Are You Allowed Batteries In Hand Luggage? | Carry On Rules

Air travel and batteries can feel tricky. Different chemistries, sizes, and use cases lead to different rules. The cabin is where crews can see, reach, and deal with heat or smoke fast, which is why loose lithium cells and power banks stay in carry-on. This guide lays out clear, practical steps so you can pack with confidence and pass screening without drama.

Carrying Batteries In Hand Luggage: What Airlines Allow

Here’s a quick rule map by battery type, based on regulator playbooks used across the industry. When a range appears, pick the safer side unless your airline has approved the larger size.

For the official wording, see the TSA battery list, the FAA PackSafe lithium page, and IATA’s passenger guide (PDF). These three sources align on the basics used by most airlines worldwide.

Lithium-Ion And Power Banks

Cabin only. Up to 100 Wh per battery moves through screening without special steps. Packs in the 101–160 Wh band need airline approval and are capped at two spares per traveler. Anything above 160 Wh sits outside passenger rules. A power bank counts as a spare battery, so keep it in your hand luggage with contacts covered and no seat-side charging unless the crew says it’s allowed.

Lithium-Metal (Primary) Cells

These are the non-rechargeable types like CR123A and coin cells. Spares stay in hand luggage only, each at 2 g lithium or less. Typical uses include cameras, headlamps, small medical gear, and clocks. Skip any cell that looks dented, swollen, or rusty.

Alkaline, NiMH, And Other Dry Cells

Household sizes are flexible. AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and button cells may ride in cabin or checked bags. Use retail packaging, plastic sleeves, or a small case so metal items cannot bridge the terminals. Cap 9V studs to avoid sparks.

Non-Spillable Wet (Gel) Batteries

These appear in hobby gear and some tools. The usual cap is ≤12 V and ≤100 Wh. Spares are often limited to two per person and must be insulated. When mounted in equipment, block switches so nothing can power on by accident.

E-Cigarettes And Vapes

Carry-on only. Place devices and any spare cells in the cabin, prevent activation, and avoid charging on board. Many carriers also prefer portable chargers to stay visible while in use so crew can spot heat early.

Taking Batteries In Carry-On Bags: Limits And Packing

The two numbers that matter are Watt-hours (Wh) for lithium-ion and grams of lithium for lithium-metal. These size gates decide where a pack can travel and whether airline approval is needed for the mid-range bracket.

Watt-Hour And Lithium Content Rules

For lithium-ion: ≤100 Wh per battery is the standard for phones, tablets, cameras, and most power banks. The 101–160 Wh range covers many pro video bricks and extended-life laptop packs; that band needs airline approval and carries a two-spare limit. Packs over 160 Wh don’t fly with passengers. For lithium-metal: most consumer cells sit at ≤2 g per cell; the 2–8 g band is rare in travel gear and needs carrier approval.

How To Calculate Watt-Hours

Many labels print Wh. If you only see volts (V) and amp-hours (Ah), use Wh = V × Ah. A 20,000 mAh, 5 V bank is close to 100 Wh. If an agent asks about size, that math makes the answer quick and clear.

Pack Spares Like A Pro

Short circuits start a lot of incidents. Isolate spares in retail boxes, plastic sleeves, or purpose-made cases. Tape exposed studs or bare contacts. Spread packs across bags so one hot cell can’t heat a tight cluster. A small silica gel pack helps in humid seasons.

Smart Bags And Removable Batteries

Smart luggage with an internal power bank is fine in the cabin. If you need to check the bag, remove the battery and carry it on. Bags with batteries you can’t remove are commonly refused for the hold.

Damaged, Swollen, Or Recalled Packs

Leave them at home. Warning signs include a sweet or burnt smell, heat when idle, bulging sides, or charge that collapses in minutes. Bring only packs in good shape with readable labels.

Why Cabins, Not Holds: The Safety Logic

Lithium cells can fail by thermal runaway. In the cabin, crew can cool, contain, and monitor a device with smoke or heat. In a closed cargo hold, access is limited. That simple access gap drives the split: spares in the cabin, not in the hold. The TSA and FAA materials linked above spell out that approach for personal electronics and loose cells, and airlines use the same baseline.

