# Flying With Tools: What TSA Actually Permits
The Transportation Security Administration draws specific lines on which tools passengers can pack in carry-on versus checked baggage. Most hand tools—wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers—travel freely in checked bags but face outright bans from carry-on luggage. The agency treats tools as potential weapons, regardless of intent.
Power tools present a grayer area. Cordless drills and sanders typically clear security in checked bags, though battery restrictions apply. Lithium-ion batteries over 100 watt-hours cannot fly at all. Mechanics and technicians shipping tools for work need checked baggage; the carry-on prohibition extends to nearly everything with a handle that could be wielded as a weapon.
Specialty tools draw specific scrutiny. Axes, chainsaws, and sledgehammers get outright rejection. Circular saws and angle grinders also face bans, whether checked or carry-on. The TSA website lists prohibited items exhaustively, but the core rule remains simple: if it could be used to harm someone, it doesn't board the plane.
For professionals traveling to job sites, checked baggage becomes essential. A mechanic carrying a full socket set, torque wrench, and impact driver must pack everything below deck. The same applies to construction workers, electricians, and automotive technicians.
Passengers should verify exact restrictions before arriving at the airport. TSA.gov provides a searchable database. Some tools occupy gray zones where local TSA officers exercise judgment. A utility knife with a retractable blade might pass one inspector and fail another, so calling ahead from the airport eliminates surprises.
Airlines impose their own regulations beyond TSA rules. Some carriers charge extra for overweight tool bags or restrict dimensions. Reading the airline's baggage policy prevents complications at check-in.
The takeaway