Yes—gadgets with installed batteries may go in checked bags; spare lithium batteries, power banks, and vapes can’t and must ride in carry-on.
Flying with tech can feel risky, yet it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. The short version: most personal electronics with the battery installed can be checked, but loose lithium cells, power banks, and electronic cigarettes can’t. Airlines and regulators care less about the gadget and more about the battery inside it.
Rules line up across regions because they trace back to the same safety standards. The cabin crew can reach a smoking device fast in the aisle, but not down in the hold. That single point explains why spares stay with you and why anything that could switch on by itself needs extra care in a checked bag.
Below you’ll find clear rules, fast look-ups, and step-by-step packing tips so your devices travel safely and arrive ready to use.
Taking Gadgets In Checked Baggage: The Ground Rules
Most travelers want to know one thing: can a laptop, tablet, camera, or game console ride in the hold? Yes, as long as the battery is fitted in the device and the device can’t turn on by itself. Spare lithium cells of any kind stay out of the hold. That also covers power banks and phone-charging cases, which count as spare batteries. Many airlines also ask that valuables ride in the cabin for theft and damage reasons, even when a device would be allowed in the hold.
There’s one more class to call out: e-cigs and vaping devices. Those can’t go in checked bags. They must ride with you in the cabin and remain switched off and protected. Drones, smart bags, and medical equipment follow the battery rules too, with a few twists that you’ll see below. For the official wordings on batteries and power banks, see the FAA Pack Safe battery guidance, the TSA page for power banks, and IATA’s passenger summary on lithium battery rules.
Gadgets At A Glance: Checked Vs Cabin
| Gadget / Item | Checked Bag | Carry-On / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops & tablets (battery installed) | Allowed if fully off and protected | Cabin safer; spares banned from hold |
| Smartphones (battery installed) | Allowed if fully off and protected | Cabin safer; spares banned from hold |
| Cameras & camcorders | Allowed; protect lenses; no spares in hold | Spare lithium cells in cabin only |
| E-readers & game consoles | Allowed if powered down | Cabin preferred |
| Headphones, smartwatches | Allowed if powered down | Small spares in cabin only |
| Power banks & charging cases | Not allowed | Carry-on only |
| Spare lithium batteries (any type) | Not allowed | Carry-on only within limits |
| Alkaline / NiMH spare batteries | Allowed if terminals protected | Also allowed in cabin |
| E-cigs & vapes | Not allowed | Carry-on only; switched off |
| Hair tools with lithium battery | Allowed if battery fixed inside | Butane models follow separate rules |
| Drones (battery installed) | Varies; many airlines say cabin only | Carry-on with terminals covered |
| Smart luggage with non-removable battery | Not allowed to check | Remove battery or don’t check the bag |
| Bluetooth trackers / coin cells | Allowed | Usually permitted in cabin and hold |
| Medical devices with battery | Allowed if secured | Cabin recommended; spares in cabin only |
Are Electronics Allowed In Check-In Luggage: Common Scenarios
Laptops And Tablets
These can ride in the hold when the battery is installed, yet cabin carriage is safer for both data and hardware. If you must check a laptop or tablet, power it down fully. Sleep mode won’t cut it. Disable wake on lid open, alarms, and scheduled power-on. Place the device in a snug sleeve, add a rigid shell if you have one, and pad it in the center of the case.
Cameras And Lenses
Bodies with installed batteries can be checked, but loose lithium cells cannot. Pull the lens, cap both ends, and use dividers or clothing to stop knocks. Tape the switch on external flashes that use lithium cells, then keep those spare cells in your carry-on.
Game Consoles And Handhelds
Consoles, handheld gaming systems, and VR headsets follow the same pattern: installed battery okay in the hold; spares in the cabin. Remove game cards or disks and cushion controllers to stop moving parts from pressing power buttons mid-flight.
Drones
Rules hinge on the battery size. Many airlines prefer drones and their batteries in the cabin so crew can act fast if a cell vents. If your carrier accepts a drone in the hold, pack the aircraft with the battery removed, tape or cap the terminals, and treat the loose pack as a spare in the cabin. Check watt-hour limits before you fly.
