Can You Fly With Pepper Spray? TSA Rules for Checked Bags, Carry-Ons, and Safe Packing
Pepper spray never goes in a carry-on. On US flights, one small spray can go in a checked bag if your airline allows it. Here's how to check the rules and pack it right.
By POM Industries · Updated · 5 min read
Short answer: Never in a carry-on. On US flights, FAA rules allow one self-defense spray per passenger in a checked bag if it's 4 fl oz (118 ml) or smaller, has a safety mechanism and contains no more than 2% tear gas (CS or CN). Your airline can still say no. On international flights, don't pack it in any bag.
Part of our Travel Safety Guide. Flying is one step. The guide covers planning, getting around, hotels and what to do if something happens.
Read the guideThe rules at a glance.
Three groups set the rules. The TSA screens your bags, the FAA sets the hazardous materials rules, and your airline can be stricter than both.
| WHERE IT GOES | ALLOWED? | WHAT TO KNOW |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on or personal item | No | That includes purses, backpacks, jacket pockets and your keychain. The 3.4 oz liquids rule doesn't change this. |
| Checked bag, US flight | One, with conditions | 4 fl oz (118 ml) or smaller, a safety mechanism, no more than 2% tear gas, and your airline allows it. |
| Any bag, international flight | No | International aviation rules prohibit self-defense sprays in carry-on and checked bags. |
| Bear spray | Usually no | Most cans are bigger than 4 fl oz, so they can't fly. |
Four conditions for a checked bag
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One per passenger
Pack one unit. Don't bring extras for friends or family.
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4 fl oz (118 ml) or smaller
Check the size on the label. POM's 9.2 oz Home Defense unit is over the limit, so leave it at home.
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A working safety
Something has to stop it from going off by accident, like a cap or lock over the button. Make sure it works and is closed.
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No more than 2% tear gas
Sprays with more than 2% CS or CN by mass aren't allowed. Check the ingredients on the label.
Check your airline before you pack.
Federal rules are the minimum. Airlines can ban self-defense sprays outright, and some do.
The TSA recommends checking with your airline. Southwest, for example, doesn't allow self-defense sprays in checked or carry-on bags, even though the TSA does.
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Search the airline's site
Look up "self-defense spray," "pepper spray" or "dangerous goods" in its baggage rules.
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Check every flight on the ticket
Connections on a partner airline, and the flight home, can have different rules.
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Ask if it's unclear
Call the airline and save a screenshot of the policy. If you can't get a clear yes, leave it out.
Flying internationally? Leave it at home.
The US checked-bag allowance doesn't apply to international flights.
The FAA notes that international aviation rules (ICAO and IATA) prohibit self-defense sprays in both carry-on and checked bags. Many countries also limit who can own or carry pepper spray. If any flight on your trip is international, don't pack it, and check the local law before you buy or carry spray once you're there.
How to pack it in a checked bag.
The rules say what's allowed. These steps keep it from going off or leaking in your bag. They're our tips, not TSA requirements.
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Take it off your keys before you leave home
Your keys go through security with you. A keychain spray is the easiest thing to forget.
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Inspect it
Check the size and the label, and make sure the safety works. Don't pack a cracked, leaking or damaged unit, and keep the label on.
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Close the safety and seal it in a zip-top bag
The bag holds any leak and keeps residue off your clothes.
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Pack it in the middle of the bag
Put it in a pouch or toiletry case, surrounded by soft items. Keep it out of outside pockets and away from electronics and documents.
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Don't tape the button
Tape can jam the safety or leave residue. The closed safety and a sealed bag do the job.
Before you check the bag
- It's in your checked bag, not your carry-on
- Only one unit
- 4 fl oz (118 ml) or smaller
- Safety closed and working
- Label still on
- Sealed in a zip-top bag, inside a pouch
- Your airline allows it on every flight
- It's legal where you land and on the way home
Or skip the airport.
On a US trip, it's often simpler to send your pepper spray ahead than to fly with it.
Ship it ahead
Order POM to where you're staying. Before you do, check that we ship there, that local law allows it and that your hotel or rental accepts packages.
We can't ship pepper spray to Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, DC or Puerto Rico.
Before you fly home
The return flight may have different rules. Recheck your airline, never bring spray through security, and check each state you'll pass through. If you can't take it home legally, don't pack it.
Shipping restrictions · Pepper spray laws by state
POM Key½ oz spray for your key ring
POM Clip½ oz spray that clips to a pocket or strap
Personal Alarm130 dB siren, no spray
Check the rules for every stop on your route before you pack or order.
Mistakes to avoid.
Forgetting it's on your keys
Check your keys, purse, backpack and jacket before you leave for the airport.
Thinking small means carry-on
The 3.4 oz liquids rule doesn't apply. Self-defense sprays can't go through security at any size.
Trusting the TSA rule alone
Your airline can ban it in checked bags too. Check before you pack.
Packing it for an international trip
It isn't allowed in any bag, and possession can be illegal where you land.
Questions.
Can I bring pepper spray in my carry-on?
No. The TSA doesn't allow pepper spray in carry-on bags or personal items, at any size.
Can I put pepper spray in my checked bag?
On US flights, yes, if it meets the rules: one unit per passenger, 4 fl oz (118 ml) or smaller, a safety mechanism, and no more than 2% tear gas (CS or CN). Your airline also has to allow it. POM's ½ oz Clip, Key and Snap meet these conditions.
Can I fly with pepper spray on my keychain?
Not through security. Take it off your keys before you leave home. If it meets the rules and your airline allows it, pack it in your checked bag.
Can I take pepper spray on an international flight?
No. International aviation rules prohibit self-defense sprays in both carry-on and checked bags. Many countries also restrict pepper spray, so check local law before you buy or carry it there.
Does pepper spray need to be in a plastic bag?
It isn't a TSA rule, but we recommend it. A sealed zip-top bag holds any leak and protects the rest of your luggage.
Can I fly with bear spray?
Usually not. Most bear spray cans are bigger than 4 fl oz, which puts them over the limit.
What happens if the TSA finds pepper spray in my carry-on?
You'll have to give it up or leave the line to deal with it, which can make you miss your flight. Officers make the final call at the checkpoint.
Flying is one part of the trip.
The Travel Safety Guide covers planning before you go, getting around, hotels and nights out, and what to do if something happens.