Can You Bring Aerosol or Spray Sunscreen on a Plane?

Yes, but the rules depend on whether your spray sunscreen is an aerosol or a non-aerosol formula, and whether it is going in your carry-on or checked luggage.

The distinction matters more than most people realize. Here is everything you need to know before you pack.

Not all spray sunscreens work the same way, and the difference is relevant when it comes to flying.

Aerosol spray sunscreens use pressurized gas inside the can to dispense the product as a fine mist. Traditional aerosols contain flammable propellants, which is why they carry specific flight restrictions that other sunscreen formats do not.

Non-aerosol spray sunscreens use a pump or compressed air system instead. They do not use pressurized flammable gas, which means they carry a different and generally simpler risk profile for air travel.

How to tell which you have: aerosol cans have a pressurized feel when you shake them and typically carry a flammability warning on the label.

Non-aerosol sprays have a pump nozzle and feel more like a standard spray bottle. Checking the label before you pack is the quickest way to confirm.

For a full breakdown of how aerosol and non-aerosol spray sunscreens differ, that guide covers everything worth knowing.

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Both aerosol and non-aerosol spray sunscreens are treated as liquids under TSA (Transportation Security Administration) rules. The 3-1-1 rule applies to both:

Each container must be 3.4oz (100ml) or less. All containers must fit inside a single clear, quart-sized resealable bag. One bag per passenger.

The container size rule applies to the size of the can or bottle, not the amount of product inside it. A 200ml aerosol that is nearly empty will still be confiscated at security. Always check the label before packing.

For aerosol sprays specifically, TSA requires the nozzle cap to be secured to prevent accidental discharge. A pressurized aerosol without a cap is a security concern regardless of its contents. Non-aerosol sprays follow the same 100ml rule but do not carry the same pressurization considerations.

Source: TSA.gov, confirmed 2026.

Aerosol sunscreen that exceeds the carry-on size limit will be confiscated at security. It cannot be retrieved once taken.

The simplest way to avoid this is to keep full-size aerosols in checked luggage and carry a travel-sized non-aerosol spray in your liquids bag.

If you do find yourself without SPF after security, most large airports carry sunscreen at airside pharmacies or beauty retailers.

Full-size spray sunscreens are permitted in checked luggage, but aerosol cans come with specific FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) limits that are worth knowing before you pack.

For aerosol sprays in checked bags, each container must be 500ml (17 fl oz) or less.

The total of all aerosol products per passenger must not exceed 2 liters or 2kg. This is a combined limit across every aerosol product in your checked bag, including hair spray, dry shampoo, deodorant, and any other pressurized cans, not just sunscreen.

It is worth knowing that the FAA also sets a separate limit of 70 ounces across all liquids per passenger in checked luggage. These are two different rules that apply at the same time. The 2 liter limit applies specifically to aerosol toiletries.

The 70 ounce limit applies to toiletry and medicinal liquids combined in checked luggage. If you are packing multiple aerosol and non-aerosol products, both limits are worth keeping in mind.

Caps must be secured on all aerosol containers to prevent accidental discharge from pressure changes during the flight.

Non-aerosol spray sunscreens do not carry the same restrictions for checked luggage. Their compressed air system does not fall under the same hazardous materials classification as traditional aerosol propellants.

Source: FAA Hazardous Materials Regulations, 2026

The FAA rules set the baseline for US domestic flights but individual airlines can impose additional restrictions on aerosol quantities.

Most major US airlines including American Airlines, Delta, and United permit personal care aerosols within the FAA limits.

However for longer trips where several aerosol products might be packed together, it is worth checking your specific airline’s policy before you pack.

The quickest way is to search the airline’s restricted items or hazardous materials page directly.

Traveling internationally? The rules broadly follow the same framework.

UK airports follow the same 100ml carry-on rule for all spray sunscreens, aerosol and non-aerosol alike. Some UK airports including Heathrow and Edinburgh have updated security scanners and have removed the 100ml carry-on limit.

However this is not universal across all airports and terminals. Unless you have confirmed your specific departure airport operates updated scanning, treat 100ml as the safe assumption.

EU airports broadly follow the same 100ml carry-on framework. Rules can vary slightly by airline and route, so checking your airline’s specific guidance before traveling internationally is always worth doing.

For checked luggage on international flights, aerosol restrictions may go beyond the FAA baseline. Some airlines impose stricter limits on total aerosol quantities per passenger.

Always check your specific airline’s policy when traveling internationally with multiple aerosol products.

Source: GOV.UK, 2026

A few things specific to spray sunscreen that the general packing checklist does not cover.

If your spray sunscreen is over 100ml, pack it in checked luggage rather than decanting. Decanting aerosols into unlabeled bottles is not advisable and can cause issues at security.

For non-aerosol sprays, a travel-sized option is the most practical carry-on solution. For a full guide to how to apply spray sunscreen correctly when you arrive, that guide covers technique and quantities in detail.

Store aerosol cans away from heat sources in checked luggage. Ground temperatures in cargo holds can rise significantly during loading, and excessive heat accelerates pressure build-up in aerosol cans. Pack them upright where possible with caps secured.

Keep your full aerosol allowance in mind across all products. The 2 liter limit in checked luggage covers everything that is pressurized, not just sunscreen. Adding up your aerosols before you check in avoids surprises at bag drop.

Traveling with hand luggage only? Opt for a travel-sized non-aerosol spray of 100ml or less. It takes up minimal space in your liquids bag and eliminates any aerosol aggregate concerns entirely.

For everything else you need to know about traveling with sunscreen across all formats, from lotion to stick to spray, Can You Take Sunscreen On A Plane? covers the full picture including UV exposure at altitude and what to know before flying to Hawaii, with the Hawaii Act 104 reef regulations.

1. Check whether your spray is aerosol or non-aerosol before packing.
2. Confirm carry-on containers are 3.4oz (100ml) or less.
3. Ensure all caps are secured on aerosol cans.
4. Place all spray sunscreens in your clear quart-sized liquids bag.
5. For checked luggage, confirm each aerosol is 500ml or less.
6. Count your total aerosol products to stay within the 2 liter aggregate limit.
7. Store aerosol cans upright and away from heat sources in checked bags.
8. If flying to Hawaii, confirm your sunscreen is Hawaii Act 104 compliant.

PoolBar’s SPF 30 Clear Spray and SPF 50 Clear Spray are non-aerosol, using compressed air and a bag-on-valve system to deliver a smooth, consistent spray without traditional aerosol propellants.

Both are dermatologically tested for all skin types, and formulated and manufactured in the USA.

Both are reef safe, for more on what sunscreen you can take to Hawaii and why it matters, and what reef safe actually means, these are worth reading before you travel.