Packing a toy for a trip raises one quiet worry: what happens at airport security. The short answer is that you can bring one. CATSA, which screens passengers at Canadian airports, allows sex toys in carry-on and checked bags, and the TSA in the United States allows massagers in both. The rules that need a little planning are about the battery and about any lube you bring.
This guide goes through what the official pages say, where to pack a toy and its lube, what to expect at the checkpoint, and how to keep it from switching on in your bag. If you'd rather know how our orders arrive at home first, our article on how our parcels are packed and labelled covers that.
In this article
- What the rules say
- Carry-on or checked bag
- Lube and the 100 mL rule
- At the security checkpoint
- Packing it so it stays off
- Charging and care on the trip
- Rules at your destination
- Frequently asked questions
What the rules say
Both agencies publish a list of what you can bring, and both answer this one plainly.
In Canada, CATSA's What Can I Bring list has an entry for sex toys, which also covers vibrators, that says this item is permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage. The battery inside a rechargeable toy and any lube you pack follow CATSA's general rules, below.
In the US, the closest entry on the TSA's What Can I Bring list is for massagers. It says carry-on bags: yes, checked bags: yes, and like every entry on that list, it adds that the final decision rests with the TSA officer.
These lists cover flights leaving Canada and the US. For a flight home from somewhere else, check with your airline.
Carry-on or checked bag
The battery is what decides this. A rechargeable toy carries its battery inside it, and CATSA's guidelines for batteries say to keep all batteries and electronic devices containing batteries on you or packed in your carry-on baggage.
CATSA's table is a little more detailed. A lithium battery of 100 Wh or less that's installed in a device is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. CATSA's examples of batteries in that small group are phones, cameras, watches and portable music players. The same page adds that not all airlines allow devices with lithium batteries in checked baggage, so your airline's own rules may be stricter.
Putting those together, the simplest choice is the carry-on. It follows CATSA's general advice, and the toy stays with you instead of in a bag that can be lost or opened out of sight.
| Item | Carry-on | Checked bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rechargeable toy (battery inside) | Yes, recommended | Allowed by CATSA's table; some airlines refuse | Keep it in the carry-on when you can |
| Spare lithium batteries or power banks | Yes | Not without airline approval | Protect the terminals |
| Lube over 100 mL (3.4 oz) | No | Yes | Honey's 118 mL bottle goes here |
| Lube in a container of 100 mL or less | Yes, in your liquids bag | Yes | One 1 L bag per passenger in Canada |
| A toy without a motor (silicone, glass) | Yes | Yes | No battery rules apply |
Lube and the 100 mL rule
Lube is a liquid at the checkpoint. CATSA's rule is that containers of liquids, non-solid food and personal items in your carry-on must be 100 ml/100 g (3.4 oz) or less, all in one clear, resealable plastic bag of no more than 1 L. Creams and lotions count as liquids too. The TSA uses the same limit: travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item, in one quart-sized bag.
The limit applies to the size of the container, so a large bottle that's half empty still doesn't qualify. Our Honey comes in a 4 oz (118 mL) bottle, so it's over the limit however much is left inside. You have two choices:
- Pack the bottle in your checked bag. CATSA says containers over 100 mL can go in checked baggage as long as they're not prohibited items. Close the flip cap firmly and put the bottle in a sealed plastic bag in case of leaks.
- Decant a little into a travel bottle of 100 mL or less and put it in your liquids bag with your toiletries.
The same goes for other care products. A 1 oz jar of balm or a 60 mL spray fits in the liquids bag. A 4 oz toy cleaner doesn't, so it belongs in checked luggage, or you can wash your toy with mild soap and warm water while you're away.
At the security checkpoint
Your carry-on goes through the X-ray like everyone else's, and a toy goes through with it like any other small electronic device.
Sometimes a bag is picked for a closer look, either because something on the X-ray needs checking or at random. CATSA's security screening page explains that random additional screening now includes electronic devices, and that you may be asked to remove any covers or protective cases from your electronic devices before inspection, and may be asked to show that they can be powered up. It also says devices that can't be taken out of their cases or switched on won't be allowed past the checkpoint.
Two habits make that moment easy:
- Charge the toy before you leave. A toy that switches on when asked is a two-second check.
- Pack it near the top of the bag, in its own case or pouch, so it comes out cleanly without your other things.
If an officer asks what it is, a calm, matter-of-fact answer is all the question needs.
Packing it so it stays off
A toy that switches on in a bag is the travel story nobody wants. A few steps stop it.
