Quick Answer
⚠️ Peanut butter is considered a liquid/gel by TSA.
✅ In carry-on, jars must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or smaller and packed in your quart-sized liquids bag.
✅ Larger jars are only allowed in checked luggage.
✈️ Peanut butter inside a sandwich is allowed with no size restriction.
Details
- Carry-on:
- TSA classifies peanut butter as a liquid/gel.
- Any container must be ≤ 3.4 oz (100 ml).
- Larger jars are not allowed through security, even if partly empty.
- Checked luggage:
- Any size peanut butter jars are allowed.
- Wrap jars well to avoid leaks.
- Peanut butter in food:
- Peanut butter inside a sandwich is treated as a solid food and allowed.
- Small single-serve packets ≤ 3.4 oz are perfect for carry-on.
TSA Peanut Butter Rules Summary
| Item | Carry-On | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut butter ≤ 3.4 oz | ✅ Allowed (quart bag) | ✅ Allowed |
| Peanut butter > 3.4 oz | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| PB sandwich | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| PB single-serve packets | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
Gotchas / Common Issues
- ✈️ Jar size matters: A half-empty 16 oz jar still counts as 16 oz → can’t go in carry-on.
- ✈️ Sandwich exception: PB&J sandwiches are fine, even though a jar of PB isn’t.
- ✈️ Leaks in checked bags: Peanut butter jars can burst — double-bag them.
- ✈️ International customs: Many countries restrict meat/dairy but generally allow PB. Still, declare if unsure.