Can You Bring an Electric Toothbrush on a Plane?

Yes, you can bring an electric toothbrush on a plane. The US Transportation Security Administration lists electric toothbrushes as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, with one special instruction: devices containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries "should be carried in carry-on baggage". Many rechargeable brushes use a lithium-ion battery — Philips lists one for its Sonicare 4100 — so the simple rule is to pack yours in the bag that stays with you.

This page sets out what the TSA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority publish, read on 22 September 2026, and how to pack a brush so it travels well. Rules can change and airlines can set stricter ones, so check your airline's own page before you fly. None of this is legal or medical advice; it is what the regulators say on their own sites.

What the TSA says

The TSA's "What Can I Bring?" entry for an electronic toothbrush marks it "Yes (Special Instructions)" for carry-on bags and "Yes (Special Instructions)" for checked bags. The special instruction reads: "Devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion batteries should be carried in carry-on baggage. Most other consumer devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage."

So a brush that runs on ordinary AA or AAA batteries can go in either bag, while a rechargeable one is better in your carry-on. Spare lithium batteries are stricter still: the TSA's battery guidance says spare, uninstalled lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries "must be carried in carry-on baggage only". Your toothbrush's battery is installed, so that line mainly matters if you pack spare batteries for other devices. As on every TSA entry, the officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.

What the UK Civil Aviation Authority says

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority takes a similar line for personal electronic devices with lithium batteries: they "should be carried as carry-on baggage". If you do put one in the hold, the CAA says it must be "completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode)" when its battery is above small thresholds — 0.3 grams of lithium metal or 2.7 watt-hours for lithium-ion.

The CAA also reminds passengers that "airlines and security screening agencies have the right to refuse the carriage of certain items". An airline can set tighter rules than the regulator, so its own baggage page is the one that finally applies to your flight.

Which kind of battery does your brush have?

Check the box, the manual or the maker's page. A brush you plug into a charging base or a USB cable has a built-in rechargeable battery, often lithium-ion. A brush you open to drop in a AAA cell, like the BURST Nova, uses a standard disposable battery.

If you cannot find out, treat it as lithium and keep it in your carry-on. That satisfies the TSA's instruction for either kind.

How to pack it so it doesn't switch on

A brush that switches on in your bag drains its battery and, at a checkpoint, draws attention. Use the travel lock if your brush has one — BURST, for example, lists a travel mode on its Curve — or pack it in a case that keeps the button from being pressed.

Keep the head covered so the bristles stay clean. A cap or a travel case does this; BURST sells its Curve with a protective travel cap. Pack toothpaste separately: in the US, the TSA allows toothpaste in carry-on bags in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, inside your quart-sized bag of liquids, gels and pastes.

Chargers and voltage abroad

Look at your charger before you plug it in overseas. Many chargers state the voltage range they accept on the plug or base; if yours covers the local voltage, you will only need a plug adapter, and if it does not, you need a converter or a brush that does not need charging for the length of your trip.

This is where charge life matters. Philips lists a 14-day battery life for its Sonicare 4100 and 1100, BURST says up to 75 days for its Curve, and Waterpik lists "global voltage" for its Sonic-Fusion 2.0 brush-and-flosser. For a short trip, a fully charged brush with a two-week battery may not need its charger at all. We compare travel-friendly brushes in more detail in travel electric toothbrushes: charge, cases and cables.

Children's brushes and family trips

The same rules apply to children's electric brushes, which are usually rechargeable too. BURST, for instance, says its kids' brush gives 30 days of use per charge from its charging base, so a fully charged brush covers most family holidays without packing the base at all. BURST also sells a kids travel case separately, at $12.99 on the day we checked.

If you are travelling with several brushes, keep them together in one carry-on pouch so they are easy to find at screening, and give each person's head its own cap or case. The ADA advises that toothbrushes should not be shared, which is easy to forget in a shared travel wash bag.

Brushes that take ordinary batteries

A brush that runs on a disposable AAA or AA battery, like BURST's Nova, is the simplest to fly with. The TSA says "most other consumer devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage", so it can go in either bag, and there is no charger to forget. Take the battery out, or pack a spare, if you want to be sure it cannot switch on.

A short packing checklist

Before you leave, run through these:

• Charge the brush fully the night before.
• Switch on the travel lock, or pack it where the button cannot be pressed.
• Cover the head with a cap or case.
• Put it in your carry-on if it has a rechargeable battery.
• Pack the charger or USB cable only if the trip outlasts the battery.
• Check your airline's own baggage page for anything stricter.

If you forget your brush

A manual toothbrush from any pharmacy or hotel shop does the job. The ADA says manual and powered brushes are both effective at removing plaque, and a few days without your electric brush will not undo good habits. Keep brushing for two minutes, twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste.

If you are choosing a new brush with travel in mind, our spec-sheet comparison of electric toothbrushes lists each maker's stated charge life side by side.