Flying With a Power Bank: The Rules You Need to Know Before Your Next Flight

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A portable charger is one of the most useful things you can pack for a trip, and also one of the most regulated. Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire if damaged or short-circuited, which is why aviation authorities limit how power banks are carried. In the past year, several airlines have gone further, restricting how many power banks you can bring or banning their use during the flight. Here is what the rules say, how to read the capacity on your charger and how to travel without surprises at security or the gate.

Rule One: Power Banks Go in Your Carry-On

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says spare lithium-ion batteries, including power banks and portable chargers, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. They are not allowed in checked bags. If your carry-on is checked at the gate or planeside because the overhead bins are full, remove any power banks and spare batteries and keep them with you in the cabin.

The FAA also requires battery terminals to be protected from short circuits. Most power banks have enclosed ports, but loose spare batteries should be kept in their original packaging, a battery case or separate plastic bags, or have exposed terminals taped.

Understanding Watt-Hour Limits

Capacity limits are based on watt-hours (Wh), not milliamp-hours (mAh). Under FAA rules:

  • Up to 100 Wh: allowed in carry-on baggage. Most phone and tablet power banks fall in this range.
  • 101 to 160 Wh: allowed with airline approval, with a limit of two spare batteries of this size per passenger.
  • Over 160 Wh: generally not allowed on passenger aircraft as spare batteries.

How to calculate watt-hours

Many power banks print the Wh rating on the case. If yours shows only mAh, multiply the mAh by the voltage and divide by 1,000. For example, a 20,000 mAh power bank rated at 3.7 volts is about 74 Wh, comfortably under the 100 Wh limit. If your power bank has no visible rating at all, security or airline staff may refuse it, so choose models with clear labels.

Airlines Are Adding Stricter Rules

FAA rules set the baseline in the U.S., but airlines can impose stricter limits, and many have since 2025 following incidents involving overheating batteries on board. Examples include:

  • Southwest Airlines: requires power banks to remain visible while in use, not stored in a bag or overhead bin, and does not allow recharging power banks from the aircraft’s power supply.
  • Lufthansa Group airlines: since January 15, 2026, allow a maximum of two power banks per passenger in carry-on baggage and prohibit using or charging power banks during the flight, with exceptions for essential medical devices. Power banks must be kept in the seat pocket, on your person or in a bag under the seat, not in overhead bins.
  • Other carriers in Asia, Europe and the Middle East have introduced similar limits on the number of power banks, in-flight use or certification markings.

Rules differ by airline and change often. Check your airline’s dangerous goods or battery page before every trip, especially for itineraries involving multiple carriers.

Using a Power Bank Safely on Board

  • Keep it where you can see it while charging. Do not charge devices with a power bank buried in a bag.
  • Unplug and stop using any battery that becomes hot, swells, smells unusual or makes noise.
  • Tell a flight attendant immediately if a battery or device overheats, smokes or catches fire. Crews are trained and equipped to deal with battery fires.
  • If your phone slips into the seat mechanism, do not move the seat; ask a flight attendant for help, since crushed batteries can ignite.
  • Follow crew instructions to disconnect or stow devices.

Choosing a Travel-Friendly Power Bank

  • Stay under 100 Wh to avoid approval requirements; about 20,000 to 25,000 mAh at standard voltage usually fits.
  • Pick clear labeling showing capacity in Wh and mAh, plus safety certifications.
  • Buy from reputable brands and check for recalls before traveling. The FAA says damaged or recalled batteries must not be carried unless made safe.
  • Consider fewer, better chargers. With some airlines limiting passengers to two power banks, one quality unit plus wall chargers may be all you need.

Packing Other Battery-Powered Gear

Power banks are not the only lithium batteries in a typical travel bag. Spare camera batteries, drone batteries and spare batteries for tools follow the same principle: spares go in the cabin, with terminals protected. Devices such as laptops, tablets and cameras can usually travel with their batteries installed, but the FAA recommends keeping devices with lithium batteries in your carry-on whenever possible so the crew can respond if something overheats. If a device must go in checked baggage, turn it completely off rather than leaving it in sleep mode, and protect it from accidental activation and damage. Smart luggage with built-in batteries generally needs a removable battery that you can carry into the cabin, and e-cigarettes and vaping devices are not allowed in checked bags.

FAQ

Can I pack a power bank in checked luggage if it is turned off?

No. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks, must be in carry-on baggage.

Are laptop batteries treated the same way?

Batteries installed in devices follow separate rules, and the FAA recommends carrying devices in the cabin when possible. Spare laptop batteries follow the same carry-on rules as power banks.

Can I charge my power bank from the seat outlet?

Some airlines prohibit this. Check your airline’s policy before you fly.

Sources

Featured image: Esthee2010 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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