Yes, power banks belong in your carry-on; spare lithium batteries can’t go in checked bags under aviation safety rules.
Portable chargers keep phones, tablets, and cameras alive when outlets are scarce. Airlines and security teams allow them on board, but they must ride in the cabin. That single rule drives most packing choices. Below you’ll find limits, simple conversions, packing steps, and airline nuances so your charger clears security without drama.
Carrying A Power Bank In Your Carry-On: Limits And Steps
Global aviation guidance treats a power bank as a spare lithium-ion battery. Spare cells can’t sit in the cargo hold. They stay with you in the cabin where crews can spot heat, smoke, or swelling and act fast. In the United States, the FAA’s PackSafe page spells out size tiers and carry rules. IATA’s 2025 passenger guide mirrors the same approach across borders. Links to both appear mid-article so you can double-check specifics.
Quick Allowance Table
The ranges below fit nearly every consumer charger. Check your label for “Wh” (watt-hours). If it only shows mAh and volts, use the conversion tip in the next section.
| Battery Size | Carry-On | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 Wh | Yes (no airline approval needed) | No |
| 101–160 Wh | Yes (airline approval; max two spares) | No |
| Over 160 Wh | No (cargo only, via shipper rules) | No |
What Those Numbers Mean
Watt-hours express stored energy. Most phone-size packs sit between 10–40 Wh. Big bricks for laptops land near 60–99 Wh. If your label lists only milliamp-hours (mAh) and volts (V), multiply V × (mAh ÷ 1000) to get Wh. A 20,000 mAh pack at 3.7 V is about 74 Wh (3.7 × 20 Ah).
How Many Power Banks You Can Bring
Under 100 Wh, US rules don’t set a hard count for personal use, but airlines can still cap quantities. For 101–160 Wh, expect a limit of two spares with airline approval. Outside the US, IATA guidance sets overall limits on spares, and operators can tighten that after incidents or during busy periods. When in doubt, keep it to one or two and check your carrier’s page before you pack.
Rules You’ll See At The Checkpoint
Keep It In The Cabin
If a gate agent tags your carry-on for planeside check, remove the charger and take it on board. Crews need quick access if a battery misbehaves.
Protect The Terminals
Short circuits create heat. Cover exposed ports with tape, carry the bank in a sleeve, or place it in a small pouch so metal items can’t bridge the contacts.
Pack Smart Around Other Gear
Stacking batteries together is a bad idea. Spread them across pockets. Keep cables tidy and avoid crushing loads. If your charger looks swollen or smells odd, leave it at home.
How To Read Your Label And Convert mAh To Wh
Most chargers print voltage and capacity on the case. Common values: 3.6–3.85 V nominal for single-cell packs, 7.2–7.7 V for two-cell designs, and so on. To compare against airline rules, convert to Wh with the simple math below.
Conversion Steps
- Find the nominal voltage (V) and capacity in mAh.
- Convert mAh to Ah by dividing by 1,000.
- Multiply V × Ah to get Wh.
Example: A 26,800 mAh bank at 3.7 V equals 99.16 Wh, which fits under the common 100 Wh threshold.
Where To Verify The Rules
In the US, the FAA’s PackSafe lithium batteries page lists the 100 Wh tier, the 101–160 Wh approval path, and the carry-on-only rule for spare cells. For cross-border trips, IATA’s passenger lithium battery guidance explains the same limits and adds a table that treats power banks as spare batteries restricted to cabin bags.
Common Edge Cases Travelers Ask About
Battery Cases And Snap-On Packs
Clip-on phone cases with built-in cells count as spare batteries when they’re not attached to a device. Carry them in the cabin. Turn them off during flight unless the crew says charging is OK.
Smart Luggage With A Built-In Bank
Removable? Pop the battery out before you check the bag and carry that module in the cabin. Non-removable packs in smart suitcases are widely banned for check-in. Many airlines refuse the entire bag if the cell can’t be removed.
Camera, Drone, And Tool Packs
Large packs for professional cameras or FPV drones can exceed 100 Wh. That’s the zone where airline approval and a strict two-spare limit kick in. Bring proof of Wh rating on the label or the spec sheet because staff may ask.
