Pocket Knife 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Folding blades under 3 inches permitted in public. Locking knives and longer blades restricted.
Can I bring Pocket Knife into United Kingdom?
Folding blades under 3 inches permitted in public. Locking knives and longer blades restricted.
Full details
UK knife law under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Offensive Weapons Act 2019 is complex. It is legal to carry a non-locking folding pocket knife with a blade no longer than 3 inches (7.62cm) in public without needing a reason. However, carrying any locking blade, fixed blade, or a folding knife with a blade over 3 inches in a public place is an offence unless you have a 'good reason' (e.g., a professional chef carrying knives to work). Prohibited knives — including flick knives, butterfly knives, and disguised knives — are banned regardless of size. Importing prohibited knives into the UK is illegal. Knives must be in checked luggage on flights.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 250–20000 GBP
- Civil penalty only
Leaving United Kingdom with pocket knife
A personal pocket knife faces no export formality from United Kingdom when packed in checked baggage — blades of any size are prohibited from cabin baggage under aviation security rules worldwide. The practical constraints are destination-side: public-carry laws vary sharply (blade-length limits, locking-blade bans, and "good reason" requirements in countries such as the UK), and some jurisdictions treat certain knife types (automatic, gravity, butterfly) as prohibited weapons at import.
A basic non-locking Swiss Army knife or Opinel is fine to carry in the UK. Keep any knife in checked baggage when flying. A multi-tool with a locking blade technically requires justification to carry publicly.
Personal quantity; one knife
Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.139; Offensive Weapons Act 2019; Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959
This page covers destination customs rules in United Kingdom. Whether you can carry pocket knife through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Pocket Knife rules in other countries
Pocket Knife
🇦🇺 Australia
Non-locking folding knives generally permitted
Pocket Knife
🇯🇵 Japan
Blades over 6cm prohibited under Firearms and Swords Control Law
Pocket Knife
🇸🇬 Singapore
Offensive weapons prohibited under Arms & Explosives Act
Pocket Knife
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Bladed weapons prohibited under Federal Penal Code
Pocket Knife
🇺🇸 United States
Legal to bring; TSA prohibits in carry-on
Pocket Knife
🇨🇦 Canada
Pocket Knife import prohibited