Are laser pens illegal in the UK? Laser pointer law explained

It is one of the questions we are asked most: are laser pens illegal in the UK? The short answer is no. A laser pointer is a perfectly legal thing to own and use for presentations, stargazing, bird control or playing with the cat. But there are rules about what may be sold to the public, and some uses are a serious criminal offence. This article explains the law in plain English, so you know exactly where you stand.

Please note: this is general information, not legal advice. If you have a specific situation, check with the relevant authority or a solicitor.

The short answer

• Owning a laser pointer is legal.
• Using a laser pointer for normal purposes – pointing at a slide, a star, a roof tile – is legal.
• Selling to the public: UK product-safety guidance says laser pointers for the general public should be class 2 or lower, which means an output up to 1 mW.
• Misuse – shining a laser at a vehicle, an aircraft or a person – can be a criminal offence and is taken very seriously.

What do laser classes mean?

Lasers are divided into classes under the international standard IEC/EN 60825-1. The class tells you how hazardous the laser is to the eye and skin. Class 1 lasers are safe under all normal conditions; you find them inside printers and DVD players. Class 2 covers visible lasers with an output up to 1 mW. With class 2, the natural blink reflex – which closes your eye within a fraction of a second – protects you against a brief, accidental exposure. Above class 2 come the higher classes, up to class 4, which are meant for professional, industrial, medical and scientific use and can damage the eye even from a short or reflected exposure.

That is why class 2 is the class intended for sale to the public in the UK, and why it is the only class we sell. Every Starlight Lasers model in our shop has an output up to 1 mW, laser class 2, and every unit is measured before it is dispatched.

When does using a laser become an offence?

Vehicles

The Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018 made it a specific offence to shine or direct a laser beam towards a vehicle that is moving or ready to move, if the beam dazzles or is likely to dazzle the driver. "Vehicle" is broad: cars, lorries, buses, trains, boats and aircraft. The maximum penalty is up to five years in prison. There is no need for anyone to be hurt – dazzling, or being likely to dazzle, is enough.

Aircraft

Pilots report laser incidents every week. A laser dot that looks tiny on the ground spreads into a blinding flash in a cockpit at a critical moment such as landing. Directing a laser at an aircraft is an offence, and police can trace where a beam came from. The rule for every laser owner is simple: if you see aircraft lights, switch off.

People

Aiming a laser at someone can, depending on the circumstances, amount to assault or a public order offence. Many stadiums, concert venues and events also ban laser pointers in their ground rules. Leave your laser at home when you go to a match or a gig.

Are "powerful" laser pens illegal?

You will find lasers online that are advertised with huge outputs, promising to burn paper or reach the clouds. These higher-power lasers are not intended for sale to the general public in the UK. Apart from the legal side, they are genuinely dangerous: they can cause permanent eye damage in a fraction of a second, also through reflections off glass or water. Some cheap lasers are also labelled incorrectly, so the label on the box tells you little. That is why we measure every unit ourselves. We explain the trade-off in our class 2 brightness guide.

Age and children

A laser pointer is a tool, not a toy. We only sell to customers aged 18 or over, and we strongly advise keeping lasers out of reach of children. Our full-size Pro models, such as the G3 Pro and the R1 Pro, come with two safety keys so you can lock the laser when it is stored.

Using a laser pointer legally: a checklist

1. Buy a class 2 laser with an output up to 1 mW from a seller who states the class clearly.
2. Never aim at eyes, people, animals' eyes, vehicles or aircraft.
3. Look around before you switch on outdoors: no roads, no aircraft, no reflective surfaces in the line of the beam.
4. Switch off immediately if a vehicle or aircraft comes into view.
5. Do not take a laser to stadiums, concerts or events.
6. Store the laser out of reach of children, with the safety key removed if it has one.

Specific uses

Stargazing

Pointing out stars with a class 2 green laser is fine, as long as you watch for aircraft and switch off when one approaches. Avoid using a laser near airports and airfields. More in laser pointer for astronomy.

Scaring birds

Moving birds on with a laser is a common, humane technique. Wild birds and their nests are protected in the UK, so do not use a laser near active nests in the breeding season and never aim at a bird directly. See laser pointer for scaring birds.

Presentations and teaching

The most ordinary use of all. Just make sure you release the button before you turn towards the audience. Tips in laser pointer for presentations.

Pets

Playing with a cat using a class 2 laser is legal; keep the dot on the floor and never in the eyes. See laser pointer for cats and dogs.

Buying a laser pointer you can trust

Look for a seller who states the class and the output clearly, who explains safety, and who does not promise burning power or many kilometres of range. At Laserpointerstore.co.uk every laser is class 2 up to 1 mW, measured before dispatch, and shipped tracked to the UK in 2–5 working days. Browse all laser pointers or read the full laser pointer safety guide.