Is It Allowed To Carry Power Bank In Flight? | Safe List

You want power on the go, and a portable charger helps. Airline and security rules allow these batteries on board with clear limits. Keep them in hand luggage, stay within watt-hour caps, and protect the terminals and cables. The guide below shows thresholds, how to read your label, and what to do at the checkpoint.

Carrying A Power Bank On A Plane: The Limits

Lithium-ion packs used for phones, tablets, and cameras fall under spare battery rules. That means they must ride in the cabin, not the hold. Most everyday packs sit under 100 watt hours (Wh) and fly without paperwork. Units in the 101–160 Wh band need the airline to say yes. Packs beyond 160 Wh do not fly with passengers.

Here’s the capacity chart many agents use when screening. It mirrors the common thresholds you’ll see across airlines and safety agencies.

Battery Size	Carry-On	Airline Approval
0–100 Wh	Allowed	No
101–160 Wh	Allowed	Yes (usually up to two spares)
>160 Wh	Not allowed	N/A

Why Power Banks Stay Out Of Checked Bags

Spare lithium cells can overheat if crushed, shorted, or damaged. In a cabin, crew can cool a device fast. In a cargo hold, detection and response take longer. That is why screeners ask you to keep spares with you and remove them from any bag taken at the gate.

Capacity, Watt Hours, And Labels

Rules refer to watt hours, not milliamp hours. Many packs print Wh on the case. If you only see mAh, you can convert using this: Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × voltage. Most small packs use 3.6–3.85 V cells; many labels list 3.7 V as the nominal figure.

A few quick examples help. A 10,000 mAh pack at 3.7 V equals around 37 Wh. A 20,000 mAh pack works out near 74 Wh. The popular 26,800 mAh size lands near 99.2 Wh, which sits just under the free-to-carry cap on most airlines.

Sample Conversions You Can Trust

Use these figures to sanity-check a product page or a worn-off label. When in doubt, pick the lower voltage (3.6–3.7 V) for a safe estimate.

Airline Approval And Quantity Caps

If you carry a pro-grade battery between 101 and 160 Wh, contact your airline before you fly. Many carriers allow up to two of these as spares per person with prior approval; see the aviation safety chart. Keep them in the cabin and cap the ports. Crew may ask to see the rating on the case.

Quantity limits can exist for smaller spares too. Some carriers cap total spares per person. Others follow the general safety note: batteries must be for personal use, not resale. Check your booking email for a dangerous goods link that lists any extra caps by brand.

Packing And Use Tips In The Cabin

Pack chargers where you can reach them. Do not bury a live pack in the seat pocket or wedge it under clothing. If a device smokes, place it on a hard surface and alert crew. Many airlines ask that portable chargers never run while sealed inside a bag.

Protection Against Short Circuits

Keep each spare in its own sleeve or small pouch. Cap exposed ports with caps or tape. Avoid loose coins or metal keyrings near the leads. Do not bring swollen, cracked, or recalled units; those can be refused at screening.

When A Bag Is Gate-Checked

If a full flight forces a roller to the hold at the jet bridge, take the pack out before you hand over the bag. This also applies to camera and drone spares. Agents may call for this during the boarding rush, so plan a quick grab spot in the top of your carry-on.

Regional Notes And Edge Cases

Security agencies publish clear pages on battery rules. In the United States, the screening page for power banks states that these must ride in hand luggage, never in checked bags. That page lists watt-hour bands and airline approval notes. Many carriers align with the global body’s passenger lithium battery guidance.

Some airlines restrict in-flight use of packs even when carriage is allowed. A few carriers ask that you only charge devices when the pack stays in sight, not inside a bag or seat pocket. If a crew member asks you to unplug, follow the instruction.

Here’s a second chart you can scan during packing. It maps common retail sizes to rough Wh and the usual status on mainstream carriers.

