Travel topic · Safety
Power banks and batteries on planes
Carry power banks and spare lithium batteries in the cabin only, never checked; keep each under 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V) and you need no approval on almost any airline.
More
What you may carry in the cabin and what must stay in checked bags, the watt-hour maths that decides it, airline limits above 100 Wh, and the mistakes that get batteries confiscated at security.
Key facts
- Where they gocheck
- Cabin (carry-on) only. Spare lithium batteries and power banks are banned from checked baggage
- The usual ceilingcheck
- 100 Wh per battery, no airline approval needed; most power banks are 10–30 Wh
- Above 100 Whcheck
- Usually allowed up to 160 Wh with airline approval, often limited to 2 spare batteries per passenger
- Above 160 Whcheck
- Not allowed as passenger baggage on most airlines
- Watt-hour formulacheck
- Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × volts. A 20,000 mAh bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh
- Devices with batteries installedcheck
- Phones, laptops, cameras and e-readers may go in checked bags if switched off and protected, but cabin is safer
- Damaged or swollen batteriescheck
- Not accepted in cabin or checked baggage; replace before you fly
Your checklist
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Short answer
Power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in the cabin, not in the bag you check. The widely used threshold is 100 Wh per battery, and below that most airlines ask for no approval. That covers nearly every power bank sold for phones: a 20,000 mAh bank rated at 3.7 V works out at 74 Wh, and a 10,000 mAh bank at 37 Wh.
Between 100 Wh and 160 Wh you are often still allowed, but usually only with the airline's approval and often only two spare batteries per passenger. Above 160 Wh is generally treated as cargo, not passenger baggage. These numbers are the common international baseline, not a guarantee: the airline and the national regulator set the rule that applies to your ticket, so confirm on the airline's own dangerous-goods page before you fly (check).
The reason for the cabin rule is fire response. A lithium battery that overheats in the cabin can be seen, smothered or cooled by crew. In a checked hold nobody is watching, and a fire there is far harder to reach.
| Rating | Cabin (carry-on) | Checked baggage | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 Wh | Yes | No | Not needed |
| 100–160 Wh | Usually yes | No | Airline approval, often max 2 spares |
| Over 160 Wh | No | No | Cargo only |
Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × volts. Thresholds and approval rules vary by airline and regulator — check the airline's own page before flying (check).
Do
- Photograph the label on your power bank before the trip; security staff may ask to see the Wh or mAh rating.
- If the printed rating has worn off, expect questions — an unlabelled battery can be refused.
Watch out
- Never pack a power bank in a checked bag, even a small one.
Steps: before you fly and at security
Work out the watt-hours first. The number is printed on the power bank, usually next to the mAh figure. If only mAh is shown, divide by 1000 and multiply by the cell voltage — 3.7 V for most lithium-ion power banks, 3.6 V for some. A 26,800 mAh bank at 3.7 V is 99 Wh, right at the line. If your bank has no label at all, treat it as a risk and leave it at home.
Pack it in your cabin bag, not the one you check. Keep each battery in its original packaging if you still have it, or tape the contacts and put it in a plastic bag or a dedicated battery pouch so nothing metal can bridge the terminals. Loose coins, keys and a bare USB-C port in the same pocket is how short circuits start.
Charge before you leave, but not to 100% if you will not use it for weeks; a mid charge is easier on the cells. Check the bank for swelling, a bulging case or a smell. Any of those means replace it, not pack it.
At security, take the power bank out of the bag if the officer asks, and be ready to show the label. Screening rules differ: some airports want lithium batteries in a tray, others are happy for them to stay packed. Follow the instruction you are given rather than arguing the rule.
On board, keep the bank in the cabin with you rather than in an overhead locker you cannot reach, and do not charge a device under a blanket or pillow where heat builds up. If a battery feels hot, smells odd or starts to swell, tell a crew member immediately.
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check the rating | Find Wh or mAh on the label | Decides whether you need approval |
| 2. Pack in cabin | Carry-on only, terminals taped or bagged | Banned in checked bags; prevents shorts |
| 3. Inspect | Look for swelling, damage, smell | Damaged cells are refused and dangerous |
| 4. At security | Declare if asked, show the label | Airport rules vary |
| 5. On board | Keep it reachable, avoid covering it while charging | Crew can act fast if it overheats |
Do
- A small pouch for batteries and cables keeps terminals apart and makes security checks faster.
- Label your own power bank with tape and a marker if the printed rating is fading.
Watch out
- Do not use a power bank that is swollen, cracked or wet, and do not try to charge it to test it.
Show 6 sectionsHideCosts and time, Exceptions and edge cases, FAQ, Sources, Questions people ask, Related
Costs and time
There is normally no fee for carrying a compliant power bank; it is an airline rule, not a paid service. The costs that catch people out are the ones at the airport: a replacement bank from a terminal shop typically runs well above the online price, and a courier or left-luggage service for a battery you cannot fly with is rarely worth it. If a bank is refused, most airports will let you hand it to someone seeing you off, post it if the country allows lithium by mail, or surrender it — surrendering is the usual outcome. Fees and options vary by airport and country (check).