Smart Luggage
Bags with built-in power banks or tracking units need a removable battery. If the battery can’t be removed, you can’t check that bag. If it can be removed, take the battery out and carry it on board; the empty bag can be checked.
E-Cigs And Vapes
These devices can’t go in checked baggage. Keep them with you, switched off, with any removable cells treated as spares in your carry-on. No charging on the aircraft.
Power Banks And Spare Cells
Power banks are spare batteries by another name. They never go in checked luggage. Carry them in the cabin within watt-hour limits. The same goes for all loose lithium cells for cameras, drones, laptops, and phones.
Battery Rules That Decide What You Can Pack
Lithium batteries come in two main flavors: lithium-ion (rechargeable) and lithium-metal (non-rechargeable). The limits are stated in watt-hours for lithium-ion, and lithium content in grams for lithium-metal. You’ll often find the watt-hour rating printed on the label. If your label lists volts and amp-hours, multiply them to get watt-hours: Wh = V × Ah.
Up to 100 Wh per battery is the common cabin limit for spares. Between 101 and 160 Wh, you usually need airline approval, and you can carry at most two spares in the cabin. Above 160 Wh is cargo territory and off limits to passengers. When a battery is fitted in a device, the bar is more relaxed, and many devices with cells up to 160 Wh can be checked as long as they’re fully off and protected from accidental activation. For a handy overview, read IATA’s lithium battery fact sheet alongside the FAA Pack Safe page.
Battery Limits You Need To Know
| Battery Type | Where It Can Go | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion, in device | Checked or carry-on | Often fine up to 100 Wh; some devices up to 160 Wh |
| Lithium-ion, spare | Carry-on only | ≤100 Wh common; 101–160 Wh needs airline approval (max two) |
| Lithium-metal, in device | Checked or carry-on | Usually allowed when fitted and protected |
| Lithium-metal, spare | Carry-on only | ≤2 g lithium content; check airline for anything larger |
| Power banks | Carry-on only | Counts as spare lithium-ion; respect Wh limits |
| Alkaline / NiMH spares | Checked or carry-on | Cover terminals or pack to prevent short |
How To Prepare Gadgets For A Checked Bag
- Power down fully. Long-press the power button and shut down. Switch off any internal tracker that can wake the device.
- Stop accidental activation. Toggle airplane mode, disable wake features, and turn off alarms and scheduled tasks.
- Protect the battery area. Use a hard case or thick sleeve. Place devices away from the sides of the suitcase.
- Shield screens and ports. A thin foam sheet or a microfiber cloth over the glass prevents scuffs. Add port covers or tape to keep dust out.
- Remove loose spares. All lithium spares and power banks go in your carry-on. Cover exposed terminals on any alkaline or NiMH spares that stay in the hold.
- Pack cables smartly. Wind cords and stash them in a pouch. Detach accessories that press on power buttons.
- Guard your data. Encrypt drives, sign out of sensitive apps, and use a boot password.
Need a quick refresher on power banks before you head out? The TSA’s plain-English page on what you can bring spells out that power banks belong in your carry-on only.
When You Should Avoid Putting Gadgets In The Hold
Skip the hold when the device is expensive, holds sensitive data, or you need it the moment you land. Avoid checking gadgets on tight connections, on routes with a track record of rough handling, or when you carry film that can fog under repeated scans. Medical electronics, safety gear, and anything with a large spare battery belong in the cabin.
Quick Decision Guide For Popular Items
- Laptop with one battery installed: allowed in hold, cabin safer.
- Tablet or e-reader: allowed in hold, cabin safer.
- DSLR with two loose spares: body in hold if needed; spares in cabin.
- Power bank: cabin only.
- Vape pen: cabin only, switched off.
- Drone with two 99 Wh packs: aircraft may be checked only if the packs ride in the cabin; many airlines want the drone in the cabin as well.
- Smart suitcase with fixed battery: don’t check it; remove the cell or use another bag.
Key Takeaways For Safe Packing
- Installed battery in device? Usually fine to check.
- Loose lithium battery or power bank? Cabin only.
- E-cig or vape? Cabin only and switched off.
- Protect gear and data if you must check it.
- When in doubt, ask your airline and follow crew directions at the airport.