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Before you fly
Can you bring a power bank on a plane?
Short answer: yes, in your carry-on, never in your checked bag, and the size limit is set in watt-hours. Here is what fits, what needs approval, and what does not fly at all.
Updated on September 2, 2026
Which sizes are allowed
The limit is the watt-hours (Wh) printed on the battery. The mAh figures are rough, for the usual 3.7 V cells.
| Size (Wh) | Roughly | On the plane | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 Wh | about 27,000 mAh | Allowed | Fine in your carry-on, no airline approval needed. This covers almost every phone and laptop power bank. |
| 101 to 160 Wh | about 27,000 to 43,000 mAh | With approval | Carry-on only, and only with your airline's approval. Most airlines allow a maximum of two spares. |
| Over 160 Wh | over about 43,000 mAh | Not allowed | Not allowed on board at all, in either bag. |
The rules that matter
Carry-on only, never in checked
Power banks and spare lithium batteries have to travel in the cabin with you, and are not allowed in checked baggage. A fire in the sealed cargo hold cannot be reached in flight, while the crew can deal with one in the cabin. This is why it is a firm rule, not a preference.
Know your watt-hours (Wh), not just mAh
The limit is set in watt-hours, not milliamp-hours. Look for the Wh printed on the power bank. If it only shows mAh, watt-hours are roughly mAh times voltage divided by 1000, usually at 3.7 V. A 20,000 mAh bank is about 74 Wh, well under the limit, and even a big 26,800 mAh bank is around 99 Wh.
Protect the terminals
Keep each power bank in its box or a pouch, or tape over the ports, so the terminals cannot short against keys or coins in your bag.
New since 2025: keep it visible while charging
A growing list of airlines (Southwest first, in May 2025) now require power banks to stay visible while charging, so no charging inside a bag or in the overhead bin. That is an airline rule, not a TSA rule, so check your carrier before you fly.
You may read that power banks were newly banned from checked bags in 2025. That is a misconception. The checked-bag ban on spare lithium batteries is longstanding FAA policy, not a new rule. What changed in 2025 was in-flight usage rules from individual airlines.
Common questions
Can you bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in your carry-on. Power banks must travel in the cabin with you, never in checked baggage. Most airlines allow them up to 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh) with no approval needed.
Can you put a power bank in checked luggage?
No. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are banned from checked bags for fire safety, because a cargo-hold fire cannot be reached in flight. They have to be in your carry-on.
What size power bank is allowed on a plane?
Up to 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh) with no approval. From 101 to 160 Wh you need your airline's approval and can usually bring two. Anything over 160 Wh is not allowed at all.
How many power banks can I bring?
There is usually no strict limit on small (under 100 Wh) power banks for personal use, but for 101 to 160 Wh batteries most airlines cap it at two spares. Check your airline.
Can I use a power bank during the flight?
Often yes, but since 2025 a number of airlines require it to stay visible while charging, so not inside a bag or the overhead bin. Check your airline's current rule.
More on what flies and what does not: TSA prohibited items and our hand luggage rules.
Sources
Airlines can be stricter than the FAA minimums and set their own limits on quantity and in-flight use, and rules change. For the final word, check your airline before you fly.