Use the case. Glow travels in its own round carrying and charging case, 3.5 inches across, which keeps the toy covered. One buyer wrote: « Super compact il se traine bien partout avec sa petite boite pratique. » (verified buyer, July 2025), meaning it's very compact and goes everywhere in its handy little box.
Use a travel lock if your toy has one. Some toys can be locked with a button combination. Your manual will say if yours can.
Pack it where nothing presses on it. A pouch inside a shoe, or a pocket of the bag with soft clothes around it, keeps the button from being held down.
If it goes in a checked bag, CATSA's advice for any battery-powered device is to pack it in a protective case so it can't turn on by accident, and to tape any on/off switch in the off position.
Clean and dry it before you pack it, so it isn't stored damp for the length of a trip.
Charging and care on the trip
Bring the cable that came with the toy. Pair it with a certified USB adapter for the outlets where you're going.
Don't plan on charging onboard. CATSA's battery guidelines note that many airlines prohibit charging devices onboard, so charge before you fly.
Spare power banks stay in the cabin. If you bring one to top up your devices, CATSA's table says spare lithium batteries of 100 Wh or less go in the carry-on and are allowed in checked bags only with airline approval.
Wash it where you are. Mild soap and warm water in a hotel sink works for a waterproof silicone toy. Rinse, pat it dry with a clean towel and let it air dry before it goes back in its case. Our toy cleaning guide covers the steps.
Rules at your destination
Airport screening is only one set of rules. What you're allowed to bring into a country, and to own there, depends on that country's laws, and those differ widely. If you're travelling outside Canada and the US, check the destination's rules before you pack, and when in doubt, leave the toy at home.
A toy that's compact and comes with a case makes the trip simpler. One buyer wrote of Aura, our air pulse toy: « il est parfait pour les transports ou les déplacement grâce a sa petite taille. » (A., July 2026), meaning it's perfect for trips because it's so small. Our article on whether small toys are strong enough compares our smallest toys.
Glow is our compact dual stimulation toy: 3.9 by 3.15 by 1.3 inches, with an internal vibration and an external air pulse at 10 speeds each, and a round carrying and charging case. It charges in about 2 hours and runs about an hour with both motors at the highest speed. It's $139 CAD ($99 USD), with 9 reviews averaging 5.0, and the details are on the Glow page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring a vibrator in your carry-on?
Yes. CATSA lists sex toys as permitted in carry-on and checked bags, and the TSA lists massagers as allowed in both. CATSA also advises keeping devices with batteries in your carry-on. As with any item, the officer at the checkpoint makes the final decision.
Do I have to tell security I have a sex toy in my bag?
No rule asks you to declare it. If your bag is picked for a closer look, the officer may ask you to take electronic devices out of their cases and show they power up. Packing the toy charged, in its own case near the top of the bag, makes that quick.
Can I pack a vibrator in my checked luggage?
Usually, but carry-on is the safer choice. CATSA's table allows a small lithium battery inside a device in checked bags, but it also says some airlines don't allow it. If you do check it, pack it in a protective case and tape any switch off so it can't turn on.
Can I bring lube on a plane?
Yes, in a container of 100 mL (3.4 oz) or less inside your liquids bag, or any size in your checked bag. Our Honey bottle is 118 mL, so it goes in checked luggage, or you can decant some into a travel bottle of 100 mL or less for your carry-on.
How do I stop my vibrator from turning on in my bag?
Use its travel lock if it has one, and pack it in a hard case or pouch where nothing presses on the button. Glow travels in its round carrying and charging case. For a checked bag, CATSA suggests a protective case and taping any on/off switch in the off position.
Is it legal to travel with a vibrator to other countries?
It depends on the country. Airport screening in Canada and the US allows toys, but some countries have their own laws on what you can bring in. Check your destination's rules before you pack, and leave it at home if you're unsure.
Sources
- Sex toys in carry-on and checked bags in Canada: CATSA, Sex toy
- Batteries and devices in carry-on and checked bags, charging onboard, and packing devices so they can't turn on: CATSA, Guidelines for batteries
- The 100 mL limit and the 1 L bag in Canada: CATSA, Liquids, non-solid food and personal items
- Enhanced screening of electronic devices: CATSA, Security screening
- Massagers in carry-on and checked bags in the US: TSA, Massagers
- The 3.4 oz limit in the US: TSA, Liquids, aerosols and gels rule
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Security rules come from the CATSA and TSA pages listed above, checked in October 2026; rules change, so check them again before you fly. Product facts come from the Glow, Aura and Honey product pages; buyer words are quoted exactly from reviews on our store. This article is general information, not legal or travel advice.