Are You Allowed Magnets On A Plane? | Safe Packing

Taking magnets on a plane: simple rules

The screening desk treats magnets like any other household item unless the field is strong. The TSA “What Can I Bring” page lists magnets as allowed in both bag types. The FAA PackSafe page for magnets adds the one figure that matters: any package or loose magnet that reads more than 0.00525 gauss at 15 feet cannot fly; at or below that number it can ride in either bag type.

That table gives you the big picture. The everyday stuff is fine. Strong industrial pieces need extra care so the field at distance is tiny. The next sections show how to pack to those limits without special gear.

Are magnets allowed on a plane? Packing rules that work

Good packing controls the stray field and prevents chips or pinched fingers. Follow these steps and you’ll match what airlines already use for cargo magnets.

Stack or pair to cancel

Place two magnets so opposite poles face, or stack a set in tight contact. Field lines loop inside the stack, which reduces the outside field.

Add a keeper

Slide a flat piece of mild steel across the poles. This “keeper” gives the field a short path and calms the pull. Many bar magnets ship this way for a reason.

Build a simple shield

Wrap the bundle and the keeper with cardboard or foam, then place it inside a small steel tin or between two steel plates. Tape everything so it can’t shift. More steel and tighter contact equals less field leak.

Cushion and separate

Magnets can chip if they clap together. Use foam, bubble wrap, or cardboard spacers. Keep anything fragile away from the outside of the package.

Do a quick check

If a compass needle near your suitcase swings a little when the magnet is inside, add more steel or change the location in the bag. The FAA figure equates to no more than a two-degree deflection at 15 feet, which is tiny; a small swing right next to the bag tells you shielding still needs work.

Carry-on vs checked: pick the right spot

Carry-on works best for small pieces you want to keep an eye on. Security may ask for a second look if the X-ray shows a dense block, so keep the packed magnet near the top of your bag and be ready to place it in a bin if asked. The TSA officer has the final say at the desk.

Checked bags fit heavier magnets. Pack deep in the center of clothes, far from the shell of the suitcase. That padding helps reduce the field at the surface and keeps the package from rattling around during handling.

How strong is too strong? The only number you need

The limit for air travel is 0.00525 gauss at 15 feet from any side of the package. That’s about a thousand times weaker than the field near a small fridge magnet. If a magnet yanks tools from across a workshop, it won’t pass without careful shielding. If you can’t feel pull beyond an inch or two, you’re almost always fine once the piece is wrapped and cushioned.

No meter? A compass test mirrors the rule. With the package set well away from cars, rebar, or other steel, a needle that barely moves when you back off to a good distance means you’ve tamed the field. If the needle swings near the bag, add a keeper or more steel until it behaves.

Taking magnets overseas: one set of rules, minor variations

International cabins work from the same baseline. IATA’s cargo rulebook uses the 15-foot test and the same compass method. Some airlines publish stricter internal notes for freight, and a few add extra checks for cargo that rides on the belly of passenger jets. That rarely affects a traveler with a souvenir or a tool, yet it matters for big shop magnets or stacks of parts. When in doubt, read your carrier’s dangerous goods page or ship as cargo with proper labels instead of using a suitcase.

Compass check made easy

You don’t need a lab bench to sanity-check your packing. A cheap hiking compass and a clear space are enough for a quick read.

1. Pack the magnet as described above. Pair or stack, add a keeper, wrap, shield, then cushion.
2. Place a compass on a table in an open area away from parked cars, steel railings, and power tools.
3. Set your bag about an arm’s length from the compass and note the needle. A tiny nudge at close range is expected.
4. Walk the bag farther away. At 15 feet you want barely any change. If you still see a swing, add more steel and try again.

This simple check follows the spirit of the cargo test. It won’t give an exact number, yet it tells you when your shielding plan is working.

Speakers, motors, and other gear with magnets inside

Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and small power tools all contain magnets. These products include housings that confine the field. Pack them as you would any electronic item. If a speaker has a chunky bare driver, keep it wrapped and placed deep in your bag so the shell and clothes add distance. If the device also carries lithium cells, follow the posted battery rules for that product.

