Can you take a power bank on a plane? Rules and Wh calculator
Power bank flight checker
Convert mAh to watt-hours
Set the capacity shown on your power bank. Use its printed Wh rating when one is available.
Within the common 100Wh limit
This capacity fits the usual international baseline. Carry it in the cabin, protect it from short circuits, and check the operating airline's current rule.
This is a planning check, not airline approval. The operating airline, departure country, airport security staff, and battery condition determine acceptance.
Image created for Roaming eSIM on July 30, 2026.
Yes, you can usually take a power bank on a plane, but it belongs in your carry-on baggage, not a checked suitcase. A power bank at or below 100 watt-hours is the least complicated choice. Protect it from short circuits, keep the capacity label readable, and check the operating airline because some carriers now limit where you can store or use it.
The rules changed on March 27, 2026. The International Civil Aviation Organization now limits passengers to two power banks and prohibits recharging a power bank during a flight. Airlines and national authorities can still impose tighter rules. Southwest, for example, permits only one.
This guide was checked on July 30, 2026. Battery rules can change, so open the operating airline's dangerous-goods page before you pack.
Power bank flight rules in 30 seconds
| Question | Current practical answer |
|---|---|
| Carry-on or checked bag? | Carry-on only. Never put a power bank in checked luggage. |
| Common capacity limit | 100Wh or less is the usual no-approval limit. |
| More than 100Wh | Do not assume it is accepted. ICAO provides for approval up to 160Wh, while IATA's 2026 operator table marks power banks above 100Wh as forbidden. The airline decides what it accepts. |
| Maximum number | ICAO permits no more than two per person, but an airline can permit fewer. |
| Can you charge the power bank onboard? | No. The 2026 ICAO rule prohibits recharging it during the flight. |
| Can it charge your phone onboard? | ICAO says it should not. Several airlines now prohibit use completely. |
| Where should it be stored? | Keep it protected and accessible. Some airlines ban overhead-bin storage. |
| Missing or worn label | Security may refuse a bank when its capacity cannot be identified. |
What changed in March 2026
Power banks used to sit inside the broader spare-battery rules. The 2026 ICAO addendum separates them and adds three points that matter to passengers:
- No more than two power banks per person.
- Do not recharge a power bank from the aircraft's seat power or USB port.
- Do not use a power bank to recharge another device onboard unless the operating airline clearly permits it.
The first two are requirements in the ICAO change. The third is a recommendation, which is why airline wording differs. The IATA 2026 operator guidance also tells airlines to separate power banks from ordinary spare batteries in their policies.
You may still see older pages saying that every battery from 100Wh to 160Wh can travel with approval. That broad statement is no longer reliable for a power bank. A camera battery and a universal portable charger may sit on different rows of the current airline table.
How to find the watt-hour rating
Look at the back or underside of the power bank first. A compliant label often shows both milliamperes-hours, written as mAh, and watt-hours, written as Wh. Use the printed Wh value when it is clear.
If the label shows only mAh and voltage, calculate it this way:
Wh = (mAh / 1,000) x voltage
A 20,000mAh bank rated at 3.7V is 74Wh. The number beside the USB output, such as 30W or 65W, describes charging speed. It is not the battery's watt-hour capacity.
| Label capacity at 3.7V | Calculated capacity | Position against 100Wh |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000mAh | 18.5Wh | Under |
| 10,000mAh | 37Wh | Under |
| 20,000mAh | 74Wh | Under |
| 26,800mAh | 99.2Wh | Just under |
| 27,000mAh | 99.9Wh | Just under |
| 30,000mAh | 111Wh | Over |
| 40,000mAh | 148Wh | Over |
Those examples use 3.7V. Some cells use a different nominal voltage, so do not use the table to overrule a printed Wh label. The checker above lets you switch between 3.7V and 3.85V, but it cannot verify the construction or condition of the battery.
Is a power bank between 100Wh and 160Wh allowed?
Maybe, but not as a general promise.
The 2026 ICAO addendum retains an operator-approval route for lithium-ion batteries above 100Wh and up to 160Wh. The same year's IATA operator guide goes further: its passenger table marks a power bank in that range as forbidden, and it says the approval provision will not carry into the 2027 Dangerous Goods Regulations. Current airline pages reflect both approaches.
If your power bank exceeds 100Wh:
- Check the exact operating airline, not only the site that sold the ticket.
- Request written approval before travel when the airline offers that process.
- Give the airline the model, capacity in Wh, manufacturer, and a clear label photograph.
- Check every airline on a connecting itinerary.
- Be ready to leave the bank behind if an airline or security authority refuses it.
A power bank above 160Wh is not normal passenger baggage. Medical devices and mobility aids have separate rules and should be arranged directly with the airline.
Why airline rules still differ
ICAO sets the international technical baseline. Countries must adopt and enforce it, and airlines can apply tighter controls after their own safety assessment. The result is a rulebook that is moving in one direction but is not identical everywhere.
| Operating airline | Current published example | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | One power bank, 100Wh maximum | No overhead storage; it must be visible when used |
| Lufthansa | Two power banks; approval stated for 100Wh to 160Wh | Use, recharging and overhead storage are prohibited |
| Qantas | Two power banks, each up to 160Wh | Use and recharging are prohibited; keep them within reach |
These are examples, not a complete airline directory. A static list becomes stale quickly. Open the airline's battery or dangerous-goods page for the flight you will actually board.
