Do Piercings Set Off Airport Metal Detectors? A Guide to Detectors and Body Scanners

One of the most common questions from people getting pierced before a holiday or business trip is whether they will have trouble at security. The short answer is reassuring: a piercing does not stop you from flying, and the security check usually goes smoothly. Still, knowing how detectors and scanners work, what to do if you are asked for a secondary check and what to watch for when travelling with a new piercing makes the whole process much easier.

Which devices are used at airports?

Security checkpoints usually have two types of device:

• Walk-through metal detectors: They measure the change in a magnetic field as you walk through. They are calibrated to detect metal above a certain amount. Small jewelry can stay below this threshold.
• Full-body scanners (millimetre wave): These are the booth-style machines where you raise your arms. They mark objects on the surface of the body on a generic figure, regardless of material. That is why even non-metal jewelry can show up as an area to check.

Detector sensitivity varies from country to country and from airport to airport. So it is impossible to say “it will definitely not beep”; but if a secondary check comes up, it only takes a few seconds.

What difference do jewelry material and size make?

The biggest factor in whether you trigger an alert is the total amount of metal in your jewelry. A thin nostril stud or a small helix hoop often goes unnoticed. Thick septum rings, large hoops, long barbells and several pieces in the same area make an alert more likely.

Titanium is a lightweight metal, and small titanium jewelry is known to rarely cause problems at detectors. Small surgical steel jewelry also mostly stays below the threshold. For more on jewelry materials, see titanium piercing jewellery article.

What to do if you are asked for a secondary check

1. Tell them in advance: If you have a piercing in a hidden area, mentioning it to the officer before screening speeds things up.
2. Stay calm: A short check with a hand-held detector or a pat-down is routine.
3. You can ask for privacy: If the check involves a private area of the body, at many airports you have the right to request a private screening room with an officer of the same gender.
4. Removing your jewelry: This is usually not required. Rules can differ by country, so before long trips it is worth checking the security rules of the country you are flying to.

Things to watch when travelling with a new piercing

A fresh piercing does not stop you from flying, but travelling during healing calls for some extra care:

• Don’t remove the jewelry: In a new piercing the channel has not formed yet, so if the jewelry comes out the hole can shrink very quickly and putting it back in causes irritation. For details, see do piercings close article.
• Aftercare supplies: You can carry a sterile saline spray in your hand luggage in a container of no more than 100 ml. For correct cleaning, read our how to clean a new piercing guide.
• Don’t touch: On the plane, don’t touch your piercing after touching surfaces without washing your hands first.
• Choosing a pillow: If your ear piercing is new, a travel pillow with a hollow centre reduces pressure.
• Pools and the sea: If your holiday includes the pool or the sea, take care during healing; for hot environments, see steam baths and saunas after a piercing will guide you.

If you are thinking of getting pierced right before a trip, it is more comfortable to book your piercing a few days ahead so you can spend the first days of swelling and tenderness at home. For a similar question about medical imaging, see can you have an MRI with a piercing article.

FAQ

Do piercings set off airport metal detectors?

In most cases, no. Small surgical steel or titanium jewelry in areas such as the ear, nose and lip can stay below the sensitivity threshold of walk-through metal detectors. Large hoops, lots of jewelry or thick metal pieces can trigger an alert, though.

Can a full-body scanner see a piercing?

Millimetre wave scanners can flag different objects on the body’s surface whether or not they are metal. So a piercing may show up as an area on the scanner, and the officer may want to check that spot by hand or with a hand-held detector.

Do I have to remove my piercing at the airport?

You are usually not asked to remove your jewelry; telling the officer you have a piercing during a secondary check is often enough. Rules can vary by country and airport. For checks in private areas, you can request a private screening.

Can I fly with a new piercing?

Yes, a new piercing does not stop you from flying. Don’t remove the jewelry, try not to touch the area during the journey, and carry a sterile saline spray of no more than 100 ml in your hand luggage for cleaning.

Does titanium piercing jewelry set off metal detectors?

Titanium is a lightweight metal, and detectors are known to rarely alert on small titanium jewelry; still, it is not guaranteed. If it does alert, the secondary check takes only a few seconds.

Can I swap my piercing jewelry for a plastic one for the flight?

Changing the jewelry in a piercing that hasn’t finished healing can cause irritation, so it is not recommended. If you want to change jewelry in a healed piercing, choose good-quality jewelry in the right size.

This content is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.