Packing
Power banks on planes: limits, numbers and use
Power banks up to 100 Wh usually need no approval: carry two at most, in the cabin only. Includes the 20,000 mAh calculation and rules on in-flight use.
By Compi4 min read
Under the CAA baseline, power banks up to and including 100 Wh need no airline approval; above 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh requires approval, and over 160 Wh is not permitted in passenger baggage. You may carry at most two per person, in the cabin only. Recharging the power bank during the flight is prohibited; using it to charge your phone depends on the airline, with some banning use altogether. (CAA, FAA)
The most prominent number on the case is often “20,000 mAh”. The number that matters for flying is its energy in watt-hours. I'd start with the small print on the device, then find a protected, accessible place for it in the bag.
Capacity limits apply to each power bank#
The capacity limit is per device; the quantity limit is per person. Two separate 74 Wh power banks do not become a single 148 Wh device.
| Capacity | CAA baseline |
|---|---|
| Up to and including 100 Wh | No operator approval; cabin only |
| Above 100 Wh, up to and including 160 Wh | Explicit operator approval where accepted |
| Above 160 Wh | Not in passenger baggage |
| Number | At most two power banks per person |
There is a source difference above 100 Wh. IATA's operator guidance describes the approval provision on page 4, but its page 10 table marks power banks above 100 Wh as forbidden and the text announces stricter treatment in the 2027 DGR edition. For a larger model, obtain explicit confirmation from every operating airline for your flight date. Without that confirmation, leave it at home.
On a codeshare booking, find the carrier actually operating the aircraft. Its battery policy may sit under dangerous goods, electronic devices or power banks. Permission for a spare laptop battery is not automatically permission for an external power bank.
A 20,000 mAh example works out at 74 Wh#
Use Wh = mAh × nominal battery voltage ÷ 1,000. The voltage must belong to the battery capacity being quoted. Do not substitute the USB output voltage, such as 5 V, for the nominal cell voltage.
- 10,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1,000 = 37 Wh.
- 20,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh.
- 30,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1,000 = 111 Wh.
A 20,000 mAh power bank rated at 3.7 V is therefore below 100 Wh and normally needs no approval. The 30,000 mAh example is above that threshold. A different nominal voltage changes the calculation; use the manufacturer's marked Wh rating where available.
A “65 W” charging label describes power output, not stored energy. Fast charging does not tell you whether the battery meets the capacity limit. If the case has no readable energy rating, obtain the manufacturer's documentation or choose a clearly labelled device. Your own calculation explains the capacity but does not replace an acceptable label.
Permission to carry is different from permission to use#
The CAA distinguishes two actions: recharging the power bank during the flight is prohibited; using it to recharge another device is discouraged. Airlines can turn that second restriction into a ban too.
For example, Lufthansa prohibits both use and recharging, and does not allow storage in overhead lockers. It lists a separate exception for approved medical devices. Those are Lufthansa conditions, rather than a worldwide storage rule.
I'd board with phones charged and tickets, maps and entertainment downloaded. That leaves the power bank available for the airport or the journey after landing, without making the children's film or your arrival details depend on permission to use it in flight.
Pack for protection and a possible gate check#
Protect each power bank individually against short circuits and damage, using a suitable case or separate protective pouch. Keep exposed connections away from coins, keys and other metal. Do not squeeze the casing between hard objects.
If a cabin trolley is sent to the hold at the gate or aircraft steps, remove the power bank before handing the bag over. The FAA explicitly requires this. Keeping it in a removable pouch makes this much easier than finding it under a week's clothes.
Damaged, swollen or safety-recalled batteries do not belong in your travel bag. If a device becomes unusually hot, smells strange or produces smoke on board, tell the cabin crew immediately.
One final packing check#
- Readable Wh rating; correct nominal voltage used in any calculation.
- At most two per person, with any required approval saved.
- Intact casing and individual protection for each device.
- Power bank stays in the cabin if the larger bag is checked.
- Operating airline's use and storage conditions understood.
An existing power bank below 100 Wh suits many travel days.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 20,000 mAh power bank allowed on a plane?
Yes, at a nominal battery voltage of 3.7 V, 20,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh. That is below 100 Wh and normally needs no approval: two power banks per person at most, cabin only, subject to stricter airline policies.
Is exactly 100 Wh allowed without approval?
Yes, under the CAA baseline. Above 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh requires operator approval where the airline accepts such power banks. Some policies impose a stricter 100 Wh ceiling.
Can I use a power bank during a flight?
You must not recharge the power bank itself during the flight. The CAA also advises against using it to charge other devices. Lufthansa prohibits both; your operating airline sets its own conditions.
What if my cabin bag is checked at the gate?
Remove power banks and loose lithium spare batteries before handing it over and keep them in the cabin. A small power bank is still excluded from checked baggage.