Nail File
Nail files are allowed in carry-on and checked bags; emery boards and rounded-tip metal or glass files pass through security most easily.
Carry-on
Allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Allowed. Cardboard and foam emery boards are unrestricted and cause no issues at screening. Metal and glass nail files are also generally allowed in carry-on, but a metal file with a sharp, pointed tip can draw extra scrutiny from a screening officer since it can resemble a sharp tool — a rounded-tip file avoids that entirely.
Checked-bag details
Allowed in any style, with no restriction.
Special instructions
If you're carrying a metal file, pick one with a rounded or blunt tip rather than a sharp point to avoid a second look at the checkpoint.
FAQ
- Are metal nail files allowed in carry-on luggage?
- Yes, in general — a metal nail file isn't classified as a prohibited sharp item. But files with a sharp, pointed tip are more likely to get extra attention from a TSA officer, so a rounded-tip metal file or a standard emery board is the safer choice.
- Is there an official TSA ruling specifically on nail files?
- TSA doesn't list nail files by name on its prohibited items list, so this guidance is based on how TSA treats similar personal grooming and sharp-adjacent tools. Emery boards, being soft and non-metallic, are the least likely to raise any question.
Related items
Source: TSA — What Can I Bring? · Last verified: 2026-07-31
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.