Solar Chargers And Power Stations
Panels without batteries are fine in either bag, size permitting. “Portable power stations” often exceed 160 Wh, which means they can’t travel as personal baggage at all. Ship them instead.
Packing Checklist That Speeds You Through Security
- Charge the bank to a moderate level; avoid 100% if you won’t use it soon.
- Place each battery in its own pocket, sleeve, or pouch.
- Tape over exposed ports if your case design leaves metal rings bare.
- Carry proof of watt-hours: a photo of the label or a spec page screenshot.
- Keep the bank accessible; you might be asked to remove it for screening.
- Turn it off once seated unless the airline allows inflight charging.
Troubleshooting: When A Charger Gets Flagged
Missing Or Faded Label
No visible Wh rating slows everything down. If staff can’t verify size, they can refuse the battery. A quick workaround is the math shown earlier plus a copy of the maker’s spec page on your phone.
Bulging, Scorched, Or Wet
Damage equals no-go. Do not attempt to fly with a pack that looks swollen, smells sweet or “solvent-like,” or shows scorch marks. Replace it at home and recycle the old one at an approved site.
Gate-Check Surprise
Full flights sometimes force last-minute bag checks. Pull the charger and keep it with you. Crews repeat this reminder during busy seasons for a reason: fast access matters during a smoke event.
Regional Nuances You Might Meet
A few carriers add usage rules on top of carry-on placement. You may see lines like “keep the device visible while charging,” “no charging inside overhead bins,” or “no use during taxi, takeoff, and landing.” Those tweaks don’t change the core rule—spares in the cabin only—but they do shape your inflight routine.
Airline And Security Logic Behind The Rules
Lithium-ion cells can enter a failure loop called thermal runaway. Heat rises fast, nearby cells join in, and smoke fills the space. In a cabin, crews have fire bags, halon extinguishers, and training to cool, contain, and monitor. In a sealed cargo hold, detection and access take longer. That’s why portable chargers ride up top with passengers.
Frequently Checked Specs By Category
Use this cheat sheet to plan purchases and trips. Aim for a label that prints Wh clearly and a design with recessed ports and a hard shell.
| Charger Type | Typical Wh | Travel Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket phone bank (10,000–20,000 mAh) | 37–74 Wh | Carry in cabin; no approval needed |
| Large laptop bank (26,800–30,000 mAh) | 95–110 Wh | Under 100 Wh clears easily; 101–160 Wh needs airline OK |
| Pro camera/drone pack | 100–160 Wh | Two spares max with approval |
| Portable power station | >160 Wh | Not allowed as baggage |
Simple Carry Strategy That Always Works
Pick The Right Size
Target 20,000–26,800 mAh at 3.6–3.85 V if you want the biggest pack that stays under 100 Wh. That size runs a phone for days and clears rules in most regions without extra paperwork.
Store It The Right Way
Use a slim sleeve. Keep it away from coins and keys. Avoid leaving it on a hot dash or under direct sun. Heat ages cells and invites failure.
Label Matters
Pick models with a clear Wh print. If you build custom packs for field gear, print your own label that shows V, Ah, and Wh. Airport staff work faster when numbers are obvious.
Why This Guide Matches Official Rules
The carry rules above align with the FAA’s PackSafe page (spares in the cabin only; 100 Wh default tier; up to two spares in the 101–160 Wh range with airline approval) and IATA’s passenger guidance for 2025, which treats power banks as spare batteries restricted to cabin bags worldwide. Those sources are linked earlier so you can verify details directly.
Edge Questions Travelers Often Raise
Can You Put A Power Bank In Checked Bags If It’s Empty?
No. Even an empty-looking shell contains active cells, and spares belong in the cabin.
Do You Need To Show Power Level?
Screeners rarely ask, but some may request a power-on. A partial charge helps prove it’s a normal device.
Do Wireless Banks Count?
Yes. The charging method doesn’t change the battery type or the limits.
What About NiMH Or Alkaline Bricks?
These chemistries pose less heat risk. Packs that aren’t lithium follow different size rules, yet most “power banks” on the market today use lithium-ion, so plan for the lithium policy.
Final Pack List Before You Leave Home
- One labeled charger under 100 Wh
- Soft sleeve or pouch
- Short cable to avoid strain
- Tape for exposed ports
- Photo of the spec label