Can You Take a Power Bank on a Plane? UK Flight Rules Explained
- Aug 31
- 8 min read
Power banks have become almost essential for travelling. Whether you use one to keep your phone charged while navigating an airport, accessing a boarding pass or staying connected after you land, they are particularly useful on long travel days.
But power banks contain lithium batteries, which means there are specific aviation safety rules about where they can be packed and how large they can be.
The most important rule is simple: power banks should travel with you in the cabin, not in your checked luggage.
For passengers flying from the UK, there are also limits on the capacity and number of power banks you can carry, while individual airlines may apply additional restrictions.
Here is what you need to know before you pack one for your next flight.
Can You Take a Power Bank on a Plane?
Yes. You can normally take a power bank on a plane, provided it meets the applicable battery restrictions.
Under current UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance, power banks must be carried in your cabin baggage. They must not be packed in checked or hold luggage.
There are also limits based on the power bank's watt-hour (Wh) rating.
As a general rule:
Power banks up to 100Wh can be carried without prior airline approval.
Power banks above 100Wh but no more than 160Wh require approval from the airline.
Current UK CAA guidance limits passengers to a maximum of two power banks per person. - UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance
Your airline can impose additional restrictions, so it is worth checking its current rules before travelling.
Do Power Banks Go in Hand Luggage or Hold Luggage?
Power banks belong in your hand luggage.
They should not be placed in luggage that is going into the aircraft hold.
This is because lithium-ion batteries can overheat or, in rare cases, catch fire if they are damaged or develop a fault. A battery incident is considerably easier for the crew to identify and deal with when it happens in the passenger cabin than inside the aircraft's baggage hold.
If you arrive at the gate and your cabin bag is taken from you to be placed in the hold, remember to remove your power bank first and keep it with you.
What Is the Maximum Power Bank Size You Can Take on a Plane?
Airline battery restrictions are normally expressed in watt-hours (Wh), rather than the milliamp-hours (mAh) commonly used to advertise power banks.
The key threshold for most travellers is 100Wh.
A lithium-ion power bank rated at no more than 100Wh can normally be carried without obtaining approval from your airline.
Power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval before travelling.
If you have an unusually large-capacity power bank, check both its Wh rating and your airline's rules before putting it in your cabin bag.
Can You Take a 10,000mAh Power Bank on a Plane?
In most cases, yes.
A typical 10,000mAh power bank operating at around 3.7 volts has a capacity of approximately 37Wh.
That is comfortably below the normal 100Wh limit.
Always check the rating printed on the power bank itself rather than relying solely on its advertised mAh capacity.
Can You Take a 20,000mAh Power Bank on a Plane?
Usually, yes.
A typical 20,000mAh power bank operating at around 3.7 volts is approximately 74Wh.
Again, this falls below the normal 100Wh threshold.
This is one reason why 20,000mAh power banks are commonly used for travel: they provide considerably more charging capacity than smaller models while generally remaining within standard aviation battery limits.
Can You Take a 30,000mAh Power Bank on a Plane?
This requires more care.
Using a nominal voltage of 3.7V, a 30,000mAh power bank would be approximately 111Wh.
That puts it above the normal 100Wh threshold.
A power bank above 100Wh but no more than 160Wh may be permitted with airline approval, but you should not assume that it will be accepted.
If you have a 30,000mAh power bank, check the Wh rating printed on the device and contact your airline before travelling.
How Do You Convert mAh to Wh?
If your power bank only displays its capacity in milliamp-hours, you can estimate its watt-hour rating.
First convert mAh to amp-hours (Ah) by dividing by 1,000.
Then multiply the result by the battery's nominal voltage.
For example:
20,000mAh ÷ 1,000 = 20Ah
20Ah × 3.7V = 74Wh
So a 20,000mAh power bank with a nominal voltage of 3.7V is approximately 74Wh.
Many modern power banks have the Wh rating printed directly on the casing, which is the figure you should use when checking airline restrictions.
How Many Power Banks Can You Take on a Plane?
Current UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance permits a maximum of two power banks per person.
Both must meet the relevant capacity requirements and must be carried in the cabin.
Because airline policies can be more restrictive than the general aviation rules, check your airline if you intend to travel with more than one power bank.
Can You Use a Power Bank During the Flight?
This is an area where the rules have become more restrictive.
Current UK CAA guidance says power banks must not be recharged while onboard the aircraft and advises that they should not be used to recharge portable electronic devices during the flight.
