Can You Bring a Laptop on a Plane?

Can you bring a laptop on a plane?

Yes, laptops are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage, and the TSA permits them through security without a problem. In practice, almost everyone carries a laptop on rather than checking it, for good reason: laptops are fragile, valuable, and contain a lithium battery, all of which favor keeping the device in the cabin with you. There is no limit on bringing a laptop, and you can bring more than one. The main things to handle are taking it out for screening at most checkpoints and following the lithium-battery rules, both covered below. For the device itself, the answer is a simple yes, in whichever bag, though carry-on is the clear choice.

Do you have to take a laptop out at security?

Usually, yes, but that is changing. At traditional checkpoints, you must remove your laptop from its bag and place it in a bin by itself so the X-ray gets a clear image; leaving it in the bag can mean a rescreening. Two situations let you skip this: TSA PreCheck members can leave laptops in their bags, and at the newer CT scanner lanes now installed at most major airports, everyone can keep the laptop inside the carry-on. Because it varies by lane and airport, watch the signage and listen to the officer. When in doubt, take the laptop out; it is faster than getting your bag pulled for a second look.

Should you pack a laptop in carry-on or checked?

Carry-on, almost always. A laptop is expensive and delicate, and checked bags are handled roughly, exposed to temperature swings, and more prone to theft, so your device is far safer in the cabin. Keeping it with you also means you can work or watch something during the flight. Use a padded sleeve or a laptop compartment to protect the screen and body. If you ever must check a laptop, power it down fully, cushion it in the center of your bag, and understand the airline's liability for electronics is limited, so it is at your own risk. For virtually every traveler, a laptop belongs in the carry-on.

What about laptop batteries and power banks?

The lithium battery is another reason to carry your laptop on. A lithium battery installed inside a laptop can technically travel in either bag, but spare or loose lithium batteries and power banks must go in your carry-on and are prohibited in checked luggage, the standard fire-safety rule. Most laptop batteries are under the 100 watt-hour limit that applies without airline approval, though some large workstation laptops approach it. If you carry a power bank to recharge on the go, keep it in the cabin with terminals protected. Powering the laptop down rather than leaving it asleep is also wise, so it does not overheat in a packed bag.