Selling knives online in the UK: the rules in November 2026
Updated · Rotomal
In England and Wales you may sell knives online only to buyers aged 18 or over, and you need age checks at sale and an age-verified delivery service (Scotland has its own rules, including a lower age for some domestic knives). The Crime and Policing Act 2026 adds a fixed standard for England and Wales: a copy of a passport or driving licence plus a current photo of the buyer before the sale, and delivery into the buyer's own hands after an ID check. Those sections are law but, as of 7 November 2026, not yet in force; regulations will set the date.
Now and next
| Step | Today | Once the new sections are in force |
|---|---|---|
| Sale | Seller must operate a system likely to prevent sales to under-18s | Copy of passport or driving licence and a photo of the buyer, or steps set by regulations |
| Delivery to a home | Must not be delivered to an under-18; sellers use age-verified delivery services | Into the hands of the buyer, aged 18 or over, after an ID check |
| Collection points | Depends on the service | Operator must hand over only to an eligible person after an ID check |
| Bulk sales | No reporting duty | Report six or more knives to one buyer or address within 30 days, once further regulations are made |
| Maximum penalty for sale to under-18 | Six months | Two years |
What to do now
- Tag every bladed product in your store so checks apply only to them.
- Use an ID verification app that collects a document and a current photo of the buyer.
- Ship bladed orders with an age-verified service, such as Royal Mail Tracked 24 or 48 with Age Verification (arranged directly with Royal Mail) or UPS Adult Signature, and remove safe-place and neighbour options.
- Label parcels as containing bladed items for an adult recipient where your carrier or marketplace asks for it.
- Write down your process and keep a log of orders with six or more knives.
Marketplaces
eBay UK has required age-verified delivery for bladed items since 10 March 2025, does not allow parcel lockers, PO boxes or local pick-up for them, and keeps sellers responsible for confirming the buyer's age.
If you want it set up for you
Blade Ready checks your shop against these rules for £19 and sets up the checkout check, carrier service, wording and bulk-sale log from £149, paid once. We never handle your customers' ID.
Questions
When do the new UK knife delivery rules start?
On a date set by regulations. legislation.gov.uk shows sections 32 and 35 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 as not in force at Royal Assent, and no commencement date was shown when we checked on 7 November 2026.
Can a neighbour take in a knife parcel?
Under section 35, once in force, a bladed product delivered to residential premises must go into the hands of the buyer, aged 18 or over, so a neighbour would not qualify. Many carriers' age-verified services already refuse neighbour delivery.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 32 Source: legislation.gov.uk
- legislation.gov.uk: Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 35 Source: legislation.gov.uk
- GOV.UK: Crime and Policing Act 2026 knife crime and crossbows factsheet (updated 30 September 2026) Source: gov.uk
- Home Office impact assessment HO IA 1002: Delivery of bladed articles and bulk sales (2 December 2025) Source: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
- eBay UK Seller Centre: Selling bladed items Source: ebay.co.uk