Yes. One small book or packet of safety matches may ride in your carry‑on or pocket, but never in checked bags; strike‑anywhere matches stay off the plane.
The humble match can light a birthday cake, a camp stove, or a scented candle at a hotel. That same tiny stick also carries a fire risk at altitude. Rules about matches confuse many flyers because the limits differ from liquids or batteries. This guide sets out the current U.S. and international rules, airline twists on those rules, and packing moves that keep you on the right side of every checkpoint.
Quick Rule Snapshot
| Match Type | Carry‑On / On Person | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Safety (cardboard book or small box) | One packet allowed | Forbidden |
| Strike‑anywhere wooden | Forbidden | Forbidden |
| Storm / survival sticks | If labelled strike‑anywhere, treat as forbidden | Forbidden |
Why Only Safety Matches Fly
Safety matches ignite only when scraped on a coated strip; strike‑anywhere heads spark on many rough surfaces. In a pressurised cabin that difference matters because accidental ignition can harm passengers and flight systems. The TSA match page sets the single‑packet rule.
The FAA PackSafe chart backs that limit and adds that the packet must stay with you if staff gate‑check your bag.
The heads of a safety match carry potassium chlorate and glue that burn only after friction from the red‑phosphorus strip. Strike‑anywhere tips hold phosphorus on the head, turning any textured surface into a potential ignition point. Regulators group them with fireworks for that reason.
TSA And FAA Wording You Might Hear At Screening
TSA officers screen thousands of matchbooks daily. Their handbook says “one book of safety (non‑strike anywhere) matches in carry‑on, none in checked.” Officers may still ask to view the label if the heads look oversized or waterproof.
Federal rule 49 CFR 175.10(a)(2) repeats that wording.
Outside the United States, the IATA Dangerous Goods table mirrors the one‑packet rule and bans strike‑anywhere sticks.
New CT scanners at many U.S. checkpoints create a 3‑D view of bags and flag dense organic items such as matchbooks because the heads can mimic certain explosives.
Airline Specific Notes
Airlines must follow those federal rules, yet their baggage pages can be vague, which fuels forum myths. United lists matches among “forbidden items in checked baggage” and permits one packet on your person.
Delta groups matches with lighters and asks flyers to keep the packet in a pocket or small bag that stays in the cabin.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority bans strike‑anywhere matches outright and echoes the single‑packet safety allowance.
American Airlines posts a similar line and adds that the matchbook must stay closed during flight.
Air Canada prints the one‑packet rule on cross‑border boarding passes.
Packing Tips That Speed You Through Security
Keep The Packet Visible
Drop the matchbook in a shirt or jacket pocket. Officers rarely ask to see it, yet knowing where it sits avoids frantic rummaging.
Gate‑Check Reminder
If staff tag your roll‑aboard at the jet bridge, pull the matches out along with spare batteries; the FAA says the packet must stay in the cabin.
Stick To One Packet
Multiple books look harmless, yet the rule says “one” and extras may be surrendered. One generous thirty‑two‑stick book lights many campsite meals.
Use A Tin Or Hard Case
A thin cardboard book can flex and shed head dust. Slide it into a mint tin or snap case to keep the heads intact and avoid residue that can trigger swab tests.
Skip Oversize Souvenir Boxes
Gift shops sell large art‑covered boxes. TSA may count a box as more than one packet even when half full, so move a handful of sticks into a small paper book before you fly.
What About Lighters Or Other Fire Starters?
Disposable butane lighters with no flame‑adjust wheel ride under the same allowance as matches: one on your person, none in checked bags. Torch lighters that shoot a blue flame stay off the plane.
Electric arc lighters count as battery gear, so they follow the spare‑battery carry‑on rule. Pack them with the switch locked and tape over exposed electrodes.
Piezo‑spark camp stoves sidestep match rules. Spare gas canisters must travel by approved ground courier, not in passenger cabins.
Rechargeable plasma lighters face extra scrutiny; declare the watt‑hour rating if asked and stash cables in a tidy pouch.
Flying Abroad? Double‑Check Local Rules
Some nations treat any match as hazardous. In Australia and New Zealand a safety match packet limit applies, and strike‑anywhere sticks can earn an instant fine.
Japan’s aviation bureau repeats the one‑packet rule but may seize packets without English or Japanese safety labels. Singapore lets travellers carry one small safety packet in a resealable plastic bag, yet the packet must leave the bag for separate X‑ray.
Sample Airline Wording
| Carrier / Authority | Allowed Item | Extra Note |
|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | One safety packet | Never in checked bags |
| Delta Air Lines | One safety packet | Packet stays in cabin |
| UK CAA | Safety packet | Strike‑anywhere banned |
Quick Answers To Common Questions
Can I bring matches for a camping stove?
Yes, if they are safety matches and you carry only one packet. Fuel tablets or liquid fuel follow different hazmat rules.
Are waterproof matches okay?
Many waterproof sticks are strike‑anywhere. Check the label; if it says strike‑anywhere, leave them at home or buy on arrival.
Why are checked bags off limits?
Cargo holds lack crew eyes. A smouldering match could stay hidden until smoke reaches the cabin. Keeping the packet with you allows fast action if it lights.
Could I mail matches to my hotel?
Yes, but U.S. postal rules allow only ground service and require a SURFACE‑ONLY hazmat label. Air‑mail channels reject them.
What about matches in survival kits?
If your kit holds safety matches inside a sealed capsule, it still counts as one packet. Strike‑anywhere storm sticks remain forbidden.
Last Word
Carry one small safety matchbook, skip strike‑anywhere heads, and screening will be painless. Keep the packet on your person when planeside bag tags appear, and the same habit in every country keeps that tiny flame a tool instead of a travel headache. Carry it smart and travel easy today.