Air rifles are legal to own in the UK, and in England and Wales most of them don’t need a licence. But the rules change depending on how powerful the gun is, how old you are and which part of the UK you live in. Getting it wrong can be a serious criminal offence, so this guide explains the main rules in plain English.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. The law can change, so check with your local police firearms licensing department or GOV.UK if you are unsure.
The short answer
- England and Wales: no licence is needed for an air rifle under 12 ft-lb or an air pistol under 6 ft-lb, if you are 18 or over.
- Scotland: you need an air weapon certificate from Police Scotland for almost any air gun.
- Northern Ireland: air guns over 1 joule (a very low power) need a firearm certificate from the PSNI.
- Anywhere in the UK: an air rifle over 12 ft-lb or an air pistol over 6 ft-lb is a Section 1 firearm and needs a firearm certificate (FAC).
Power limits: 12 ft-lb and 6 ft-lb
Air gun power is measured as muzzle energy, in foot-pounds (ft-lb). The UK limits for licence-free air guns in England and Wales are:
- Air rifles: under 12 ft-lb (about 16.3 joules).
- Air pistols: under 6 ft-lb (about 8.1 joules).
Anything more powerful is a “specially dangerous” air weapon and is treated as a Section 1 firearm. You need an FAC with the right conditions to own it, and it must be bought and sold like a firearm.
Power can be checked with a chronograph, which measures pellet speed. Most UK-spec air rifles are set to shoot a little under 12 ft-lb. A rifle that is easy to adjust above the limit may also be treated as over the limit, so be careful with very adjustable rifles and imported guns made for other markets.
Age rules (England and Wales)
- 18 and over: you can buy, own and use an air rifle under the limits.
- Under 18: you can’t buy or hire an air gun or ammunition, and adults can’t give one to you as a gift.
- 14 to 17: you can borrow and use an air gun without supervision on private land where you have the occupier’s permission.
- Under 14: you can only use an air gun under the supervision of someone aged 21 or over, on private land with the occupier’s permission.
There are also exceptions for approved clubs and shooting galleries. Whatever your age, you must not let pellets go beyond the land you have permission to shoot on.
Keeping air guns away from children
If you own an air gun, it is an offence to fail to take reasonable precautions to stop someone under 18 getting hold of it. In practice that means storing it out of reach and out of sight, ideally locked away or with a trigger or cable lock, and keeping pellets separately.
Scotland: the air weapon certificate
Since the end of 2016, almost anyone in Scotland who owns or uses an air gun needs an air weapon certificate from Police Scotland. To get one you apply to Police Scotland, pay a fee and show that you have a good reason, such as target shooting, pest control or club membership. Certificates usually last five years.
- Visitors to Scotland and people at certain events can use a permit instead.
- Young people can hold a certificate in some circumstances, with restrictions.
- Selling or giving an air gun to someone in Scotland who doesn’t hold a certificate or permit is an offence. If you sell to a Scottish buyer, see their certificate first.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own firearms law. Air guns with a muzzle energy over 1 joule, which covers nearly all real air rifles and pistols, need a firearm certificate from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). If you live in Northern Ireland, contact the PSNI firearms licensing branch before buying.
Carrying an air rifle in public
It is an offence to have an air gun in a public place, loaded or not, without a lawful authority or reasonable excuse. Taking it from your car to a shooting ground or to land where you have permission is a reasonable excuse. Wandering down the street with it is not.
- Carry it in a gun bag or case, unloaded.
- Go straight to where you are going.
- Never carry it where people might see it and be alarmed. The police treat sightings of guns very seriously.
Where you can shoot
- Your own land or garden: you can shoot on land you own or occupy, but pellets must not go beyond the boundary. In most gardens that means a safe backstop and very careful shooting.
- Someone else’s land: only with the permission of the landowner or occupier. Get it in writing if you can, and carry it with you.
- Near roads: shooting near a road so that you injure, interrupt or endanger a road user is an offence.
- Clubs and ranges: joining a club is a good way to shoot safely and legally, and to get advice.
- Trespass: going onto land with an air gun without permission is a criminal offence.
Pest control and quarry
Air rifles are widely used for pest control, mainly for rabbits, rats, grey squirrels and some pest birds. Wild birds are protected by law. Pest species can only be controlled under the conditions of the relevant general licence for your part of the UK, and you must follow those conditions. You can never shoot deer with an air rifle. Read more in our guides to pest control with air rifles and rat shooting.
Buying and selling air rifles
- The buyer must be 18 or over. Sellers should check ID.
- Businesses that sell air guns must hand them over face to face (or through another registered dealer). Private sellers usually do this too, because many couriers won’t carry air guns.
- In Scotland, the buyer must hold an air weapon certificate or permit.
- FAC-rated air rifles must be sold like any other Section 1 firearm: face to face or through a registered firearms dealer (RFD), with the police told within 7 days.
Read our guides to buying a used air rifle and selling an air rifle.
Guns you can’t own
Some air weapons are prohibited. The main example is any air gun that uses a self-contained gas cartridge system, such as old Brocock air cartridge revolvers. These became prohibited in Great Britain in 2004. See our Brocock guide.
Common questions
Do I need a licence for an air rifle in England?
No, as long as it is under 12 ft-lb (6 ft-lb for a pistol) and you are 18 or over.
Can I shoot an air rifle in my back garden?
Yes, if pellets can’t leave your land and you shoot safely. In a small garden that can be hard to guarantee, so many people use a pellet trap and shoot at short range.
What happens if my air rifle is over 12 ft-lb?
Without an FAC, owning it is a serious offence. If you think your rifle is over the limit, stop using it and get it checked and adjusted by a gunsmith or dealer.
Can I post an air rifle?
Private posting isn’t banned outright, but many couriers won’t carry air guns and businesses must hand over face to face. Most private sales are collected in person, and some gun shops will handle a transfer for a small fee.
Do I need a licence for an air rifle in Scotland?
Yes. You need an air weapon certificate from Police Scotland.
Find an air rifle
Browse used air rifles for sale, or read the best used PCPs for beginners and the best used spring air rifles.
