Can Batteries Go Into Checked Luggage? | Hold-Bag Rules Map

Checked Luggage Battery Rules At A Glance

Airlines and regulators sort batteries by chemistry and by whether the cell is installed in a device. That split drives the rules. You can check devices that contain certain batteries if they are switched off and protected. Loose lithium cells are a no-go for the hold. Everyday dry cells like AA alkalines are far simpler. Those can ride in either bag when packed to prevent short circuits.

Taking Batteries In Checked Luggage: What Airlines Allow

The cargo hold is built for cargo, not for fighting fires you cannot reach. That is why rules send spare lithium cells to the cabin, where crews can act fast if a cell fails. Installed batteries are different. A phone, camera, or shaver with its battery inside is a complete device. With the power off and switches guarded, that risk drops, so many carriers accept it in the hold. Even then, carry-on is the safer bet when you can.

What “Installed” And “Spare” Really Mean

Installed means the battery sits inside the product as designed, with covers closed and no exposed terminals. Spare means any loose or clip-in cell, a camera battery in a case, a drone pack, or a power bank. Power banks count as spare lithium. Phone battery cases count too. Those items never go in checked bags.

Watt-Hours And Lithium Content

Lithium-ion is measured in watt-hours. Most phone and laptop packs sit at 100 Wh or less. Larger gear may use 101–160 Wh packs. That mid range needs airline approval and must stay in the cabin. Lithium metal uses grams of lithium. Button cells are tiny and fine to carry. Anything over 2 g is not permitted for passengers. If a label shows only mAh, the usual math is Wh = (mAh × V) ÷ 1000. Many airline sites include handy tables for that.

How To Pack Devices You Check

When you do place a device with a battery in checked luggage, pack it like it could take a shock. Use a solid case or clothing layers, stop buttons from being pressed, and keep it away from heavy items. If it has a folding switch, slide lock, or trigger, secure it. For touch screens, power down fully, not just sleep. Remove loose accessories that could press a switch.

Stopping Short Circuits

Short circuits happen when metal bridges the terminals. That can make a cell heat up. For loose non-lithium cells in checked bags, use the retail pack, a plastic battery case, or tape over terminals. Keep them away from coins, keys, and tools. If you carry a pack of nine-volts, cap the terminals or keep each in its box.

What About Smart Luggage?

Some suitcases have built-in chargers or tracking tiles. Many airlines ask that you remove the battery before checking the bag. If the battery cannot be removed, the bag may be refused. A few models use coin cells under 2.7 Wh and can stay in place. Check your model and your airline’s page before you fly.

Lithium Rules You Should Know

Here is the core list travelers use again and again. Spare lithium cells never go in the hold. Installed lithium in small personal gear can be checked, though carry-on is better. Large packs above 160 Wh do not ride on passenger jets at all. Damaged, bulging, or recalled batteries are not allowed anywhere. If a device was recalled for battery fires, leave it at home or follow the maker’s program.

Power Banks And Jump Starters

Power banks belong in the cabin. Keep ports covered and prevent the button from being pressed in your bag. Car jump packs are large lithium battery packs. Those are not allowed on board for passengers. Small camera grip packs that sit under a camera body count as spares too, so carry them on.

Vapes, E-Cigs, And Heated Tobacco

All vape devices and e-cigs stay with you in the cabin. Remove pods or tanks if your airline asks, place the device in a case, and keep it off. Never charge a vaping device on board. Do the same with heated tobacco sticks that use a lithium heater.

Why Alkaline Cells Are Treated Differently

AA, AAA, C, D, and nine-volt alkalines do not carry the same fire risk as lithium. That is why the rules are looser. You may check them when packed to prevent shorts. The same goes for most NiMH rechargeables you use in flashlights or flashes. Keep them in cases and you are good to go.

Mobility Aids And Medical Gear

Wheelchairs and scooters use large batteries. Airlines handle these under a special process. Many chairs use lithium packs that must be removed and carried on in a protective box. Others use sealed lead-acid types that stay installed. Tell your airline about the device during booking so they can supply labels and covers. Medical devices like CPAP machines use small packs and usually follow the standard cabin rules.

Real-World Packing Tips That Pass Gate Checks

Split your power. Keep spare lithium in your carry-on and plan space for it. Use printed labels on custom drone or camera packs to show Wh ratings. Buy a few plastic battery cases and a roll of painter’s tape. Add a small fire-resistant pouch for high-density drone packs in your cabin bag. Place a simple note on top of your checked bag that lists any devices with installed batteries inside.

What Screeners Look For

Checked bags pass through X-ray systems. Screeners flag dense blocks with wiring and exposed terminals. Neat packing helps the image. A laptop in a sleeve, a camera in a padded cube, and no loose cells near metal items gives a clean picture. That can stop a pull for manual inspection.

Common Edge Cases And Clear Answers

Electric Toothbrushes And Razors

These usually hold a small lithium-ion cell tucked inside the handle. You may check them once powered off and protected from activation. Smart chargers, spare brush batteries, or clip-in shaver packs go in the cabin.

Bluetooth Trackers

Tile and AirTag use coin cells. Those cells are lithium metal under 2 g, so they are fine in either bag. Airlines may ask that tracking tiles stay in cabin bags while active so crews can respond if a device shows heat. Many travelers still check bags with trackers installed without issue.

Disposable Cameras And Film Cameras

Many film cameras take AA cells or a small lithium primary. Installed cells in the camera are fine to check. Spare lithium camera batteries stay in your hand bag. Film itself is a separate topic since high power scanners can fog it, so carry that on.

Model Your Packing On Clear Rules

Regulator pages give precise thresholds and plain charts. The TSA power bank rule spells out that power banks and other spare lithium cells cannot be in checked bags. The FAA’s PackSafe batteries chart lists the 100 Wh and 160 Wh cabin limits and shows which chemistries may ride in the hold. Those pages align with airline guidance and work well as proof at check-in. Carrier pages can be stricter, so read your airline’s dangerous goods section before you pack.

Reference Table: Limits, Labels, And Packing Notes

Fast Checklist Before You Zip The Bag

1) Sort By Chemistry

Put every lithium spare in your carry-on. Keep dry cells you plan to check in cases.

2) Protect Terminals

Use retail packs, plastic cases, or tape. No loose cells rolling around with metal gear.

3) Disable Devices

Shut down, flip locks, and guard triggers. Remove drone props or camera motor plates if they can move in the bag.

4) Label Big Packs

Print the Wh or lithium content and stick it on the pack. That helps if staff need to verify size at the counter.

5) When In Doubt, Carry It On

The cabin is where crews can reach a smoking device fast. A little reshuffle at home beats a call back to the counter.

Pack smart, label well, and keep spares with you. Do that and battery questions at the counter turn into quick nods, not delays. If a staffer asks for details, show the Wh or gram figure and the printed policy links on your phone.