How Many Power Banks Are Allowed On A Plane? | Carry-On Rules Guide

Air travel rules group power banks with spare lithium-ion batteries. That means they ride in the cabin, never in the hold. The exact count depends on battery size and the operator’s policy, with a clear cap for mid-sized units. This guide lays out the limits, how to read watt-hours, and a simple packing plan that clears security without drama.

Power Bank Limits At A Glance

Two size bands matter on passenger flights. Small packs under 100 watt-hours (Wh) are routine. Larger packs from 101 to 160Wh need airline sign-off, and only two spares per person are allowed. Anything above 160Wh stays home. All of them go in carry-on only with terminals protected from short-circuit.

Capacity	Carry-On Allowed?	Notes
Up to 100Wh (≈ up to ~27,000 mAh at 3.7V)	Yes	No fixed count in US rules; bring a personal-use number
101–160Wh	Yes, with airline approval	Max two spares per person
Over 160Wh	No	Not permitted on passenger aircraft
Any size in checked bag	No	Spare batteries and power banks must stay in the cabin

Why The Rules Treat Power Banks As Spare Batteries

A power bank is a lithium-ion battery with a control board and ports. It is still an uninstalled battery from a safety view, so it must remain where crew can respond fast. If a cell vents, cabin crews have training and tools nearby; that isn’t true for the cargo hold. That single difference explains the carry-on-only rule and the stricter handling for larger packs.

How Many Can You Bring Under 100Wh?

For sub-100Wh packs, US guidance doesn’t set a hard count. Screeners and carriers expect a reasonable quantity for personal use. Two to four slim chargers for phones, earbuds, and a tablet rarely raise eyebrows. A backpack full of ten bricks might. If you travel with gear for filming or field work, split packs among travelers in your group and keep receipts or specs handy.

Taking Multiple Battery Packs In Your Carry-On—Practical Tips

Pack them in a side pocket or a clear pouch so they’re easy to present. Tape or cover any exposed prongs on older models, or use terminal caps. Turn each unit off. Avoid daisy-chaining devices in the queue. Gate agents can require you to disconnect anything that looks live. If a carry-on gets tagged at the gate, remove the banks and keep them with you before the bag goes to the hold.

Close Variant: Allowed Power Banks On Flights—Approval Rules

Mid-sized units between 101 and 160Wh sit in a special lane. You may bring up to two spares if your airline agrees ahead of time. Approval can be as simple as a note in your booking or a quick confirmation email. Put the answer in writing, and carry a screenshot on boarding day. Expect agents to check labels and ask where the packs will be stored during the flight.

Checked Bag? That’s A No

Power banks and other spare lithium batteries may not ride in checked bags. If a gate agent needs to tag your cabin suitcase at the door, remove the banks first and keep them with you. This also applies to phone-case batteries and stick chargers. If the device has an internal battery and can’t be removed, power it off and follow the airline’s device rules for the cabin.

Reading Watt-Hours: mAh To Wh Converter You Can Do In Your Head

Manufacturers often print capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh). Aviation rules use watt-hours (Wh). Here’s the simple math:

Step-By-Step

1. Find the battery’s voltage. Most power banks list 3.7V (cell voltage) somewhere on the label.
2. Multiply mAh by that voltage.
3. Divide by 1,000. The result is Wh.

Quick Examples

• 10,000 mAh at 3.7V → 37 Wh (carry-on, no approval).
• 20,000 mAh at 3.7V → 74 Wh (carry-on, no approval).
• 27,000 mAh at 3.7V → 99.9 Wh (right under the threshold).
• 30,000 mAh at 3.7V → 111 Wh (needs airline approval; counts toward the two-spare limit).

Where To Place Packs During The Flight

Keep them where you can see and touch them quickly, like a seat pocket or small bag by your feet. Don’t bury a charging pack in an overhead bin. Some carriers also restrict in-seat charging during take-off and landing, and a few ban charging altogether on specific routes. If a pack warms up, disconnect and flag a crew member.

What Inspectors Look For At Security

Officers check labeling, signs of swelling, and loose wires. Bring banks with clear capacity markings. If the label is worn off, keep a product page or manual on your phone. Packs with dents or puffed shells can be refused. Recycle or replace them before you fly. A tidy pouch with covers on terminals makes the interaction quick and friendly.

Power Banks Inside Smart Luggage

Removable batteries are fine in the cabin. If the pack is built into the bag, you may be asked to detach it before gate-checking the suitcase. Bring the tiny screwdriver some brands include, or choose a model with a quick-release sled. If a suitcase battery can’t be removed, many carriers won’t accept it for the hold.

