# How to travel with a flat iron or curling iron Source: https://plateandwand.com/blog/how-to-travel-with-a-flat-iron Published: 2026-10-09 Publisher: Plate & Wand **Short answer:** Yes. In the US, TSA allows corded flat irons and curling irons in both carry-on and checked bags. Cordless tools with lithium batteries and butane irons have extra rules, so check TSA and your airline. Abroad, the bigger risk is voltage: use a dual or universal voltage tool with a plug adapter, or a converter rated for the tool. This page is for anyone packing a flat iron, curling iron or cordless straightener for a trip. It covers what TSA allows in carry-on and checked bags, why cordless and butane tools are treated differently, how voltage and plug shapes work abroad, the difference between an adapter and a converter, and how to pack a hot tool so it does not damage your bag. Airline and country rules change, so we link to the official TSA page and recommend you confirm before you fly. ## Airport rules for corded hot tools TSA lists corded curling irons and hair straighteners as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. Screeners can still ask to inspect any item, so pack the tool where it is easy to take out. Rules outside the US are set by each country's aviation authority and by airlines, and they are usually similar for corded tools but not always. The final call at the checkpoint rests with the screening officer. If you are flying with a connecting international airline, check its own list of restricted items too. | Tool | Carry-on | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | | Corded flat iron or curling iron | Allowed | Allowed | | Cordless tool with removable lithium battery | Usually allowed; spare batteries in carry-on | Check rules; spares not in checked bags | | Cordless tool with built-in lithium battery | Check TSA and airline | Check TSA and airline | | Butane curling iron | Limited; check TSA | Limited; check TSA | Typical US rules (confirm with TSA and your airline) ## Cordless and battery tools Cordless straighteners such as the Dyson Corrale run on a built-in lithium-ion battery. Aviation rules treat lithium batteries more strictly than corded tools, mainly limiting spare batteries in checked bags and setting size limits. Most consumer hair tools fall under common limits, but you should confirm on TSA's site and with your airline before you pack. Switch the tool off and, if it has a safety lock, engage it so it cannot turn on in the bag. Butane curling irons have their own TSA rules covering the safety cover and refills. If you travel often with a cordless tool, carry it in your cabin bag so you can answer questions at screening. Note: Rules for batteries and gas-powered tools change. Check the official TSA What Can I Bring list and your airline before every trip. ## Voltage abroad: dual voltage, adapters and converters The US uses 120 volt power. Many countries use 220 to 240 volts. A tool built only for 120 volts can overheat or fail if plugged straight into a 230 volt outlet, even with a plug adapter. A plug adapter only changes the plug shape; it does not change the voltage. Check the label or manual for the voltage range. Tools marked dual voltage or universal voltage handle both, so you only need a plug adapter for the outlet shape. Product listings describe several of the tools we cover this way: ghd stylers such as the Platinum+ and Mini list universal voltage, and the BaBylissPRO Prima3100 is sold as dual voltage. Some dual voltage tools need a switch moved before use; others adjust automatically. The manual will say which. - Dual or universal voltage tool: use a plug adapter only. - Single voltage 120 V tool abroad: you would need a voltage converter rated well above the tool's wattage. Many hair tools draw a lot of power, so this is often impractical. - Hotel bathroom shaver outlets are usually low power and not meant for hair tools. [Dual voltage flat irons and curling irons](https://plateandwand.com/best/best-dual-voltage-hair-tools) ## How to pack a hot tool Let the tool cool completely before packing. Many flat irons and curling irons come with a heat-resistant pouch or mat; ghd lists a plate guard on the Platinum+ and a heat-resistant bag with the Chronos Curve Max Wand. Lock the plates closed if your iron has a lock. Wrap the cord loosely rather than tight around the handle, which can strain the cord where it enters the tool. Pack the tool near the top of your carry-on if you might need to show it at screening, and keep plug adapters in the same pouch so you do not forget them. 1. Unplug and let the tool cool fully. 2. Lock the plates or clamp closed. 3. Slide into a heat-resistant pouch. 4. Coil the cord loosely. 5. Pack with your plug adapter and check the voltage label one more time. ## Choosing a travel tool For frequent travel, a dual or universal voltage tool removes most of the worry. A shorter plate or mini iron saves space; the ghd Mini Styler has 0.5 inch plates and universal voltage according to its listing. For more on voltage, read [dual voltage explained](https://plateandwand.com/blog/dual-voltage-explained). If you mainly curl, see [best curling irons](https://plateandwand.com/best/best-curling-iron); for straightening, see the [best flat irons](https://plateandwand.com/best/best-flat-iron). ## Frequently asked questions **Can I bring a hair straightener in my carry-on?** TSA allows corded straighteners in carry-on and checked bags. Cordless and butane tools have extra rules, so check TSA's list and your airline. **Do I need a converter for my flat iron in Europe?** Not if the tool is dual or universal voltage; then a plug adapter is enough. A 120 volt only tool would need a converter rated for its wattage, which is often bulky. **Can I use a US flat iron in the UK?** Only if the label shows it handles 230 to 240 volts. Then use a UK plug adapter. If it is 120 volt only, do not plug it in with just an adapter. **Can I pack a cordless straightener in checked luggage?** Rules for tools with lithium batteries vary. Many travelers keep them in carry-on. Confirm with TSA and your airline before you fly. ## Gear guides for this topic - https://plateandwand.com/best/best-dual-voltage-hair-tools - https://plateandwand.com/best/best-flat-iron - https://plateandwand.com/best/best-curling-iron ## Sources - [TSA: What Can I Bring?](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all)