Can You Have A Lithium Battery In Checked Luggage? | The Ban

Picture this: you drop your laptop into a checked bag without thinking. No problem there. But toss a spare power bank or a pack of AA lithiums into the same suitcase and security might stop your luggage cold.

That gray area catches travelers off guard every day. The FAA draws a firm line between installed devices and spare batteries. Devices containing batteries are generally allowed in checked baggage. Spare lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, including portable chargers and power banks, are not. Understanding that line saves you a headache at the airport.

The Hard Rule on Lithium Battery Checked Luggage

According to FAA regulations, spare lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries are prohibited in checked baggage. This includes power banks, portable chargers, electronic cigarettes, and loose batteries for cameras or laptops.

Devices with installed lithium-ion batteries — like a laptop, smartphone, or tablet — are generally allowed in checked bags. The key word is installed. If the battery is removable and packed separately, it belongs in your carry-on bag.

The FAA reinforced this guidance with a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 25002) in August 2025. The alert reminded airlines about the hazard of storing lithium batteries in areas not easily accessible to the crew during flight.

Why the Lithium Battery Rule Changes How You Pack

Once you know the rule, it changes your entire packing strategy. You can’t just toss all your electronics into one bag and walk away. Here is what that means in practice:

• Power banks stay in your carry-on: That portable charger for your phone lives in your personal item or carry-on bag. No exceptions under the current rules.
• Laptops in checked bags are allowed but risky: Packing a laptop in checked luggage is permitted, but it’s also more likely to get damaged or stolen. Most travelers keep expensive electronics in their carry-on anyway.
• Terminal protection is mandatory: Exposed terminals can short-circuit and cause a fire. Tape the terminals or put the battery in its original packaging before flying.
• Watt-hour rating matters: Batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require airline approval before your trip. Anything over 160 Wh is prohibited on passenger aircraft entirely.

The risk isn’t theoretical. Lithium battery fires in cargo holds can’t be reached by crew, which is why the FAA and TSA take the ban seriously across all airlines.

What the FAA Says About Fire Risk

The FAA has long studied thermal runaway in cargo compartments. Lithium batteries can overheat if damaged or short-circuited, and cargo holds on passenger aircraft lack the fire suppression systems found in the cabin.

The FAA’s page on lithium batteries in baggage uses the exact phrase prohibited in checked baggage to make the rule clear. If a fire starts in the cargo hold, the crew simply cannot take immediate action to extinguish it before serious damage occurs.

The table covers the standard rule enforced by the FAA and follow by most US airlines. Individual carriers may adopt slightly stricter policies, so a quick check of your airline’s website is always a good idea.

What Happens If You Accidentally Leave a Battery in Checked Luggage

Accidents happen. If you realize a lithium battery is in your checked bag after you’ve already checked it, here is what you can expect at the airport.

1. Security screening detects the battery: Baggage scanners are trained to spot batteries in luggage. If found, the bag may be pulled from the plane and you may be paged over the airport intercom.
2. You have two options at that point: Retrieve the battery and place it in your carry-on, or surrender the item to security. Most airports have a designated area for this process.
3. Repeated violations can lead to fines: While a first mistake usually results in a delay or a warning, the FAA can levy fines for knowingly violating hazardous materials rules on passenger flights.

If you find the battery before security, most airlines let you open your checked bag at the check-in counter to retrieve it. It is much easier to catch it early than to deal with a bag delay later.

International Rules and Safe Packing Tips

The TSA’s What Can I Bring tool marks spare lithium batteries as prohibited in checked luggage, directing them to carry-on bags instead. IATA, the global trade association for airlines, enforces similar rules on international flights worldwide.

Travelers flying outside the US should check local regulations. Some countries set stricter limits on battery capacity and quantity than US rules.

How to Pack Batteries for a Flight

Following these steps keeps you in compliance with FAA and TSA rules and helps your trip go smoothly without unexpected bag checks or delays.

The Bottom Line

Spare lithium batteries, including power banks and portable chargers, are prohibited in checked luggage under FAA rules and must go in your carry-on. Devices with installed batteries, like laptops and phones, are generally allowed in checked bags.

Before you fly, check your specific airline’s website for their battery policy or contact your destination country’s embassy if you are connecting internationally — rules on approved devices can vary from the TSA and FAA baseline you rely on at home.