Can You Bring Wrapped Gifts On A Plane? (Carry On or Checked?)

Last Updated on October 14, 2022

Key Takeaways

  • Wrapped gifts are not prohibited from luggage when you fly on planes
  • However, the TSA advises passengers not to wrap gifts packed in both carry-on luggage and checked luggage
  • TSA agents may need to open wrapped presents if an alarm is set off by something in your luggage
  • The same rules about what you can pack in your luggage applies to wrapped gifts

Come holiday season lots of people want to travel with gifts.

This causes a problem for airport security officers because they need to make sure prohibited items are not packed in luggage.

TSA Wrapped Gifts Rules

Wrapped gifts are permitted but the Transportation Security Administration advises against it.

The reason for this is that TSA agents may need to open your presents to carry out their duties.

Here’s the TSA recommending that Meghan doesn’t bring wrapped gifts in her carry-on:

To keep passengers safe the TSA screens both carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

It’s usually best to wrap gifts after you land. It might just turn out to be a waste of wrapping paper.

You can bring wrapping paper, gift tags, and sticky tape in carry-on bags and checked bags.

You can also pack small scissors that are less than 4 inches as measured from the pivot point in hand luggage. Or you can pack full size scissors in checked bags.

And don’t forget to pack a pen too!

Alternatively use a gift bag or a gift box that can be opened so the contents can be inspected.

Packing Wrapped Gifts In Carry-On Luggage

If your carry-on bag doesn’t set off any alarms your wrapped present will pass the security checkpoint and not be opened.

But if there are any alarms the TSA will open your luggage to find out what caused the alarm.

At that point they will not hesitate to open a wrapped present to make sure it does not contain a prohibited item.

The same rules about what you can or can’t bring in hand luggage apply to gifts.

For example you can’t bring a baseball bat on a plane in the cabin because it’s a potential weapon. Wrapping it up in paper and called it a gift isn’t going to change that.

Any weapons, sharp blades or potential bludgeons can’t be brought in hand luggage.

Also you can’t bring liquids in containers larger than 3.4 oz. All liquids must be packed in your one quart size bag. That means you it’s difficult to bring gifts containing liquids in hand luggage.

Anything that can be smeared or spread are considered to be liquids by the TSA.

This means that if you are bringing food gifts in hand luggage solid foods are a must.

There is some wiggle room. For example, a box of chocolates with liquid centers is considered to be a solid food.

Always make sure that the type of gift you are bringing on the plane is permitted on the plane or you’ll end up needing to discard it at airport security.

Packing Wrapped Gifts In Checked Buggage

For checked luggage it’s flammable items that are the main concern. There are also limits to how much strong liquor your can pack in a checked bag.

You can pack wrapped gifts in checked bags but there is no guarantee that the TSA agents that inspect your bag won’t unwrap the gift to examine what is inside.

The other danger is that your gift might be lost, stolen, or damaged if you pack it in checked baggage.

It’s never a good idea to pack anything valuable in checked bags.

Traveling Internationally With Gifts

If traveling internationally the gifts you are bringing must comply with customs laws.

Each country has rules about what you can and can’t import into the country. Sometimes items are outright prohibited and in other cases they’ll be import tax to pay.

It’s always best to check the customs laws of your destination country when flying with any gift, especially fresh food, alcohol or tobacco.

The Bottom Line

If you still want to bring a wrapped item on the plane you are free to do so.

Just understand that there is a good chance that it might be opened at security checkpoints if the TSA inspects your luggage and needs to carry out additional screening.

To avoid your luggage being inspected make sure you don’t set off any alarms by understanding and complying with the TSA rules.

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