The Gatwick Airport liquid rules change means passengers departing from London Gatwick can now carry liquids in individual containers of up to two litres through security.
Most liquids can remain inside hand luggage, and passengers no longer need to place toiletries in a separate transparent plastic bag.
However, there are important exceptions. Metal and double-walled containers must be empty, frozen items face additional restrictions, airline cabin-bag limits still apply, and airports used for connecting or return flights may operate completely different liquid rules.
What Are The Current Gatwick Liquid Rules In 2026?
The main rules for passengers departing Gatwick are:
| Item | Current Gatwick Rule |
| Standard liquids | Up to 2 litres per container |
| Clear plastic liquids bag | Not required |
| Removing liquids at security | Normally not required |
| Laptops and large electronics | Can normally remain in the bag |
| Metal water bottles | Must be empty |
| Double-walled or insulated bottles | Must be empty |
| Frozen food | Not permitted |
| Hand luggage for screening | Maximum 56cm × 45cm × 25cm |
| Return or connecting airports | Their own rules apply |
The two-litre allowance applies to individual containers rather than creating one combined two-litre allowance. All items must still fit within your hand luggage and comply with your airline’s cabin baggage rules.
What Is The Timeline Of The Gatwick Airport Liquid Rules Change?
The change did not happen in a single step.
June 2024 Deadline And Delays
The Government originally set a June 2024 deadline for major airports to introduce next-generation security equipment.
Some airports received extensions of up to a year because installing the heavy equipment required major construction work and the programme faced supply-chain and logistical challenges.
March And April 2025: New Scanners, But Still 100ml
Gatwick announced on 31 March 2025 that new CT scanners had been installed across all 19 security lanes.
Passengers could leave liquids and large electronics inside their cabin bags, and liquids no longer needed to go into a separate plastic bag.
Crucially, the 100ml container limit still applied at this stage. Gatwick was still publishing the 100ml restriction in July 2025.
Late 2025: Limit Increased To Two Litres
The second stage came later in 2025, when Gatwick was authorised to allow liquid containers of up to two litres.
Its current guidance now confirms the 100ml restriction has been removed for passengers departing Gatwick.
This phased rollout explains why travellers may have encountered conflicting Gatwick advice during 2025.
What Counts As A Liquid At Gatwick?
The rules cover much more than bottled drinks. Items treated as liquids include:
- Creams And Lotions
- Toothpaste
- Hair And Shower Gel
- Perfume And Aftershave
- Mascara And Lip Gloss
- Liquid Soap
- Contact Lens Solution
- Hairspray And Aerosols
- Jams, Honey And Spreads
- Soups, Sauces And Stews
- Pastes And Other Spreadable Foods
Containers must generally be no larger than two litres. A container larger than two litres cannot simply be partly filled to bring it below the limit.
Can You Take A Metal Water Bottle Through Gatwick Security?
Yes, but this is one of the most important exceptions to the new rule.
Metal, insulated and double-walled containers must be empty when they pass through security. This includes many stainless-steel reusable bottles, vacuum flasks and insulated travel mugs.
A standard non-metal container can hold liquid within the two-litre limit, provided it meets the other security rules. Empty bottles can be refilled after security.
This corrects the common assumption that every reusable bottle has to be empty.
Can You Take Frozen Liquids Or Food Through Gatwick?
Gatwick states that ice is treated as a liquid, while frozen foodstuffs are not permitted through security.
GOV.UK also warns that frozen liquids are generally not allowed in hand luggage, subject to specific exemptions such as certain medical or baby items.
Passengers should therefore not freeze a drink or food product as a way of avoiding the liquid rules.
What Are The Hand Luggage And Battery Rules?
Gatwick’s security equipment can accept hand luggage up to 56cm × 45cm × 25cm. This is a security-screening maximum, not necessarily your airline allowance. An airline can impose a smaller cabin bag or lower weight limit.
