Lithium battery · cabin compliance
Power bank airline compliance check
Check whether your power bank is allowed, needs approval, or is banned on a specific airline — IATA / FAA / EASA watt-hour limits, with airline-specific overlays.
20,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1000 = 74.0 Wh
Power bank check · IATA / FAA / EASA
ICAO / FAA 100 & 160 Wh bands- ≤100 Wh — carry-on, no approval needed
- 101–160 Wh — carry-on, airline approval required, max 2 units
- >160 Wh — prohibited on passenger aircraft (ICAO)
IATA baseline (no airline-specific rule) policy detailverified 2026-08-04
ICAO baseline since 27 Mar 2026: max two power banks per passenger, cabin only, and no recharging a power bank in flight. ≤100 Wh needs no approval; 101–160 Wh needs airline approval; >160 Wh is banned.
Source: icao.int · hand-verified 2026-08-04. Airline rules have been changing monthly through 2025–2026 — if this looks stale, check the carrier's page and tell us. Every carrier in the dataset is listed with its own source in the full table below.
If you do want to buy a new pack, Anker makes airline-compliant power banks rated under 100 Wh — the band this checker shows as carry-on allowed.
You don't have to buy anything: any power bank you already own that is under 100 Wh is fine to fly with. This is just a recommendation, not a requirement.
View Anker power banksAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; see our affiliate disclosure.
Estimate only. Final acceptance rests with the airline and the gate agent on the day of travel.
Can I take my power bank on a plane in 2026?
A power bank's limit is its watt-hours (Wh), not its mAh. Convert with capacity (mAh) × cell voltage ÷ 1000 — most lithium-ion cells are 3.7 V, so a 10,000 mAh pack is 37 Wh and a 27,000 mAh pack is about 100 Wh. The thresholds are the same worldwide: up to 100 Wh flies in your carry-on with no airline approval, 101–160 Wh needs the airline's prior approval (and you may carry at most two such spares), and anything over 160 Wh is banned from passenger aircraft. Power banks always travel in the cabin — never in checked baggage.
Since the ICAO addendum that took effect on 27 March 2026, two more rules apply on top of the Wh bands, on every member-state airline: you may carry a maximum of two power banks per passenger regardless of size, and you may not recharge a power bank in flight. Several carriers go further — Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai, China Airlines and the Korean carriers ban using a power bank in flight at all, and United keeps spares out of the overhead bin. Check the band for your pack below:
| Watt-hours | Verdict | Example pack |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 100 Wh | Allowed in carry-on, no approval | 10,000 mAh ≈ 37 Wh · 20,000 mAh ≈ 74 Wh |
| 101–160 Wh | Carry-on with airline approval; max 2 spares | 30,000 mAh ≈ 111 Wh |
| > 160 Wh | Banned on passenger aircraft (ICAO) | 50,000 mAh ≈ 185 Wh |
The calculator below applies the Wh maths and the 100/160 Wh bands. Per-airline overlays (in-flight-use bans, overhead-bin rules) are shown where we have a verified carrier policy; airline rules have changed fast through 2025–2026, so always confirm the two-per-passenger and no-recharge details against your specific carrier before you fly.
Last updated 5 August 2026 · Data verified 4 August 2026 against ICAO power-bank addendum (27 Mar 2026), FAA PackSafe lithium batteries, IATA guidance to operators — power banks.
The dataset: power-bank rules for 23 airlines
This is every row behind the checker above. Each one was read by hand from the airline's own published policy — the link in the last column is the page it came from, and the date next to it is the day a human last checked that page, not the day this site was rebuilt. The ICAO baseline row applies to any carrier not listed.
Two rules apply to every row and are not repeated per airline: power banks travel in the cabin only, never in checked baggage; and since the ICAO addendum of 27 March 2026 you may not recharge a power bank in flight.
