Hairdryers are permitted on airplanes and other electrical tools and devices, including hair styling items such as curling irons and straighteners. While hair dryers are technically allowed on airplanes, they must be packed in a carry-on or personal bag authorized to be carried on the plane.
Items allowed on airplanes
Liquids less than 3 ounces (90 ml) may be carried on airplanes. These include shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and other liquid forms. Medications in liquid or gel form that exceed the 3-ounce (90 ml) limit may be carried on the aircraft but must be declared to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer during security screening for additional product inspection. Baby formula can also exceed the 3-ounce (90 ml) limit. On the plane, carry-on baggage, clothing, and other personal items such as hair dryers, curling irons, and other styling tools are allowed.
Items prohibited on aircraft.
Weapons, including guns, bows and arrows, knives, bombs, and other possibly destructive materials, are not allowed on airplanes. Consider shipping these items by another means to their final destination rather than taking them with you to the airport.
Weight and size limits
You may carry one carry-on bag and one personal item, such as a purse or laptop case. Carry-on baggage must weigh less than 40 pounds (18 kg) and be no more than 51 linear inches (1.3 m). You can check baggage up to 50 pounds (22.5 kg) and 52 linear inches (1.32 m). There is often a fee to check baggage so it can be stowed on the aircraft and an additional charge if the baggage exceeds these weight and size restrictions. Carry-on luggage can usually be carried free of charge.
Can you bring a hairdryer on the plane?
TSA Regulations on Hair Dryers
Here’s the good news: The TSA permits travel with hairdryers in checked luggage and carry-on bags, so feel free to take it on vacation with you. Keep in mind. However, that hair dryer can be clunky and awkwardly shaped, so they usually fit better in more extensive, checked suitcases. If you must stash one in your carry-on, consider investing in a mini hairdryer.
Should You Pack A Hair Dryer For A Flight?
It’s worth considering if you need to pack a hairdryer. Sometimes, hotel rooms allow you to borrow one from the reception.
Often a simple phone call to your hotel or wherever you are staying could allay your fears and lighten your load.
Another option might be to ship it. You could pack up a box with your hair styling equipment, shampoos, and styling products and send it to your hotel room. I will be waiting for your when you arrive.
You’d also need to ship it back home, which would cost a little, but it would lighten your hand luggage and save you from paying for checked baggage.
Not convinced… okay let’s see where to pack it.
Can You Bring A Hair Dryer In Checked Luggage?
Because checked bags have significant size and weight limits, it’s easy to fit your hairdryer inside. You will have no problems with security taking a hairdryer in checked luggage. Make sure you pack it well and surround it with some padding to protect it.
In checked bags, you can’t take any butane gas-powered curling irons, flat irons, or hair straighteners.
The downside is checking luggage sometimes costs extra. It can cost more than the price of buying a cheap hair dryer at your destination.
I usually recommend flying carry-on only for convenience and saving money. But if you have a lot of heavy hair styling gear, you might need to check a bag.
Can You Take Your Hairdryer Inside Your Carry On?
Hairdryers are not small, and they typically weigh around 2 lbs. However, they do fit inside a cabin bag with good planning. There are no rules against packing one in your hand luggage; they are not prohibited.
Airlines in the US usually have generous weight allowances. If you are flying internationally, this might not be the case. Some international airlines only allow 10 lbs maximum for your carry-on. And limits of around 20 kg are expected internationally.
Your wheeled cabin suitcase might be 4 lbs, and your hairdryer might be around 2 lbs. That’s 6 lbs of your allowance gone already. It will take up a significant part of your weight allowance if your airline has restrictions.
What if you add hair straighteners, curling irons, or flat irons?
The combined heft of all your hair styling gear will shoot up, and you might not have space left for your clothes!
Even if your airline doesn’t put a weight limit on your carry-on, you need to remember that you need to be able to lift your bag into the overhead lockers. You also might need to carry it up the plane steps.
So if you are packing a hairdryer in a carry-on, pay special attention to your airline’s weight allowance.
And there is another wrinkle to watch out for…
You Might be Forced to Check Your Carry On Baggage at the Gate.
You’ve got your hairdryer in your cabin bag, squeezed it in, and since you are fit and healthy, you can comfortably lift your load.
Then you get to the boarding gate, and your carry-on bag is suddenly changed to a checked-at-the-gate bag because they don’t have space for it in the cabin.