Pre-workout is growing in popularity. One study estimates that 30% of young adults take an energizing pre-workout supplement, making them the second most popular supplement behind multivitamins.
Pre-workout gives you more energy for your workouts, improves your anaerobic peak, and boosts power output. Some lifters rely on their pre-workout supplement to break through fatigue and plateaus and keep progressing in the gym.
But what about when you travel by plane? Can you bring pre-workout with you? What are the restrictions? Should you pack pre-workout in your carry-on bag or your checked luggage? How should you declare your pre-workout, so it makes it through customs?
We’ll review the rules for taking pre-workout on a plane to ensure your pre-workout supplement doesn’t get dumped out before you board.
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Can You Take Pre-Workout on a Plane in the USA?
Yes, you can take pre-workout supplements on a plane in the United States.
Pre-workout supplements are classified as “Protein or Energy Powders” by the USA Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you are traveling with less than 12 oz. / 350 mL, you can leave them in your carry-on bag during airport screening.
If you have more than 12 oz. / 350 mL of powder-like substances (including pre-workout and protein powder) in your carry-on bags, you must place them in a separate bin for X-ray screening.
Airport staff may require additional screening for powders and may open containers to inspect them. To avoid inconvenience or disruptions, put your pre-workout supplement in your checked luggage if you bring more than 12 oz. / 350 mL.
Can You Bring Pre-Workout on a Plane in Canada?
Yes, with some restrictions.
You can bring up to 12 oz. / 350 mL of powder-based supplements in your carry on, including all powder-like supplements. If you have more than 12 oz. / 350 mL, pack it in your checked luggage.
Certain powder-based supplements, like mineral-based supplements mainly comprising calcium, magnesium, or iron, are limited to 12 oz. / 350 mL in your carry-on. There are no medical exemptions, so it is best to carry essential supplements in your checked luggage.
Can You Take Pre-Workout on a Plane in Australia?
For domestic flights, yes, pre-workouts can be carried without restriction.
For international flights, pre-workout may still be transported but there are some restrictions.
Flights within Australia are not subject to restrictions on how much powder, liquid, aerosols, and gels you can carry onboard.
If you are traveling domestically but departing from an international terminal (your boarding ticket will confirm if you are departing from an international terminal), you are subject to powder, liquid, aerosol, and gel restrictions.
These restrictions do not apply to your checked baggage. The restrictions apply if you are:
- leaving Australia
- transiting through Australia from another country
- traveling on the domestic leg of a flight departing from an Australian international terminal
There is no limit on organic powders, such as food, powdered baby formula, and protein powder.
However, pre-workout is considered an inorganic powder. There are restrictions on the quantities of inorganic powder you can carry, such as salt, talcum powder, sand, and pre-workout.
Inorganic powders must be in containers of 12 oz. / 350 mL (volume), 350 grams (weight), or less.
The total volume of inorganic powders must not exceed 350 mL / 12 oz., 350 grams per person.
Passengers cannot tip powders out to fall under the 350ml threshold as the restriction applies to the total container volume.
There are no restrictions on the number of containers of inorganic powders per person, provided the total volume of all the containers of inorganic powder is 350 milliliters or less.
You must present all powders in your carry-on luggage separately for screening at the screening point. Unlike liquids, they do not need to be in a resealable plastic bag.
Can You Take Pre-Workout on a Plane in the UK?
Yes, you can travel with pre-workout supplements in the UK.
There are no restrictions on traveling with powdered food items in the UK. Powders and food items can block x-ray images, so airport security may need to check your bags by hand to identify the powder.
You can put these items in your checked luggage to reduce delays.
There are no quantity restrictions on how many powder containers you can travel with, but it is probably best not to bring large quantities of pre-workout in your carry on. You can bring a few servings in your carry-on and keep the rest in your checked baggage to avoid potential misunderstandings and delays.
Carry On Luggage vs. Checked Luggage
The US, Canada, UK, and Australia allow you to pack pre-workout supplements in your checked luggage. If you have concerns about taking a particular amount of pre-workout in your carry-on, consider checking your bag.
If you want to consume pre-workout or other supplements during air travel, you can bring up to 12 oz. / 350 mL / 350 g in your carry-on in the US, Canada, and Australia. There are no quantity limits on powders in the UK.
What About Liquid Workout Supplements?
If protein powders and powdered supplements are OK to travel with, what about liquids like pre-workout drinks?
You can travel with up to 3.4 oz / 100mL of liquid in a clear, resealable plastic bag in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The bag or container must be less than 100 mL, even if it is not full.
Since most pre-workout drinks are greater in volume than 100 mL, it is best not to bring them in your carry on bags. Fortunately, liquid pre-workout drinks are often available for sale in most major airports.
