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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in your carry-on, not checked luggage. Under current U.S. passenger guidance, batteries rated 100 watt-hours (Wh) or less are generally allowed; spare lithium-ion batteries from 101 to 160 Wh require the operating airline’s approval and are limited to two per passenger. Batteries over 160 Wh are forbidden on passenger aircraft.
Do not rely on the milliamp-hour (mAh) number alone. Convert the battery’s voltage and capacity to Wh, check the printed rating, protect exposed terminals, and verify the rules of every airline on your itinerary. International and carrier policies can be stricter than the general TSA and FAA guidance described here.
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The short answer: keep power banks in the cabin
A power bank is a spare, uninstalled lithium battery, even when it is sold as a phone charger or charging case. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says power banks, phone-charging cases and other spare lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage. They are prohibited in checked baggage.
If an airline takes your carry-on at the gate, remove the power bank and every other spare battery first. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires spare lithium batteries to remain with the passenger in the cabin. Put them in the personal item you will keep under the seat, or otherwise follow the crew’s instructions for retaining them onboard.
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The capacity rule is expressed in watt-hours, not mAh:
- 0–100 Wh: generally allowed in carry-on baggage.
- 101–160 Wh: allowed only with approval from the operating airline, with no more than two spare lithium-ion batteries per passenger.
- More than 160 Wh: forbidden on passenger aircraft, in either carry-on or checked baggage.
These are U.S. passenger rules. An airline can impose a lower limit, a smaller quantity, or an outright ban, and another country’s rules can differ. Check the airline operating each flight before leaving for the airport.
Why mAh alone cannot tell you whether a battery is allowed
Milliamp-hours measure charge capacity. Watt-hours combine that capacity with voltage, which is why the same mAh figure can represent different amounts of stored energy. The FAA’s calculation is:
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Wh = volts (V) × amp-hours (Ah)
Convert mAh to Ah by dividing by 1,000. For example, 20,000 mAh is 20 Ah. At a 3.7 V cell voltage, the arithmetic is 3.7 × 20 = 74 Wh. That calculation is an illustration of the FAA formula, not a certification of any particular product.
Examples using the FAA formula
| Label information | Calculation | Result | Capacity category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V, 8 Ah | 12 × 8 | 96 Wh | At or below 100 Wh |
| 3.7 V, 20,000 mAh | 3.7 × (20,000 ÷ 1,000) | 74 Wh | At or below 100 Wh |
| Voltage or Wh not stated | Cannot calculate reliably | Not established | Ask the manufacturer or airline |
Power banks may print capacity at their internal-cell voltage, USB output voltage, or another reference point. Those figures are not interchangeable. Use a clearly printed Wh rating when one is provided. If the label is ambiguous, do not assume that a familiar mAh number is acceptable; obtain the manufacturer’s specification or ask the airline’s dangerous-goods desk.
What a “20,000 mAh” power bank means in practice
A 20,000 mAh label does not automatically mean 20,000 mAh at 5 V, 3.7 V, or any other voltage. At 3.7 V, the arithmetic gives 74 Wh, below the standard 100 Wh threshold. A manufacturer could present capacity differently, however, so the printed Wh value and the airline’s interpretation control at check-in. Keep a photo of the rating label or the manufacturer’s specification available if the marking is difficult to read.
Capacity thresholds and what to do with each battery
| Battery or situation | Rule | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank or other spare lithium battery up to 100 Wh | Generally allowed for passenger travel, but only in carry-on baggage. | Keep it in the cabin and prevent damage or terminal contact. |
| Spare lithium-ion battery from 101 to 160 Wh | Operating-airline approval is required; maximum two spare batteries per person. | Obtain approval before travel and carry the batteries onboard. |
| Battery above 160 Wh | Forbidden on passenger aircraft. | Do not place it in carry-on or checked baggage. |
| Spare lithium-metal battery | TSA lists a maximum of 2 grams of lithium per battery; spare batteries remain carry-on only. | Confirm the chemistry and lithium content from the label, then check carrier rules. |
| Battery installed in a device | Handled under separate device rules. Some completely powered-off devices may be accepted in checked baggage when protected and within applicable limits. | Carry the device in the cabin when practical and follow the FAA and airline conditions. |
The 101–160 Wh allowance is conditional, not an automatic entitlement. Approval must come from the airline operating the flight, and the two-battery limit applies to spare lithium-ion batteries in that range. A battery over 160 Wh does not become acceptable because it is inside a charger, wrapped in clothing, or placed in checked baggage.
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How to pack a power bank or loose battery safely
A spare battery’s terminals can short against keys, coins, another battery, or a metal object. The FAA states: Battery terminals (usually the ends) must be protected from short circuit (i.e., the terminals must not come in contact with other metal).
Its PackSafe battery guidance gives several acceptable protection methods.
- Leave the battery in its retail packaging when that packaging covers the terminals and prevents movement.
- Cover exposed terminals with non-metallic tape. Tape should stay in place and not touch another battery’s contacts.
- Use an individual battery case, sleeve or protective pouch. A snug plastic bag is another listed option when it keeps the battery separated from metal objects.
- Separate batteries from tools and loose metal. Do not put unprotected cells in a pocket containing coins, keys, adapters or cable ends.
- Inspect before packing. Do not travel with a swollen, crushed, punctured, leaking or visibly damaged lithium battery. Ask the airline how to handle a suspect battery instead of placing it in baggage.
