Can you bring a vape on a plane? Rules for vapes and e-cigarettes

Going on a trip and wondering whether your vape or e-cigarette can come with you? It can, but where you pack it matters. Put it in the wrong bag and it could be pulled out at security, or even delay your flight. Here's what you need to know before you fly.

Can you bring a vape on a plane?

Yes, you can bring a vape or e-cigarette on a plane, but only in your hand luggage (carry-on) or on your person, never in your checked luggage. You can't use or charge it on board. E-liquid in your hand luggage must follow the liquid rules at the airport you're flying from.

These rules come from international aviation safety standards, so they apply on almost every commercial flight in the world, whatever the airline or country.

The rules at a glance

The same rules apply to every type of device: vapes, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, vape pens, pod kits, box mods and disposables. 

Do vapes go in hand luggage or checked luggage?

Vapes and e-cigarettes always go in your hand luggage. Aviation authorities around the world, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ban them from checked luggage. Also don't forget to check hand luggage rules carefully before packing.

The reason is the lithium battery inside every vape. If a battery overheats in the cabin, the crew can see it and deal with it straight away. In the hold, a battery fire could go unnoticed and spread.

Can you put vapes in your suitcase?

Only if your suitcase is your cabin bag. A vape must never go in a suitcase that you check in, even if it's switched off or empty.

What happens if you put a vape in your checked luggage?

If security finds a vape in your checked bag on the X-ray, the bag will usually be stopped. You may be called to open it, or the vape may be removed. At best you lose the vape; at worst your bag misses the flight. If you realise at check-in that your vape is in your suitcase, take it out before you hand the bag over.

Can a vape go in checked luggage if the battery is removed?

The device without a battery is no longer the problem, but spare batteries are never allowed in checked luggage. The simplest rule is to keep the vape, its batteries and any spare batteries together in your hand luggage.

How many vapes can you take on a plane?

There's no fixed international limit on the number of vapes. You can take as many as you reasonably need for personal use, as long as they're all in your hand luggage.

Keep these limits in mind:

• Airline limits on devices: some airlines cap the total number of battery-powered devices each passenger can carry. Phones, laptops, headphones and vapes all count, so check your airline's rules if you travel with a lot of electronics.
• Battery size: nearly every vape battery is far below the 100Wh limit for devices in hand luggage, so the battery itself is rarely a problem. Large box mods with removable batteries are worth checking.
• Personal use: carrying dozens of disposables can look like goods for resale, both at security and at customs at your destination.
• Power banks are different: since March 2026, international rules limit power banks to two per passenger, and they can't be used to recharge anything on board. If you pack a power bank to charge your vape, it counts towards that limit. Read more on power bank rules.

Can you take disposable vapes on a plane?

Yes. Disposable vapes follow exactly the same rules as rechargeable ones: hand luggage only, and no using them on board.

Some countries have banned the sale of disposable vapes, including the United Kingdom, Belgium and France. In those countries, owning and using a disposable you already have is generally still legal, so you can fly with it. Before you travel, check the rules in your destination, especially if you plan to bring several.

How much vape liquid can you take on a plane?

E-liquid counts as a liquid at security, so it follows the liquid rules of the airport you're flying from:

• At most airports worldwide, each container in your hand luggage must hold no more than 100ml (3.4oz), and all your liquids must fit in one clear, resealable bag of about one litre.
• At some airports with new security scanners, you can carry larger containers, sometimes up to 2 litres. Rules differ from airport to airport, so check before you pack.
• For your return flight, the 100ml rule may still apply even if your departure airport allowed more, so it's safest to pack to 100ml in both directions.

In practice, this is rarely a problem: e-liquid bottles and pods are usually small, and in many countries nicotine e-liquid is sold in bottles of no more than 10ml.

You can also put sealed e-liquid bottles in your checked luggage, but never the vape itself.

Tip: changes in cabin pressure can make tanks and bottles leak. Empty your tank or keep your vape upright, and put bottles in a sealed bag.

