If you remember one thing, make it this: put your power bank in your carry-on, not your checked bag.
In the U.S., the basic cutoff is under 100 Wh = allowed, 101–160 Wh = airline approval, up to 2, and over 160 Wh = not allowed. And yes, airlines can be stricter than TSA and FAA rules.
The Short Version Before Any Flight
- Carry-on only: power banks do not go in checked baggage.
- Check watt-hours, not just mAh: use Wh = (mAh ÷ 1,000) × voltage.
- Most common sizes pass: for example, 20,000 mAh at 3.7V = 74 Wh.
- Big units can be blocked: 30,000 mAh at 3.7V = 111 Wh, so airline approval is needed.
- Damaged batteries can be refused: swollen, cracked, hot, or punctured banks should stay home.
- Gate-check risk is easy to miss: if your carry-on gets taken at the gate, you need to remove the power bank first.
- Airline rules vary: some cap how many you can bring, where you can store them, and whether you can use or recharge them in flight.
- 2025 battery incidents matter: U.S. flights logged 93 lithium battery smoke, fire, or extreme heat incidents, which helps explain the tighter onboard rules.
Table of Contents
- Can You Bring a Power Bank on a Plane?
- Quick Comparison
- The U.S. Baseline: What TSA, FAA, and DOT/PHMSA Actually Say
- How to Tell If Your Power Bank Is Allowed
- Where Airline Rules Go Beyond TSA and FAA Limits
- What to Do Before Departure
- FAQs
Can You Bring a Power Bank on a Plane? The Complete 2026 Rules
Quick Comparison
| Rule area | What I'd check |
|---|---|
| Bag type | Carry-on only |
| Capacity under 100 Wh | Allowed |
| Capacity 101–160 Wh | Airline approval needed; usually up to 2 |
| Capacity over 160 Wh | Not allowed |
| Missing label | May be refused |
| Damaged battery | Not allowed |
| Airline policy | May be stricter than federal rules |
| Gate-checked carry-on | Remove the power bank before handing over the bag |
In other words: the battery label, the watt-hour number, and the airline's own page are what matter most. If I were packing today, I'd stay under 100 Wh, keep the bank easy to reach, and check the airline rule one last time before leaving for the airport.
The U.S. Baseline: What TSA, FAA, and DOT/PHMSA Actually Say
FAA and DOT/PHMSA set the federal hazmat rules. TSA decides what gets through the checkpoint. And airlines can set tighter limits on top of that. So before you pack, check the label and match it to the watt-hour limits.
Carry-On Only: The Rule Travelers Miss
All spare lithium-ion batteries, including power banks, have to stay in your carry-on bag. That part trips people up all the time.
If your expandable carry-on gets gate-checked, take out every power bank before you hand the bag over. No one at the gate is going to do that for you. It's your job.
The 3 Size Bands: Under 100 Wh, 101–160 Wh, and Over 160 Wh
The FAA sorts power banks into three capacity bands. The band matters because it decides whether you can bring the battery at all.
| Capacity Band | FAA/TSA Baseline Rule | Airline Approval Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 Wh | Allowed in carry-on | No |
| 101–160 Wh | Allowed only with airline approval, up to two | Yes |
| Over 160 Wh | Not allowed | N/A |
Most consumer power banks are under 100 Wh, so they meet the federal baseline with no special approval.
The 101–160 Wh range is usually where you see larger professional or medical-grade units. Those can fly only if the airline approves them before boarding, and you can bring no more than two.
Anything over 160 Wh is not allowed as personal baggage.
Protecting Terminals and Packing Safely
Federal rules say battery terminals must be protected from short circuits. In plain English, don't let the power bank touch metal items like keys, coins, or loose chargers. Keep it in a case or pouch, or cover the terminals.
A swollen, cracked, punctured, or otherwise damaged power bank is not allowed. If yours looks off, leave it at home.
If the label is missing or hard to read, use the watt-hour formula next.
How to Tell If Your Power Bank Is Allowed
If your power bank shows only mAh, convert that number to Wh. Wh is the number TSA, FAA, and airlines use when they check whether a battery can fly.
Convert mAh to Wh with One Formula
Here's the formula: Wh = (mAh ÷ 1,000) × voltage. Most consumer power banks use 3.7V unless the label says something else.
A few quick examples make this easier:
- 20,000 mAh at 3.7V = 74 Wh, so it's allowed.
- 27,000 mAh at 3.7V = 99.9 Wh, so it still falls under the 100 Wh limit.
- 30,000 mAh at 3.7V = 111 Wh, so it needs airline approval.
That one calculation tells you which FAA band your power bank falls into.
| mAh Rating (at 3.7V) | Wh Equivalent | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Allowed |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Allowed |
| 26,800 mAh | ~99 Wh | Allowed, but close to the cutoff |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Needs airline approval |
| 45,000 mAh | 166.5 Wh | Not allowed |
What to Do When the Battery Label Is Unclear or Missing
If the device has a printed Wh rating, use that first. The label should be your main reference. Use the formula only as a double-check.
If the label is missing or hard to read, the battery may be refused, especially on international flights. No label means more hassle at the checkpoint, and sometimes it means the battery doesn't fly at all. If you can't confirm the specs, leave it at home.
That covers the battery itself. The next step is checking whether your airline has tighter rules.
