A device for separating paint overspray from the cabin exhaust air of painting systems which is laden with overspray having at least one separating surface, on which the cabin exhaust air can be guided along and which is electrically conducting and connected to a pole of a high voltage source. An electrode device arranged in the air stream is associated with the separating surface and connected to the other pole of the high voltage source. Paint overspray is transported away from the separating surface by an electrically conducting separating fluid, which can be fed to the separating surface and flows over the separating surface so that a large part at least of the solids pass from the cabin exhaust air flowing past into the separating fluid.