Quick Answer
✅ Yes. TSA allows all types of knives in checked luggage, including kitchen knives, hunting knives, and pocket knives.
❌ Knives are not allowed in carry-on, except for round-bladed butter knives or plastic cutlery.
⚠️ Knives in checked bags must be securely wrapped or sheathed to protect baggage handlers.
Details
- Checked luggage:
- All knives permitted, including pocket knives, Swiss Army knives, chef’s knives, combat knives, and hunting knives.
- Must be properly sheathed or securely packed to avoid injury to baggage handlers.
- Carry-on restrictions:
- No knives of any type allowed, regardless of blade size.
- Only butter knives with round tips and plastic knives are allowed.
- Special knives:
- Throwing knives, switchblades, daggers, and collectible knives are also permitted in checked luggage.
- Box cutters and razor blades must also go in checked.
- International flights:
- Most countries allow knives in checked baggage, but customs laws may restrict importing certain types of knives.
TSA Knife-in-Checked Rules Summary
| Knife Type | Carry-On | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket knives / Swiss Army | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Kitchen / chef’s knives | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Hunting / combat knives | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Throwing knives / daggers | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Box cutters / razor blades | ❌ Not allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Butter knife (round-bladed) | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
| Plastic knives | ✅ Allowed | ✅ Allowed |
Gotchas / Common Issues
- ✈️ Sheath required: Always pack knives in a case, sheath, or bubble wrap to prevent accidents.
- ✈️ Customs limits: Some countries restrict bringing certain knives (switchblades, butterfly knives) even in checked.
- ✈️ Collector’s items: Rare or valuable knives should be packed with extra care to avoid theft/damage.
- ✈️ Checked luggage risk: If your bag is flagged, TSA agents may inspect knives for proper packing.