On a codeshare, the operating carrier is the airline named beside "operated by" in the booking. Check that carrier first. For a journey with several airlines, packing to the strictest rule is the simplest approach.
Can a power bank go in checked luggage?
No. A portable charger is a spare lithium battery for baggage purposes and must stay in the cabin. The reason is practical: cabin crew can respond quickly if a battery becomes hot, smokes, or catches fire. A battery event inside the hold is harder to spot and reach.
This also matters when staff take your cabin bag at the gate. Before handing it over:
- Remove every power bank and loose battery.
- Remove the phone, tablet, laptop, vape if permitted, and other lithium devices when instructed.
- Put the power bank in the personal item that remains with you.
- Protect the ports and keep the device where it will not be crushed.
IATA's passenger guidance specifically tells travelers to remove lithium devices and batteries when hand luggage is moved to the hold at the gate. Do this before the boarding queue reaches the aircraft door.
Can you use a power bank during the flight?
Do not recharge the power bank onboard. That part of the 2026 ICAO rule is clear.
Using it to charge a phone is less uniform. ICAO says passengers should not do it, while airlines such as Lufthansa and Qantas prohibit it. Southwest permits use only under its published visibility and storage conditions. If the crew asks you to disconnect it, do so immediately.
Charge the phone and power bank before boarding. Save the boarding pass, hotel address, arrival transport and any connection details offline. Battery planning is more useful when the first essential task after landing does not depend on finding an airport socket.
Where to store it in the cabin
Start with the operating airline's rule. When no more specific instruction is published, keep the power bank protected, easy to reach, and away from crushing or heat.
Several airlines now prefer the seat pocket, a personal item under the seat, or another visible location. Some prohibit the overhead bin. Never leave a loose bank rolling around beside metal objects. Use its original packaging or a small protective pouch, and cover exposed terminals when necessary.
Do not place it inside a seat mechanism. If a phone or battery slips beside an adjustable seat, call a crew member instead of moving the seat. Crushing a lithium cell can start a thermal event.
China domestic flights require a CCC check
China applies an extra product-marking rule to domestic flights. Since June 28, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has prohibited power banks with no CCC mark, an unreadable CCC mark, or a recalled model or batch.
This can catch international visitors after arrival. A trip from London to Shanghai may follow the international carrier's policy, while a later Shanghai to Chengdu segment is a domestic Chinese flight and adds the CCC check. A connection entirely within China can create the same issue.
Before a domestic flight in China:
- Find the CCC mark on the physical power bank.
- Make sure the mark and capacity label are readable.
- Check the manufacturer's recall page for the exact model and batch.
- Do not rely on a store receipt or product listing to replace the mark on the device.
A familiar brand name does not cancel the requirement.
What if the label is missing, the case is swollen, or the model was recalled?
Leave the power bank at home. Airport staff need to identify its capacity, and a damaged or recalled lithium battery should not travel.
Do not fly with a bank that is swollen, punctured, leaking, unusually hot, cracked, or damaged around its ports. Stop using it and follow local battery-disposal guidance. Do not put it in household waste, and do not mail it casually to your destination.
If a power bank becomes hot, smells unusual, swells, smokes, or falls into a seat mechanism during a flight, tell the cabin crew at once. Do not try to cool or move a smoking battery yourself.
A practical packing check before the airport
- Read the Wh rating on the device.
- Confirm the number allowed by every operating airline.
- Check any storage and onboard-use restriction.
- Inspect the case, ports and label for damage or wear.
- Confirm the model is not recalled.
- Protect each power bank separately in the carry-on.
- Move it to a personal item before a gate check.
- For a domestic flight in China, verify the CCC mark.
- Save the airline policy page or approval message offline.
The Europe travel checklist covers the rest of the departure checks, including documents, adapters, medicines and offline backups. Travelers packing for Umrah can use the more specific Umrah packing list.
Keep the phone useful after landing
A charged phone still needs the right information. Download the airline app, boarding passes, airport map, hotel address, first transport route and emergency contacts before leaving Wi-Fi. The travel data calculator can estimate the allowance needed for maps, messaging and hotspot use.
Check whether the phone supports eSIM before buying a plan. When the activation policy allows it, install the Roaming eSIM before travel, then keep the line off until the correct activation point. A Roaming eSIM can provide data after landing where the selected plan has coverage. It does not replace offline copies of tickets, directions or airline rules.
The capacity, quantity and onboard rules were checked against current ICAO, IATA, UK CAA and FAA material. The China section uses the English notice from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The airline examples link to each carrier's own published policy.
The page focuses on portable chargers used for phones and similar devices. Wheelchairs, mobility aids, medical devices, drones, tools, vapes and smart luggage can have different approval and packing rules. Ask the operating airline about those items before travel.
