Yes — pack power banks in hand luggage only; ≤100Wh allowed, 100–160Wh needs airline approval, >160Wh not permitted.
Power banks keep phones, tablets, and cameras alive through delays and long layovers. But rules around batteries can feel messy. This guide gives clear carry-on rules, how watt-hours work, what airlines check, and a step-by-step packing checklist so your charger flies without drama.
Taking power banks in hand luggage: the exact rules
Air safety rules treat a power bank as a spare lithium battery. That means it rides with you in the cabin, not in checked bags. Keep the pack off, protect the ports, and stop it from turning on by accident. If a gate agent checks your cabin bag at the door, remove any spare batteries and carry them onboard.
| Capacity or item | Where it goes | Limit and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 100Wh (most 5,000–26,800 mAh) | Hand luggage only | No airline approval needed; pack ports capped |
| 100–160Wh | Hand luggage only | Airline approval required; max two spares per traveler |
| >160Wh | Not allowed | Leave at home or ship by ground |
| Device with battery installed | Carry-on preferred | If checked, power off and protect from activation |
Many airlines mirror these limits. Some set extra caps on quantity or ban in-flight use of power banks in seats. Local rules can add twists, so check your carrier and route before you head to the airport.
Why airlines keep power banks in the cabin
Cabin crew can spot smoke and act fast with fire bags and extinguishers. Bags in a hold are harder to reach. Keeping spare batteries with passengers cuts risk and speeds up any response.
How watt-hours work and how to read your label
Regulators use watt-hours to size a battery. Most power banks print a Wh value on the case. If you only see milliamp hours and volts, use this math: Wh equals mAh divided by one thousand, then times volts. Many packs list capacity at 3.7V, the cell voltage, not the five-volt USB output. That is the number you need.
Are power banks allowed in carry-on bags on all routes?
The core template stays the same across regions. Up to one hundred watt-hours goes through security with you. From one hundred to one hundred sixty watt-hours usually needs airline sign-off, with a cap of two spares. Anything larger sits in cargo rules and does not fly with passengers. That said, a few regulators or airlines add stricter limits on count or in-flight charging.
Some countries now restrict how many small spares you can bring. Others tell passengers to keep power banks in sight and forbid charging them during the flight. These steps follow a rise in battery smoke events. Your airline website or pre-flight email often lists any extra steps for your route.
Packing tips that prevent delays
Give staff clean lines of sight. Place the power bank near the top of your cabin bag, next to a phone or headset. Keep cables coiled and ports capped so nothing can short. If the pack has a switch or a screen, hold the power button down to turn it fully off before screening. Do not tape over the label; staff may need to read it.
Protect the terminals
Short circuits make heat. That is why spare batteries need protection. Many cases ship with a pouch. If yours did not, a small zip bag around the pack works. Leave some air space so buttons do not press by mistake.
Keep it cool and dry
Heat speeds up failure. Store your pack away from heaters, hot car trunks, or window seats in blazing sun. On the plane, skip seat-pocket charging if your carrier bans it and stow the pack where you can see it.
What staff may ask or check
At security, you may be asked to remove the power bank and place it in a tray. Staff may also ask for the Wh figure. At boarding, gate staff can ask you to keep the pack in your small item under the seat, not in overhead bins. Cabin crew can request that the pack stays unplugged during taxi, take-off, and landing, or for the whole flight on some carriers.
If your cabin bag is checked at the gate
Remove all spare batteries, e-cigarettes, and power banks before the tag goes on. Carry them onto the aircraft yourself. Devices with batteries inside may go in the hold only if powered off, with measures to prevent activation. Spare cells never go in the hold.
Taking a power bank on a long international trip
Pick a size under one hundred watt-hours when you can. That keeps things simple across borders. Stick with a trusted brand that states Wh on the case. Save a photo of the label and the receipt in your phone. Pack a short USB-C or Lightning cable and skip daisy-chain charging through laptops onboard.
Charging during the flight
Airlines vary. Many allow phones or tablets to draw power from seat USB ports. Some now block the use of loose power banks in seats. If crew ask you to unplug a pack, do it. If a pack feels hot, shows swelling, smokes, or smells sharp, call crew at once and place it on a hard surface.
Troubleshooting common edge cases
Your label shows milliamp hours only
Use the math above. Most packs list a cell voltage of three point seven volts. Multiply the amp-hours by three point seven to get the watt-hours. Write that number on a small sticker and keep it on the pack.
Your pack says 27,000 mAh
That size sits over one hundred watt-hours in most builds. Even if a maker claims under the line, staff can refuse it if the math or label looks off. Choose a 26,800 mAh model that lists ninety-nine watt-hours and you will stay inside the base tier.
