A power bank can only be carried in the cabin, never in checked baggage. Since 27 March 2026, the international ICAO rules limit each passenger to two power banks and prohibit recharging them on board; they also recommend not using one to charge a device during the flight. Up to 100 Wh, no approval is needed; between 100 and 160 Wh, the airline’s approval is required; above 160 Wh, it is prohibited. Air France goes further: use and charging on board are prohibited.
This guide sets out the official rules (ICAO, IATA, EASA, Air France, plus the TSA in the US and the CAA in the UK), explains how to calculate capacity in Wh from mAh and lists the precautions to take before security. For other regulated items, see our guide to items banned on planes.
Power banks on planes: key facts
- Cabin only: banned from checked baggage.
- Two power banks maximum per person (ICAO addendum of 27 March 2026; the UK CAA states the same limit from that date).
- No recharging the power bank on board; charging devices from it is discouraged, and prohibited at Air France.
- Up to 100 Wh: allowed; 100 to 160 Wh: airline approval; above 160 Wh: prohibited.
- Under your supervision, not in the overhead bin at Air France; terminals protected against short circuits.
Why the rules have tightened
Lithium batteries can go into thermal runaway (overheating, smoke, fire) after an impact, a manufacturing defect or a short circuit. In the cabin, the crew can step in quickly; in the hold, a fire would go unnoticed, hence the long-standing ban. On 28 May 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published new recommendations: power banks banned from checked baggage like spare batteries, to be kept on you or in hand baggage, protected against short circuits, and preferably carried with a low charge so they can be recharged on arrival. EASA added that they should not be recharged or used to charge other devices in flight.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) then published an addendum to its Technical Instructions, in force since 27 March 2026. According to IATA’s guidance document of 31 March 2026, it now distinguishes power banks from spare batteries and requires passengers to follow these rules:
- carry in cabin baggage (existing requirement);
- do not recharge the power bank on board (new requirement);
- do not use it to charge a device on board (new recommendation);
- two power banks maximum per person (new requirement);
- individual protection against short circuits when not in use (existing requirement).
What the TSA and the UK CAA say
United States. The TSA’s « What Can I Bring? » page for power banks (tsa.gov, read on 12 November 2026) lists them as allowed in carry-on bags and not allowed in checked bags: portable chargers or power banks containing a lithium-ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags, and spare lithium batteries, which include both power banks and phone chargers, are prohibited in checked luggage. The page does not give watt-hour or quantity limits and refers to the FAA’s guidance on portable rechargers.
United Kingdom. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk, rules effective from 27 March 2026, read on 12 November 2026) states that power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage and individually protected when not in use; must not be recharged on board; should not be used to charge other portable electronic devices on board; and are limited to two per person. Power banks up to 100 Wh (lithium-ion) are allowed without operator approval; those above 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh require operator approval.
Airlines can apply stricter rules than these minimums, and the rules that apply depend on the airline and the countries you fly to and from: always check your airline’s baggage page.
Capacity: the Wh thresholds
| Power bank capacity | Cabin | Hold | Airline approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 Wh | Yes (2 maximum) | No | No |
| Over 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh | Depends on the airline | No | Yes, under the ICAO addendum |
| Over 160 Wh | No | No | Cargo only (dangerous goods) |
Watch the 100-160 Wh band: the ICAO addendum allows it with the operator’s approval, but IATA says this provision will not be carried over into the 68th edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations, applicable from 1 January 2027, and its own reference table already classes these power banks as prohibited. In practice, to travel without argument, choose a power bank of 100 Wh or less.
Calculating Wh from mAh
Most power banks show their capacity in mAh. The conversion is simple: Wh = mAh × voltage (V) ÷ 1,000. The voltage to use is the nominal voltage of the cells, often 3.6 or 3.7 V, printed on the label. Destination de Voyage calculation based on this formula, at 3.7 V:
| Displayed capacity | Capacity in Wh (3.7 V) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Allowed in the cabin |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Allowed in the cabin |
| 26,800 mAh | 99.2 Wh | Allowed in the cabin (just under 100 Wh) |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Airline approval needed |
| 40,000 mAh | 148 Wh | Airline approval needed |
If the label is worn off or missing, the security officer cannot check the capacity and may refuse the device: choose a power bank with its Wh capacity clearly printed.
