Few airport moments are as annoying as hearing your name called at the gate because something in your checked bag needs a closer look. More often than not, that something is a power bank.
The rules for lithium batteries on planes are simpler than they seem. Devices with batteries inside, like phones and laptops, can travel in your carry-on, and usually in checked bags too if they’re fully switched off. Spare batteries and power banks have to stay in the cabin.
Most everyday batteries fall under the 100 watt-hour limit; between 100 and 160 Wh you need the airline’s approval, and anything bigger stays home.
Why are lithium batteries restricted on planes?
A damaged or faulty lithium battery can go into thermal runaway, a chain reaction where the cell heats itself faster than it can cool and can end in a fire. In the cabin, the crew can spot that and deal with it in seconds. In the cargo hold, nobody can.
Spare batteries get the strictest treatment because their terminals are exposed. Loose in a bag, they can short-circuit against keys or coins.
How do you work out a battery’s watt-hour rating?
Airlines measure batteries in watt-hours (Wh), and most batteries have the figure printed on them. If yours only shows milliamp-hours (mAh), multiply that by the voltage and divide by 1,000.
A typical 10,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 volts comes out at about 37 Wh, well under the limit. Phones, tablets, cameras and most laptops sit comfortably below 100 Wh as well. The ones worth checking are large laptop batteries, professional camera batteries and big power banks.
Lithium battery rules at a glance
These are the baseline rules from the US Federal Aviation Administration, and most airlines worldwide work the same way:
| Item | Carry-on | Checked bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phones, tablets, laptops, cameras (up to 100 Wh) | Yes | Yes, switched fully off | Carry-on is recommended |
| Spare batteries and power banks (up to 100 Wh) | Yes | No | Protect the terminals |
| Spare batteries and power banks (101-160 Wh) | Yes, with airline approval | No | Maximum two per person |
| Any lithium battery over 160 Wh | No | No | Not allowed in passenger bags |
| E-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco devices | Yes | No | No use or charging on board |
Airlines are free to be stricter than this, so treat the table as a starting point.
Can you bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in your carry-on only, and up to 100 Wh without asking anyone. The catch is that airlines keep adding their own rules on top.
Since 2025, several carriers have banned using power banks during the flight, and some limit how many you can bring. Southwest, for example, has allowed only one power bank of up to 100 Wh since April 2026.
These policies have changed a lot recently, so check your airline’s battery page before every trip, even if you flew with them last month.
Can you bring a vape or other nicotine device on a plane?
Yes, but only in your carry-on. E-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco devices can’t go in checked luggage, and you can’t use or charge them on board.
PLOOM gives the same advice for its heated tobacco devices: keep the device out of checked luggage, check with your airline about carrying it in the cabin and don’t use it during the flight. It charges over a standard USB cable, so it works with any charger wherever you land.
Your destination matters as much as your airline. Some countries restrict or ban these products outright, so check the local rules before you pack.
What happens to batteries in a gate-checked bag?
If the overhead bins fill up and your carry-on gets sent to the hold, every spare battery, power bank and e-cigarette has to come out first and fly in the cabin with you. Keep them together in one small pouch and it’s a ten-second job instead of a scramble on the jet bridge.
What about smart luggage with a built-in battery?
Suitcases with built-in chargers or trackers are fine as long as the battery can be removed. If the bag goes in the hold, the battery comes out and travels in the cabin with you. Bags with batteries that can’t be removed are refused by most airlines.
Are the rules the same in every country?
Mostly. The 100 and 160 Wh limits come from international aviation standards, so airlines in the US, Europe and Asia start from the same baseline. The differences show up in airline policies layered on top, which is why the same power bank can be fine on one flight and restricted on the next.
How should you pack lithium batteries for a flight?
A few habits cover almost every situation:
- Keep spare batteries in their original packaging, or put tape over the terminals.
- Pack power banks where you can reach them quickly.
- If a laptop or camera has to go in a checked bag, switch it fully off rather than putting it to sleep.
- Leave damaged, swollen or recalled batteries at home.
| Tip
No watt-hour or mAh rating printed on your power bank? Security staff may refuse it. Check the label before you leave home, and if the print has worn off, consider leaving that one behind. |
And when in doubt, your airline’s own battery page beats anything you’ll read on a travel forum.