Real-world scenarios and smart fixes

Souvenir sheet magnets

Those thin, flexible pieces barely register. Slip them in a folder so the edges don’t curl and tuck the folder in any bag.

Phone mounts and accessory clips

These include a small ring or puck. Pack them as you would any gadget. The metal plate that ships with many mounts actually helps as a keeper.

Hobby discs and bars

Stack a set, add a keeper, wrap with cardboard, then tape. The brick-like bundle hides its field well and rides in any bag type.

Magnetic tool trays

Line the tray with a steel sheet or place a loose steel plate on top to bridge the magnets. Wrap the whole tray and place it flat in your checked bag.

Fishing magnets and lifting magnets

These need real shielding. Use thick steel on both faces, clamp with straps, then place the block in a small tin. Fill gaps with dense cardboard. If your compass still swings near the packed case, send it by surface freight or buy at your destination.

What screeners see and how to sail through

On X-ray, a magnet looks like a solid metal block. That can prompt a bag check. Place your packed magnet where you can reach it fast, and keep a short note on top that reads “Magnet—packed with steel keepers to meet FAA limit.” That line shows you’ve done the homework and speeds the check.

Never stick a loose magnet to a bin or a pole while you reorganize at the belt. Keep it wrapped. Loose magnets in public areas can pinch skin or grip metal fixtures.

Two quick myths to ignore

“All strong magnets are banned.”

That’s not the rule. Strong magnets can fly once you reduce the stray field at distance. A well-shielded block that meets the FAA number is treated like any other household item.

“Cabin magnets mess with the plane.”

Passenger cabins sit far from the nose instruments. The rules target stray fields at distance. The 15-foot test applies near ground crew areas and any spot near sensitive gear during loading. Keep the field tiny and the cabin is a non-issue.

Second table: packing steps you can trust

Where to put the links and proof

If you want to read the source rules, the TSA page for magnets shows they’re allowed in both bag types, the FAA PackSafe magnets page gives the 15-foot field figure, and IATA DGR addendum notes tied to Packing Instruction 953 echo the same approach with a two-degree compass test at 15 feet.

Those links present the same rule from different teams: allowed in both bag types, a precise field limit, and a simple compass method. Follow that trio and your packing aligns with the routine process used on ramps and at screening lines.

When to use cargo instead

Some magnets just aren’t a fit for passenger bags. If you carry multiple large pieces, or a single block that still trips your compass after careful shielding, stop there. Book a cargo shipment instead. Freight counters handle UN 2807 Magnetized material under IATA Packing Instruction 953 with proper labels and stowage. That route keeps ground crews aware and keeps your trip simple.

Common packing mistakes

• Packing a bare magnet with no keeper. Bridge the poles with steel first.
• Wrapping only with bubble wrap. Cushioning helps, but steel is what cuts the field.
• Leaving gaps between steel plates. Tight contact matters.
• Placing the bundle against the shell of the suitcase. Center it in clothing.
• Standing next to a car or railing during your compass check. Move to a clear spot before you judge the needle.
• Forgetting a short note for the screener. That small card can save a minute at the desk.

IATA numbers in plain language

IATA’s guidance lines up with the FAA figure you’ve seen here. The test uses a compass check at 15 feet; a swing of more than two degrees means the package is too “loud.” The fix is simple: stack or pair, add a keeper, add steel, then test again. A quiet package sails through.

Hard drive magnets and similar parts

Many tinkerers carry salvaged neodymium arcs from old drives. Treat them like any other small rare-earth piece. Tape pairs face to face, add a thin steel strip as a keeper, then wrap and place deep in the bag. Once combined and cushioned, these parts rarely show any pull beyond a few inches.

Takeaways for travelers

• Souvenir and gadget magnets are fine in either bag.
• Shield strong magnets so the field reads tiny at distance.
• The only number that matters: ≤0.00525 gauss at 15 feet.
• Pair, add a keeper, shield with steel, cushion, then check with a compass.
• Place the bundle where a screener can reach it fast, and keep a short note on top.