Sharp objects: carry-on vs checked baggage
Bladed and pointed objects are among the most frequently confiscated items at security checkpoints. The rules vary meaningfully between authorities. This guide covers the four major aviation security regulators: TSA (United States), CAA (United Kingdom), under EU Regulation 2015/1998 (European Union), and CASA (Australia).
The general rule
All items with a blade — knives, box cutters, multi-tools containing blades, and most pointed implements longer than approximately 6 cm — are prohibited from the aircraft cabin by all major security authorities. These items may be packed in checked baggage, subject to airline policy and destination laws.
Items confiscated at a security checkpoint are not returned. Passengers who reach the checkpoint with a prohibited item are typically given the option to return to check-in and place the item in checked baggage if time allows, or to surrender it. No fine or penalty applies unless there is evidence of intentional concealment or an attempt to evade screening.
Item comparison by authority
The following table shows whether each item is permitted in carry-on baggage. All of these items may be packed in checked baggage unless otherwise noted. Policies shown reflect published guidance from each authority; officers retain discretion at the checkpoint.
| Item | TSA (US) | CAA (UK) | EU Reg 2015/1998 | CASA (AU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scissors — blade under 6 cm | Permitted | Permitted | Prohibited | Check airline |
| Scissors — blade 6 cm or longer | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Safety razor (blade in cartridge) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Straight razor | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Disposable razor (enclosed blade) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Pocket knife / penknife | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Box cutter / utility knife | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Swiss army knife | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Nail clippers | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Tweezers | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Needlework / embroidery scissors | Permitted (blade under 6 cm) | Permitted (blade under 6 cm) | Prohibited | Check airline |
EU airports apply Annex 4.1 of EU Regulation 2015/1998 as the minimum standard. Member states may publish stricter national implementing rules. TSA guidance is published at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring. UK CAA guidance is published by the Department for Transport. CASA guidance is published at casa.gov.au.
Special cases
The kirpan is a religious knife carried by observant Sikhs as one of the Five Ks. Its permissibility in the cabin varies significantly by country and airline. In the United States, TSA does not permit the kirpan in the cabin regardless of religious significance; it must be checked. In Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency has addressed the issue in human rights proceedings. In some EU jurisdictions, blunt-edged ceremonial kirpans under a defined blade length have been permitted following case-by-case assessment. Passengers carrying a kirpan should check both the airline policy and the departure and arrival country rules in advance.
A traditional corkscrew with a metal spiral worm and no blade is treated differently from a corkscrew with a foil cutter or blade. TSA prohibits corkscrews with a blade or pointed spike from carry-on but does not explicitly prohibit a plain spiral corkscrew. In practice, officers vary in their assessment. The safest approach is to pack any corkscrew in checked baggage.
Knitting needles and crochet hooks are permitted in carry-on baggage by TSA and the UK CAA, which both publish explicit guidance to this effect. Under EU rules, the position is less clear; some EU airports have confiscated knitting needles while others permit them. Bamboo or plastic needles are more likely to be permitted than metal ones at airports where officer discretion applies.
A multi-tool that contains any blade — including a small knife blade, file-with-point, or awl — is treated as a bladed item and is prohibited from the cabin by all major authorities. A multi-tool with no blade (e.g., containing only pliers, screwdriver bits, and a bottle opener) may be permitted, but the determination is checkpoint-specific. Any multi-tool containing a blade must be checked.
What happens when a prohibited item is found
If a bladed item is detected during X-ray screening or physical inspection, the officer will typically:
- Alert the passenger and advise that the item cannot proceed into the sterile area.
- Offer the passenger the option to return to check-in to place the item in checked baggage, if there is sufficient time before the flight.
- If the passenger cannot or does not wish to return, the item is surrendered and placed in a confiscation bin. It is not returned.
No administrative penalty is levied for accidental possession of a prohibited sharp object. A civil penalty may be assessed by TSA in cases of intentional concealment or repeated violations. In the UK, the Aviation Security Act 1982 provides criminal penalties for deliberate introduction of a prohibited article into a sterile area.
- Cabin baggage rules — full carry-on reference
- Checked baggage rules — what is permitted in the hold