Can You Take Toothpaste on Ryanair? Cabin Bag Rules Explained
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read

Packing for a Ryanair flight often raises a surprising number of questions, and toothpaste is one of the items that regularly catches travellers out. It is something most people use every day, yet many are unsure whether toothpaste counts as a liquid and whether it needs to follow Ryanair’s cabin baggage rules.
The good news is that toothpaste is allowed in hand luggage on Ryanair flights. However, because toothpaste is treated as a liquid or gel by airport security, it must comply with the same restrictions that apply to shampoo, deodorant and other toiletries.
Many Ryanair passengers travelling with hand luggage only choose travel-size toiletries to make packing easier. Toothpaste is one of the most commonly packed Ryanair toiletries, alongside deodorant, shampoo, mouthwash and sun cream.
Quick Answer: Can You Take Toothpaste on Ryanair?
Yes.
⚠ Toothpaste is treated as a liquid or gel.
⚠ Toothpaste tubes should be 100ml or less.
⚠ Toothpaste counts towards your liquids allowance.
✓ Travel-size toothpaste is ideal for cabin baggage.
✓ Toothpaste should be packed with your other liquid toiletries.
The size printed on the tube matters, not how much toothpaste remains inside. A half-used 125ml tube is still treated as a 125ml container.
Does Toothpaste Count as a Liquid on Ryanair?
Yes.
Toothpaste is treated as a liquid or gel for airport security purposes. This means it follows the same rules as many other everyday toiletries.
Items treated as liquids include:
These are some of the most common Ryanair toiletries that passengers carry in their cabin bags.
What Size Toothpaste Can You Take on Ryanair?
For hand luggage, toothpaste tubes should normally be 100ml or smaller.
Popular travel sizes include:
20ml travel toothpaste
50ml toothpaste tubes
75ml toothpaste tubes
100ml toothpaste tubes
Travel-size toothpaste is usually easier to pack and leaves more room for other liquids.
Smaller tubes are particularly useful for Ryanair passengers travelling with only a cabin bag, where space is limited and toiletries need to fit efficiently alongside clothing and other essentials.
Can You Take a Half-Used Large Tube of Toothpaste?
No.
This is one of the most common mistakes travellers make.
Airport security looks at the size printed on the tube, not how much toothpaste is left inside. A tube labelled 125ml or 150ml can still be removed at security even if it is nearly empty.
Remember: security checks the container size, not the amount remaining inside.
Best Toothpaste for Ryanair Cabin Bags
For most hand-luggage travellers, smaller tubes are the easiest option.
Popular choices include:
20ml travel toothpaste
75ml toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste travel sizes
Sensitive toothpaste travel sizes
Smaller tubes are easier to fit alongside your other liquids and are particularly useful for weekend breaks and short holidays.
Common Toothpaste Mistakes on Ryanair
Travellers frequently run into problems because they:
Bring a tube larger than 100ml.
Assume a half-used tube will be allowed.
Forget that toothpaste counts as a liquid.
Leave toothpaste loose in their bag instead of packing it with other liquids.
Buy a full-size tube specifically for a cabin-only trip.
Many of these mistakes are avoidable with a dedicated set of Ryanair toiletries and travel-size products that are always ready to go.
Which Toiletries Are Usually Packed with Toothpaste?
Most travellers carry toothpaste alongside:
For a broader overview of airport liquid restrictions, see our UK Airport Liquid Rules Explained guide.
You may also find these related articles useful:
Other Ryanair Toiletries Passengers Often Ask About
Toothpaste is just one of the toiletries that regularly cause confusion before a Ryanair flight. Other common questions include deodorant rules, sun cream limits, aerosol restrictions and what types of makeup count as liquids.
As the Ryanair toiletries guide collection grows, these articles can help answer some of the most common hand luggage questions.
Why Pre-Packed Travel Toiletries Make Life Easier
Many travellers discover that toiletries create more stress than clothes when flying with hand luggage only.
Buying travel-size products individually often means visiting several shops and trying to work out which sizes comply with airport rules.
That is why ready-packed CabinCleared travel kits are becoming increasingly popular with Ryanair passengers looking for convenient travel-size toiletries and airport-friendly essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take toothpaste on a Ryanair flight?
Yes. Toothpaste is allowed in hand luggage provided the tube complies with airport liquid restrictions.
Does toothpaste count as a liquid?
Yes. Toothpaste is treated as a liquid or gel by airport security.
Can I take a 125ml tube of toothpaste if it is half empty?
No. Security checks the size printed on the tube, not the amount remaining.
What is the best toothpaste size for Ryanair?
Travel-size tubes between 20ml and 75ml are usually the most practical option.
Can I pack toothpaste in checked luggage?
Yes. Larger toothpaste tubes are usually easier to carry in checked baggage.
Can children take toothpaste in hand luggage?
Yes. Children's toothpaste follows the same rules as adult toothpaste.
Final Thoughts
Toothpaste is allowed on Ryanair flights, but it still needs to comply with airport liquid rules.
The simplest approach is to choose a travel-size tube, pack it with your other liquids and avoid oversized containers.
For most cabin-only travellers, a little preparation removes the uncertainty and makes airport security one less thing to worry about.




Comments