01/10/2026
In August 2025, the TSA announced a new ban on any “cordless curling irons containing a gas cartridge,” along with “butane-fueled curling irons.” Cordless flat irons are also subject to this same rule.
However, the ban applies only to checked luggage, so you’re permitted to travel with these types of irons inside your carry-on bag. The ban aims to limit the risk of accidental activation. If checked luggage moves around the cargo hold and bumps into something, it could theoretically cause a cordless iron inside to accidentally power on, increasing the risk that it might ignite something and start a fire.
As a result of the new policy, you can expect TSA agents to confiscate any cordless irons they find in a checked suitcase. These irons are permitted in your carry-on bag (with a limit of one per passenger), provided they have a safety cover that prevents the heating element from easily turning on.
In the unlikely event that the device does power on while the plane is in motion, you will be able to reach into your carry-on and turn the iron off. Note that electric curling irons (i.e., ones that plug into an outlet) aren’t restricted and can continue to be stored in checked or carry-on luggage.
Lastly, the TSA has also prohibited gas refills (spare cartridges) for cordless irons under any circumstances. You won’t be able to bring these types of cartridges onto the plane, whether inside a checked suitcase or a carry-on bag, since they contain potentially hazardous and combustible materials.
It’s not just curling irons that pose a risk. Earlier this year, the TSA also banned lithium batteries in checked luggage. These batteries — found in portable chargers, power banks, and similar devices — caused 84 incidents in 2024 in which they produced smoke or caught on fire. Because of the frequency at which these incidents occur, many airline crews are trained to recognize and deal with lithium battery malfunctions should they arise. However, it’s far easier to tackle the problem if the battery is contained inside a person’s carry-on bag, rather than bags in the aircraft’s cargo hold. In early September, the TSA took to social media to clarify that toothbrushes are another potential problem area. In an X post, the agency wrote, “Traveling with your electric toothbrush, or other items that buzz? If they have an installed lithium battery you should pack them in your carry-on bag. Any spare or uninstalled lithium batteries must be placed in a carry-on bag.”