Take the data with you: CSV · JSON — 24 rows, same source file as the table below, CC BY 4.0. Corrections and reuse are both welcome.
| Airline | Watt-hour cap | Power banks | Cabin restrictions | Source · verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICAO / IATA baselineICAO baseline since 27 Mar 2026: max two power banks per passenger, cabin only, and no recharging a power bank in flight. ≤100 Wh needs no approval; 101–160 Wh needs airline approval; >160 Wh is banned. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | Baseline only | ICAO announcement2026-08-04 |
| Air BusanBXSince 26 Jan 2026: no using or charging power banks on board (the BX391 cabin fire of Jan 2025 triggered Korea's rules); seatback pocket or under the seat, never overhead. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead binMust stay visible | Air Busan policy page2026-08-04 |
| Air FranceAFUsing or recharging a power bank on board is prohibited; carry max two per person (≤160 Wh, 101–160 Wh with approval), kept under your supervision and readily accessible. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | Air France policy page2026-08-04 |
| Air SeoulRSSince 26 Jan 2026 (Hanjin-group announcement): no using or charging power banks on board; seatback pocket or under the seat, never overhead, within arm's reach. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead binMust stay visible | Air Seoul policy page2026-08-04 |
| American AirlinesAASince 1 May 2026: max two portable chargers, each ≤100 Wh, never in the overhead bin, no recharging in flight, and keep it visible while in use. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 2 per passenger | Not in overhead binMust stay visible | American Airlines policy page2026-08-05 |
| Asiana AirlinesOZSince 26 Jan 2026 (with Korean Air / Hanjin group): no using or charging power banks on board; seatback pocket or under the seat, never overhead, within arm's reach. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead binMust stay visible | Asiana Airlines policy page2026-08-04 |
| British AirwaysBASince May 2026 (CAA-aligned): up to two power banks ≤100 Wh within a four-spare-battery total, stored in the seat pocket or under the seat, and never charged from seat power. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 2 per passenger | Not in overhead bin | British Airways policy page2026-08-04 |
| China AirlinesCINo in-flight use or charging (since Mar 2025); max two power banks in carry-on enforced from 31 Mar 2026. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | China Airlines policy page2026-08-04 |
| Delta Air LinesDLDelta's page allows up to 20 spare batteries ≤100 Wh (max 2 at 100–160 Wh) but bans overhead-bin storage and charging any spare from in-flight power; ICAO's two-power-bank baseline still applies on international routes. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | No count published — ICAO cap of 2 applies internationally | Not in overhead bin | Delta Air Lines policy page2026-08-04 |
| easyJetU2Maximum two spare batteries / power banks in carry-on, ≤100 Wh without approval and 100–160 Wh with airline authorisation; banned from checked baggage entirely. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | Baseline only | easyJet policy page2026-08-04 |
| EmiratesEKSince 1 Oct 2025: ONE power bank under 100 Wh per passenger, no using it or charging it on board, stowed in the seat pocket or under the seat — never the overhead bin. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 1 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead bin | Emirates policy page2026-08-04 |
| IberiaIBUp to two power banks of max 100 Wh, carried protected in the cabin, and using them at any time during the flight is prohibited. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | Iberia policy page2026-08-04 |
| Jin AirLJSince 26 Jan 2026 (Hanjin-group announcement): no using or charging power banks on board; seatback pocket or under the seat, never overhead, within arm's reach. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead binMust stay visible | Jin Air policy page2026-08-04 |
| KLM Royal Dutch AirlinesKLNo using or charging power banks on board; keep them with you (never in the overhead bin). Max two per passenger under the ICAO 27-Mar-2026 baseline; 101–160 Wh with approval. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead bin | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines policy page2026-08-04 |