Large electronics such as laptops, tablets and e-readers can generally remain inside hand luggage during screening.
Lithium batteries need additional attention. Gatwick states that portable devices with lithium-ion batteries above 100Wh and no more than 160Wh can be subject to additional requirements.
No more than two applicable spare batteries should be carried in hand luggage, and spare batteries must be individually protected against short circuits. Travellers should also check their airline’s battery limits.
Power banks and vapes should be carried in the cabin rather than checked baggage. Gatwick specifically advises this in its 2026 passenger guidance.
What About E-Cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are permitted in hand luggage but must pass through the X-ray. Gatwick says that after screening, the e-cigarette should be removed from the bag or tray and carried on the passenger. They are not permitted in hold luggage.
What Are The Rules For Duty-Free Liquids?
Oversized duty-free alcohol, perfume and other liquids should remain inside a clear, sealed tamper-proof security bag, with the purchase receipt inside and visible.
Do not open the security bag before reaching your final destination if you still need to pass through another security checkpoint.
What Can And Cannot Go In Hand Luggage?
The two-litre rule does not override restrictions on dangerous or prohibited items.
| Item | Hand Luggage | Hold Luggage |
| Standard Liquids Up To 2L | Yes | Yes |
| Knives And Larger Sharp Items | No | Usually Yes |
| Razor Blades | No | Usually Yes |
| Toy Or Replica Guns | No | Subject To Airline Rules |
| Larger Scissors | No | Usually Yes |
| Tools And Multi-Tools | Generally No | Usually Yes |
| Walking Or Hiking Poles | Generally No | Usually Yes |
| Power Banks | Yes | No Or Airline Restricted |
| E-Cigarettes | Yes | No |
| Flammable Liquids | No | No |
| Poisons And Corrosives | No | No |
| Radioactive Materials | No | No |
Security staff can refuse any item they consider unsafe even if it would normally fall within a permitted category.
What Are The Rules For Babies And Medicines?
Parents can take the baby food and liquids needed for their journey.
Gatwick allows baby milk and sterilised water in individual containers of up to two litres. Expressed breast milk can also be taken in containers no larger than two litres, with no overall quantity limit stated by Gatwick.
Frozen breast milk is not permitted in hand luggage.Medical liquids are also permitted.
Gatwick states that medicines exceeding two litres can be accepted when supported by appropriate documentation such as a doctor’s letter or prescription. Medicines and medical equipment may receive additional screening.
How Do Gatwick’s Security Scanners Work?
Two different technologies are involved in airport security.
The new CT baggage scanners create detailed three-dimensional images of cabin luggage. This allows security teams to examine liquids and electronics without requiring passengers to unpack them in the traditional way.
Passenger body scanners use millimetre-wave technology.
Gatwick says the system automatically identifies possible areas requiring further investigation and displays them using a simplified “gingerbread man” image rather than showing a detailed body image.
Images are digitally processed and are not stored, printed or transmitted.
Can You Refuse A Body Scanner?
Yes. A passenger who declines the scanner must undergo an enhanced manual search in a private room. This can take considerably longer.
Passengers can request a private search at any stage and may bring their own witness.
Gatwick also provides specific guidance for transgender passengers. If a hand search is required, passengers can select the gender of the officer they feel most comfortable with.
Passengers with hidden disabilities can request a free Sunflower lanyard from an Assisted Travel reception, helping staff recognise that additional time, patience or assistance may be required.
Are The Rules Different At Gatwick North And South Terminals?
No. The same Gatwick security liquid rules apply at both the North and South terminals.
Your airline does not create a different security liquid limit either. An easyJet, British Airways or other airline passenger uses the same airport security rules when departing Gatwick.
However, airlines can impose their own cabin-bag dimensions, weights, battery restrictions and onboard policies. Always check those separately.
What Should You Check For Connecting And Return Flights?