Your airline wants approval for 100–160Wh
Contact your airline for the process at least two days before flying. Many carriers approve by email after a model check. Bring a printout or a screenshot of the approval to the airport so staff can see it.
You carry camera batteries as well as a power bank
Small camera cells count as spares too. Keep each one in a case. Spread them across bags to reduce heat build-up. Add a strip of tape over exposed contacts on older designs to block shorts.
Pre-flight checks before you leave home
Scan the case for a clear Wh label. If missing, write the value on a small piece of tape and stick it near the ports. Test the pack the night before so you spot odd heat or swelling at home, not in a queue. Pack the charger with tip caps and a short cable in a pouch that opens flat at security.
Simple packing list
- Power bank under 100Wh, or approval email for a unit up to 160Wh
- Small pouch or zip bag that caps ports
- Short cable for your device; no heavy extension cords
- Photo of the label and receipt saved to your phone
- Spare camera cells in cases, contacts taped if needed
Carrier rules and where to double-check
Two sources keep you on track. The first is your airline’s dangerous goods page. The second is the national aviation body for your departure or a large hub on your route. Look for pages that mention watt-hour limits and spare battery rules. Carry links or screenshots in case staff need a reference at the gate.
Authoritative links you can trust
You can read the IATA passenger battery guide, the TSA battery page, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority page for spare lithium cells. Rules match across these pages: spare power banks stay in hand luggage, up to 100Wh without approval, 100–160Wh with approval, and above 160Wh not carried by passengers.
Fast math examples
| Label on pack | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh @ 3.7V | 10,000 ÷ 1,000 × 3.7 | 37 Wh |
| 20,000 mAh @ 3.7V | 20,000 ÷ 1,000 × 3.7 | 74 Wh |
| 26,800 mAh @ 3.7V | 26,800 ÷ 1,000 × 3.7 | 99 Wh |
If your pack sits near one hundred watt-hours, carry a clear photo of the label. Many brands also print the Wh figure on the spec sheet or the retail box. If the label is missing and staff cannot confirm size, the item may be refused.
Final checks at the airport
Keep the pack handy and visible at screening. If an officer asks for details, state the watt-hours and point to the label. At the gate, confirm that your cabin bag will stay with you. If it must be checked, move spare batteries into your small personal item. Once seated, follow any crew request on storage or unplugging. A smooth flight beats a drained phone.
Regional notes you should know
In the United States, TSA and FAA rules line up with the watt-hour bands above. Spare lithium packs go in hand luggage only. From one hundred one to one hundred sixty watt-hours, most carriers allow up to two spares per person once you ask for approval. Devices with batteries inside can ride in the cabin or the hold if fully powered off and secured against activation.
In the United Kingdom and across the EU, aviation bodies follow the same watt-hour cutoffs and treat power banks as spare cells. That places them in cabin bags only, with airline approval needed in the mid band and quantity caps on larger spares. Links from national bodies often match word for word with IATA rules.
Across Asia-Pacific, most airlines follow the same template. A few add stricter rules on count or storage, and several now tell passengers not to charge from a power bank during flight. Read your booking email and the dangerous goods page for your carrier so you avoid surprises at the gate.
What not to bring
Skip extra-large jump-starter packs and portable power stations. Many sit well over one hundred sixty watt-hours and will be refused. Large e-bike or scooter batteries fall in that range too. If you need big capacity at your destination, use ground shipping.
Leave behind any cell that looks damaged. Signs include bulging sides, dents, crushed corners, rust near contacts, or a sharp solvent smell. Do not tape a cracked case and hope for the best. Airlines can refuse damaged batteries even when the math fits the limits.
Home-built packs or cells with exposed wiring are not a good idea for air travel. Security teams watch for odd solder joints, missing labels, and loose parts. Bring a certified pack with clear markings instead.
Myth busters for quick clarity
“I can check a power bank if it is empty.” Empty or full makes no difference. Spare cells stay with you in the cabin. That rule applies to all sizes and all routes.
“Under one hundred watt-hours means I can use it in my seat.” Not always. Several airlines now block in-seat use of loose packs. If crew ask you to unplug, say yes and stow it where you can see it.
“Milliamp hours at five volts equals the size.” Pack makers rate cells at three point seven volts. An ad that claims twenty thousand milliamp hours at five volts can mislead. Use the formula and the three point seven volt figure to size the pack.
Care tips that keep packs healthy
Store at room temperature. If you will not use the pack for a month or more, leave it near half charge and park it in a dry drawer. Top it up the week you travel. Avoid full discharges and repeated one hundred percent charges, which can wear cells faster.
Step-by-step at security and boarding
At the gate, keep the pack with your small item so you can carry it on even if the main cabin bag gets tagged. Once onboard, ask crew where they want it stored. Many prefer under-seat storage so the pack stays in view.