Can You Bring Cook's Torches & Other Blowtorches on Planes?

By Vanessa Ramos | Last Updated September 22, 2022

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Carry-on bags

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Rules for Flights in the USA

Gas torches are banned from carry-on and checked baggage on flights in the United States. Even completely new gas torches without the gas canister installed are completely banned from airplanes.

Rules for Flights in Other Countries

Canada and New Zealand

Gas torches are banned from hand baggage on flights in Canada and New Zealand, but they are allowed in checked baggage if the airline or carrier approves it. The gas torch must be completely new, unopened, or clean of any residue, depending on the rules of the airline.

Europe and the United Kingdom

On European and UK flights, gas torches are banned from hand luggage. Blowtorches aren’t mentioned in the list of banned items in checked luggage, so it’s safe to assume that they’re allowed. However, your blowtorch can’t have a gas canister attached to it, and in most cases, airlines will ask for it to be completely new or clean to assure it doesn’t have any vapor leftovers that could provoke a fire. Always consult with your airline before traveling with a blowtorch.

Australia and India

Gas torches are forbidden in hand and cargo baggage by the Australian and Indian flight authorities.

China

Chinese authorities don’t mention specifically all gas torches, but welding torches are banned from carry-on and checked baggage on flights in China. Overall, all ignition devices and most flammable gases are completely banned from flights in China.

Sources: For writing this article, we took information only from official sources, like airline regulators, government websites, and major airlines. If you want to confirm that our information is accurate and up to date, click on any of the links mentioned above. We linked out to where we found this information for each country.

Disclaimer: The final decision of whether you can bring gas torches onboard airplanes always rests on the security officer. Some airlines also have additional rules that may be different.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bringing Gas Torches on Planes

Can I bring empty chef’s gas torches on a plane (for cooking)?

Travelers can’t bring chef gas torches on hand or checked baggage on planes in the United States. They are banned even if the torch doesn’t have an installed cylinder and even if it’s brand-new.

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Are empty construction blow torches allowed on planes?

All types of blow torches are forbidden on carry-on and checked baggage on United States aircraft. Regardless of the state of the gas canister, a construction blow torch will not be allowed on United States aircraft.

Can I bring gas canisters on planes (butane, propane)?

Full butane and propane gas canisters aren’t permitted on hand and cargo baggage on United States flights. Only small empty gas canisters are allowed on planes in the United States with certain restrictions. The gas canisters must have an open end, and they must be completely empty.

Can I take empty gas canisters in my luggage?

Small empty gas canisters are allowed on carry-on and checked luggage on flights in the United States. But, TSA clarifies that they should be completely empty and that the security agent must be able to tell it is. Any doubt will get your gas canister confiscated. The canisters should also have an open end without a regulator valve.

Why are empty gas blow torches banned on planes?

Empty gas blow torches are banned on planes in the United States because they are considered a hazard. Even when gas blow torches cans are apparently empty, the gas canister and the torch’s inside could potentially contain vapors that could provoke a fire. They are banned under the standards of the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and most other aviation authorities around the world.