These Common Halloween Costume Pieces Are Banned By TSA — Here's What Travelers Should Know

Planning the perfect Halloween costume can take weeks, if not months. But those looking to fly to a spooky destination in full costume for the October 31 holiday may want to make some adjustments before heading to the airport. That's because the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has Halloween-specific rules outlining what's allowed, what's banned, and what should be placed in checked baggage.

Witches, ghouls, and other Halloween creatures are welcome to fly, as long as they avoid wearing makeup or masks that alter their human appearance, per a 2023 press release. Security officers rely on facial recognition scanners at airports across the country. If the digital scanner has difficulty confirming your identity and the agent can't manually match you to your ID, they will likely ask you to remove your makeup or mask, delaying you and the line of passengers behind you. 

The best bet is to place your Halloween mask in a carry-on or checked bag. As for makeup, apply it after you land, and pack it in accordance with the 311 rule for liquids. While TSA's 311 liquids rule has some unexpected exemptions, Halloween makeup and face paint are not among them. The rule states that all liquids and pastes must be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces, placed in a single quart-sized bag, and only one bag is allowed per passenger. Anything larger than 3.4 ounces should be packed inside checked luggage. Powdered makeup containers larger than 12 ounces must be removed from carry-on bags and placed in a separate X-ray bin. And, it turns out, there are other costume pieces that are restricted or banned, too.

TSA rules have a reputation for being annoyingly inconsistent, but when it comes to Halloween accessories, the agency's rules are impressively detailed. For example, skeletons traveling with spare (fake) bones can bring them through security and onto the plane. If you're dressed as a medieval knight or a superhero, however, you will have to place your body armor or cape in a bag when going through security.

If your costume involves a sword — even if it's fake – it must be placed in a checked bag. In fact, any fake weapon that resembles the real thing is better off checked to avoid a disruption in the TSA queue. If you happen to be dressed as a Jedi, however, your lightsaber can travel on board with you. 

One of the easiest ways to determine if your Halloween costume accessory can board the plane with you is to search for it on the TSA's "What Can I Bring?" page. The database has a surprisingly large number of very specific items that can and cannot be brought through security and what is banned entirely. To avoid delays or uncomfortable interactions with TSA agents this Halloween, it's generally best to place all non-essential accessories and makeup in checked baggage and retrieve it at your destination.

Unfortunately, there is no list of approved Halloween costumes available via TSA confirming whether you can travel as Frankenstein's monster. However, there is some helpful advice from travel experts out there. Keith Jeffries, a former federal security director for TSA, told Fox News that costumes with metal shouldn't be worn by travelers passing through security. The metal interferes with screening equipment and could be more trouble for all involved, he said. Another tip: If you must celebrate the festive holiday on your way to any of the spookiest destinations in the world, consider wearing something simple on the plane. One idea suggested by The Democrat and Chronicle is to wear pajama-style costumes that have little to no metal and don't obscure your face in any way.

Additionally, Thomas Spagnola, senior vice president of the travel technology company Fareportal, told The Democrat and Chronicle that any costume that requires a fake bomb or any other mock explosive device should be avoided entirely — and that includes in checked bags. According to Jeffries, the best way to avoid a terrifying experience in the TSA queue is quite simple: "Pack your costumes, go to where you're going and enjoy your fun."