| Korean AirKESince 26 Jan 2026: no using or charging power banks on board; keep them in the seatback pocket or under the seat (never overhead), within arm's reach. Max two per passenger under the ICAO 2026 baseline. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead binMust stay visible | Korean Air policy page2026-08-04 |
| LufthansaLHSince 15 Jan 2026 (whole Lufthansa Group): no using or charging power banks on board, max two per passenger, stored in the seat pocket / on you / under the seat — not the overhead bin. 101–160 Wh needs prior approval. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead bin | Lufthansa policy page2026-08-05 |
| QantasQFSince 15 Dec 2025: max two power banks, no using or charging them on board, kept easily accessible in the seat pocket / under the seat / on you — not in overhead lockers. 101–160 Wh with approval. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight useNot in overhead bin | Qantas policy page2026-08-04 |
| Qatar AirwaysQRMax two power banks per passenger, each ≤100 Wh, cabin only; charging a power bank in flight is prohibited (ICAO baseline). Verify directly for any 101–160 Wh approval request. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 2 per passenger | Baseline only | Qatar Airways policy page2026-08-04 |
| RyanairFRMax two power banks per passenger, carried on you or in the under-seat cabin bag (not overhead lockers); no use during taxi, take-off or landing. Spare batteries ≤100 Wh, individually short-circuit-protected. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | Not in overhead bin | Ryanair policy page2026-08-04 |
| ScootTRSame rules as Singapore Airlines group: no in-flight use or charging (since Apr 2025), max two power banks (CAAS, 15 Apr 2026), 101–160 Wh with approval. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | Scoot policy page2026-08-04 |
| Singapore AirlinesSQNo in-flight use or charging since 1 Apr 2025; max two power banks since 15 Apr 2026 (CAAS rule for flights departing Singapore). 101–160 Wh needs approval. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | Singapore Airlines policy page2026-08-05 |
| Southwest AirlinesWNSince 20 Apr 2026: ONE portable charger per passenger, ≤100 Wh, kept visible while in use (rule since May 2025), stored in an under-seat personal item — never the overhead bin. | ≤100 Wh only — no approval tier | 1 per passenger | Not in overhead binMust stay visible | Southwest Airlines policy page2026-08-04 |
| Thai AirwaysTGNo in-flight use or charging (since Mar 2025); max two power banks per passenger enforced from 27 Mar 2026 with the ICAO baseline. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | 2 per passenger | No in-flight use | Thai Airways policy page2026-08-05 |
| United AirlinesUASince 1 Mar 2026: power banks stay out of the overhead bin (on you, seat pocket, or under-seat bag), must stay visible while in use, and can't be charged from seat power. 101–160 Wh needs approval, max 2. | ≤100 Wh · 101–160 Wh with approval | No count published — ICAO cap of 2 applies internationally | Not in overhead binMust stay visible | United Airlines policy page2026-08-04 |
How this dataset is maintained
It is kept by one independent developer, by hand — there is no crawler behind it. Adding or changing a row requires a link to the carrier's own dangerous-goods or baggage page (or an official release on its own domain); rows without a citable primary source do not go in. Where an airline's published rule is stricter than the ICAO baseline the stricter figure wins, and where an airline publishes no power-bank count the table says so rather than inventing one.
Re-verification is monthly, and sooner when a carrier announces a change — through 2025–2026 these rules have moved almost every month. Rows carry the date they were last checked, and dates are never bumped without a human re-reading the source. The dataset declares a staleness threshold of 120 days; version 2026.08.05.
Found a row that disagrees with its source, or an airline that changed? Email microtools.contact@gmail.com with the carrier and the link — corrections ship as dataset updates with a fresh verification date. More on the process in the methodology and on who runs this in about this project.
This is a reference, not legal or safety advice, and it is not affiliated with any airline, ICAO, IATA or the FAA. The airline decides at the gate; when the stakes are high, check the carrier's page too — that is what the links are for.
Power bank flying — frequently asked questions
How do I convert mAh to watt-hours?
