Yes. Since March 2026, Gatwick has scrapped the old 100ml liquids limit at its security lanes, so you can carry containers up to 2 litres in your cabin bag, without sealing them in a clear plastic bag. Electronics and liquids can generally stay in your bag too, thanks to newer CT scanners. Checked August 2026.
What actually changed
For years, the rule at UK airports, including Gatwick, was a strict 100ml limit per container, all of them fitting into a single clear resealable bag, and laptops and liquids coming out of your hand luggage separately for the X-ray tray. That rule was built around older X-ray scanners that could not reliably see through a laptop or a bag of liquids to check what else was underneath.
Gatwick has since installed newer CT (computed tomography) scanners, the same 3D imaging technology used in medical scanning, which build a much more detailed image of what is inside your bag. Because the scanner can see clearly without you unpacking, the airport has removed the need to take laptops and liquids out, and raised the liquids limit from 100ml per container to 2 litres in total.
What you can now carry
- Liquid, gel and aerosol containers up to 2 litres each, rather than the old 100ml cap.
- No requirement to seal them in a clear plastic bag.
- Laptops, tablets and other electronics can usually stay inside your hand luggage rather than going through in a separate tray.
What still needs attention
There is one specific exception worth knowing: empty vacuum flasks. Their insulated walls are designed to block heat transfer, and that same insulation can block the scanner's imaging, so security staff may still ask you to empty one and present it separately. If you are travelling with a flask, it is worth emptying it before you reach the lane to avoid a delay.
Even with a higher limit, it is sensible to keep any genuinely large containers, such as a full 2 litre bottle, near the top of your bag so they are easy to find if a manual check is needed. And because the rule change describes what Gatwick's own lanes are doing, it does not automatically apply at every airport you might be flying back from, so check the rules at your return airport separately if it is not also on the newer scanner system.
Does this apply to every lane at Gatwick?
The airport's own guidance is the definitive source for exactly which lanes and terminals are running the new scanners at any given time, since rollouts of this kind are typically phased. If you are travelling with something borderline, such as a large duty-free bottle bought on an earlier leg of a trip, it is worth checking the current guidance on Gatwick's website close to your travel date rather than relying on this rule being universal on the day.
How this affects your security wait
Gatwick's security wait averages around 7 minutes, but can run to 30 to 45 minutes at the busiest times, typically 05:00 to 08:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. The airport has suggested that not needing to unpack laptops and liquids should help reduce queuing at the lanes with the new scanners installed, but the standard arrival guidance has not changed: allow around 2 hours before a short-haul flight and 3 hours before a long-haul flight, adding 30 minutes at busy times. If you want to skip the queue altogether, Fast Track security costs from £6 per person; see the facilities page for the full breakdown of what is and is not included.
What to pack differently now
In practice, the biggest change for most passengers is not having to buy travel-size toiletries just to get through security. You can pack your normal full-size shampoo, a bigger bottle of contact lens solution, or a standard bottle of water bought before the lane, rather than downsizing everything into 100ml bottles. Duty-free liquids bought after security are unaffected either way, since those have always travelled in a sealed, tamper-evident bag regardless of container size.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2 litre liquids limit definitely in place at Gatwick? Yes, as of March 2026 Gatwick has scrapped the 100ml rule in favour of a 2 litre limit per container, using newer CT scanners. Confirm current lane-by-lane guidance on the airport's website if you are travelling with something borderline.
Do I still need a clear plastic bag for liquids at Gatwick? No. Under the new rule you do not need to separate your liquids into a clear resealable bag before you reach the lane.
Can I leave my laptop in my bag at Gatwick security now? Generally yes, the newer CT scanners can see through bags well enough that laptops and other electronics can usually stay packed, rather than needing their own tray.
Is there any liquid-related item I should still take out? Empty vacuum flasks are the one flagged exception, since their insulation can block the scanner's imaging. Empty one before the lane if you are carrying it.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Gatwick Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Gatwick Airport website before you travel.