Here, carbon spheres (CS), a carbonaceous spherical material with a wide source and easy preparation, were used as enhanced nano-fillers to reinforce the flame retardancy of aqueous epoxy intumescent coatings. To overcome the defects of CS themselves during combustion, polydopa mine (PDA) was co-deposited with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on its surface to obtain activated carbon spheres with C-N-P structure (CS/PAP), which can contribute to the formation of intumescent char layer. Meanwhile, zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS), as a non-halogen, environmentally friendly, and efficient flame retardant, was introduced to the surface of carbon phosphide spheres to obtain a composite functional hybrid reinforcement (CS/PAP@ZHS).