A field emission enhanced handheld atmospheric pressure plasma generator includes: a main body having a positioning slot, a receiving slot and a gas inlet; a cathode body having a first part positioned in the positioning slot; an anode frame and a positioning member both accommodated within the receiving slot; and a cover having a plasma channel and covering the main body. One or each of two sidewalls of the anode frame and the cathode body facing each other has a nanocarbon material layer. A second part of the cathode body passes through the anode frame, is positioned and fixed by the positioning slot and is separated from the anode frame by a gap. The anode frame and the cathode body receive radio frequency power to make a gas, which enters the receiving slot from the gas inlet and passes through the gap, become plasma outputted from the plasma channel.