Power bank rules on planes: what the FAA and TSA say

A power bank belongs in your carry-on. It never goes in the suitcase you check. That's the one rule every page I read agrees on.

What the FAA says

The FAA's PackSafe page on lithium batteries (last updated August 11, 2026) says spare lithium ion batteries, power banks included, "must be carried in carry-on baggage only." If a carry-on gets checked at the gate or planeside, the power bank comes out of the bag and stays with you in the cabin. The terminals must be protected from short circuit. The page's examples: leave the battery in its retail packaging, tape the terminals, or use a battery case or pouch.

The size limit for lithium ion batteries is 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery. With airline approval you can carry up to two spare batteries above that, in the 101 to 160 Wh range. The FAA page lists no quantity limit for most batteries, with a catch: it adds that many airlines set stricter limits on both Wh and the number of power banks per passenger.

What the TSA says

The TSA's power bank page (last updated May 14, 2025) is blunter. Carry-on bags: yes. Checked bags: no. It also says the final decision rests with the TSA officer at the checkpoint.

The FAA's page on portable electronic devices (last updated September 23, 2025) is consistent: spare lithium batteries are "always prohibited in checked baggage" and must go in carry-on.

What airlines may add

I didn't read any airline's own policy for this guide, so it quotes none. The FAA page says many airlines, domestic and international, set stricter quantity and Wh limits, including how many power banks each passenger may carry. Check your carrier's page for the exact flight, particularly on international routes.

Converting mAh to Wh

The FAA page gives the formula: Wh is battery voltage times amp hours. Most power bank boxes print only mAh.

Anker's page for its 25,000 mAh laptop bank states a capacity of 90 Wh for 25,000 mAh. That ratio implies about 3.6 V per cell. Using the same 3.6 V as an assumption (my arithmetic, not a maker figure):

• 5,000 mAh is about 18 Wh.
• 10,000 mAh is about 36 Wh.
• 22,000 mAh is about 79 Wh.
• 27,700 mAh is about 100 Wh, the cap (27,700 x 3.6 V = 99.7 Wh).

So the common sizes sit well under the limit. Anything near 100 Wh needs a printed Wh rating, and the printed number wins over my estimate. The Anker and Belkin pages I read for the smaller banks don't state Wh.

A packing checklist from the sources

1. Put every spare battery and power bank in the cabin bag.
2. Cover the terminals, or keep the bank in a pouch.
3. Call the airline first about any bank above 100 Wh; the FAA says that size needs airline approval, up to two per person.
4. If a gate agent tags your carry-on, pull the bank out before it goes down the jet bridge.

The FAA says damaged or recalled batteries that are likely to create sparks or heat must not be carried aboard in either bag, unless the battery has been removed or made safe.

Where to go next

Shopping? Our roundup of power banks for flying sorts picks by what the maker's page states. Trackers have their own battery rule: see whether an AirTag can go in checked luggage. Adapters are the other travel-bag question, covered in plug types by country. The full list sits under power banks in the catalog.