- Crossbows are legal to own in the UK with no licence, but you must be 18 or over to buy or hire one.
- Under-18s may only have a crossbow when supervised by someone aged 21 or over.
- Hunting any wild animal with a crossbow is illegal; target shooting is the legal use.
- In March 2026 the government said it plans to end crossbow sales and license existing owners, which still needs a new law.
Can you legally own a crossbow in the UK? Yes, if you’re an adult, with no licence needed. But you can’t hunt with it, and the rules are about to get much tighter. 😮
Here’s exactly what the law says, so you can shoot targets with a clear conscience and learn to load your crossbow safely from day one.
Are crossbows legal in the UK? Yes, for adults, with no licence today
The main law is the Crossbows Act 1987. It makes it an offence to sell or hire a crossbow, or crossbow parts, to anyone under 18, and an offence for an under-18 to buy or hire one. There is no crossbow licence, certificate or register today, unlike shotguns and firearms.
The Act covers any crossbow with a draw weight of 1.4 kg (about 3 lb) or more. That takes in every real hunting or target crossbow, from a small pistol crossbow to a full-size compound crossbow.
| Rule | What it means for you | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Age to buy or hire | 18 or over | Crossbows Act 1987 (sections 1 and 2) |
| Under-18s having one | Only when supervised by someone aged 21 or over | Crossbows Act 1987 (section 3) |
| Licence or registration | None needed today | No licensing law yet |
| Penalty for selling or hiring to an under-18 | Up to 6 months in prison, a fine, or both | Crossbows Act 1987 (section 6) |
| Penalty for an under-18 buying, hiring or having one | A fine | Crossbows Act 1987 (section 6) |
| Where the Act applies | England, Wales and Scotland | Crossbows Act 1987 (section 8) |
| Hunting wild animals | Illegal | Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; Deer Act 1991 |
| Online sales and delivery | Stricter age checks for England and Wales | Crime and Policing Act 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Similar rules under its own law | Crossbows (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 |
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Crossbows and under-18s: the supervision rule parents need to know
A teenager can’t buy or hire a crossbow, and a seller commits an offence by selling to them. An under-18 can only have a crossbow, or parts that make one, while someone aged 21 or over supervises them. That covers a crossbow at home, in the garden or at a club.
If your son or daughter wants to try it, start at an archery club with qualified coaches. They get proper safety teaching and you know the supervision rule is covered.
Can you hunt with a crossbow in the UK? No, and here’s the law
This is where the UK differs most from the US. Using a bow or crossbow to kill or take any wild animal is illegal under section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the Deer Act 1991 bans arrows for deer. That rules out rabbits, pigeons, deer and everything else.
Broadheads (the bladed hunting points) are still legal to buy and own today. The government has said it plans to ban them as part of it’s wider crossbow changes.
Where you can legally shoot a crossbow: private land and clubs
No law hands out a list of approved crossbow venues. In practice you can shoot on private land where you have the owner’s permission, or at an archery club or range that allows crossbows.
On private land, you are responsible for every bolt. If one could leave the land, hit a path, a road or a neighbour’s garden, don’t take the shot. Use a proper crossbow target with a safe backstop behind it.
- Good places: a club range, a large private field with a solid backstop, an indoor range that takes crossbows.
- Bad places: parks, beaches, footpaths, public land, or a small garden overlooked by neighbours.
- Always: know what’s behind your target and never point a loaded crossbow at anything you don’t mean to shoot.
Crossbows vs firearms in UK law: why no licence is needed (yet)
A crossbow is not a firearm under UK law, so you don’t need a firearm or shotgun certificate to own one. That surprises a lot of people, because a modern crossbow is a serious weapon.
Callum from EnglishShooting, a UK shooting channel, set out the current law in the video below. He made it after the Windsor Castle crossbow intruder at Christmas 2021. The first two minutes are the clearest summary of the rules I’ve found; the rest is his case against licensing, made years before the government decided in March 2026 to bring it in.
He starts with the rule that matters most if you have kids at home:
The only real restrictions here within the UK around crossbows are to do with age. You need to be over the age of 18 to be able to buy one, and even if you’re under the age of 18 you can be in possession of one and use one if you are supervised by somebody over the age of 21.
