To buy a suppressor from a licensed dealer, the federal minimum age to buy a suppressor is 21. If you acquire one through a private sale from another resident of your own state, the federal floor drops to 18, and the same 18-year minimum applies if you want to make your own suppressor after receiving ATF approval.
21 From a Dealer, 18 Private or Self-Made
Suppressors are classified as “firearms” under the National Firearms Act, in the same regulatory category as machine guns and short-barreled rifles.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 5845 – Definitions That classification is what sets the age rule. Federal law prohibits any licensed dealer from selling a firearm other than a shotgun or rifle to anyone under 21.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts A suppressor is neither, so every dealer purchase requires you to be at least 21. This is the route most buyers take.
Private transfers between residents of the same state work differently. Federal law generally prohibits transferring handguns to anyone under 18 but does not impose a 21-year minimum on non-dealer transactions for items like suppressors.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts In practice, an 18-year-old can legally receive a suppressor from a private party in the same state. The ATF registration and background check still apply to the transfer.
The same 18-year floor applies to making your own suppressor for personal use. That requires filing ATF Form 1 and receiving approval before you begin any fabrication.3GovInfo. 26 USC 5822 – Making Building one first and applying later is not an option; unregistered manufacture is a federal felony.
State law can push the age higher. Federal minimums are floors, not ceilings, and some states set their own rules for firearm and NFA transfers on top of the federal framework.
Who Can’t Buy One Regardless of Age
Hitting the age cutoff is necessary but not enough. Federal law bars certain people from possessing any firearm, suppressors included. The ATF checks each of these during the background investigation that accompanies every suppressor application.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts The most common disqualifiers are:
- A felony conviction, meaning any conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, whether or not you actually served that time.
- A conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which is a permanent bar.
- Fugitive status, including an outstanding warrant or active flight from justice.
- Being an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
- Having been adjudicated as mentally defective or involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
- A dishonorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. military.
The Marijuana Trap
This one catches people who assume state law controls. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, regardless of what your state allows. The ATF has stated explicitly that anyone who uses marijuana, including medical cardholders in states where it is legal, qualifies as a prohibited person and cannot possess firearms or ammunition.4Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Open Letter to All Federal Firearms Licensees If a dealer knows you hold a state medical marijuana card, they are required to deny the transfer. Lying on the application to get around it is itself a federal crime.
Restoring Firearm Rights
Federal law includes a provision under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) allowing prohibited persons to apply to have their firearm rights restored. As of early 2026, the Department of Justice is still developing the application process, and the online form is not yet available. A proposed rule has been published in the Federal Register, and the DOJ has indicated the application will be released through the Office of the Pardon Attorney once the final rule takes effect.5U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Under 18 USC 925(c) Until that process is live, the practical paths for most prohibited persons are a presidential pardon or having the underlying conviction expunged or overturned.
States Where Age Doesn’t Matter
Federal eligibility does not guarantee you can own a suppressor where you live. Eight states and the District of Columbia ban civilian suppressor ownership entirely: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.6American Suppressor Association. Education If you live in one of those jurisdictions, no age and no amount of federal paperwork will make possession legal.
In the 42 states where ownership is legal, most also allow suppressors for hunting; 41 states at last count. Connecticut is the outlier: you can own a suppressor there but cannot use one while hunting. A handful of other states impose additional restrictions, like requiring a specific hunting license or limiting suppressor use to certain seasons. Check your state’s fish and wildlife regulations before taking one into the field.
What the Purchase Actually Involves
If you clear the age and eligibility rules, buying a suppressor takes more paperwork and waiting than a standard firearm purchase.
The dealer will help you complete ATF Form 4 (formally, ATF Form 5320.4), the application to transfer and register an NFA firearm.7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Application to Transfer and Register NFA Firearm (Tax-Paid) ATF Form 5320.4 If you are making your own instead, you file ATF Form 1 (ATF Form 5320.1).8Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Firearms Forms Individual applicants also submit fingerprints on FBI Form FD-258 cards and a recent passport-style photograph taken within six months. You are also required to send a completed copy of the form to the chief law enforcement officer for your locality, typically the local chief of police, county sheriff, or district attorney.9eCFR. 27 CFR 479.84 – Application to Transfer The CLEO has no veto over the transfer; the notification simply keeps local law enforcement aware.
NFA transfers have historically carried a $200 tax stamp. Under the current text of 26 U.S.C. § 5811, however, the $200 transfer tax now applies only to machine guns and destructive devices. For other NFA firearms, including suppressors, the transfer tax is $0.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 5811 – Transfer Tax If you are manufacturing your own on a Form 1, the making tax is still $200.3GovInfo. 26 USC 5822 – Making
Most dealers now submit Form 4 applications electronically through the ATF’s eForms system.11Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). eForms Applications As of January 2026, ATF data shows average processing times of roughly 10 to 11 days for electronically filed Form 4 applications, whether filed as an individual or through a trust.12ATF | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Current Processing Times Processing times fluctuate; there is no guarantee yours will match the average. The suppressor stays at the dealer’s shop until the ATF approves the Form 4 and returns it with the registration stamp affixed. You then complete a standard 4473 background check at pickup and take it home.