Keep the power bank accessible in your cabin bag. Do not bury it under clothing where a gate agent or crew member cannot quickly identify it. Follow any additional packaging direction from the airline.
Power banks versus batteries installed in phones and laptops
The carry-on-only instruction in this article applies to spare, uninstalled batteries. A battery sealed inside a phone, laptop, camera or other device is treated differently because it is installed in equipment.
FAA guidance allows some devices with installed lithium batteries to travel in checked baggage only when they are completely powered off and protected against damage or accidental activation, and subject to the applicable watt-hour restrictions. “Sleep” or standby mode is not the same as completely powered off. Because a cabin provides easier access if a battery overheats, carrying electronics with installed batteries in the cabin is the practical choice whenever possible.
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Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries are not identical
Most rechargeable power banks use lithium-ion cells. Spare rechargeable batteries from 101 to 160 Wh need airline approval and are limited to two per passenger. Lithium-metal batteries are generally non-rechargeable and are subject to a lithium-content limit: TSA lists no more than 2 grams of lithium per battery. Their spare-battery carry-on requirement still applies.
Read the battery’s marking for chemistry, watt-hours and, where relevant, grams of lithium. If the label does not identify the chemistry or capacity, contact the manufacturer or airline rather than guessing from the device’s physical size.
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What to check before you leave for the airport
- Read every label. Record the Wh rating, voltage, mAh or lithium content, and whether the battery is lithium-ion or lithium-metal.
- Calculate only when necessary. Use Wh = V × Ah, converting mAh to Ah first. Prefer the manufacturer’s printed Wh rating when available.
- Sort batteries by status. Put power banks and all other spares in carry-on baggage; identify devices whose batteries are installed.
- Protect terminals. Use retail packaging, non-metallic tape, an individual case, sleeve or protective pouch.
- Ask for approval early. If a spare lithium-ion battery is 101–160 Wh, contact the operating airline before travel and document the approval.
- Check the itinerary, not just the first flight. Review the rules for every operating carrier, including connections and codeshare segments, and check international requirements for routes leaving or entering the United States.
- Plan for a gate check. Keep spare batteries in a personal item that will remain with you if your larger carry-on is taken at the gate.
What happens at security and at the gate
TSA screening and FAA dangerous-goods rules work together but are not the same decision. TSA officers screen what you present at the checkpoint; the FAA sets passenger-aircraft battery requirements, and the airline can apply stricter conditions.
A battery that fits the published category may still receive additional screening. TSA says the final decision rests with its officer, and an item can be rejected for a security concern. Keep the label visible and be prepared to remove the power bank from your bag for inspection.
If the carry-on must be checked at the gate, tell the agent that it contains spare lithium batteries and remove them before handing over the bag. Keep each battery in the cabin with you, protected from short circuit. Never move a power bank into checked baggage simply because the carry-on is full.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common situations and the correct response
“My power bank is 10,000 or 20,000 mAh. Is it allowed?”
mAh alone is not enough. Find the voltage and calculate Wh, or use the printed Wh rating. A 20,000 mAh figure at 3.7 V works out to 74 Wh, but a different reference voltage changes the result. Regardless of capacity, pack the power bank in carry-on baggage.
“Can I check a power bank if it is switched off?”
No. A power bank is a spare battery, and TSA prohibits power banks and phone chargers in checked baggage. Switching it off does not turn it into an installed device.
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“I have a 120 Wh spare battery. What now?”
Do not assume it is accepted. Ask the operating airline for approval before departure, carry no more than two spare lithium-ion batteries in the 101–160 Wh range, and keep them in carry-on baggage.
“The label says 160 Wh exactly.”
It falls within the conditional 101–160 Wh range, so airline approval is required and the two-spare limit applies. Confirm how the carrier treats the stated rating and retain the label for inspection.
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“My battery is 180 Wh.”
It exceeds the FAA’s 160 Wh passenger-aircraft limit. Do not pack it in either type of baggage; ask the manufacturer or airline about cargo or another transport method.
“The battery has no Wh marking.”
Use the voltage-and-Ah formula only when both values are reliable. If the voltage, capacity basis or chemistry is unclear, obtain written specifications from the manufacturer or ask the airline. Do not infer acceptance from a familiar model number or physical size.
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Why airline and international checks matter
The FAA explicitly warns that airlines may set stricter capacity and quantity limits. A carrier can require approval for a battery that another carrier would accept, restrict the number of power banks, or impose packaging and documentation rules. A connection operated by a different airline can therefore change the answer even when the itinerary was purchased as one booking.
International aviation authorities and airports may use different limits or procedures. For a trip outside the United States, check the departure, transit and arrival countries as well as each operating airline. Use the current carrier instructions close to departure because dangerous-goods policies can change.
Sources and current guidance
The TSA’s What Can I Bring? list covers power banks, phone chargers, lithium batteries and batteries over 100 Wh, including the 2-gram lithium-metal limit. The FAA’s Airline Passengers and Batteries page, marked last updated October 2, 2026, provides the 0–100 Wh, 101–160 Wh and over-160 Wh thresholds, the two-battery limit, the Wh formula and the warning about stricter airline rules. The FAA’s PackSafe — Batteries page explains terminal protection and acceptable packaging methods.
Before every trip, verify those pages and your airline’s current instructions. Screening permission is not a guarantee of carriage, and an airline or TSA officer can require a different handling decision.
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