A quart is 32 fluid ounces of volume. TSA doesn’t measure your bag with a ruler — officers eyeball it — but a bag in the 7 x 8 inch range with a flat bottom passes without question. Gallon bags and large “toiletry pouches” are the ones that get flagged.
What Actually Fits in a Quart Bag
- 4–6 travel bottles of 3.4 oz (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion)
- 1–2 small jars or magnetic capsules for skincare
- Toothpaste and a small mouthwash
- One or two makeup liquids (foundation, mascara)
That’s a full routine — if your containers are actually 3.4 oz, not half-empty full-size bottles. A 4-pack of refillable silicone bottles plus a couple of cream jars covers most travelers.
Ziplock vs. a Real Quart Bag
A kitchen ziplock is technically legal — until it splits in your bag or clouds up after two trips. A purpose-built TPU quart bag has welded seams, a metal zipper you can open with wet hands, and stays clear for years. At about $4 per bag, it outlives a hundred ziplocks.
FAQ
Can I bring two quart bags if I’m traveling with my partner?
One bag per passenger — but each of you gets your own, so split the toiletries between you.
Does the quart bag have to be clear?
Yes. Officers must see the contents without opening it. Frosted or tinted bags slow you down.
Do solid toiletries need to go in the quart bag?
No — bar soap, solid deodorant and shampoo bars travel outside the bag with no limit. Going solid is the #1 way to free up quart-bag space.