Taking a vape through airport security

You can take a vape or e-cigarette through airport security, as long as it's in your hand luggage or on you.

• Keep it switched off or locked so it can't fire by accident.
• Pack it near the top of your bag, so it's easy to take out if staff ask.
• Put your e-liquid in your liquids bag at airports where the 100ml rule applies.
• At airports with new scanners, you can usually leave electronics and liquids in your bag; otherwise, follow staff instructions.

Security staff have the final say and can refuse anything they consider unsafe, even if it's normally allowed.

Can you vape on a plane?

No. Vaping is banned on every commercial flight, just like smoking, and you can't charge your vape on board either.

It can be tempting to try in the toilet, but it's not worth it. Aircraft toilets have smoke detectors, the crew will report it, and in many countries smoking or vaping on board is a criminal offence. You could be met by police on landing, fined, or banned from flying with the airline.

Can you vape in airports?

Only in designated smoking areas. Most airports don't allow vaping inside the terminal, and many smoking areas are outside, before security. If you need to vape, do it before you go through.

Countries where vaping is illegal

Flying with a vape is straightforward. Arriving with one is where travellers get caught out. Some popular destinations ban vapes completely, and the penalties go far beyond having your device confiscated.

Other destinations, including Turkey and Hong Kong, have strict rules or have changed them recently. Rules can change at short notice, so check your government's travel advice for your destination, and for any country you're transferring through, before you pack.

Can you take vapes to Thailand?

No. Vaping is illegal in Thailand for tourists as well as residents, and travellers have been fined and detained over a single device. Leave your vape at home.

Can you take e-cigarettes, snus and nicotine pouches on a plane?

• E-cigarettes and e-cigs: yes, under exactly the same rules as vapes: hand luggage only, no use on board.
• Snus and nicotine pouches: yes. They don't contain batteries and don't count as liquids, so you can pack them in hand or checked luggage. Many airlines don't allow you to use them on board, and some countries restrict them, so check your destination.
• Heated tobacco devices: these contain lithium batteries too, so treat them like vapes.

Packing checklist: flying with a vape

1. Hand luggage only: your vape, spare batteries and any power bank go in your cabin bag or pocket.
2. Switch it off: lock the device or remove the battery so it can't fire by accident.
3. Protect spare batteries: keep them in a case, or tape over the terminals.
4. Check your liquids: e-liquid in containers of 100ml or less, in your liquids bag.
5. Check your destination: look up your government's travel advice before you fly.

Flight delayed or cancelled?

Packed everything correctly and your flight still didn't leave on time? If your flight is covered by European passenger rights and arrived more than three hours late, or was cancelled at short notice, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. Flight Delayed checks your flight for free and handles the claim with the airline for you.

Frequently asked questions

Are the rules the same in every country? Yes, broadly. The ban on vapes in checked luggage and on using them on board comes from international aviation safety rules, so it applies on almost every commercial flight. Some airlines add stricter rules, and liquid limits can differ between airports.

Can you fly with a vape? Yes. You can fly with a vape or e-cigarette on almost any airline, as long as it's in your hand luggage, switched off, and you don't use or charge it during the flight.

Can you take a vape on an airplane in your carry-on? Yes. Your carry-on is the only place a vape is allowed on an airplane. Keep it switched off, and never pack it in your checked luggage.

Can you bring a vape on a plane in the US? Yes. US security rules allow vapes and e-cigarettes in carry-on bags and on your person, but not in checked bags.

Can you take a rechargeable vape on a plane? Yes, in your hand luggage. Remove any removable battery and protect it, or lock the device so it can't switch on.

Can you take a vape through airport security? Yes. Keep it in your hand luggage, switched off, and put any e-liquid in your liquids bag where the 100ml rule applies.

Can I charge my vape on the plane? No. Charging vapes is banned on board, and since March 2026 you also can't use a power bank to recharge devices during the flight.

Can I bring my vape back home? Usually yes, as long as it's for your own use. Some countries, such as Australia, have strict rules on importing vapes, so check your home country's customs rules before you fly back.