🎨 Spray paint

Spray paint is a flammable aerosol and is prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage on commercial flights. A screener finding a can in your bag will confiscate it without any discretion, and the can will not be returned. This applies whether the can is full, half-used, or nearly empty.

The ban on spray paint applies to all can sizes — there is no minimum volume threshold that makes it acceptable. Flammable aerosols are prohibited under ICAO dangerous goods regulations, which are adopted by all major aviation authorities, meaning a tiny artist's touch-up can is just as prohibited as a full-size can.

Aerosol cans have a distinctive shape that is easy to identify on an X-ray, and screeners are specifically trained to flag flammable aerosols. The chance of it passing undetected is low. Even if it passes the security checkpoint, an eagle-eyed gate agent or flight crew member could still flag it, leading to a delay at boarding.

Purchase spray paint after you arrive — it is sold in hardware stores and art supply shops in virtually every country. If you are travelling for an art project that requires a specific colour or brand, ship the cans ahead of time by road or sea freight, which does not have the same restrictions as air travel for aerosols.