🔧 Wrench / spanner

A wrench will be confiscated at the checkpoint — it is explicitly prohibited in carry-on baggage under TSA rules and the equivalent regulations at airports worldwide. Screeners will remove it, and you'll have the option to return to check-in if time allows, but it won't be permitted through. There is no size threshold or discretion; all wrenches are prohibited in the cabin.

The prohibition on wrenches and spanners in carry-on baggage applies in every major aviation system — US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and beyond. No size exception is made; even a small adjustable wrench or hex key set with larger keys falls under the tool prohibition. Checked baggage is the only option globally.

Screeners do not generally make exceptions based on the size of a wrench — any wrench or spanner is prohibited in carry-on baggage. Very small hex keys (Allen keys) up to 7 inches may pass through in some circumstances, as they're treated more like keys, but a standard adjustable wrench or combination spanner will be removed regardless of size.

Pack all wrenches and spanners in checked baggage — they cannot travel in the cabin. Wrapping them in a cloth tool roll or placing them in a padded case protects both the tools and the rest of your bag's contents from scratches. No formal declaration is required for hand tools in checked baggage in most jurisdictions.