Travel guides / At the airport
At the airportPower banks and batteries on planes: the rules
Power banks and spare lithium batteries are never allowed in checked bags. In 2026 many airlines also limited how many you can bring and where you can keep them on board.
The basic rules
- Carry-on only. Spare lithium batteries, including all power banks, are not allowed in checked luggage.
- Up to 100 Wh: allowed in carry-on (most phone power banks are well under this).
- 100 to 160 Wh: usually needs the airline's approval, and airlines limit how many.
- Over 160 Wh: not allowed on passenger planes.
- Protect the ends from short circuits: keep each battery in its case or tape over exposed terminals.
Newer airline rules (2026)
After a series of battery fires, the UN aviation agency ICAO set new rules in March 2026, including a limit of two power banks per passenger and a ban on recharging them during flights. Many airlines added their own rules, such as not storing power banks in the overhead bin and limiting how many you bring. Rules differ by airline and keep changing, so check your airline's page before you fly.
How to work out watt-hours
Many power banks show capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh). Watt-hours = mAh × volts ÷ 1,000. Most power banks use 3.7 volts, so a 20,000 mAh bank is about 20,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh, under 100 Wh. A 27,000 mAh bank is about 100 Wh. Check the label, which often states Wh directly.
Other battery-powered items
Laptops, phones and cameras are fine in carry-on. If you check a bag with a device that has a battery inside, switch it off fully and protect it from being switched on. E-cigarettes and vapes must stay in your carry-on.
Handy tools
Keep reading
- TSA liquids rule (3-1-1): what you can bring in your carry-on
- TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry: which should you get?
- Arriving in the US: what you must declare at customs
Sources
Rules, fees and processing times change. Check the official sources above before you travel. Last checked October 2026.