Yes, travel-size aerosol toiletries are allowed in carry-on if each can is 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and fits in one quart bag; bigger cans go in checked.
Not Allowed
Conditional
Allowed
Carry-On
- ≤100 ml minis
- Quart bag
- Show at scan
Cabin
Checked Bags
- ≤500 ml/can
- ≤2 L total
- Cap or tape
Hold
Special Handling
- Pepper spray rules
- Airline bans
- No bear spray
Extra rules
Bringing A Mini Aerosol On A Plane — Full Rules
Mini aerosols fall into two groups: toiletries and everything else. Toiletry sprays like deodorant, hairspray, shaving cream, dry shampoo, and sunscreen follow the carry-on liquids rule. Each can must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less and all mini containers fit in one clear quart-size bag. Larger cans ride in checked bags if they meet the aerosol safety limits. See the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule.
FAA caps in checked bags: 500 ml (17 fl oz) or 0.5 kg per can, and 2 L (68 fl oz) or 2 kg total per person. Buttons need a cap or protection. Toiletry sprays usually pass; flammable or industrial sprays do not. See 49 CFR 175.10.
| Item | Carry-On | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Deodorant, hairspray, shaving cream (aerosol) | Yes, if 3.4 oz/100 ml or less, in quart bag | Yes, within 500 ml per can and 2 L total; cap on |
| Dry shampoo or texture spray | Yes, 3.4 oz/100 ml or less | Yes, same size caps as above |
| Sunscreen spray | Yes, 3.4 oz/100 ml or less | Yes, respect 500 ml per can and totals |
| Medical inhaler (metered dose) | Yes | Yes |
| Bug spray (insect repellent) | Yes, if travel size; many airlines prefer solid or pump | Often allowed if non-flammable and within limits |
| Pepper spray/mace | No in carry-on | One 4 oz (118 ml) can with safety lock; airline rules vary |
| Bear spray | No | No, most sizes exceed limits |
| Spray paint, adhesives, engine cleaners | No | No |
| Cooking spray | No | Usually no, treated like household aerosol with fire risk |
Real-World Size Examples
Travel shelves stock 1–2.6 oz aerosols. Mini hairspray cans sit at 1.5 oz, shaving cream minis at 2–3 oz, and dry shampoos at 1.6 oz. Sunscreen sprays in 3 oz bottles fit the cabin limit too. Check the net weight or volume, not the can’s height. If the label lists grams, 100 g is the cabin cap for aerosols. When unsure, pick the smallest can and keep one spare in checked bags.
Carry-On: What Counts As Mini
A “mini” can simply means 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less. If the label shows a bigger net weight or volume, it must ride in checked baggage. Put your little cans in the quart bag, zip it, and place that bag in a bin at screening. Keep the cap on each nozzle so nothing discharges while you move through the line. Keep it simple.
Checked Bags: Size Caps And Totals
For checked baggage, think two layers: per can and per person. Stay at or under 500 ml (17 fl oz) or 0.5 kg per can, and 2 L (68 fl oz) or 2 kg total across all aerosols. Cap or tape the button. Paint, solvent cleaners, tire inflators, and cooking sprays fail the passenger exception.
Mini Aerosol Types And Edge Cases
Toiletry staples: Deodorant, hairspray, mousse, dry shampoo, and shaving cream are fine in mini sizes for carry-on and in larger sizes for checked. Cap the nozzle. Pack them upright inside a shoe or a side pocket to reduce movement.
Sunscreen: Mini SPF sprays are allowed in carry-on. Full-size cans go in checked.
Medical aerosols: Metered-dose inhalers are permitted. Keep them with you. If you carry extras, pack them where you can show them fast.
Insect repellent: 3.4 oz travel cans are fine for carry-on at most airports. Non-flammable formulas suit checked bags. Some airlines ask you to choose pumps over aerosols; check your carrier if you’re unsure.
Self-defense sprays: Pepper spray cannot go in carry-on. One small 4 oz (118 ml) can may ride in checked baggage in the United States if it has a working safety lock and no more than 2% tear gas. Many airlines forbid it outright, so read your ticket rules.