Device-By-Device Guidance

Rules feel simpler when tied to common items. Use this section to prep your kit without guesswork and to pack spares so screening stays smooth.

Phones, Tablets, And Laptops

Keep devices in the cabin with the battery installed. Power off when asked. Spare laptop packs count toward the lithium-ion spare rules. Sleeves and hard cases stop keys and coins from holding down buttons in a tight bag.

Cameras And Action Rigs

Carry bodies, lenses, and spares in hand luggage. Many camera bricks sit under 100 Wh and pass easily. If you shoot with 150 Wh packs, get airline approval in advance and bring no more than two spares. Cap D-tap and any open lead.

Drones

Most hobby drone packs stay under 100 Wh. Remove batteries from the airframe, place them in a Li-pouch, and fit terminal caps if supplied. Many carriers prefer the airframe checked and the batteries in the cabin.

Power Banks

These are spare lithium-ion packs. Keep them in hand luggage, cap ports, and avoid charging during the flight unless your airline says yes. A small case prevents pocket lint or coins from making contact.

E-Cigarettes

Place the device and any spares in a small pouch in your carry-on. Lock the switch, remove pods if they seep at altitude, and never charge on board.

Medical Devices

Portable medical gear often runs on small lithium packs or standard dry cells. Bring the device to the cabin, pack spares with terminal protection, and carry a short note with model, battery type, and contact info in case officers have questions.

Mobility Aids

Powered wheelchairs and scooters use larger packs with special handling. Airlines may ask for voltage, Wh rating, and a simple way to isolate the battery for loading. A printed spec sheet and a clear switch label save time at the gate.

Limits And Packaging Cheatsheet

What About Checked Baggage?

Spare lithium cells and power banks never go in checked bags. That includes battery phone cases and any item with exposed terminals. If a device must be checked due to size, remove any loose batteries and carry them on. For gear left in the hold, switches should be guarded and the device fully off, not in sleep or hibernate modes. Dry cells may ride in the hold, but they still need short-circuit protection.

Simple Packing Checklist

Here’s a fast routine that keeps you inside the rules and makes screening quick:

• Group gear by battery type: lithium-ion, lithium-metal, dry cells.
• Label each power bank with its Wh rating in a corner; add a tiny sticker if the print is faint.
• Use small rigid cases for loose cells and coin cells; keep retail packs intact when possible.
• Cap 9V studs and tape any exposed contacts on odd-shape packs.
• Spread spares across cabin bags to avoid heat build-up in one spot.
• Carry a micro kit: electrical tape, a few silicone caps, cable ties, and a marker.
• If a gate agent asks about size, show the printed Wh or do the quick V × Ah math.

Region Notes And Airline Approval

The U.S. framework from TSA and FAA lines up with IATA’s global guide, which many carriers follow in their own pages. In practice, the sweet spot is simple: most personal packs sit at or under 100 Wh and sail through in the cabin; the 101–160 Wh band is a special case that needs airline approval and carries a two-spare cap. A short message to your airline with the battery’s brand, model, and Wh rating usually gets a clear yes or a quick alternative, such as checking the gear with the battery removed.

Taking Batteries In Carry-On Bags: Quick Myths Vs Facts

“AA Batteries Must Go In The Cabin”

Dry cells like alkaline or NiMH may ride in cabin or checked bags, as long as the terminals can’t be bridged. Many travelers still keep them up top so they can reach them and so screeners can see them fast.

“Any Laptop Battery Is Fine In Checked Bags”

Installed packs sometimes fly in the hold, yet many airlines prefer devices in the cabin. Spares never go in the hold. The cabin rule keeps response simple if a cell starts to heat up.

“Power Banks Are Just Accessories”

A power bank is a spare lithium-ion battery. That makes it cabin-only with contact protection and Wh caps. Treat it like a battery first, then like a charger.

Bottom Line For Hand Luggage Batteries

Batteries and cabins go together. Spares and power banks live in hand luggage, not in the hold. Lithium-ion stays at or under 100 Wh unless your airline signs off on a pair in the 101–160 Wh band. Lithium-metal spares ride in the cabin at 2 g or less per cell. Dry cells are flexible but still need terminal protection. Pack with care, label clearly, and you’ll move through checks faster with less risk and fewer delays.