Can you take dry ice on a plane? Rules by country

Dry ice on flights in and from Japan

The rule for dry ice comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items and is the same on domestic and international flights.

Dry ice: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Up to 2.5kg per person, and only to cool something that is not itself dangerous, such as perishable food. The package must let the carbon dioxide gas escape.
In checked baggage	Conditions	Same 2.5kg limit and the same vented package. Narita Airport notes that airlines may set a different limit or require a label.

Narita AirportNarita says dry ice for cooling perishable food may go in carry-on or checked baggage, up to 2.5 kg per person in principle; airlines may set different limits or require labelling.Narita International Airport FAQ

Dry ice: what it may cool, how it is counted and labelled

Dry ice travels as dangerous goods with an opening for cooling food. The lists differ on approval and on labels.

Any other use is refused: Japan's list accepts dry ice only when it cools perishable food or other non-dangerous items. The row beneath that entry covers every other use and marks it as refused in the cabin and in checked baggage. Hong Kong's CAD and Taiwan's CAA draw the same boundary: dry ice used to pack perishables, or fresh food, that are not dangerous goods.
Filed under carbon dioxide, solid: Lists do not always use the everyday name. Hong Kong's CAD writes Dry ice (carbon dioxide, solid), Australia's CASA files it as Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) when used to pack perishables, and the Korean list places dry ice among miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles. The wording asked for on a checked package uses the same pair of names.
Counted per person, marked per package: The 2.5 kg figure is an allowance per person, not per bag. The marking rule is written per package. Hong Kong's CAD and Taiwan's CAA require each package in checked baggage to be marked DRY ICE or CARBON DIOXIDE, SOLID, together with the net weight of the dry ice or a statement that the net weight is 2.5 kg or less.

Dry ice: the rule country by country

The carry-on answer for dry ice is the same in all 5 other places we checked. The limits themselves are not identical, so read the row for the country you fly from.

Dry ice: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	With limits	Up to 2.5kg per person, and only to cool something that is not itself dangerous, such as perishable food. The package must let the carbon dioxide gas escape. Source
United StatesTSA	With limits	With limits	Limited to 5.5 pounds of dry ice that is properly packaged (the package is vented) and marked. Airline approval is required.TSA entry: Dry Ice Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	With limits	With limits	Airline approval needed. Up to 2.5kg per person, only when used to pack and carry perishable goods. Allowed in checked baggage and in carry-on bags, but not carried on your person. Source
TaiwanCivil Aviation Administration	With limits	With limits	Up to 2.5 kg per person in hand or checked baggage, with airline approval, when used for fresh food that is not dangerous goods. The packaging must let the carbon dioxide gas escape. Source
Hong KongCivil Aviation Department	With limits	With limits	No more than 2.5 kg per person, with airline approval, in carry-on or checked baggage. It must be used to pack perishables, and the package must let carbon dioxide gas escape. Checked packages must be marked as dry ice with the net weight. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	With limits	With limits	Dry ice used to pack perishables: up to 2.5 kg (5lb) per passenger in carry-on or checked baggage, with airline approval. The package must permit the release of gas. Checked bags must be marked 'Dry Ice' or 'Carbon Dioxide, Solid'.CASA Pack Right entry: Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) when used to pack perishables Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

If security in Japan will not let dry ice through

What to do: Move dry ice to the bag you check in before you reach security, within the checked-baggage limits above. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take dry ice on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Up to 2.5kg per person, and only to cool something that is not itself dangerous, such as perishable food. The package must let the carbon dioxide gas escape. In checked baggage: Same 2.5kg limit and the same vented package. Narita Airport notes that airlines may set a different limit or require a label.

Do you need airline approval to fly with dry ice?

In most places, yes. The TSA shows Check with Airline for carry-on and checked bags and says airline approval is required. The Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korean lists mark airline consent as required, and Australia's CASA says you must gain approval before flying. Japan's list sets the purpose, the weight and the vented container, with no approval column; Narita's FAQ says airlines may set different limits or require labelling.

Can you put dry ice in a carry-on bag?

Yes. Japan's list accepts dry ice in the cabin as well as in checked baggage, and Narita's FAQ confirms both. The tables published in Hong Kong and Taiwan tick carry-on baggage too. Their marking rule is written for checked baggage, but the condition that the package must let the carbon dioxide gas escape applies wherever the dry ice is carried.

Does the TSA allow dry ice in carry-on bags?

Limited to 5.5 pounds of dry ice that is properly packaged (the package is vented) and marked. Airline approval is required.

Can you put dry ice in checked luggage?

Same 2.5kg limit and the same vented package. Narita Airport notes that airlines may set a different limit or require a label.

What is the rule for dry ice on flights from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong?

South Korea: Airline approval needed. Up to 2.5kg per person, only when used to pack and carry perishable goods. Allowed in checked baggage and in carry-on bags, but not carried on your person. Taiwan: Up to 2.5 kg per person in hand or checked baggage, with airline approval, when used for fresh food that is not dangerous goods. The packaging must let the carbon dioxide gas escape. Hong Kong: No more than 2.5 kg per person, with airline approval, in carry-on or checked baggage. It must be used to pack perishables, and the package must let carbon dioxide gas escape. Checked packages must be marked as dry ice with the net weight.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (MLIT) — Items restricted in carry-on and checked baggage (updated 24 April 2026)checked October 2, 2026
Narita International Airport — FAQ: prohibited itemschecked October 2, 2026
TSA — What Can I Bring?: Dry Icechecked October 1, 2026
Aviation Security 365 (MOLIT / KOTSA) — Dangerous goodschecked October 1, 2026
Taiwan CAA — Dangerous goods passengers and crew may carrychecked October 1, 2026
Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong) — Packing Tips for Air Passenger: Provisions for Dangerous Goods Carried by Passenger and Crewchecked October 1, 2026
CASA — Pack Right: Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice) when used to pack perishableschecked October 1, 2026
Taiwan CAA — Table of dangerous goods passengers and crew may carry or check (Chinese)checked October 1, 2026