Home / Answers / Power banks on planes
Can you take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in carry-on baggage only. ICAO’s Addendum No. 1, applicable from 27 March 2026, limits personal-use power banks to two per person. They must not be recharged on board and should not be used to recharge other devices on board. FAA and TSA guidance also requires carry-on carriage. Check the Wh label and your airline’s rules; airlines can be stricter. ICAO Addendum No. 1; FAA PackSafe; TSA.
ICAO rules effective 27 March 2026
Addendum No. 1 to ICAO’s 2025–2026 Technical Instructions, applicable from 27 March 2026, sets these personal-use power bank provisions:
- No more than two power banks may be carried per person.
- Power banks must be carried as carry-on baggage and must not be recharged while on board the aircraft.
- Power banks should not be used to recharge a portable electronic device while on board the aircraft. This is a recommendation, distinct from the prohibition on recharging the power bank itself.
Sources: ICAO Addendum No. 1, Part 8, Table 8-1, IATA operator guidance, personal-use provisions, and UK CAA summary; retrieved 8 November 2026.
Can I recharge or use a power bank on board?
Do not recharge the power bank on board. ICAO also recommends not using it to recharge other devices on board. The two-power-bank limit applies per person. Source: ICAO Addendum No. 1. Airlines can be stricter.
What FAA and TSA say today
FAA PackSafe: Lithium batteries, retrieved 8 November 2026, says power banks must travel in carry-on baggage, with terminals protected from short circuit. It lists 100 Wh per lithium-ion battery, and allows up to two larger spare lithium-ion batteries of 101–160 Wh with airline approval. Its quantity wording is “None for most batteries” for personal use, with a two-spare limit for the larger batteries. It also warns that airlines may impose stricter quantity and Wh limits, including on power banks.
TSA: Power Banks, retrieved 8 November 2026, says “Carry On Bags: Yes” and “Checked Bags: No”. Portable chargers or power banks containing a lithium-ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags; spare lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage. TSA links to FAA guidance and leaves the final checkpoint decision to the TSA officer.
The FAA page’s general spare-battery quantity wording is not the same as ICAO’s two-power-bank limit. We report each source separately rather than treating “None for most batteries” as permission to carry more than two power banks. Airlines can be stricter. Check your airline before you fly.
Packing and capacity checks
- Carry-on only. The FAA says spare lithium-ion batteries, including power banks and phone charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. TSA lists power banks as allowed in carry-on bags and not allowed in checked bags. Source: FAA.
- 100 Wh per battery. The FAA limits rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to a rating of 100 Wh per battery. Source: FAA.
- 101–160 Wh with airline approval. With the airline’s approval, the FAA allows up to two spare larger lithium-ion batteries in the 101–160 Wh range per person. Source: FAA.
- Protect the terminals. The FAA says battery terminals must be protected from short circuit, for example by keeping the battery in its retail packaging, taping over the terminals, or using a case or pouch. Source: FAA.
- Airlines can be stricter. The FAA notes that many airlines have stricter limits, including how many power banks each passenger may bring, regardless of Wh. Check with your airline before you fly. Source: FAA.
- Damaged or recalled batteries must not be carried aboard unless the battery has been removed or otherwise made safe, according to the FAA. Source: FAA.
- TSA says the final decision rests with the TSA officer at the checkpoint. Source: TSA.
How do I convert mAh to Wh?
The FAA says to multiply the battery voltage by the amp-hours (Ah). Divide milliamp-hours (mAh) by 1,000 to get amp-hours, then multiply by the voltage printed on the battery. For example, a battery labeled 3.7 V and 10,000 mAh would be 10 Ah × 3.7 V = 37 Wh. That example is only to show the math; it isn’t one of our models. You need the voltage from the battery’s own label, and the FAA notes that newer lithium-ion batteries have the Wh rating marked on them. Source: FAA PackSafe.
Which of our power banks are under 100 Wh?
From the figures we cite, we can’t say. Anker lists capacity in milliamp-hours for four of our five power banks, but on the pages we cite it doesn’t give a watt-hour rating or the battery voltage needed to convert. We don’t guess the voltage. Look for the Wh figure printed on the power bank itself.
| Power bank | Listed capacity | Listed Wh | Under 100 Wh? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) | Not listed by Anker | Not listed by Anker | Can’t confirm from listed figures |
| Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) | 24,000 mAh | Not listed by Anker | Can’t confirm from listed figures |
| Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, built-in USB-C cable) | 20,000 mAh | Not listed by Anker | Can’t confirm from listed figures |
| Anker Nano A1653 (5,000 mAh) | 5,000 mAh | Not listed by Anker | Can’t confirm from listed figures |
| Anker Zolo A1688 (10K, 30W) | 10,000 mAh | Not listed by Anker | Can’t confirm from listed figures |
Anker’s listing for the Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W) says the bank is approved for airline travel. That is Anker’s claim; we haven’t verified it, and the airline’s rule still applies.
What if my power bank goes into a checked bag at the gate?
Take it out first. The FAA says that when a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with you in the cabin. Source: FAA PackSafe.
Models mentioned
Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K)
Specs and sources are on the product page.
Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)
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Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, built-in USB-C cable)
Specs and sources are on the product page.
Anker Nano A1653 (5,000 mAh)
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Anker Zolo A1688 (10K, 30W)
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Sources
- ICAO, 2025–2026 Technical Instructions, Addendum No. 1; IATA, operator guidance on power banks; UK CAA, power bank rule changes; retrieved 8 November 2026.
- FAA, PackSafe: Lithium batteries, retrieved 8 November 2026.
- TSA, What can I bring? Power banks (page marked last updated 14 May 2025), retrieved 8 November 2026.
- Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) support description, service.anker.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) figures.
- Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) US product page, us.anker.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) figures.
- Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, built-in USB-C cable), customizable listing, us.anker.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, built-in USB-C cable) figures.
- Anker manufacturer specifications / manual, www.anker.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker Nano A1653 (5,000 mAh) figures.
- Anker manufacturer specifications / manual, www.anker.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker Zolo A1688 (10K, 30W) figures.
- Anker manufacturer specifications / manual, salesforce-knowledge-download.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com, retrieved 7 November 2026. Used for the Anker Zolo A1688 (10K, 30W) figures.
Published . Updated . By BlackoutSmart Team. Specs and figures are from the sources above; nothing here is hands-on tested.