Singapore Changi Airport Baggage Information (SIN) — What to Pack, Where to Pack, and What to Avoid

It is strictly prohibited to carry any item in the cabin that could endanger the aircraft, other passengers, or the crew at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Your hand luggage and checked baggage must not contain highly flammable or explosive materials, corrosive chemicals, toxic substances, weapons, or any other dangerous goods that are restricted under aviation safety rules. If you are not sure whether an item is allowed in your cabin baggage on your flight from Singapore Changi Airport, you should declare it at security or place it in your checked luggage when possible. Following Changi Airport safety and cabin baggage regulations helps ensure a safe flight for everyone and prevents delays during security screening.

To bring liquids, aerosols, or gels (often called “LAGs”) in your cabin bag when departing from Changi Airport:

• Each container must be 100 ml (or 100 g) or less, even if the bottle is not completely full.

• All containers must fit comfortably inside one transparent, resealable plastic bag of max 1 litre total capacity (approx. 20 cm x 20 cm).

• You are allowed only one such 1-litre bag per passenger.

• At security, you must remove this bag from your cabin luggage and present it separately for screening.

This rule applies to items like water, juice, perfume, hair spray, creams, toothpaste, gel deodorant, foundation, and liquid makeup.

Important for shoppers at Changi:
If you buy duty-free liquids (perfume, alcohol, etc.) in the public area before check-in and the container is over 100 ml, put it in your checked luggage before you hand in your suitcase. Only liquids in containers up to 100 ml may go in hand luggage unless they are packed and sealed according to official airport security procedures after immigration.

Why this matters:
Some airports in Europe and the UK are testing new scanners and slowly increasing liquid limits, but most international flights (including flights departing Singapore) still enforce the classic 100 ml / 1-litre bag rule. Always follow the stricter rule for your departure airport — and remember that rules at your destination or on your return flight may be different.

Most airlines flying from Changi Airport allow one cabin bag plus one small personal item (handbag, laptop bag, duty-free bag), but the exact allowance depends on your airline and ticket class.

Typical airline guideline (economy cabin on many carriers in Singapore):

• Weight: about 7 kg total for the main carry-on item.

• Dimensions: total linear size (length + width + height) around 115 cm combined.
  These limits can change, especially on low-cost carriers, premium cabins, or long-haul vs. regional flights. You should always check your specific airline before flying.

Tip: Airlines at Changi do random gate checks. If your cabin bag is overweight or oversized, it can be taken from you and placed in the hold, and you may be charged.

Security screening at Changi may require you to remove certain electronics from your carry-on for separate X-ray scanning. Keep these easy to reach:

• Laptops

• Tablets

• Large cameras

• Power banks / portable chargers

Power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in your cabin baggage — not in checked baggage — and usually must not exceed around 100 Wh (≈ 27,000 mAh) without airline approval.

Pro tip: Charge your devices before boarding. Some airlines require you to power on electronics if requested by security.

Subject to security screening, most passengers are allowed to carry in the cabin:

• Prescription medication and essential medical liquids (you may be asked to show proof of medical need if over 100 ml)

• Baby milk / baby food needed for the journey

• Small scissors with rounded tips and blades under 6 cm

• Disposable razors (cartridge style)

• Cosmetics and toiletries in containers ≤100 ml stored in your 1-litre liquids bag

• Duty-free liquids sealed in an official STEB (Security Tamper-Evident Bag) after security, if applicable to your flight routing

You may be asked to present these items separately.

For safety reasons, certain items are not allowed past security or into the aircraft cabin at Changi Airport:

• Weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosive materials, fireworks

• Sharp blades and cutting tools (box cutters, utility knives, large scissors with pointed tips)

• Flammable liquids and many chemical substances

• Large sporting equipment and tools (e.g. hammers, screwdrivers, metal bars)

• Aerosol cans over the permitted limit, or aerosols without a safety cap

• Large containers of liquids over 100 ml (unless checked in)

If security finds these in your hand luggage, they will be confiscated and may not be returned, so it’s smarter to pack them in checked baggage (if allowed at all).

Buying perfume, cosmetics, or alcohol at Changi? Here’s how to avoid losing it at transit security:

• Purchases made after security / immigration are usually packed in a sealed tamper-evident bag with the receipt.

• Keep the bag sealed until you reach your final destination.

• If you are transiting through another airport, that airport may re-scan your liquids. If the seal is broken or the item does not follow their rules, it can still be taken away.