Note the two different ages. 18 to buy, but 21 to supervise, so a 19-year-old brother or sister can’t be the adult in charge when a 15-year-old shoots. A parent or a club coach can.
Then he lists what the law doesn’t control today:
In terms of being over the age of 18, there’s no restrictions in terms of how many you can own, the upper draw weight limit of a crossbow, how you have to store the crossbow, and of course there is no licensing or any sort of register when people buy them or acquire them.
That list still holds in October 2026, but read “no storage rule” as no legal rule, not no need. Store it uncocked and locked away anyway. And the licence part is the one the government now plans to change, as you’ll see below.
Firearms are second nature to me from my time in the US Marine Corps infantry, and I handle any weapon with the same habits. Muzzle in a safe direction, finger off the trigger, never loaded until you’re ready to shoot. Those rules work just as well on a crossbow.
I’m a former US Marine. I was in the infantry, let’s say 2010 to 14, and I served in Afghanistan, and firearms come second nature to me.
Transporting a crossbow in the UK: cased, uncocked and out of sight
A crossbow on show in a car park or high street will alarm people and can bring the police. Carrying one in public without a good reason can also lead to an offensive weapon charge.
A padded case also protects your scope and limbs. My full checklist is in how to transport a crossbow safely.
The planned UK crossbow sales ban and licensing scheme
After a call for evidence that ran from February to 9 April 2024, the Home Office published its response on 19 March 2026. The government said it will stop crossbow sales and require existing owners to hold a licence, with suitability checks before they can keep their crossbow.
The details still have to go through Parliament and a further consultation, so none of this is law yet. Here’s what has been announced:
- A ban on selling crossbows to the public.
- A licence for current owners, with suitability checks along the lines of shotgun licensing.
- A ban on broadhead arrows and bolts.
- Stricter age checks on online sales and deliveries of crossbows, through the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (England and Wales).
If you’re thinking about buying a crossbow in the UK, watch this closely. A crossbow bought now may need a licence later.
Crossbow safety basics worth learning first
Whatever the law does next, the safe habits stay the same. Here’s what to do, and what not to do, from day one.
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Check you’re 18 or over before you buy | Buy or sell a crossbow for someone under 18 |
| Shoot at a club or on private land with permission | Shoot in parks, on footpaths or on public land |
| Carry it uncocked and cased | Carry it assembled and on show in public |
| Store it locked away from children | Leave it where untrained people can pick it up |
| Learn safe loading before your first shot | Dry-fire it (release with no bolt), which can wreck the limbs |
New to loading? Start with how to safely load a crossbow, and keep a scope off the bow in transit if your case is tight.
To keep today's rules and the planned changes apart, here's the whole picture on one page.
// FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most.
Do you need a licence for a crossbow in the UK?
Not today. No licence, certificate or registration is needed to own a crossbow, but the government announced in March 2026 that it plans to license existing owners.
Can a 16-year-old use a crossbow in the UK?
Only while supervised by someone aged 21 or over. They can’t buy or hire one until they turn 18.
Can you hunt rabbits with a crossbow in the UK?
No. Using a bow or crossbow to kill or take any wild animal is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and arrows are banned for deer under the Deer Act 1991.
Can I carry a crossbow in my car in the UK?
Yes, as long as you have a good reason, such as driving to a club or private land where you shoot. Keep it uncocked, cased and out of sight.
Are crossbows being banned in the UK?
The government has announced plans to ban crossbow sales and license current owners, but it needs new legislation first. Check the Home Office page for the latest status.
Do I have to register my crossbow with the police?
No, there is no crossbow register today. That could change if the planned licensing scheme becomes law.
Final thoughts
Right now, an adult in the UK can own and target-shoot a crossbow with no licence, as long as nobody under 18 gets hold of it unsupervised and you never hunt with it. Shoot on private land with permission or at a club, and carry it cased.
The bigger story is the planned sales ban and licensing scheme, so check the Home Office page before you spend money. And if you’re learning to shoot, grab my free range log to track every session.
