There’s no doubt that airplanes can be cold, especially if you’re flying in the winter.

If you don’t want to bring a blanket on a plane or purchase one, or you are flying to a cold destination, you might be wondering if you can bring hand warmers on your next flight, either to use on the flight or at your destination.

In short, you can bring and use hand warmers on a plane that use carbon, charcoal, and iron compounds as their heating source in both your carry-on and checked bags, such as HotHands, Little Hotties, etc.

What About Rechargeable Hand Warmers?

Despite rechargeable hand warmers containing batteries, which can have restrictions to pack in your checked bag, you will be fine to pack them in either your carry-on or checked bag.

Rechargeable hand warmers don’t contain any dangerous components, so can safely be brought onto a plane.

And Crystallization Hand Warmers?

You can also bring hand warmers that use crystallization as long as they don’t contain any more than 3.4oz/100ml of liquid due to the 3-1-1 rule.

As crystallization hand warmers contain liquid, it’s recommended that you place them in your liquids bag as you go through the airport security screening process.

Some Hand Warmers Aren’t Allowed

If you want to bring a pair of hand warmers that use flammable liquids or gases, these are forbidden in both your carry-on and checked bags.

This is because anything that is flammable can pose a serious security risk.

Airline Regulations

Generally, airlines and the TSA see eye-to-eye on what you can and can’t bring on a plane.

So, regardless if you’re flying with Delta, Southwest, United, American Airlines, Spirit, or any other major or regional air carrier, you will be fine to pack hand warmers in both your carry on and checked bags.

Hand Warmers on International Flights

What about if you’re flying internationally? Will you be fine to bring hand warmers, then?

Fortunately, the answer is yes because the same rules apply worldwide.

So you can pack hand warmers in both your carry on and checked bags, regardless if you’re flying from the U.S. to an international destination, back to the U.S. or between foreign destinations.

What About Heating Pads?

According to the TSA, you can also bring heating pads on a plane, packed in both your carry on and checked bags.

However, unlike hand warmers, certain airlines may have restrictions for using them onboard, such as American Airlines, who won’t allow you to use the power ports to heat it up.

Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.

Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.

Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).