Yes — chargers and cables are allowed in hand carry; power banks and other spare lithium batteries must ride in your carry-on, not in checked bags.
Airports screen thousands of cables and plugs every day. Most of them sail through. The only time trouble starts is when a “charger” is actually a battery. That’s where rules kick in. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense guide you can trust before you zip that bag.
Bringing A Charger In Your Hand Carry: The Rules
Wall chargers and cables are fine in your hand carry and fine in a checked bag. Portable chargers (power banks) are different, since they’re spare lithium batteries. Those must stay in the cabin with you. Devices with batteries installed, like phones and laptops, can go in your hand carry; if you check them, switch them fully off and protect them from damage.
| Item | Hand Carry (Cabin) | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Wall charger / power adapter | Yes | Yes |
| USB / Lightning / USB-C cable | Yes | Yes |
| Power bank ≤ 100 Wh | Yes | No |
| Power bank 101–160 Wh | Carry up to 2 with airline OK | No |
| Power bank > 160 Wh | No | No |
| Phone / tablet / laptop (battery installed) | Yes | Yes, switch off and protect |
| Spare lithium camera battery | Yes, protect terminals | No |
| AA/AAA alkaline batteries (spares) | Yes | Yes |
Those cabin rules exist for a simple reason: crew can deal with a smoking battery they can see. In a hold, that’s much harder. U.S. screeners say power banks belong in your carry-on, and global aviation bodies publish shared capacity lines for watt-hours and the number of spares you may carry.
You’ll find the official language on the TSA page for power banks and in IATA’s lithium battery factsheet.
What Counts As A Charger?
People use “charger” in two ways. One is a power adapter: the little brick that plugs into the wall. The other is a power bank: a battery that can top up your phone away from an outlet. Aviation rules treat these very differently, and that difference decides where each item rides.
Power Adapters And USB Bricks
These are passive. No battery inside, no watt-hour label, no sparks if crushed. Put them in your hand carry so you can reach them at the gate. If you drop one in checked baggage, that’s fine too. A compact dual-port USB-C block saves space and charges phones, tablets, and many laptops with one plug.
Power Banks And Charging Cases
These are spare lithium batteries. Keep them in your hand carry and never in checked baggage. Most daily-use packs sit under 100 Wh. Bigger models used for film gear can push past that. Up to 160 Wh may ride in the cabin with airline approval, two spares max. Anything over that stays home. Charging cases count as spares as well, even when snapped onto a phone.
Magnetic Packs And Snap-On Batteries
That slim magnetic pack for your phone counts as a power bank. Same cabin-only rule. If it’s built into a case, treat it the same way and keep it within reach under the seat on lines that require that placement. Don’t tuck a warm pack into a tight pocket where heat can build.
Battery Limits And Simple Watt-Hour Math
Airlines and regulators use watt-hours (Wh) to size a battery. Power banks often print only milliamp-hours (mAh). Convert by multiplying mAh by voltage and dividing by 1000. The quick math looks like this: Wh = (mAh × V) ÷ 1000. A clear Wh mark on the label keeps screening quick and avoids awkward back-and-forth at the lane.
Two Handy Checks
Label Check
Scan the casing for a Wh figure. If it shows 27 Wh, you’re under the common 100 Wh line. If it shows 130 Wh, you’ll need airline approval and you’re limited to two spares. If nothing is printed, staff may reject the pack because they can’t verify capacity on the spot.
Math Check
No Wh printed? Use the formula. A 20,000 mAh pack at 3.7 V equals 74 Wh. That’s cabin-only and within the usual limit. A 26,800 mAh pack at 3.7 V lands at 99 Wh, also cabin-only. Packs marketed for laptops sometimes use 14.8 V cells; the same mAh at a higher voltage yields a higher Wh, so check twice.
Airline And Country Differences
Security rules share a common base from ICAO and IATA. Airlines then publish house rules on top. Some carriers now forbid using power banks during the flight and ask you to stash them under the seat. Others simply say keep them off and in sight. The carriage limits in the table above still apply, and the cabin-only rule doesn’t change.
Smart Bags And Removable Batteries
If your suitcase has a built-in battery pack, remove it before you check the bag. Carry the battery in the cabin like any power bank. If the battery can’t be removed, the bag usually isn’t accepted. Don’t forget the tiny screwdriver or release key if your model needs one.
Regional Notes
Screeners in many countries follow the 100 Wh / 160 Wh thresholds and the two-spare cap for larger packs. Labels matter. Bring a pack without markings and you risk a surrender at the checkpoint. Some markets also require local certification marks on the label for flights inside that country, so a clearly printed shell helps everywhere you roam.
Packing Tips That Speed Up Screening
Neat packing helps both you and the officer. A tidy charger kit means fewer questions and faster bins.
- Bundle cables with soft ties and keep them in a small pouch.
- Place power banks in a side pocket you can reach without emptying the bag.
- Cover exposed battery terminals on camera cells, or use plastic sleeves.
- Switch laptops and tablets fully off if you’re gate-checking a bag.
- Keep your charger kit near the top of your hand carry; you may be asked to take items out.
