Taking Power Banks and Spare Batteries on a Plane

A power bank counts as a spare battery, even if you use it only to charge your phone. Spare lithium camera batteries, removable laptop batteries and similar loose lithium batteries must also travel in the cabin, with protection against short circuits.

A battery installed in a phone, laptop or camera is treated differently. Hand luggage is the practical choice for these devices. If your airline permits a device in checked baggage, it must be completely switched off—not left in sleep mode—and protected from damage and accidental activation.

Ordinary AA and AAA batteries can have different chemistries. Check the packaging rather than assuming every battery follows the same lithium-battery rules. Protect exposed terminals and check your airline’s guidance for the type you are carrying.

For rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the key capacity measurement is watt-hours, shown as Wh. Look for it on the power bank’s casing or the battery label.

The usual passenger-baggage threshold is 100 Wh: batteries at or below this capacity generally do not need airline approval, but power-bank policies may impose additional restrictions. Spare lithium-ion batteries above 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh require airline approval where accepted. Do not assume this approval route applies to power banks; some airlines impose a lower ceiling or separate conditions. Batteries above 160 Wh are generally outside ordinary passenger-baggage allowances, with separate arrangements for certain equipment such as mobility aids.

If only milliamp-hours are shown, the calculation is Wh = (mAh ÷ 1,000) × nominal battery voltage. Use the battery’s rated voltage, not the USB output voltage. If the label is missing or unclear, obtain the manufacturer’s specification and ask your airline whether it is sufficient. An unidentifiable battery may be refused.

Check the operating airline’s dangerous-goods guidance for every leg, including connections and your return flight. Look specifically for power-bank capacity, quantity, storage and use restrictions. Lithium-metal batteries use different limits, so do not apply the Wh calculation to them.

Keep spare batteries in their original retail packaging, a suitable battery case or separate protective pouches. For exposed terminals, use insulating tape or a terminal cover so they cannot touch coins, keys or other batteries. Keep power banks away from loose metal objects and protect their ports and switches from accidental contact.

Do not take a swollen, leaking, damaged or safety-recalled battery. A cracked casing, unusual heat or a battery that no longer sits flat needs attention before your journey, not at the departure gate. Follow the manufacturer’s disposal or recall instructions; do not put lithium batteries in ordinary rubbish.

Pack permitted batteries where you can retrieve them without emptying your entire bag. Avoid crushing them underneath heavy items.

Before handing over a suitcase, check its pockets for power banks and spare lithium batteries. Move them into your hand luggage first. Our guide to [airport bag drop after online check-in](/guides/airport-bag-drop-after-online-check-in) explains the wider handover process.

At security, follow the instructions for your lane. Screening arrangements vary, so do not assume a power bank must always be removed—or can always stay inside your bag. Keep its capacity label accessible in case staff need to inspect it.

A power bank does not go in your liquids bag. Carrying it in the cabin also does not exempt it from screening or airline restrictions. If you have airline approval for a battery that requires it, keep that confirmation available.

If staff take your cabin bag at the gate or aircraft door for hold carriage, tell them you have power banks or spare lithium batteries and remove those items before surrendering the bag. Keep them protected in a permitted item that stays with you in the cabin.

On board, follow the airline’s storage instructions. Some airlines restrict where power banks can be kept, prohibit their use or prohibit recharging them from aircraft sockets. Ask the crew if you are unsure; a working USB socket is not permission to use it for a power bank.

If a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, smells odd or produces smoke, alert cabin crew immediately. If a device falls into a seat mechanism, do not operate the seat to retrieve it—ask for help.

Camera equipment, drones and tools may have removable batteries that need to travel separately from the equipment. Check both the battery rules and whether the device itself is permitted in hand luggage or checked baggage.

Smart luggage needs particular care. Check whether its battery is removable and follow the airline’s instructions before checking the bag into the hold. A non-removable battery can make a bag unacceptable, depending on its specification.

For battery-powered medical equipment or mobility aids, contact the airline before travelling. These can have separate approval, handling and documentation requirements. Do not rely on ordinary power-bank guidance for an essential medical battery. If you also carry medicines or medical liquids, read our guide to [taking medication through airport security](/guides/taking-medication-through-airport-security).