The two-litre Gatwick allowance only tells you what happens when passing through security at Gatwick.
Before travelling, check four separate things:
- Your Outbound Airport’s Security Rules
- Any Connecting Airport’s Liquid Rules
- Your Return Airport’s Security Rules
- Your Airline’s Cabin Baggage And Battery Policy
GOV.UK specifically advises passengers to check departure, connecting and return airports because many airports continue to enforce a 100ml limit.
How Early Should You Arrive At Gatwick?
For summer 2026, Gatwick advises passengers to arrive when check-in opens, typically around two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul flight. Individual airlines may provide different instructions.
Passengers driving to the airport may also want to compare Gatwick parking discount options before travelling, particularly when additional time is needed for parking and terminal transfers.
Gatwick also offers Fast Track Security at both terminals from £6 per person, providing access to a dedicated security lane. Fast Track changes the queue used, not the security or liquid rules.
How Does Gatwick Compare With Other UK Airports In 2026?
Security arrangements remain inconsistent across the UK.
| Airport | Published Liquid Limit | Liquids Stay In Bag? |
| Gatwick | Up To 2L | Yes |
| Heathrow | Up To 2L | Yes |
| Birmingham | Up To 2L | Yes |
| Bristol | Up To 2L | Yes |
| Edinburgh | Up To 2L | Yes |
| London Luton | 100ml | Yes |
| Manchester | 100ml | Yes |
This is why passengers should not assume that having modern scanners automatically means an airport has removed the 100ml restriction.
What Does The Change Mean For Business Travellers?
For frequent and business travellers, the biggest advantage is simpler cabin-only travel. Full-sized toiletries, drinks and other permitted liquids can reduce the need to check luggage, while laptops can normally remain packed during screening.
That can make short business trips easier, but travellers with connections should remain cautious. A bottle accepted at Gatwick could still be rejected when passing through security elsewhere.
Conclusion
The Gatwick Airport liquid rules change is much broader than simply replacing 100ml with two litres.
Gatwick first completed its new CT security system in spring 2025, allowing passengers to keep liquids and electronics inside their bags while the 100ml restriction remained.
The liquid limit was lifted later in 2025, creating the current system in which most liquids can be carried in containers up to two litres.
Metal and double-walled bottles remain an important exception, frozen items require care, battery and vape restrictions still apply, and return airports may follow entirely different rules.
For the latest position before travelling, check Gatwick’s official security guidance alongside the UK Government’s hand luggage liquid rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Take A 500ml Bottle Of Water Through Gatwick Security?
Yes. A standard non-metal container holding 500ml is within Gatwick’s current two-litre-per-container limit.
Can I Take A Metal Water Bottle Through Gatwick?
Yes, but metal, insulated and double-walled bottles must be empty when passing through security. You can refill them afterwards.
Do I Need A Clear Plastic Bag For Liquids At Gatwick?
No. Liquids that meet Gatwick’s rules can normally remain inside your cabin bag without being placed in a separate transparent bag.
Are Gatwick’s Liquid Rules The Same In Both Terminals?
Yes. The same airport security rules apply at the North and South terminals.
Do EasyJet Passengers Have Different Liquid Rules At Gatwick?
No. Security rules are determined by the airport rather than the airline. EasyJet may still impose its own cabin-bag size, weight and onboard requirements.
Can I Take Frozen Drinks Or Food Through Gatwick?
Do not rely on freezing a product to bypass the liquid rules. Gatwick treats ice as liquid and states that frozen foodstuffs are not permitted.
Can I Bring Duty-Free Liquids Through A Connecting Airport?
Potentially, but larger duty-free liquids should remain sealed in their tamper-proof security bag with the receipt visible. The connecting airport’s own security rules still apply.
Does The Two-Litre Rule Apply On My Flight Back To Gatwick?
Not automatically. Your return journey is governed by the security rules at the airport you are departing from, even though your flight is travelling to Gatwick.
