How many lighters and matches can I bring into United Kingdom?

United Kingdom allows 1 lighters and matches per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.

Do I have to declare lighters and matches at United Kingdom customs?

Only above the allowance. Up to 1 lighters and matches there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.

What happens if I do not declare lighters and matches in United Kingdom?

Under Travellers' Allowances Order 1994, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, section 167, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence; the goods are confiscated.

Do duty-free purchases count toward the United Kingdom allowance for lighters and matches?

Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.

Can I post or ship lighters and matches to United Kingdom instead of carrying it?

Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.

Is there a minimum age for the lighters and matches allowance in United Kingdom?

Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for lighters and matches at all, not a smaller one.

Can I take lighters and matches out of United Kingdom?

United Kingdom publishes no separate rule for taking lighters and matches out; the destination's rules are what will apply.

Can I carry lighters and matches in the cabin or in checked baggage?

In the cabin: Prohibited. In checked baggage: Prohibited. This comes from National regulator, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.

Does the United Kingdom limit for lighters and matches apply per person or per family?

Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.

Where does this rule come from?

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force states it in Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “You can only carry 1 lighter on board. You should put it inside a resealable plastic bag (like the ones used for liquids), which you must keep on you throughout the flight.”

How does United Kingdom compare with other countries on lighters and matches?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit lighters and matches, 5 limit it and 14 let it through. United Kingdom is among the more permissive.

How much Lighters and matches can I bring into United Kingdom?

Restricted

You can bring Lighters and matches into United Kingdom only within the stated limits.

Cabin baggage Prohibited Source: National regulator

Checked baggage Prohibited Source: National regulator

Declaration Above allowance

Limit 1 piece

What you need to know

1 piece
Channels: Carried with the traveler

On the plane

National security rule

On person Allowed with conditions

Must stay on the passenger's person in a resealable plastic bag; safety matches are allowed in cabin baggage, non-safety matches are prohibited.

Cabin baggage Prohibited

A lighter may not travel loose in cabin baggage; it must be kept on the person.

Checked baggage Prohibited

1 per person

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: Overview - GOV.UK UK Government (GOV.UK)
Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: Personal items GOV.UK - Department for Transport

Last verified Sep 19, 2026

Report a mistake with this rule

Airline differences

Airline	Difference from the baseline
AJet	Stricter than the standard rule

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-19

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports GOV.UK — Department for Transport

Questions about Lighters and matches in United Kingdom

How many lighters and matches can I bring into United Kingdom?: United Kingdom allows 1 lighters and matches per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare lighters and matches at United Kingdom customs?: Only above the allowance. Up to 1 lighters and matches there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
What happens if I do not declare lighters and matches in United Kingdom?: Under Travellers' Allowances Order 1994, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, section 167, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence; the goods are confiscated.
Do duty-free purchases count toward the United Kingdom allowance for lighters and matches?: Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
Can I post or ship lighters and matches to United Kingdom instead of carrying it?: Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
Is there a minimum age for the lighters and matches allowance in United Kingdom?: Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for lighters and matches at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take lighters and matches out of United Kingdom?: United Kingdom publishes no separate rule for taking lighters and matches out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Can I carry lighters and matches in the cabin or in checked baggage?: In the cabin: Prohibited. In checked baggage: Prohibited. This comes from National regulator, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.
Does the United Kingdom limit for lighters and matches apply per person or per family?: Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
Where does this rule come from?: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force states it in Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “You can only carry 1 lighter on board. You should put it inside a resealable plastic bag (like the ones used for liquids), which you must keep on you throughout the flight.”
How does United Kingdom compare with other countries on lighters and matches?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit lighters and matches, 5 limit it and 14 let it through. United Kingdom is among the more permissive.

Related items

Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)

Related countries

Australia Canada China France

Other items in this group

Cigarettes Cigarillos (cigars weighing not more than 3 g each) Cigars Cigars and other tobacco (by weight) Cuban-origin cigars and other tobacco products Cut/loose tobacco