Multiply the capacity in mAh by the cell voltage, then divide by 1,000. Almost every lithium-ion power bank uses a 3.7 V cell, so the quick version is mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1000. A 10,000 mAh bank is 37 Wh; a 20,000 mAh bank is 74 Wh; a 26,800 mAh bank is about 99 Wh — just under the 100 Wh line. Use the printed Wh value on the case if there is one: airlines treat the marked figure as authoritative, and a pack with no Wh printed on it can be refused even if the maths checks out.
What is the 100 Wh and 160 Wh limit?
These are the ICAO/IATA/FAA watt-hour ceilings every passenger airline follows. Up to 100 Wh, your power bank rides in your carry-on with no special permission. Between 101 Wh and 160 Wh you need the airline's approval before you fly, and you may bring at most two such units. Above 160 Wh, the battery is prohibited on passenger aircraft entirely — there is no approval path. The bands are about the battery's energy, not its physical size or price.
How many power banks can I bring on a plane?
Since the ICAO addendum effective 27 March 2026, the global baseline is a maximum of two power banks per passenger, whatever their watt-hours. Individual carriers may be stricter — Emirates allows one, and Southwest has capped passengers at one portable charger since 20 April 2026 — and where an airline's own page is stricter than the baseline, this dataset applies the stricter figure. It also works the other way: South Korea's 2025 MOLIT rule permitted five units of ≤100 Wh and a few US carriers still publish higher spare-battery counts on their own pages, but the ICAO two-power-bank cap applies on international sectors regardless, so the checker shows two. Enforcement of the 2026 rule is still uneven, so confirm the count with your specific airline, especially on connecting itineraries with more than one carrier.
Can I use or charge a power bank during the flight?
The ICAO addendum that took effect on 27 March 2026 prohibits recharging a power bank in flight (for example from a seat USB port) on member-state airlines. Several carriers go further and ban using the power bank to charge your phone or laptop in flight at all: Singapore Airlines and Scoot (from April 2025), Thai Airways and China Airlines (March 2025), and the Korean carriers including Korean Air and Asiana (January 2026). When in-flight use is restricted, charge your devices before boarding and keep a short cable handy.
Can a power bank go in checked baggage?
No. Spare lithium batteries and power banks must always travel in the cabin, never in checked or hold luggage — this is a universal IATA/FAA rule (49 CFR §175.10) and it does not change with the watt-hour band. The reason is fire safety: cabin crew can reach a battery that overheats in the cabin, but not one buried in the hold. If you are asked to gate-check a bag that contains a power bank, take the battery out and keep it with you.
Why was my power bank refused even though the maths said it was fine?
The most common reasons are a missing Wh marking, a carrier-specific rule, or staff discretion. If the watt-hour value is not printed on the case, ground staff can refuse it because they cannot verify the rating. Individual airlines add their own overlays — overhead-bin bans, in-flight-use bans, declaration requirements — that are stricter than the ICAO baseline. And the final call always rests with airline staff at the gate: this tool gives you the regulatory verdict, not a guarantee of acceptance.
Fly-safe battery kit
Flying soon with a pack that needs approval — or one you'd rather not argue about at the gate? What frequent flyers actually carry:
- A pack the gate agent waves through without doing the math — compare airline-approved power banks under 100 Wh on Amazon
- Some airlines want spare batteries bagged and terminal-protected — see LiPo-safe battery pouches on Amazon
- In-seat charging bans make a short cable the backup plan — browse short USB-C travel cables on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links — they fund this free checker at no extra cost to you.
Related travel tools
Sorting your power bank is one part of getting through the gate. These BorderTrip tools cover the rest of what airlines and destinations check:
- Cabin bag fit + fee checker — check whether your carry-on flies free or costs a fee, by airline and fare class, before you reach the gate.
- Travel adapter & wattage matcher — match your chargers and appliances to the plug type and voltage at your destination so you can actually top up that power bank.
- Travel voltage converter checker — see whether a device needs a voltage converter or just a plug adapter abroad — and what wattage rating to buy.