📱 Tablet / iPad

Whether you need to remove a tablet depends on its size — smaller tablets may pass through in your bag without issue, but larger tablets over roughly 15 inches diagonal may be flagged in the same way as laptops and require removal into a separate tray. If a screener cannot get a clear X-ray image with the tablet inside your bag, you will be asked to remove it and run it again. Removing it proactively for large devices avoids this delay.

The basic rules are consistent across all 14 regions we cover — tablets are permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage, and larger tablets may need to be removed at the X-ray similar to laptops. The specific size threshold at which removal is required is not universally standardized and can vary by airport or officer discretion. Smaller tablets like a standard iPad mini are almost never required to come out separately.

Airline gate agents do not screen bags for tablets — that is handled entirely by security at the checkpoint. At the gate, staff are focused on bag size and boarding compliance, not on what electronics are inside. The only time your tablet becomes relevant at the gate is if overhead bin space runs out and your bag needs to be checked, in which case you should remove lithium-battery devices and carry them on your person.

Store your tablet in an exterior pocket or at the top of your carry-on so you can pull it out in seconds if the screener asks for it. A dedicated sleeve or padded case makes it easy to remove and protects the screen while it sits in a security tray. Keep the device charged in case an officer asks you to power it on to confirm it is a working device.