Regional Differences Travelers Should Know

Rules align across many countries, but operators can add their own twists. Canada uses the same 100Wh and 160Wh bands and calls for cabin-only carriage of spares. Some European carriers allow carriage but forbid in-flight recharging. Middle East and Asia-Pacific airlines publish similar charts yet apply stricter limits during certain events. When in doubt, search the airline’s battery page by route and aircraft type, and save a screenshot to your phone.

Approval Emails That Get A Fast Yes

Send a short note with model, Wh rating, a link to the spec sheet, and the sector you’re flying. Subject lines like “Battery approval request — 130Wh power bank” reach the right desk faster. Ask them to add a remark to your booking. Bring the reply to the airport. If a connection involves two carriers, check both.

What To Do If A Power Bank Overheats

Unplug devices. Place the bank on a hard surface where you can see it. Call a crew member. If smoke appears, follow crew directions. They have fire-containment tools and trained procedures. Don’t throw a smoking pack in a trash bin or cover it with clothing. If you notice a sweet chemical smell or hissing, stop charging at once and ask for help.

Sample Packing Plans For Common Trips

Weekend city break: One 10,000 mAh stick and one 20,000 mAh slab for a phone and tablet. Both are well under 100Wh.

Remote work week: Two 20,000 mAh packs for phones, earbuds, and a tablet, plus a slim laptop bank at ~70Wh.

Photo shoot: Two mid-sized 130Wh blocks for lights — ask for approval — and place them in a padded carry-on pouch.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Delays

• Putting any spare battery in checked luggage.
• Bringing oversized bricks above 160Wh.
• Arriving with unlabeled DIY packs or puffed cells.
• Using a power bank while it’s stuffed inside a bag.

Airline Snapshots And Differences

Carriers publish battery pages with plain charts. Two patterns repeat: the two-spare rule for 101–160Wh, and “carry-on only” for every spare. A few also ban in-flight charging. Here’s a quick look at policies from two large operators.

Airline	What Their Page Says	Extra Notes
Delta Air Lines	Two spares between 101–160Wh with approval; spares in cabin only	Over 160Wh not accepted
Lufthansa	Approval needed for 100–160Wh; no recharging of banks on board	Registers larger packs via service center

Devices With Internal Batteries Versus Spares

Phones, tablets, and laptops contain installed batteries. Those devices can ride in the cabin, and many airlines let a powered-off laptop ride in the hold as well. A power bank is different because it isn’t installed in a host device. That’s why it sits under the spare-battery rules. If you carry a camera grip with a removable pack, treat the pack as a spare when it’s outside the grip.

Massive Battery Stations And AC Inverter Bricks

Portable power stations for camping often start at 200Wh and climb fast. Units above 160Wh don’t fly on passenger aircraft. Even models in the 101–160Wh window need approval and count toward the two-spare cap. If you need heavy power at your destination, ship it by ground or rent locally. Smaller 60–90Wh packs paired with a USB-C laptop can cover short trips with no paperwork at all.

Dry Cells, NiMH, And Other Chemistries

Power banks are almost always lithium-ion. Dry alkaline and NiMH cells follow different allowances and aren’t the topic here, but they’re generally less restricted. If your kit includes AA or AAA cells, keep them boxed and tape a corner of the box closed so it won’t spill in the tray. Don’t mix these with loose coin cells where they can short against metal items.

Security Screening And X-Ray Questions

Place all banks in a single bin if an officer asks. Labels facing up help. If a screener can’t read the rating, be ready to show a spec sheet on your phone. A clear label that shows “Wh” is the fastest path. If you built a pack from cells, bring proof of rating and a tidy enclosure; homemade items with loose wires often get pulled for extra screening.

International Connections And Mixed Fleets

On a multi-airline itinerary, the strictest policy wins. A sector on a partner airline may have different charging rules or a firmer stance on mid-sized packs. If a ticket includes a regional turboprop leg, cabin stowage space is tight; keep banks in the personal item so they don’t get gate-checked by surprise. Save approvals and print them if your phone dies.

Label Checks Before You Leave Home

Look for a clear Wh rating, intact casing, and snug ports. If the pack has a power button, make sure it doesn’t wake in your bag. Use short, certified cables. If your model includes a built-in cable tail, coil it so the metal tip can’t scrape across coins or keys. Add a strip of painter’s tape over exposed USB-A prongs on old models.

Clear Takeaways For Smooth Travel

You can fly with several small power banks in your cabin bag. Aim for sub-100Wh units and you won’t need extra paperwork. If you carry mid-sized 101–160Wh bricks, secure airline approval and stop at two. Anything larger stays off passenger flights. Label, pack smart, and you’ll clear security fast while keeping your devices alive from gate to gate.

Helpful references: the FAA PackSafe lithium battery page and the TSA power bank item page.