Air France rules
On its page « Allowed, restricted or prohibited products for your trip, » consulted on 27 October 2026, Air France states that power banks are prohibited in the hold and that in the cabin they are « allowed only if they are under your supervision and quickly accessible, but their use or charging on board the aircraft is prohibited » (our translation of the French page). They are also prohibited in overhead bins. The airline specifies that in the cabin, the total of power banks up to 160 Wh and of spare or removed batteries between 100 and 160 Wh cannot exceed two items per person.
In other words, on an Air France flight you can bring your power bank, but not charge your phone with it during the flight: use the seat’s power outlet or USB port if there is one. Each airline can set stricter rules than the international minimum; always check your carrier’s baggage page, including for connecting flights operated by another airline.
Before you leave: the checklist
- Check the capacity in Wh (or calculate it) and the number of power banks: two at most.
- Read the baggage page of each airline on your itinerary.
- Put the power bank in your hand baggage or on you, never in checked baggage. If your cabin bag is checked at the gate, take the power bank out of it.
- Protect the terminals: an individual pouch, the original packaging or insulating tape over the connectors.
- Travel with a low-charge power bank, as EASA recommends, and recharge it on arrival.
- Set aside any swollen, damaged or abnormally hot battery: it must not board.
During the flight
- Keep the power bank within reach and under your supervision, not in the overhead bin.
- Do not recharge it on board; do not use it to charge a device if your airline forbids it (as Air France does).
- If a device overheats, smokes or swells, tell the crew immediately.
- If your phone slips between the seats, do not move the seat: ask the crew for help.
Common mistakes
- Putting the power bank in checked baggage « to save space ».
- Taking three power banks « just in case »: the limit is two.
- Buying a 30,000 mAh power bank for air travel without doing the Wh calculation.
- Storing the power bank in the overhead bin.
- Letting your cabin bag go into the hold at the gate without taking the power bank out.
To prepare the rest of your luggage, see also our guides to the cabin suitcase, checked baggage and what to pack in your suitcase. For your devices on site, our guide to electrical outlets around the world will save you arriving without an adapter.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a power bank in checked baggage?
No. Power banks are banned from checked baggage; they travel in the cabin, with you. The TSA and the UK CAA say the same.
How many power banks can you bring?
Two at most per person, under the ICAO addendum in force since 27 March 2026, which the UK CAA also states.
Can you charge your phone from a power bank on a plane?
The international rules advise against it and prohibit recharging the power bank itself on board. At Air France, use and charging are both prohibited.
What is the maximum capacity of a power bank on a plane?
100 Wh without formalities (about 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V). Between 100 and 160 Wh, airline approval; above that, prohibited.
How do you convert mAh to Wh?
Multiply the mAh by the voltage in volts, then divide by 1,000. Example: 20,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh.
Can a power bank go in the overhead bin?
Not at Air France, which prohibits it; it must stay under your supervision and accessible.
Our sources
- ICAO, addendum no. 1 to the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284, 2025-2026 edition), in force on 27 March 2026, via the IATA guidance document « Changes Regarding Power Banks – Guidance Document for Operators » (31 March 2026), consulted on 27 October 2026.
- EASA, « EASA publishes new recommendations on managing risks of lithium batteries » (28 May 2025, SIB 2025-03), consulted on 27 October 2026.
- Air France, « Allowed, restricted or prohibited products for your trip », consulted on 27 October 2026.
- TSA, What Can I Bring? Power Banks (tsa.gov), read on 12 November 2026.
- UK Civil Aviation Authority, Changes to rules on the carriage of lithium cells/batteries and power banks (caa.co.uk, effective from 27 March 2026), read on 12 November 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Airline rules may change: check your carrier before you fly.