Can you take safety pins on a plane? Rules by country

Safety pins on flights in and from Japan

The rule for safety pins comes from the Civil Aviation Bureau's list of restricted items and is the same on domestic and international flights.

Safety pins: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan

Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes	Yes. Japan's list names safety pins, in its group of items with an extremely sharp point, as allowed in the cabin. Sewing needles are listed the same way.
In checked baggage	Yes	Yes.

Safety pins among Japan's sharp-pointed items

Safety pins sit in a group of the Japanese list where most neighbours are kept out of the cabin.

Allowed in a group where ice picks are not: Group 19 of Japan's list covers items with an extremely sharp point. Ice picks and ice axes in it are marked not allowed in the cabin, and nails pass only at 6 cm or less. Safety pins carry the allowed mark for both cabin and checked baggage, with no length condition written on the row.
The TSA lists 3 kinds of pin: The TSA has an entry for Safety pin, one for Stick Pins and one for Bobby Pins. All 3 are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, and none carries special instructions.
In a sewing kit, the scissors are the part to check: Japan's list allows sewing needles the same way as safety pins, and its scissors row says the scissors of a portable sewing kit can be carried on too. The TSA lets sewing needles through and permits scissors smaller than 4 inches in carry-on, while cutters that contain blades must be placed in checked baggage.
South Korea names them as 옷핀: South Korea's aviation security search returns safety pins under 옷핀, marked allowed for the cabin and for checked baggage. No special condition is written in the entry.

Carry-onChecked bag

Knitting needles and sewing needlesCarry-on: yesChecked bag: yes ScissorsCarry-on: conditionsChecked bag: yes Ice picks and sharp pointed objectsCarry-on: noChecked bag: yes

Safety pins: the rule country by country

The carry-on answer for safety pins is the same in all 2 other places we checked.

Safety pins: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country

Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	Yes	Yes	Japan's list names safety pins, in its group of items with an extremely sharp point, as allowed in the cabin. Sewing needles are listed the same way. Source
United StatesTSA	Yes	Yes	Safety pins are allowed in carry-on and checked bags.TSA entry: Safety pin Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	Yes	Yes	Safety pins are listed as allowed in the cabin and in checked baggage. Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take safety pins on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Yes. Japan's list names safety pins, in its group of items with an extremely sharp point, as allowed in the cabin. Sewing needles are listed the same way. In checked baggage: Yes.

Are safety pins allowed in carry-on bags in Japan?

Yes. Japan's list of restricted items names safety pins (安全ピン) and marks them allowed in the cabin and in checked baggage. The entry sits beside sewing needles and blood-sampling needles for glucose testing, which carry the same marks.

Can you bring a sewing kit with safety pins and needles on a plane?

Yes. Japan's list allows safety pins and sewing needles in the cabin, and says the scissors of a portable sewing kit can be carried on. GOV.UK's table marks a sewing needle as allowed in hand luggage and hold luggage. Knitting needles are a separate row in Japan and can be refused if the tip is judged sharp enough to be a weapon.

Are large safety pins, kilt pins or brooch pins allowed on a plane?

Japan's list sets no size for safety pins, unlike nails in the same group, which are limited to 6 cm or less in the cabin. Kilt pins and brooches are not named. The list's general note says an item on it can still be refused when the airline or the screener judges it could be a weapon.

Can safety pins go in checked luggage?

Yes. Japan's list, the TSA and South Korea's list all mark safety pins as allowed in checked baggage. The TSA's note on knitting needles says any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors.

Does the TSA allow safety pins in carry-on bags?

Safety pins are allowed in carry-on and checked bags.

What is the rule for safety pins on flights from South Korea?

South Korea: Safety pins are listed as allowed in the cabin and in checked baggage.

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