Where Airline Rules Go Beyond TSA and FAA Limits
A power bank can clear TSA and still run into airline rules. That's because federal rules set the floor, and airlines can go stricter.
In practice, airlines tend to differ on four points:
- how many power banks you can bring
- where you can keep them on the plane
- whether you can use them during the flight
- and whether they allow 101–160 Wh units at all.
The FAA does not set a fixed quantity cap for batteries under 100 Wh, but some airlines do. For example, Southwest limits passengers to one power bank per person, while American and Delta allow two.
What to Check on the Airline's Site Before You Fly
Before your trip, look up four things on the airline's own site: the quantity cap, the storage rule, whether in-flight use is allowed, and whether 101–160 Wh units need approval.
One more detail trips people up all the time: on codeshare flights (a single airplane trip sold by one airline under its own name and flight number, but physically operated and flown by a partner airline), the operating carrier's rule is the one that counts, not the airline that sold the ticket.
Alaska Airlines is a good example of how airline policy can go past FAA minimums. It sets a hard 100 Wh cap, which means no larger units are allowed, even if FAA rules would permit them.
How Major U.S. Carriers Handle Power Banks in 2026
| Airline | Quantity Limit | Storage Rule | Onboard Use Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | 1 per passenger | No overhead bins; keep accessible | Must be visible when charging; no recharging the bank from aircraft power |
| American | 2 per passenger | No overhead bins; keep accessible | Must be visible when charging; no recharging the bank from aircraft power |
| Delta | 2 per passenger | No overhead bins; keep accessible | No recharging the bank from aircraft power |
| United | Check carrier site | No overhead bins; keep accessible | No recharging the bank from aircraft power |
| Alaska | Hard 100 Wh cap | Carry-on only | No 101–160 Wh units accepted |
| JetBlue | Check carrier site | Carry-on only | Limits in-flight charging |
| Avelo | Check carrier site | No overhead bins; keep accessible | Must be visible when charging a device |
So even if TSA lets your power bank through, the airline still decides what happens once you're onboard. Check the current rule on your carrier's site, not a third-party roundup, and do a quick preflight check before you head to the airport.
What to Do Before Departure
A 5-Minute Preflight Check
Use this quick preflight check before you head out.
- Make sure the Wh rating is easy to read. If the label is faded or missing, airline staff may refuse the device. If your battery only shows mAh, convert it to Wh with this formula: (mAh ÷ 1,000) × 3.7V.
- Check the battery itself. Don't bring batteries that look swollen, dented, or feel hot.
- Cover the terminals. A small strip of electrical tape over the connectors works fine. A separate plastic bag also does the job.
- Pack it in your carry-on or personal item, not checked baggage. If your carry-on gets gate-checked, take out any power banks or spare batteries before you hand the bag over.
- Open your operating carrier's restricted-items page. Check the airline that's actually flying the plane, not just the one that sold you the ticket.
But what if your luggage has built-in charging packs? If your bag has built-in USB charging, the battery needs to be removable before travel. And if that bag is checked or gate-checked, the battery stays with you in the cabin, not in the check-in.
Traveler's Choice makes three hardside carry-ons with a built-in USB charging port — you bring your own power bank, and it stays removable for exactly the gate-check situations above. Prices start at $109.99.
22 x 14 x 9.25 in. Hardside, 7.26 lb. USB port, TSA lock, packing cubes.
21.5 x 14 x 9.25 in. Hardside, 7.5 lb. USB port, TSA lock, YKK zippers.
21.75 x 14.5 x 9.5 in. Hardside, 7.4 lb. USB port, TSA lock, Hinomoto wheels.
The Safest Rule of Thumb for 2026
The easiest rule to follow is this: stay under 100 Wh. Batteries from 101–160 Wh need airline approval, and that usually means up to two units. Anything over 160 Wh is not allowed.
FAA rules help you get through screening, but the operating carrier makes the final call onboard. Put simply, the airline flying the plane has the last word.
That's also why storage and visibility rules matter. U.S. flights reported 93 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat in 2025. It's a small step, but checking your carrier before you fly can save you a hassle at the gate.
FAQs
What if my carry-on is gate-checked?
If your carry-on gets gate-checked, take out every power bank and any spare lithium batteries before you hand the bag over. Keep them with you in the cabin, not in checked luggage.
TSA and FAA rules both say carry-on only. It's also smart to check your airline's rules on watt-hour limits and whether chargers need to stay accessible during the flight.
How do I calculate watt-hours from mAh?
Multiply the power bank's mAh by its voltage, which is usually 3.7V, then divide by 1,000. For example: 20,000 mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh.
If the manufacturer's printed Wh rating is on the label, use that number. That's what airline staff look at, and a clear printed label matters more than doing the math yourself.
Which airline's rule applies on a codeshare flight?
On a codeshare flight, follow the policy of the operating airline.
The FAA sets the baseline rules for U.S. carriers. But airlines can set stricter limits on battery capacity, quantity, and how batteries can be stored or used during the flight. Because partner airline policies can vary, check the operating carrier's rules before you head to the airport.
Before you go: We do our best to keep this article accurate, but airline rules and travel regulations change often and can vary by route, fare, and destination. Always confirm the latest requirements directly with your airline before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us here and we'll fix it. Traveler Choice can't be held responsible for decisions made based on this content.
