Swiss Army Knife
Swiss Army knives are not allowed in carry-on and must be packed in checked baggage.
Carry-on
Not allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Not allowed. Any Swiss Army knife or similar multi-tool with a folding knife blade is prohibited in carry-on, regardless of blade length or how many other tools it includes.
Checked-bag details
Allowed. Swiss Army knives can be packed in checked baggage without restriction.
Special instructions
The knife blade is what prohibits it — even if the same tool has scissors under 4 inches (which would be fine on its own), the presence of any knife blade keeps the whole multi-tool out of carry-on.
Related rules
FAQ
- Can I bring a Swiss Army knife with just small blades in carry-on?
- No. TSA prohibits any pocket knife or multi-tool with a knife blade in carry-on, no matter how small the blade is.
- What if my Swiss Army knife only has scissors and no blade?
- Multi-tools with only scissors under 4 inches (measured from the pivot) are allowed in carry-on. But most Swiss Army knives include a knife blade, which makes the whole tool checked-baggage-only.
Related items
Source: TSA — What Can I Bring? · Last verified: 2026-07-30
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.