Can You Bring a Power Bank on a Plane?
QUICK ANSWER
Yes, you can bring a power bank on a plane, but only in your carry-on; power banks are banned from checked luggage. This is a lithium-battery fire rule. Power banks under 100 watt-hours, which covers almost all consumer models, need no special approval to fly.
Power banks are allowed on planes, but they come with one firm rule driven by their lithium battery: they must stay in the cabin. Where you pack it and how big it is are what matter. Here is how to fly with a portable charger, including how to check whether yours is within the size limit.
Can you bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, but it must travel in your carry-on. According to the FAA, power banks and portable chargers count as spare lithium batteries, which are prohibited in checked baggage and must be carried in the cabin. The reason is fire safety: a lithium battery can overheat, and a fire in the cabin can be handled by the crew, while one in the cargo hold cannot. So a power bank always goes with you, never in a checked bag. If your carry-on gets gate-checked at the door, remove the power bank and keep it on you. There is no rule against bringing one; it just has to stay in the cabin.
Why must power banks go in carry-on?
It comes down to the lithium battery inside. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks, external chargers, and battery packs, are banned from checked luggage across all flights because a battery fire in the unmonitored cargo hold is out of reach of the flight crew. In the cabin, any smoke or heat is noticed and dealt with immediately. This is not an airline-specific quirk; it is a standard aviation safety rule. So even though it might feel tidier to bury a power bank in a checked bag, that is exactly what is prohibited. Keep the power bank in your carry-on, protect its ports and terminals from touching metal, and do not pack a damaged or swollen one at all.
What size power bank is allowed?
Capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh), and the thresholds are clear. Power banks up to 100 watt-hours are allowed with no special approval, which covers virtually all consumer power banks. Between 100 and 160 watt-hours, you may carry up to two but need your airline's approval, and anything above 160 watt-hours is not permitted. Many power banks list only milliamp-hours (mAh), so to convert, multiply the mAh by the voltage (usually 3.7 volts) and divide by 1,000. For example, a 20,000 mAh power bank is about 74 watt-hours, well under the limit. Even a large 26,800 mAh unit lands near 99 watt-hours, so most travelers never approach the cap.
Can you use or charge a power bank in flight?
Policies vary, so check your airline. Many carriers now restrict using or charging a power bank during the flight, and some ask that it be kept where you can see it rather than in an overhead bin, because a battery problem is easier to spot and reach. Charging your phone from a power bank at your seat is often allowed, but a growing number of airlines discourage or prohibit it, so follow the crew's instructions and any onboard signage. Regardless of use, keep the power bank's terminals protected from short circuits with a case or the original packaging, and never continue using a power bank that feels hot, is swelling, or has been damaged.
Yes, you can bring a power bank on a plane, but only in your carry-on, never in checked luggage, because of the lithium battery. Power banks up to 100 watt-hours need no approval, which covers nearly all consumer models. Keep it with you, protect the terminals, and follow your airline's rules on using it in flight.
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