Time is the other cost. A battery that needs a supervisor's approval adds minutes at check-in, and a bag pulled for a second look at security adds more. Arriving with the label legible and the battery easy to reach is the cheapest fix there is.
If you are buying a bank for travel, the practical target is a 10,000–20,000 mAh model with a clear Wh rating printed on the case. That range stays far below 100 Wh, charges a phone two to four times, and is small enough to keep in a personal item.
| Item | Typical cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Compliant power bank carried on board | No fee | Airline rule, not a paid service (check) |
| Replacement bank bought at an airport | Higher than online | 2026 estimate; varies by airport (check) |
| Courier or shipping a refused battery | Often more than the battery | Lithium by mail is restricted in many countries (check) |
| Extra time at check-in for approval | A few minutes | Only for 100–160 Wh batteries (check) |
Exceptions and edge cases
Airlines can be stricter than the international baseline. Some carriers cap the number of spare batteries, ban power banks from overhead bins during the flight, or require them to be carried on your person. A few have restricted power bank use entirely on certain aircraft. The airline's own dangerous-goods page is the authority; the number on your ticket matters more than a general rule you read elsewhere (check).
Devices with batteries installed — phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, e-readers — are treated differently from spare batteries. They may generally travel in checked baggage if they are switched off and protected from damage, but keeping them in the cabin avoids both the risk and the argument. Spare batteries never go in the hold (check).
E-cigarettes and vapes follow the same logic as power banks: cabin only, never checked. Mobility aids with lithium batteries, such as some wheelchairs and scooters, need to be arranged with the airline in advance and are not covered by the 100 Wh rule. Medical devices such as CPAP machines have their own procedures (check).
Country rules can differ from airline rules. Some regulators require batteries to be carried in specific packaging or limit how many a passenger may bring. If you are flying a multi-leg trip, the strictest leg sets your limit.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank (spare) | Yes | No | Under 100 Wh, no approval (check) |
| Spare lithium batteries | Yes | No | Terminals protected (check) |
| Phone, laptop, camera | Yes | Usually yes | Off and protected if checked (check) |
| E-cigarette or vape | Yes | No | Cabin only (check) |
| Mobility aid battery | Yes | Varies | Arrange with airline in advance (check) |
| Damaged or swollen battery | No | No | Replace before travel (check) |
Do
- Check the dangerous-goods page for every airline on your ticket, not just the first one.
- For mobility aids or medical devices, contact the airline in advance — 48 hours is a common minimum (check).
Watch out
- A power bank in a checked bag can be removed and the bag delayed, even if nothing else is wrong.
FAQ
The questions below cover the ones that come up most often at check-in and security.
Sources
Rules for lithium batteries in passenger baggage are set by national regulators and applied by each airline. The airline's own dangerous-goods page and the national civil aviation authority are the two sources that decide your case. Check both before a long trip, and re-check if you buy a larger battery.
Questions people ask
Power banks and batteries on planes: what do I need to know?
Carry power banks and spare lithium batteries in the cabin, never in checked baggage. Keep each under 100 Wh and no airline approval is usually needed. Between 100 Wh and 160 Wh you generally need the airline's approval and may be limited to two spares. Above 160 Wh is not allowed as passenger baggage. Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × volts, so a 20,000 mAh bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh. Confirm the exact limits on your airline's dangerous-goods page (check).
What are the most common mistakes?
Packing a power bank in a checked bag, carrying one with an unreadable or missing rating label, letting bare terminals touch coins or keys, and assuming every airline on a multi-leg ticket has the same limit. Another common one is bringing a swollen or damaged battery, which can be refused at the gate.
What should I do before I travel?
Check the Wh rating on each battery, confirm the limit on every airline's dangerous-goods page, pack batteries in the cabin with terminals taped or bagged, inspect them for swelling, and keep them reachable in flight. For mobility aids or medical devices, contact the airline in advance.
Can I put a power bank in my checked suitcase?
No. Spare lithium batteries and power banks are banned from checked baggage on essentially all airlines because a fire in the hold cannot be reached. Carry them in the cabin.
How do I convert mAh to Wh?
Divide the mAh figure by 1000, then multiply by the cell voltage — usually 3.7 V for lithium-ion power banks. A 10,000 mAh bank is about 37 Wh; a 20,000 mAh bank is about 74 Wh; a 26,800 mAh bank is about 99 Wh.
Can I use a power bank during the flight?
On most airlines yes, but some carriers restrict use or require power banks to be kept on your person rather than in an overhead bin. Follow the crew's instructions and avoid charging under a blanket where heat builds up (check).
What happens if my battery is refused at security?
Options are usually to hand it to someone seeing you off, ship it if the country allows lithium by mail, or surrender it. Surrendering is the most common outcome, and there is no refund. What is offered varies by airport (check).
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialIATA – Lithium batteries guidance
- officialFAA – Batteries carried by passengers
- officialUK CAA – Lithium batteries
- officialEASA – Passenger baggage and dangerous goods
- secondaryWikivoyage – Air travel
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