Can I take it?
Can you take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, but only in your hand luggage — power banks aren’t allowed in checked baggage. Under CAA rules in force since 27 March 2026 you can carry no more than two, each up to 100Wh without approval (up to 160Wh with your airline’s approval), and you mustn’t recharge them on board.
| Bag | Allowed? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Hand luggage | With conditions | Allowed in the cabin only, within the watt-hour (Wh) limits. |
| Checked baggage | Not allowed | Power banks are not allowed in checked (hold) baggage. |
The rules in full
- Up to 100Wh: allowed without airline approval.
- Over 100Wh up to 160Wh: needs your airline’s approval.
- No more than two power banks per person.
- Protect it from short circuits when not in use (original packaging, or tape over the terminals).
- It must not be recharged on board, and should not be used to charge other devices on board.
CAA rules for power banks, in force from 27 March 2026. Airlines may be stricter.
How to work out your power bank’s watt-hours
Most power banks show their capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh), not watt-hours (Wh). If the Wh figure isn’t printed on it, use the CAA formula: Wh = (mAh ÷ 1,000) × volts. Many power banks use 3.7V cells — check the label for the figure on yours.
| Capacity at 3.7V | Watt-hours | In hand luggage |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5Wh | Allowed — no approval needed |
| 10,000 mAh | 37Wh | Allowed — no approval needed |
| 20,000 mAh | 74Wh | Allowed — no approval needed |
| 26,800 mAh | 99.2Wh | Allowed — no approval needed |
| 30,000 mAh | 111Wh | Airline approval needed |
| 40,000 mAh | 148Wh | Airline approval needed |
These are worked examples, not product recommendations. Your power bank’s own label is what counts.
Check your power bank
Two power banks, packed safely
- No more than two power banks per person. A phone, laptop or camera with its battery fitted isn’t a power bank, but spare batteries have their own limits — use the checker.
- Protect it from short circuits when not in use (original packaging, or tape over the terminals).
- It must not be recharged on board, and should not be used to charge other devices on board.
If your cabin bag ends up in the hold
Cabin bags sometimes travel in the hold instead — easyJet, for example, puts Inclusive Plus cabin bags in the hold when there’s no space on board. Power banks aren’t allowed in checked baggage, so take yours out and keep it with you before you hand the bag over.
At security
Whether you take electronics out at the scanner depends on the airport. Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and Bristol say large electronics can stay in your bag. Airlines can be stricter than the CAA rules, so check with yours if your power bank is close to the limits.