Airport Screening: What Officers Look For
Security teams scan for dense blocks, live batteries, and clutter. A tight ball of cables wrapped around a metal brick looks messy on a screen, so keep the layout flat. If asked, place power banks in a tray by themselves. Many lanes now use CT scanners that read through bags well, yet a clean layout still shortens the conversation.
Expect questions about capacity and labels. If your pack lists mAh only, have the quick Wh math ready on your phone. Officers may run a visual check for cracks, swelling, or scorch marks. A puffed battery should never fly; recycle it before your trip. If a device powers on by accident in a checked bag, it can heat up in a tight space, so use switch covers and cases.
Gate-Check Moments And Transfers
Full flights sometimes force cabin bags into the hold at the gate. Don’t let a power bank go with it. If staff place a tag on your bag, pull all spares, charging cases, and any loose lithium batteries before handing it over. Tuck them into a jacket pocket or a small sling so you don’t block the aisle during boarding.
During tight connections, you might also hand over a bag on the jet bridge. The same rule applies. Keep spares with you, keep labels visible, and keep packs switched off. If your airline bans in-seat use of power banks, charge up at the gate and use seat USB or AC for the hop if available.
Choosing Travel-Friendly Chargers
Pick a small USB-C charger that handles your kit with one plug. A 30–45 W block covers phones, tablets, and many thin laptops; a 65 W block suits larger notebooks. Look for folding prongs and a slim profile that slips into seat pockets without snagging. For international trips, carry a compact plug adapter set rather than a bulky surge strip.
For power banks, stick to a clearly labeled pack under 100 Wh with USB-C PD. Two ports cover most families on a short flight. If you shoot video or carry a gaming laptop, check whether your airline allows 101–160 Wh packs with pre-approval and limit yourself to two spares. Keep spec sheets saved in your phone’s files in case markings wear off.
Device-Specific Notes
Phones And Tablets
Wall chargers, puck chargers, and cables may ride anywhere. Wireless pucks without batteries act like adapters, so they’re fine in checked bags too. Battery pucks and snap-on cases count as spares; keep them in the cabin and keep them idle during takeoff and landing.
Cameras And Action Gear
Spare lithium cells belong in your hand carry with terminals covered. Many small cells use plastic end caps; if you lost them, tape over the contacts and use a tiny parts case. Chargers for these cells are passive bricks, so they can go in any bag. Don’t pack a charger with a cell inserted unless you can lock the sliders open.
E-Readers, Game Consoles, And Headsets
These travel like other personal devices. Keep them in the cabin when possible. If you place one in a checked bag, shut it down fully and cushion it. Headsets with removable batteries should travel like other spares, with the cell removed and carried in the cabin.
Troubleshooting At Security
If a power bank gets flagged, it’s often a label issue. Offer the Wh figure if printed, or state the math if it’s mAh-only. If the pack looks damaged, be ready to part with it. If a charger triggers a re-scan, spread cables flat and separate dense items into a tray. A calm, tidy repack gets you back on your way fast.
Common Mistakes And Better Moves
Here are the slip-ups that stall people at the belt, plus the easy fix for each one.
| Slip-Up | What Happens | Better Move |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank in checked bag | Bag gets flagged; battery removed or refused | Pack all spares in your hand carry |
| No label on the pack | Security can’t verify capacity | Choose a marked pack; keep specs handy on your phone |
| Loose camera batteries | Risk of short circuit | Cover terminals or use cases |
| Huge “laptop” pack bought for camping | Over 160 Wh isn’t accepted | Use a smaller pack for flights |
| Stuffing everything in one tangle | Manual bag search | Use a flat pouch with zip pockets |
| Trying to use a power bank on airlines that ban it | Seat warning or crew confiscation during flight | Charge at the gate; use seat USB if allowed |
What About Other Chargers And Accessories?
Travelers carry more than phone bricks. Here’s how the rest fit so you pack with confidence and avoid repacks at the lane.
Multi-Port Power Strips
Most lines allow them in the cabin. Cruise-style surge strips sometimes get flagged, so a small non-surge cube is a safer pick. Some airlines ban plugging strips into seat power; when in doubt, use one port at a time and keep heat-heavy gear off soft seat fabrics.
Car Chargers And Cables
These are passive accessories. Toss them in your hand carry or checked bag. No battery means no special limit, and no watt-hour label is needed.
External Laptop Batteries
Clip-on replacements and extended packs count as spares. The same watt-hour rules apply. Keep them in your hand carry and protect the contacts. If the pack swells or clicks oddly when pressed, retire it. A fresh cell is cheaper than a missed flight.
Quick Pre-Flight Checklist
- Wall chargers and cables packed? You’re fine in hand carry or checked.
- Power banks in the cabin only? Good.
- Under 100 Wh, or airline approval ready for 101–160 Wh (two spares max)?
- Labels visible and terminals protected?
- Smart bag battery removed if you’re checking it?
Final Checks Before You Fly
If your plan is to keep devices topped up from gate to seat, pack wall chargers, a compact cable roll, and a labeled power bank under 100 Wh. Place batteries where you can reach them and where crew can see them. Keep packs switched off on board unless your airline allows use, and never leave a charging battery buried in a bag.