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GOODS ACROSS BORDERS

ITEM RULE · TRAVELING

ALLOWED

Pocket Knife 🇺🇸 United States

VERIFIED · 2025-01-15NOT YET GRADED

Legal to bring; TSA prohibits in carry-on

ANSWER

Can I bring Pocket Knife into United States?

ALLOWEDVERIFIED · 2025-01-15

Legal to bring; TSA prohibits in carry-on

DECLARATION

Within personal allowance — no separate declaration needed

SOURCE

cbp.gov
Verify against the official customs authority before acting on this answer.Report a correction

Full details

Pocket knives are legal to own and carry in most US states. However, TSA prohibits all knives in carry-on luggage — they must be in checked bags. State and local knife laws vary significantly — some cities restrict blade length, locking mechanisms, or concealed carry of knives.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Legal to bring in checked luggage only. TSA will confiscate from carry-on. Check destination state/city knife laws.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2025-01-15

RULE DETAILS

LEGAL REFERENCE

TSA prohibited items list, state knife laws

AIR TRAVEL IS SEPARATE

This page covers destination customs rules in United States. Whether you can carry pocket knife through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.

Related rules

Pocket Knife rules in other countries

RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES37UNIQUE SOURCES614LATEST VERIFICATION2026-05-13MethodologyChangelog