Are zip ties allowed on planes? Zip ties are ordinary fasteners, and a few plastic ties in your bag are not usually a problem. They are not a guaranteed yes, though: in Australia, security screening officers have the final say on what goes on board. If you are not sure, pack them in your checked bag.
Rules change and differ between airlines and countries, so treat this guide as general advice and check before you fly.
What the Australian rules say
The Department of Home Affairs TravelSECURE guide sets out what you can and cannot bring. The main points:
- Some items cannot go past the screening point, including weapons and some household items that could be used to cause harm.
- If you are carrying a prohibited item on you or in your carry-on, you must surrender it. Airports and airlines do not have to store or return it.
- Security screening officers have the final say on whether an item can go on board.
- If you are unsure, check with your airline first and pack the item in your checked baggage if your airline allows it.
Flying overseas? Check the rules for the countries you are flying from and through as well.
Zip ties in carry-on and checked bags
| Item | Where to pack it |
|---|---|
| A few plastic zip ties | Checked bag is the safest place. In carry-on, the screening officer decides. |
| Stainless steel zip ties | Checked bag: they are metal and have sharp edges. |
| Flush cutters, snips, knives | Checked bag: sharp tools are the items most likely to be a problem in the cabin. |
| Zip tie gun | Checked bag: it has a cutting blade. |
If you are carrying a bulk pack for a job, put it in your checked luggage or send it ahead.
Can you put zip ties on your luggage?
Yes, many travellers do, but know what a zip tie can and cannot do.
- It will not stop a thief. Anyone with cutters can remove a zip tie. It only stops zips from sliding open and shows if a bag has been opened.
- Security may cut it. Checked bags can be opened for inspection, so a tie may be cut and not replaced. Pack spares inside the bag.
- Do not seal your carry-on. You may need to open it at the screening point.
- Use one small tie. A 2.5mm tie through the zip pulls is enough.
- Use a colour. A bright colour zip tie on the handle helps you spot your bag on the carousel.
How to get a zip tie off your bag at the other end
This is the part people forget. If the only cutters you own are in the bag that is tied shut, you are stuck.
- Use a releasable tie. Releasable zip ties open with a press of the tab, so no cutters are needed. Ours are 7.6mm wide, so they suit handles and straps better than small zip pulls.
- Undo a standard tie. You can often release one with a thin flat tool. See how to undo a zip tie without cutting it.
- Cut it on arrival. Pack small cutters in your checked bag's outside pocket, or ask at your hotel reception.
Handy travel uses for zip ties
- Temporary repair of a broken zip pull or bag handle.
- Bundling chargers and leads. See cable management with zip ties.
- Holding a luggage tag on when the strap breaks.
- Camping and caravan fixes. See more zip tie uses and hacks.
Common questions
Can I bring zip ties on a plane?
Usually, but the screening officer has the final say. The safest place for them is your checked bag.
Can I use zip ties on my luggage?
Yes. A small tie through the zip pulls is common. Security may cut it to inspect the bag, so pack spares inside.
Are zip ties better than a luggage lock?
No. A zip tie only shows whether a bag has been opened; it does not secure it. It is cheap, though, and costs cents to replace if it is cut.
Written by the team at Zip Tie Man, an Australian zip tie supplier since 2016. Travel rules change: this is general information, so check the official guide and your airline before you fly.
Browse colour zip ties, or read what a zip tie is and how it works.
Featured image (suitcase): Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
