Can you take a baseball bat or racket on a plane? By country

Bats and rackets on flights in and from Japan

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

Bats and rackets: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Bats: no, apart from plastic toy bats. Tennis rackets: yes.
In checked baggage	Yes	Yes.

Bats, cues and rackets: which ones stay out of the cabin

The answer turns on the kind of equipment. Lists that ban bats from the cabin often let a tennis racket through.

Japan names bats, sticks and cues one by one: Section 16 of Japan's list gives separate rows to bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, gateball sticks and billiard cues. Every one of them is kept out of the cabin and accepted as checked baggage. The only exception written beside the bat row is for a plastic bat that is plainly a toy. No length is given under which a wooden or metal bat may be carried on.
Tennis is the only racket Japan's list names: The list has a single racket row, tennis rackets, the only row in section 16 open to the cabin with no condition. Badminton and squash rackets are not named. CASA is broader: its entry covers racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport and flags them as fine to carry on and to check in. The TSA lists Tennis Rackets and Pickleball Paddle as allowed in both.
Pool cues: the UK answers the other way: Japan's list keeps billiard cues out of the cabin, and the TSA marks Pool Cues as no for carry-on. Hong Kong's CAD names billiard and pool cues among its blunt instruments, and CASA flags billiard, pool or snooker cues as barred from carry-on. GOV.UK is the exception: its sports table shows a snooker, pool or billiard cue as allowed in hand luggage and in the hold.
Hockey and lacrosse sticks get the bat's answer: The TSA lists Hockey Sticks and Lacrosse Sticks as separate entries, each marked no for carry-on and yes for checked bags. CASA puts hockey and lacrosse sticks or similar objects in a single entry that can't be carried on, and Hong Kong's CAD names them with cricket bats among its blunt instruments. Taiwan's CAA names both hockey sticks and ice hockey sticks among the sports goods that must be checked.

Bats and rackets: the rule country by country

Bats and rackets are not allowed in carry-on in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Bats and rackets: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	Yes	Bats: no, apart from plastic toy bats. Tennis rackets: yes. Source
United StatesTSA	With limits	Yes	Baseball bats are prohibited in the cabin and must be transported in checked baggage, like other sports equipment that can be used as a bludgeon. Tennis rackets are listed as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.TSA entry: Baseball Bats, Tennis Rackets Source
European UnionEuropean Commission, EASA	With limits	Yes	Baseball and softball bats are prohibited in cabin baggage; they must be surrendered at the security checkpoint or packed in hold luggage. Source
United KingdomUK Government	With limits	Yes	Heavy bats and sticks (including baseball, softball and cricket bats) are not allowed in hand luggage but can go in hold luggage. Tennis racquets are allowed in both. Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	No	Yes	Baseball bats and softball bats are banned from the cabin and can go in checked baggage. Source
TaiwanCivil Aviation Administration	No	Yes	Baseball bats, cricket bats, hockey sticks and billiard cues are named as sports goods that may not be in hand baggage or carried on your person; they must go in checked baggage. Source
Hong KongCivil Aviation Department	No	—	Baseball bats, softball bats and cricket bats are named as blunt instruments banned from cabin baggage. Source
Mainland ChinaCAAC	No	Yes	Bats, cricket bats, hockey sticks and billiard cues cannot be carried on but can be checked. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	With limits	Yes	Baseball, softball and cricket bats are prohibited in carry-on and go in checked baggage. Racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport can be carried on and checked in.CASA Pack Right entry: Baseball, softball and cricket bats or similar objects, Racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport Source

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

If security in Japan will not let bats and rackets through

What to do: Move bats and rackets to the bag you check in before you reach security. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take a baseball bat or racket on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Bats: no, apart from plastic toy bats. Tennis rackets: yes. In checked baggage: Yes.

Can you bring a badminton racket on a plane?

Yes on flights from Australia, where CASA flags racquets used in squash, tennis, badminton or any other sport as fine to carry on and to check in. Japan's list and GOV.UK name only tennis rackets, and both pass them for cabin and hold alike. Neither has a row for badminton rackets.

Can you take a pool cue in hand luggage?

Only GOV.UK says yes among the lists compared here: it shows a snooker, pool or billiard cue as allowed in hand luggage and hold luggage. Japan's list shuts billiard cues out of the cabin, the TSA's Pool Cues entry says No under carry-on, and Taiwan's CAA names billiard cues among sports goods that must be checked.

Does the TSA allow a bat or racket in carry-on bags?

Baseball bats are prohibited in the cabin and must be transported in checked baggage, like other sports equipment that can be used as a bludgeon. Tennis rackets are listed as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.

Can you take a bat or racket in hand luggage in the UK or Europe?

The United Kingdom: Heavy bats and sticks (including baseball, softball and cricket bats) are not allowed in hand luggage but can go in hold luggage. Tennis racquets are allowed in both. The European Union: Baseball and softball bats are prohibited in cabin baggage; they must be surrendered at the security checkpoint or packed in hold luggage.

What is the rule for bats and rackets on flights from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong?

South Korea: Baseball bats and softball bats are banned from the cabin and can go in checked baggage. Taiwan: Baseball bats, cricket bats, hockey sticks and billiard cues are named as sports goods that may not be in hand baggage or carried on your person; they must go in checked baggage. Hong Kong: Baseball bats, softball bats and cricket bats are named as blunt instruments banned from cabin baggage.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (MLIT) — Items restricted in carry-on and checked baggage (updated 24 April 2026)checked October 2, 2026
TSA — What Can I Bring?: Baseball Bats + Tennis Racketschecked October 1, 2026
European Commission — List of prohibited articles in your cabin baggagechecked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions: Sports equipmentchecked October 1, 2026
Aviation Security 365 (MOLIT / KOTSA) — Items prohibited on boardchecked October 1, 2026
Taiwan CAA — Articles that may not be carried into the aircraft cabin (announcement of 18 June 2024)checked October 1, 2026
Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong) — Packing Tips for Air Passengerschecked October 1, 2026
CAAC — Air travel basics (航空旅行常识)checked October 1, 2026
CASA — Pack Right: Baseball, softball and cricket bats or similar objectschecked October 1, 2026
Australian Department of Home Affairs — TravelSECURE: What you can and can't bringchecked October 1, 2026
Taiwan CAA — Items that may not be carried into the cabin (公告 113.06.18)checked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions at UK airportschecked October 1, 2026