Can you take tweezers on a plane? Rules by country

Tweezers on flights in and from Japan

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

Tweezers: carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Only tweezers with rounded tips that are not sturdy. Pointed or heavy-duty tweezers go in checked baggage.
In checked baggage	Yes	Yes.

Rounded or pointed: how tweezers are read at security

Japan's list starts tweezers as not allowed in the cabin and lets one kind through. Its note turns on shape and strength, which are among the tests the list's preface gives screeners.

Not allowed first, then the exception: The tweezers row on Japan's list is marked × for the cabin and ○ for checked baggage, the list's marks for not allowed and allowed. The note then allows tweezers whose tips are rounded and which lack strength. Both halves are joined in one phrase, so a stiff pair with rounded tips and a flimsy pair with needle points each miss the description.
The same tests as the list's preface: The preface to Japan's list says that the airline or the screener may refuse an item when its material, strength or shape make it usable as a weapon, even if the list shows it as allowed. The tweezers note turns on the same things: shape, in the rounded tips, and strength. The row gives no length to measure.
CASA groups tweezers with pointed metal files: Australia's answer comes from CASA's Pack Right list, where the entry reads pointed metal nail files and tweezers: a security item that can be checked in and can't be carried on. The prohibited items list published by Australia's Home Affairs does not name tweezers, and says that it is not possible to list all permitted items.

Tweezers: the rule country by country

Tweezers are not allowed in carry-on in Australia. In the United States and the United Kingdom the authority's page lists tweezers as allowed in carry-on.

Tweezers: carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	Yes	Only tweezers with rounded tips that are not sturdy. Pointed or heavy-duty tweezers go in checked baggage. Source
United StatesTSA	Yes	Yes	Tweezers are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped.TSA entry: Tweezers Source
United KingdomUK Government	Yes	Yes	Tweezers are allowed in hand luggage and hold luggage. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	No	Yes	Tweezers are listed together with pointed metal nail files as a security item: not allowed in carry-on, allowed in checked baggage.CASA Pack Right entry: Pointed metal nail files and tweezers 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 tweezers through

What to do: Move tweezers 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 tweezers on a plane?

On flights in and from Japan: Only tweezers with rounded tips that are not sturdy. Pointed or heavy-duty tweezers go in checked baggage. In checked baggage: Yes.

Are pointed tweezers allowed in carry-on?

Not in Japan or Australia. Japan's list allows tweezers in the cabin only when the tips are rounded and the tool lacks strength, so a pointed pair goes in checked baggage. CASA lists pointed metal nail files and tweezers as a security item that can't be carried on. The TSA and GOV.UK entries say yes for carry-on and do not separate pointed tips from rounded ones.

Do tweezers count as a sharp object at airport security?

On some lists. Japan's list does not put tweezers in its group for objects with an extremely sharp point, but it starts them as not allowed in the cabin and lets through only a rounded, weak pair. CASA files tweezers with pointed metal nail files as a security item. The TSA allows them in carry-on, and its tweezers entry repeats that sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped.

Does the TSA allow tweezers in carry-on bags?

Tweezers are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped.

Can you take tweezers in hand luggage in the UK or Europe?

The United Kingdom: Tweezers are allowed in hand luggage and hold luggage.

What is the rule for tweezers on flights from Australia?

Australia: Tweezers are listed together with pointed metal nail files as a security item: not allowed in carry-on, allowed in checked 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?: Tweezerschecked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions: Personal itemschecked October 1, 2026
CASA — Pack Right: Pointed metal nail files and tweezerschecked October 1, 2026
Australian Department of Home Affairs — TravelSECURE: What you can and can't bringchecked October 1, 2026
GOV.UK — Hand luggage restrictions at UK airportschecked October 1, 2026