Can You Have Batteries In Carry-On Luggage? | FAA Rules

You grab your backpack, toss in the laptop, phone, earbuds, and a portable charger — then stop. Will security wave you through, or will that power bank get tossed? The rules around batteries and air travel have tightened in recent years, and the wrong battery in the wrong bag can cause delays at the checkpoint.

Here is the straightforward answer: most personal batteries are allowed in carry-on luggage, but the type, size, and whether the battery is installed in a device or loose all matter. Spare lithium batteries have their own set of restrictions, and checked luggage rules are stricter than cabin bags.

What Types of Batteries Are Allowed

The rules split batteries into two main categories: those installed inside a device and spare loose batteries. Installed batteries in phones, laptops, cameras, and tablets travel fine in either carry-on or checked bags with few restrictions beyond the device being turned off or in sleep mode.

Spare batteries are where the rules get specific. Standard alkaline AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked bags as long as terminals are protected from short-circuiting. Lithium-ion and lithium-metal spare batteries, including power banks and phone charging cases, are carry-on only — no exceptions.

Why Spare Lithium Batteries Are Restricted

The reason comes down to fire risk. Lithium batteries store a significant amount of energy in a small space. If the terminals short-circuit or the battery is physically damaged, it can overheat and catch fire. In the cargo hold, a battery fire would be harder to detect and nearly impossible to reach.

In the passenger cabin, crew and passengers can spot smoke or heat and respond quickly. The Federal Aviation Administration reports 28 lithium-fire incidents on planes so far in 2026, including 22 verified events. That is why regulators require these batteries where people can monitor them.

• Spare lithium-ion (rechargeable): Must be in carry-on only. Batteries rated 0-100 watt-hours are allowed without special approval. Between 101-160 Wh requires airline approval.
• Spare lithium-metal (non-rechargeable): Also carry-on only. Consumer-sized lithium-metal batteries up to 2 grams of lithium content are allowed. Larger sizes require airline approval.
• Power banks and portable chargers: Treated as spare lithium-ion batteries. Must be in carry-on luggage. The watt-hour rating printed on the device determines if it is allowed.
• Batteries over 160 Wh: Forbidden on passenger aircraft entirely. These are industrial or specialized batteries for large equipment.
• E-cigarettes and vapes: Carry-on only, limited to one per passenger on most airlines. The device must have a safety cap or battery removed to prevent accidental activation.

The watt-hour rating is the real deciding factor. Check the side of any power bank or larger battery for a number followed by “Wh.” If it is under 100, you are good to pack it in your carry-on without airline permission.

Watt-Hour Limits and How to Read Them

Watt-hours measure a battery’s energy capacity. Most consumer electronics batteries fall well under the 100 Wh threshold. A standard phone battery runs about 10-15 Wh, a laptop battery typically 40-80 Wh, and a portable charger ranges from 18 Wh to the 99 Wh limit on many high-capacity models.

For batteries between 101 and 160 Wh, you need approval from your airline before travel. These are uncommon in personal electronics but show up in some professional camera batteries and medical device backups. Contact your airline in advance and be prepared to explain the device and its battery rating.

If your battery does not show a watt-hour rating, look for voltage (V) and amp-hours (Ah). Multiply them: V × Ah = Wh. For example, a 12V battery rated at 5 Ah holds 60 watt-hours. The TSA and FAA both point to the TSA battery carry-on rule as the definitive guide on which batteries clear security.

The table covers the standard categories, but always double-check your battery’s printed specifications before packing. Some older devices or generic power banks may not show clear ratings — in that case, leave them home or check with your airline before the security line.

Packing Advice for a Smooth Security Check

Getting your batteries through security is not complicated, but a few simple steps prevent delays. TSA officers may ask to see loose batteries or power banks, so keep them accessible rather than buried at the bottom of your bag.

The most common reason batteries get flagged is exposed terminals that could short-circuit. A short circuit generates heat quickly, and in a bag full of other metal items — keys, coins, headphones — the risk is real.

1. Protect the terminals. Place tape over the battery’s positive and negative contacts, or store each battery in its original packaging or a separate plastic case. Electrical tape works well.
2. Keep power banks in your personal item. If you have a backpack and a carry-on suitcase, slide the power bank into the backpack. It is easier to pull out for inspection than rummaging through a suitcase overhead.
3. Do not pack damaged or swollen batteries. Any battery that looks bulging, cracked, or leaking should not travel. Replace it before your trip and dispose of the old one properly at a battery recycling center.
4. Check your airline’s specific policy. Most airlines follow TSA and FAA rules closely, but some have their own restrictions. American Airlines, for example, notes you cannot use lithium batteries to charge devices onboard even when packed in carry-on.

Vapes and e-cigarettes get extra attention. Southwest Airlines and others limit passengers to one device and require a safety cap. The device itself and any spare batteries must be in your carry-on, and charging onboard is not allowed on any US carrier.

Checked Baggage: What Never Goes Below

The checked baggage rule is simple for lithium batteries: they are generally prohibited. The FAA’s guidance on spare lithium batteries in checked luggage is clear — do not put them there. The fire risk in the cargo hold is the primary concern, and the confined space makes containment harder.

Devices with installed lithium batteries, such as a laptop or phone in your checked suitcase, are usually allowed. But airlines often recommend keeping all valuables and battery-powered electronics in your carry-on anyway, both for safety and to avoid damage or theft.

The FAA lithium battery fire risk page explains that even a small battery can start a fire hot enough to burn through luggage and spread. In 2026 alone, the FAA logged 22 verified lithium battery incidents on planes. That number keeps regulators vigilant.

The checked bag rules are consistent across US airlines. If you are flying internationally, check the rules for your destination country — some regions have stricter limits or require batteries to be declared at check-in.

The Bottom Line

Batteries in carry-on luggage are allowed with clear limitations. Spare lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries, power banks, and vapes must travel in the cabin, not the cargo hold. Keep terminals protected, check watt-hour ratings, and know that batteries over 160 Wh do not fly at all.

Pack your power bank in your personal item with taped terminals, and before you head to the airport, check your airline’s website for any additional battery restrictions that apply to your specific flight and destination.