Yes, with limits. Not in carry-on. One container of pepper spray or mace up to 4 fl oz (118 ml) may go in checked bags if it has a safety mechanism against accidental discharge. Some airlines ban it entirely.
Pepper spray and mace are not allowed in carry-on bags or through the checkpoint.
One self-defense spray per passenger, up to 4 fl oz (118 ml), with a positive safety mechanism; FAA says a recessed button alone doesn't count, so it needs something like a flip-top cap. Sprays with more than 2% tear gas (CS or CN) by mass are banned.
Checked against official TSA, FAA and government pages on . These are US rules unless we say otherwise; the TSA officer at the checkpoint makes the final call.
The rules in numbers
- Checked only: 1 self-defense spray per passenger
- Max size: 4 fl oz (118 ml)
- Must have a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge (a recessed button alone isn't enough)
- Over 2% tear gas (CS or CN) by mass: prohibited
- International flights: ICAO/IATA rules prohibit self-defense sprays in all baggage
Packing tips
- Check your airline before packing it; TSA notes some airlines don't permit it even in checked bags.
- Keychain sprays often lack a real safety lock; if yours has only a button, leave it home.
- Bear spray is usually far larger than 4 fl oz, so it won't qualify.
Outside the US
- International flightsFAA notes that ICAO/IATA rules prohibit self-defense sprays in both carry-on and checked baggage on international flights. Source
Flying somewhere else? See the rules for the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Questions people ask
Can you bring pepper spray on a plane?
Not in your carry-on. One container up to 4 fl oz with a safety mechanism can go in checked luggage on U.S. flights, if your airline allows it.
Can I put pepper spray in checked luggage on an international flight?
No. FAA says international rules prohibit self-defense sprays in all baggage.
Is bear spray allowed in checked luggage?
Generally no: the limit is one spray of 4 fl oz (118 ml) or less, and bear spray canisters usually exceed that.