Liquids and Security Rules at Copenhagen Airport in 2026: What You Can Bring

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Liquids and Security Rules at Copenhagen Airport in 2026: What You Can Bring

The short answer

If you're flying from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) in 2026, pack as if the 100ml liquids rule still applies: liquids in containers of 100ml or less, all fitting inside one transparent, resealable bag of about 1 litre. New scanner technology is changing this across Europe, but the rules can differ by airport and lane and can change at short notice — so the 100ml limit is the safe assumption that will never get you stopped.

Before you fly, confirm the current rule on the official source: Copenhagen Airport's own website (cph.dk). Security rules are set by regulators and the airport, not by this site — always treat the airport's published guidance as definitive.

Why the liquids rule is in transition

For years, EU airports have used the familiar 100ml / 1-litre-bag rule. Airports have been installing new-generation CT (computed tomography) scanners, which produce 3D images and can, in principle, allow larger liquids and let you keep electronics in your bag.

The catch: the rollout has been uneven, and EU-wide rules have shifted more than once. Even where new scanners are installed, regulators have at times kept the 100ml limit in place. That's why you can't assume a bigger allowance just because you see modern equipment — what's permitted on the day is decided by the rules in force and the lane you're sent to.

At CPH specifically: the airport has moved to new CT scanners at security. The practical change so far is that electronics (laptops, tablets, cameras) stay in your bag, and belts and watches stay on — but the 100ml liquid limit still applies, and your liquids bag must still come out and go visibly in a tray (cph.dk). There is no larger-liquid allowance at CPH right now. CT scanners can eventually enable one, but that depends on EU rules and the airport's own approval — no date is confirmed, so don't count on it. Always confirm the current rule on cph.dk.

Bottom line: travel ready for 100ml. If a larger allowance ever goes live for your flight, that's a bonus, not a plan.

What it's actually like right now (mid-2026)

The new scanners are still bedding in, and that shapes the experience on the ground:

  • More bags get pulled for a manual check than travellers are used to. The scan is quick; the wait is usually the bag-check table after it.
  • "Laptop in, liquids out" trips people up. Taking a laptop out only to be told to leave it in — then repacking at the belt — is a major cause of delay. Decide before you reach the tray.
  • Don't repack at the belt. Follow the signage at your lane; if staff say electronics stay in, leave them in.
  • Expect the posted wait to be a floor, not a guarantee during busy waves, because manual checks add time the queue figure doesn't capture.

👉 Why are CPH security lines so long in 2026?

How to get through security faster at CPH

Whatever the liquids rule on the day, these habits keep you (and the queue) moving:

  • Bag of liquids ready and accessible — don't dig for it at the belt.
  • Laptops and large electronics — at CPH's new CT-scanner lanes these stay in your bag; just follow the signage at your lane.
  • Liquids bag out — even though electronics stay in, your 1-litre liquids bag must come out and go visibly in a tray.
  • Empty your pockets into your bag before you reach the tray, not at it.
  • No water through the checkpoint — empty your bottle first and refill after security.
  • Sharp objects, tools, and oversized liquids belong in checked baggage.

A smooth tray is the difference between a 90-second screening and the one that holds up everyone behind you.

Time your trip around the queue, too

Rules aside, when you arrive shapes your experience as much as what's in your bag. Security at CPH is busiest during the early-morning departure wave and the late-afternoon peak.

👉 See the live CPH security wait time · Best time of day to pass CPH security

And if you have an early flight, check that the checkpoint is even open yet:

👉 When does CPH security open?

FAQ

Can I bring liquids over 100ml through security at Copenhagen Airport? Treat 100ml as the limit unless the airport confirms otherwise for your flight. New CT scanners can allow larger liquids, but the rule varies and can change — always check cph.dk before you travel.

Do I still need to put liquids in a clear bag at CPH? Yes, assume so: liquids of 100ml or less in one transparent, resealable ~1-litre bag is the safe default.

Do I have to take my laptop out at CPH security? No — at CPH's new CT-scanner lanes, laptops, tablets and cameras stay in your bag, and belts and watches stay on. Your liquids bag still comes out. Follow the signage at your lane.

How long is the security queue at CPH right now? Check the live, timestamped wait time before you leave for the airport.

This article is general guidance, not official regulation. Always confirm the current liquids and security rules with Copenhagen Airport before you fly. We track CPH's live operational data — security waits, delayed flights, passport control, and parking — so you can time your trip well. 👉 Check the live CPH security wait time