Labeled Capacity	Approx. Wh	Usual Status
5,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	18.5 Wh	Carry-on OK
10,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	37 Wh	Carry-on OK
20,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	74 Wh	Carry-on OK
26,800 mAh @ 3.7 V	~99.2 Wh	Carry-on OK
30,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	~111 Wh	Carry-on with approval
40,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	~148 Wh	Carry-on with approval
>43,000 mAh @ 3.7 V	>160 Wh	Not allowed

Quick Troubleshooter At The Airport

Label missing? Ask the maker for a spec sheet or bring a printout that shows Wh. If staff cannot verify rating, the pack can be refused. Ports exposed? Add tape at the counter. Bag taken at the bridge? Move spares to your jacket or personal item before you hand the case over.

What Counts As A Power Bank

Screeners treat any standalone rechargeable pack with USB, USB-C, or DC outputs as a spare lithium battery. That includes puck-style keychain chargers, MagSafe-style snap-on plates, laptop bricks with DC cables, and battery phone cases. If the cell sits outside a device and can charge other gear, it falls under the spare rule.

Some bags and suitcases ship with built-in packs. Many brands design a slot so you can remove the cell. Do that before you reach the x-ray belt. A fixed, non-removable pack inside luggage can lead to a refusal at check-in.

Checklist Before You Fly

Run through this quick list the day before travel. It keeps your gear within the common safety rules and saves time at screening.

1. Confirm the rating on the case. Look for “XX Wh” or convert from mAh using 3.7 V.
2. Stay at or under 100 Wh if you can. Ask the carrier for approval if you need the 101–160 Wh band.
3. Pack spares in carry-on only. Never place them in checked luggage.
4. Cap ports and terminals. Use caps, tape, or a sleeve.
5. Separate each spare. Keep coins and metal keyrings away from leads.
6. Charge packs the night before. Do not charge while they sit in a bag.
7. Print or save the tech sheet for staff if the label is worn.
8. Move packs to your person if a roller is taken at the bridge.

Charging Etiquette On Board

Keep the pack where you can see and touch it. Do not leave it buried in a backpack while a cable snakes to your seat. If the shell feels hot or you smell smoke, unplug and call crew. Many carriers ask that you only run a charger during cruise, not during taxi, takeoff, or landing.

Cameras, Drones, And E-Bikes

Cams and drones use removable lithium packs. Treat spares like any other battery: cabin only, ports capped, ratings visible. Drone packs tend to list Wh clearly; bring the box flap or a photo if the print is tiny. Foldable drones may carry two or more cells in one pack; the printed Wh already reflects that setup.

Large e-mobility batteries sit well above the passenger cap. E-bike and scooter packs often exceed 160 Wh and do not travel with passengers. Reach out to the carrier about cargo options if you must ship one separately.

Common Misconceptions

“Checked is fine if it is switched off.” Not true for spares. The rule targets the energy source, not the power switch. The cabin rule applies even when the LEDs are dark.

“My pack is below 20,000 mAh, so rules do not apply.” mAh alone does not set carriage. The watt-hour band does. Use the conversion and confirm the printed Wh.

“A laptop plugged into a pack in my backpack is fine.” Crew need to see and reach a charger if it overheats. Keep charging gear in sight and unplug during taxi and landing when asked.

How To Read Airline Pages

Most carriers host a “dangerous goods” page. Look for a table row called lithium batteries or portable chargers. You should see the same three bands: up to 100 Wh, 101–160 Wh, and over 160 Wh. Many pages say “no in checked baggage” in plain text. If a page lists milliamp hours, you can still map it to Wh using 3.7 V.

Two official resources back these limits. The screening agency’s item page for power banks states carry-on only, and the aviation safety chart explains the watt-hour bands and the two-spare approval rule. The global industry body’s passenger guide mirrors the same bands for worldwide carriers.

Bottom Line For Travelers

Bring your charger in hand luggage only. Keep spares under 100 Wh for a smooth trip, or request approval in advance for the 101–160 Wh band. Protect ports, keep packs where you can see them, and follow crew instructions.