You pack a bag full of tech for your trip and do not think twice before checking it or putting it in your carry-on.
However, the rules around travelling with batteries and electronic devices on planes are getting stricter, and not knowing them can result in equipment confiscated at the airport, boarding delays, or — in more serious cases — safety incidents on board.
The rules exist for a simple reason. Lithium batteries can overheat, ignite, and cause fires. In the hold, nobody sees it happening and there is no time to react. In the cabin, the crew can act. That is why the vast majority of restrictions push battery-powered devices into hand luggage and not checked baggage.
What you can and cannot take on a plane: the complete guide
Power banks: the rule most people do not know
The most important rule — and the one that catches most people off guard at the airport — is simple. Power banks can never go in checked baggage. They must always travel in your carry-on, with you in the cabin. This applies to any capacity, even the smallest models.
There is an even more important detail that many people overlook. If your carry-on is collected at the gate to go into the hold — something increasingly common on flights with smaller aircraft — you must remove the power bank before handing it over.
In terms of capacity, IATA rules are divided into three bands:
- Power banks up to 100Wh are permitted in carry-on luggage without prior authorisation.
- Between 100Wh and 160Wh, prior authorisation from the airline is required.
- Above 160Wh, transport is not permitted.
In practice, 100Wh equates to approximately 27,000mAh, which covers the vast majority of personal power banks. You may carry up to two units per passenger.
There is also an important development in 2026. Several airlines, including the Lufthansa group, have completely banned the use and charging of power banks on board during flight. Emirates has followed suit. Always check the specific policy of your airline before travelling.
How to calculate the Wh of your power bank
If your power bank only shows mAh and not Wh, you can calculate it easily. Multiply the nominal voltage (usually 3.7V for lithium batteries) by the mAh and divide by 1,000. For example: 3.7V × 20,000mAh ÷ 1,000 = 74Wh.
Drone batteries: extra caution required
LiPo batteries used in drones are among the most problematic in an airport context. They are high-energy-density lithium batteries and, in most cases, have capacities above 100Wh — placing them in the band that requires prior authorisation or making them outright prohibited.
For larger batteries such as those used in cinema cameras, drones, or power tools, it is always necessary to contact the airline in advance, as prior approval may be required.
Many airlines simply refuse to carry loose LiPo batteries above a certain capacity. If you are travelling with drone equipment, address this before arriving at the airport.
Portable power stations
The portable power stations we have reviewed at Techbit — such as the BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, the ALLPOWERS R1500 Lite, and the PECRON E2000LFP — have capacities well above 160Wh.
This means they are prohibited as luggage on passenger flights, without exception.
If you need to take a power station on a trip, the only option is to ship it separately through operators specialised in dangerous goods transport — which involves specific documentation and significantly higher costs.
Laptops, tablets, and phones
Laptops, tablets, and phones follow different rules because the battery is built into the device itself.
They can go in carry-on or checked baggage when attached to the device. However, spare laptop batteries — the kind you remove from the computer and carry as a backup — follow the same rules as power banks: carry-on only, never in the hold.
Cameras and photography batteries
Batteries for compact cameras and DSLRs typically have capacities well below 100Wh and do not usually cause problems.
Batteries for professional cinema cameras or lighting systems can fall into the 100–160Wh range, requiring prior authorisation.
What to do before you travel
A few good practices will save you trouble at the airport. Always check the Wh capacity of all your power banks and batteries. If that information is not printed on the device, calculate it using the formula above — its absence can raise questions at the X-ray machine.
Check the specific policy of the airline you are flying with, as individual rules can be more restrictive than the IATA minimum.
Protect the terminals of loose batteries with tape or keep them in their original packaging to prevent short circuits. And never leave batteries or power banks in a carry-on bag you may have to gate-check without removing them first.
The general rule is simple. Anything with a lithium battery stays with you in the cabin. Everything else is handled case by case — but always before you reach the airport.
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