Can Battery Chargers Go In Hand Luggage? | What To Know

Taking Battery Chargers In Hand Luggage: Rules You’ll Use

“Battery charger” gets used for two clearly different things. One is a plug-in wall brick or USB-C adapter with no battery inside. The other is a portable charger, often called a power bank, which does contain a lithium cell. Screeners treat them differently. Portable chargers count as spare batteries and belong in cabin bags. Plug-in chargers and cables can ride in either bag.

If you only pack a phone brick and a cord, toss them in your carry-on or your checked suitcase and you’re fine. If you carry a power bank, keep it in hand luggage so crew can reach it if needed. That’s the rule set you’ll see on both the TSA “Phone Chargers” page and the FAA PackSafe lithium battery page.

Quick Status By Item

Carry-On Limits Most Travelers Meet

Airlines cap spare lithium-ion batteries by watt-hours. Up to 100 Wh per battery is the standard cabin limit. Many common power banks are well under that. Packs rated between 101 and 160 Wh can fly in hand luggage when a carrier says yes, and most carriers cap those at two pieces. Anything above 160 Wh sits outside passenger rules.

Why the cabin-only rule for spares and portable chargers? Crew can spot, cool, and isolate a smoking cell in the cabin. That isn’t practical in a closed hold. The FAA’s guidance mirrors this policy and asks travelers to protect terminals from shorting with caps, tape, or a case.

Find The Watt-Hours On Your Power Bank

Look for “Wh” on the label. If you only see “mAh” and “V,” you can convert with a simple formula: Wh = (mAh × V) ÷ 1,000. A 10,000 mAh pack at 3.7 V works out to 37 Wh. A 26,800 mAh pack at 3.7 V lands near 99 Wh, which fits the common cabin limit.

Pack It So Screeners Say Yes

Place the power bank where you can reach it fast. Use a small pouch to avoid loose metal contact. Cap exposed contacts on camera battery chargers and spare cells. Power off devices with built-in batteries and keep them from switching on. If agents ask you to remove the charger, do it just like a laptop.

Security Screening: Make It Easy

At the checkpoint, place portable chargers near the top of your bag. Set the pack beside your phone or laptop if a bin is requested. Keep cords tidy so they don’t hide the pack on the X-ray image. Agents may swab a power bank or ask you to power a device; that’s routine. If a pack or cable looks scuffed, retire it. A tidy kit scans faster.

Reading Charger Labels And Specs

Labels carry clues screeners look for. A good power bank shows capacity in mAh, the nominal voltage, and a Wh number. If you see only mAh, note the math in your phone’s notes app so you can state the Wh on request. Chargers without batteries list only input and output ratings, such as 100–240 V and USB-C PD wattage. A charging hub with its own wall cord still counts as a charger, not a battery, unless it includes an internal cell. If the box says “portable battery,” treat it like a power bank. Keep receipts.

When A Bag Is Packed Tight

Overstuffed bags cause rescans. Leave a small aisle in your backpack so a screener can see the charger outline. Hard cases around a pack are fine, though clear sleeves scan best. If your tech pouch sits on top, you can lift it out in one motion without digging. A simple routine saves time: charger on top, cables coiled, specs handy on your phone.

Checked Bag: What Stays Out

Spare lithium cells and power banks don’t go in checked baggage. If a gate agent checks your carry-on at the door, pull those items before handing over the bag. Wall bricks, USB hubs without cells, and cables can remain inside a checked suitcase.

Devices with batteries installed, like cameras and laptops, may ride in a checked bag when powered down and protected from damage, though many travelers keep them in the cabin to reduce loss, theft, and damage risk.

International Flights And Airline Rules

Across regions, the broad pattern holds: spares and power banks in the cabin, size limits by Wh, and two larger spares allowed with approval. European carriers follow similar limits and publish notices that match the spirit of FAA and TSA guidance. If you’re near the 100–160 Wh band or carrying specialty packs, ask your airline for written approval before you fly.

Transfers And Gate-Check Moments

Connections can shuffle bag plans. You might board with a full-size carry-on, then crew asks for a planeside check on a tight flight. Before handing it over, pull every portable charger and spare battery. Slip them into a tote or jacket pocket. The same goes for camera cells and charging cases. If you forget and the bag leaves your sight, tell the gate agent right away so it can be retrieved and screened again. For pickup.

Watt-Hour Quick Reference

Frequently Missed Details

Damaged Or Recalled Batteries

Swollen, cracked, or recalled cells shouldn’t fly. Replace them and check any recall notices from the maker. Airlines and regulators treat damaged lithium packs as a safety risk.

Markings And Labels

Many power banks print the Wh rating. If yours only shows mAh, bring a quick photo of the spec sheet from the maker’s site. Labels help screeners trust the numbers and speed you along.

Using A Power Bank On Board

Some crews limit charging during taxi, takeoff, and landing. If a device overheats, unplug it, move it to a clear spot, and tell the crew. Follow crew instructions at all times.

Smart Packing Checklist For Chargers

1. Bring only what you’ll use; leave bulky packs at home unless you need them.
2. Carry power banks in hand luggage and keep them easy to reach.
3. Cap terminals or store spares in a protective sleeve or case.
4. Print or save the Wh rating and model details for any large packs.
5. Keep wall chargers and cables in a small zip bag so security can see them.
6. Power devices fully off before boarding.
7. Remove power banks from any bag that gets checked at the gate.

Quick Answers To Common Scenarios

Laptop Brick In Hand Luggage

That’s a wall charger with no cell inside. It can go in hand luggage or in a checked case. Coiling the cable cleanly helps during screening.

MagSafe Or USB-C Cable Only

Cables have no cells, so they’re fine in any bag. Tuck them in a pouch so they don’t tangle with zippers or metal items.

Camera Battery Charger And Spare Cells

The charger brick itself can go anywhere. Spare lithium camera batteries ride in your cabin bag with caps on the contacts or in a small case.

Charging Case For Earbuds

Those cases contain a lithium cell. Treat them like a small power bank and keep them in hand luggage.

Smooth Screening, Trip Starts Right

Sort items by type before you leave home: plug-in chargers and cables on one side, any portable chargers on the other. Know the Wh number on each pack, keep the cabin-only items where you can reach them, and you’ll pass through the checkpoint with less back-and-forth.