Power Banks & Batteries on Planes: TSA & Airline Rules

Lithium batteries power almost everything travellers carry: phones, laptops, tablets, headphones, cameras, e-readers, and the power banks that charge them all. The rules about flying with these batteries are specific, globally consistent, and strictly enforced — primarily because lithium battery fires are a known aviation hazard that has caused in-flight emergencies.

This guide explains exactly which batteries you can carry, where they can go, and the limits that trigger additional restrictions or outright bans.

The Core Rule: Lithium Batteries Belong in Carry-On

The fundamental principle of airline lithium battery policy is simple:

Lithium batteries must travel in the cabin (carry-on), not in the hold (checked bags).

This applies to:

• Standalone power banks of any capacity
• Spare/loose lithium batteries (not installed in a device)
• E-cigarette batteries
• Drone batteries (spare)

The reason is fire suppression. In the cabin, crew members can detect and respond to a lithium battery fire immediately. In a checked bag in the hold, a fire can burn undetected until it reaches critical mass. Several cargo aircraft have been lost to lithium battery fires; passenger aircraft have strict rules specifically to prevent this from happening with bags in the hold.

Exception — batteries installed in devices: A laptop or phone in your checked bag is generally permitted because the battery is contained within the device. The rules are primarily aimed at loose batteries and standalone power banks.

The Three Watt-Hour Thresholds

Lithium battery rules are based on energy capacity measured in watt-hours (Wh). There are three important thresholds:

Under 100 Wh — No Approval Needed

Power banks and batteries under 100 Wh can be carried in your carry-on bag without any airline approval or restriction. This covers the vast majority of consumer power banks:

• 10,000 mAh power bank ≈ 37 Wh ✓
• 20,000 mAh power bank ≈ 74 Wh ✓
• 26,800 mAh power bank ≈ 99 Wh ✓

Most major laptop batteries are also under 100 Wh — a standard MacBook Pro has an 80–100 Wh battery, typically just under the threshold.

100–160 Wh — Airline Approval Required

Power banks and spare batteries between 100 and 160 Wh are permitted with prior airline approval. The airline will usually grant this with a simple acknowledgment — you don't need written documentation at most carriers, but you should confirm before you fly.

This range covers:

• Large high-capacity power banks (30,000+ mAh, typically labelled ≈110 Wh)
• Some professional laptop batteries
• Some camera battery systems
• Small drone batteries (varies; check specific model)

You are typically limited to two batteries in this range per passenger. You cannot carry unlimited quantities of 120 Wh batteries.

Over 160 Wh — Banned on Passenger Aircraft

No power bank or spare lithium battery over 160 Wh may travel on a passenger aircraft, in any bag, in any cabin class. This is a hard prohibition. It covers:

• Industrial power banks
• Large drone batteries (DJI Matrice series, agricultural drones)
• Some professional film/photography battery systems

Batteries of this size must travel as air cargo under specific dangerous goods regulations, which apply to cargo aircraft under different rules than passenger services.

The mAh to Wh Conversion

Power banks typically display their capacity in milliampere-hours (mAh), not watt-hours. The aviation threshold is in Wh, so you need to convert.

Formula: Wh = (mAh × Voltage) ÷ 1000

Most consumer power banks use 3.7V lithium cells, so:

Power Bank Capacity	Approximate Wh
10,000 mAh	37 Wh
15,000 mAh	55.5 Wh
20,000 mAh	74 Wh
25,000 mAh	92.5 Wh
26,800 mAh	99.2 Wh
30,000 mAh	111 Wh
40,000 mAh	148 Wh
50,000 mAh	185 Wh ← BANNED

Important caveat: Some manufacturers rate their power banks at 5V output (the voltage they deliver to devices), not the 3.7V cell voltage. If a manufacturer lists "10,000 mAh at 5V," the Wh calculation is 50 Wh. Some manufacturers intentionally use the higher voltage in their mAh rating to appear larger than competitors — if you see a power bank claiming "50,000 mAh" for a portable consumer product, the 5V calculation likely applies.

When in doubt, check whether the manufacturer lists Wh directly on the label or product page. Many reputable brands do, especially for products sold in European markets where Wh labelling is encouraged.

Quantity Limits

Even within the under-100 Wh range, airlines and IATA guidelines impose quantity limits on power banks:

• Under 100 Wh: typically up to 20 power banks permitted (IATA guideline; individual airlines may restrict further)
• 100–160 Wh: typically 2 per passenger

In practice, a traveller carrying 20 power banks would likely attract security scrutiny regardless of the technical rules. Typical personal use (1–3 power banks) is never questioned.

Airline-Specific Rules: Chinese Carriers

Chinese carriers — Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Hainan Airlines — apply notably stricter rules than the IATA baseline:

China Eastern and China Southern: Power banks must be declared at check-in. Some routes and aircraft types limit power banks to a maximum of 20,000 mAh (approximately 74 Wh). Power banks must not be used in-flight on some services.

Air China: Power banks over 20,000 mAh may require advance approval on some routes. Rules have changed frequently.

If you're flying with a Chinese carrier, check their current specific policy — it may be stricter than the general international standard, and enforcement tends to be consistent.

Spare vs. Installed Lithium Batteries

The rules apply differently to batteries in devices vs. loose spare batteries:

In devices (phones, laptops, tablets, cameras):

• Can be in checked bags (the device contains the battery)
• No quantity limit
• Over 160 Wh devices (e.g., some professional laptops) may require approval

Spare/loose batteries and power banks:

• Must be in carry-on only
• Subject to the Wh thresholds above
• Must be protected against short circuit (terminals covered or in individual bags)

A spare GoPro battery loose in your bag is a "spare battery" and must be in your carry-on. A GoPro with a battery installed is a device and can go in checked bags.

Protecting Batteries Against Short Circuit

Loose batteries and power banks must have their terminals protected against short circuits. This means:

• Keeping them in original packaging
• Using individual plastic bags (zip-lock bags work)
• Placing terminal covers on batteries that don't have built-in protection

An unprotected spare battery whose positive and negative terminals touch metal (keys, another battery) can short circuit and overheat. This is why the carry-on rule exists and why terminal protection is required.

Practical Tips

1. Know your power bank's Wh Check the label or product page. Most consumer power banks are under 100 Wh. If you're close to the threshold, confirm before you fly.

2. Carry power banks in your carry-on, never checked bags Even if you forget every other rule, remember this one. A power bank in a checked bag will be removed by airport security.

3. When in doubt, carry fewer If you're unsure whether your 30,000 mAh bank is over 100 Wh, leave it home or call the airline. The airport is not the right place to have this conversation.

4. For drone travel, check each battery individually DJI and other drone manufacturers often publish their battery Wh on the product page. Intelligent Flight Batteries for consumer drones (Mavic, Mini, Air series) are typically under 100 Wh. Pro-level batteries may exceed the threshold.

5. Power banks can be used in-flight Unless your airline specifically prohibits it (some Chinese carriers do), you can use a power bank to charge devices during the flight. It simply must be in the cabin with you, not stowed in the overhead bin while it's actively charging — keep it accessible.

The lithium battery rules exist for good reason, and they're consistently applied globally. Follow them and your power banks will never be a problem. Ignore them and you risk having valuable equipment confiscated at check-in or held up at security.