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Can you take magnets on a plane?

In Japan magnets are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, with conditions. Carry-on: Household magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no. Checked baggage: Household magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no.

Updated

Yes, within limitsCarry-on in Japan
ConditionsChecked bag in Japan
4countries compared

Carry-on: conditionsChecked bag: conditions

Magnets on flights in and from Japan

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

Magnets: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
WhereAllowed?What applies
In the cabinYes, within limitsHousehold magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no.
In checked baggageConditionsHousehold magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no.
Narita AirportNarita says magnetic necklaces can go in both carry-on and checked baggage, and magnets on travel board games such as Othello are fine on board.Narita International Airport FAQ

Household magnets, industrial magnets and the compass test

Japan sorts magnets by use and gives no number. The figure travellers look for appears in Australia's list.

Japan draws the line by use, not by strength
The row in Japan's list is short. Household magnets are marked as non-dangerous goods and accepted in cabin and hold; magnets for business use, described as large magnets, are refused in both. No strength, weight or size is given. Narita's FAQ shows where the line falls in practice: a magnetic necklace generates strong magnetism and is still accepted in either bag.
Australia's compass test
CASA defines the forbidden kind by measurement: magnetised material strong enough to deflect a compass by more than 2 degrees at 2.1 metres from any point on the surface of the outer package. It gives the field strength at that deflection as 0.418 A/m, or 0.00525 Gauss. The distance is taken from the package, not from the magnet itself.
China and Hong Kong name magnetised material without a figure
CAAC's list of things that may be neither carried on nor checked includes strongly magnetised objects, with no definition of strong. Hong Kong's airport notice of items not to be taken aboard aircraft has a box for magnetized materials and tells passengers to ask the airline for details.

Magnets: the rule country by country

In the United States the authority's page lists magnets as allowed in carry-on.

Magnets: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying fromCarry-onChecked bagWhat the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation BureauWith limitsWith limitsHousehold magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no. Source
United StatesTSAYesYesMagnets are listed as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.TSA entry: Magnets Source
Mainland ChinaCAACWith limitsWith limitsStrongly magnetised items are on the list of things that cannot be carried on or checked. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASAWith limitsWith limitsWeak household and souvenir magnets (fridge magnets, toys) can go in carry-on and checked baggage. Strong magnets, able to deflect a compass by more than 2 degrees at a distance of 2.1 metres, are not permitted.CASA Pack Right entry: Magnets - weak (fridge, souvenir, pillow, homeopathic, signs, children's toys), Magnetised material or strong magnets 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 magnets through

What to do
Move magnets to the bag you check in before you reach security, within the checked-baggage limits above. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take magnets on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Household magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no. In checked baggage: Household magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no.

Can you take souvenir fridge magnets home from Japan on a plane?

Yes. Japan's list marks household magnets as non-dangerous goods, accepted in carry-on and checked baggage alike. Australia's CASA names fridge and souvenir magnets in its entry for weak magnets, and the TSA lists Magnets as allowed in both kinds of bag. Narita's FAQ also clears the small magnets on travel board games such as Othello.

How strong can a magnet be before it is banned from a flight?

Japan sets no number. Its list accepts household magnets and refuses large magnets for business use, and adds a general note: an item shown to be non-dangerous by its safety data sheet or the maker's documents can be carried without restriction. For a measured threshold, CASA's compass test is the only one in these sources.

Does the TSA allow magnets in carry-on bags?

Magnets are listed as allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.

Can you put magnets in checked luggage?

Household magnets: yes. Large industrial magnets: no.

What is the rule for magnets on flights from Mainland China and Australia?

Mainland China: Strongly magnetised items are on the list of things that cannot be carried on or checked. Australia: Weak household and souvenir magnets (fridge magnets, toys) can go in carry-on and checked baggage. Strong magnets, able to deflect a compass by more than 2 degrees at a distance of 2.1 metres, are not permitted.

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026