Bear spray and large repellents: Bear spray canisters almost always exceed 4 oz and are not accepted. Mail it to your destination outfitters instead.
Household and shop aerosols: Spray paint, lubricants, compressed gas horns, and similar items are not allowed. These trigger hazmat rules and get pulled at screening or bag checks.
International Nuances: EU, UK, Canada, Australia
European Union: Cabin rules match the 100 ml standard at most airports. Expect the quart-bag routine and the same treatment for mini aerosols as other liquids. Some airports test new scanners that lift the 100 ml cap, but this is not universal. Match your departure and return airports.
United Kingdom: The base rule is still 100 ml at most airports. A few locations have rolled out new CT scanners and allow larger amounts through security, yet routes and terminals vary. Check the airport you fly from and any airport you connect through.
Canada: Carry-on follows the 100 ml/100 g limit and a single one-liter bag. In checked baggage, Canada matches the 500 ml per can and 2 L per person caps for aerosols, and asks for a cap on the button.
Australia: On domestic flights, carry-on liquid limits differ by terminal. Many domestic routes allow reasonable amounts, while international terminals stick to the 100 ml rule. All aerosol containers need a fitted cap or a locking device.
| Region/Airport | Cabin Rules Snapshot | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| EU (most airports) | 100 ml per item; quart bag at screening | EU security rules |
| United Kingdom | Mostly 100 ml; some lanes use CT and differ by airport | UK hand luggage list |
| Canada | 100 ml/100 g in cabin; one 1 L bag | CATSA guide |
| Australia | International: 100 ml; domestic varies by terminal | ABF advice |
Packing Mini Aerosols The Right Way
- Use a cap or clip. If the original cap is missing, tape over the button with strong tape.
- Bag for leaks. Put mini cans in a zip bag even when they live inside the quart bag.
- Keep them cool before travel. Hot cars build pressure inside the can.
- Stand them upright. Nest them inside shoes or side pockets.
- Place full-size cans near the top of a checked bag.
- Carry a non-aerosol backup. A solid deodorant or a pump bottle can save space in the quart bag.
Troubleshooting At Security
If a screener flags your bag for a recheck, stay calm and let them inspect the items. If a can is oversized for carry-on, you have choices: toss it, move it to checked luggage if you still have time, or step out and rearrange. The officer has the last word at the checkpoint.
Airline Rules That Can Be Stricter
Airlines can add their own limits. Some carriers do not accept pepper spray at all, even in checked baggage. Others restrict bug sprays or fuel-based camp items. Check the dangerous goods section on your booking email or the airline website before you pack.
When A Mini Aerosol Still Gets Pulled
Three common reasons cause a seizure: the can is bigger than 100 ml for carry-on, the nozzle lacks a cap, or the label shows a flammable or toxic hazard. If any of those show up, the day will go smoother if you don’t argue. Ask if gate-check is an option or cut your loss and keep moving.
Kid, Med, And Care Exceptions
Baby supplies like formula spray don’t exist, but liquid exemptions for baby food and meds do. If a doctor prescribes an aerosol medicine, carry the script or a photo of the label. Show it on request. Do not try to claim a salon spray as a medical item.
Cross-Border Tips
Rules line up across many regions, yet screening routines vary. A route that starts at a scanner-equipped airport and connects through a standard lane can still apply the smaller 100 ml rule. Pack as if the strictest point on your path will apply.
Label Reading For Aerosols
Check three label spots: size, hazard icons, and directions. A mini can reads 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less; larger cans go in checked bags. A flame icon means it burns and should not ride. A gas cylinder shows compressed gas; toiletry cans with caps are fine. Skull, corrosive, or exploding bomb icons mean no.
Greenlight Checklist Before You Leave
Do a quick sweep the night before. Move anything over 100 ml into checked luggage. Cap or tape buttons. Put minis in a quart bag at the top of your carry-on. Pack a spare zip bag. For checked bags, count full-size cans; stop at 2 L total. Keep full-size cans near the zipper for fast checks.