Individual airlines can impose their own rules, and some have introduced specific restrictions on where power banks can be stored and when they can be used.
The safest approach is therefore to charge your phone and other devices before boarding and treat your power bank primarily as something to use at the airport or after you land.
If you do need to use one onboard, follow your airline's current policy and any instructions from the cabin crew.
How Should You Pack a Power Bank for a Flight?
Keep your power bank somewhere accessible in your cabin baggage rather than buried at the bottom of your bag.
Power banks should also be protected against short circuits and damage.
A protective pouch or the original packaging can help protect the device. Exposed battery terminals should be protected where applicable.
Do not travel with a power bank that is swollen, damaged, unusually hot or otherwise showing signs of a battery fault.
If cabin crew give instructions about where your power bank must be stored during the flight, always follow them.
Can a Power Bank Go Through Airport Security?
Yes. A permitted power bank can normally pass through airport security in your cabin baggage.
Airport security officers may ask to inspect electronic equipment or batteries, so having the power bank somewhere accessible can make the process easier.
It is also sensible to make sure that its capacity markings are readable, particularly if you are travelling with a larger power bank.
Is a Portable Charger the Same as a Power Bank?
Usually, yes.
The terms portable charger, battery pack and power bank are often used to describe the same type of rechargeable portable battery.
For aviation purposes, it is the battery inside the device that matters rather than the name used by the manufacturer.
A portable charger containing a lithium-ion battery is therefore subject to the same relevant battery restrictions.
Do Different Airlines Have Different Power Bank Rules?
Yes.
The UK CAA provides the underlying safety guidance, but airlines can impose additional restrictions.
Some airlines specify where power banks must be stored in the cabin, whether they may be used during the flight and the maximum capacity they will accept.
This makes it important to check the rules of the airline you are actually flying with, particularly if you have a large power bank or are travelling with more than one.
Ryanair Power Bank Rules
Ryanair currently permits power banks in the cabin subject to its own battery restrictions.
Power banks are limited to two per passenger and must not exceed 100Wh.
Ryanair also requires power banks and spare lithium batteries to be carried on your person or in the small cabin bag stored underneath the seat in front of you, rather than in baggage placed in an overhead locker.
Ryanair does not permit power banks to be recharged onboard. It currently allows them to be used to charge personal electronic devices except during taxi, take-off and landing, or when instructed otherwise by the crew.
What If Your Cabin Bag Is Put in the Hold?
This is worth remembering on busy flights.
An airline may sometimes ask passengers to check a cabin bag into the hold at the gate.
If that happens, remove your power bank before handing the bag over.
Power banks must remain with you in the cabin.
The same principle is useful whenever you are packing: keep batteries and other items that cannot travel in the hold somewhere you can reach easily.
Power Bank Rules: Quick Checklist
Before leaving for the airport:
Check the Wh rating printed on your power bank.
Keep it in your cabin baggage, never your checked luggage.
Remember that up to 100Wh is normally permitted without airline approval.
Contact your airline in advance for a power bank above 100Wh and up to 160Wh.
Do not carry more than two power banks.
Protect the power bank against damage and short circuits.
Do not travel with a damaged or swollen power bank.
Check your airline's own rules on storage and onboard use.
If your cabin bag is placed in the hold, remove the power bank first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a power bank in hand luggage?
Yes. Power banks should be carried in cabin or hand luggage rather than checked luggage, subject to the applicable capacity restrictions.
Can I put a power bank in my suitcase?
It depends what you mean by suitcase.
If it is a cabin suitcase that remains with you onboard, a compliant power bank can normally be carried in it, although your airline may specify where in the cabin it must be stored.
If the suitcase is being checked into the aircraft hold, the power bank must be removed.
What size power bank is allowed on a plane?
Power banks up to 100Wh can normally be carried without airline approval. Power banks above 100Wh and up to 160Wh require airline approval.
Check the Wh rating printed on your device and your airline's own restrictions before travelling.
Is a 20,000mAh power bank allowed on a plane?
Usually, yes. A typical 20,000mAh power bank using a nominal voltage of 3.7V is around 74Wh and therefore below the normal 100Wh threshold.
Always check the actual Wh rating of your particular device.
Can I take a 30,000mAh power bank on a plane?
Possibly, but you need to check carefully. At a nominal 3.7V, 30,000mAh is approximately 111Wh, putting it above the 100Wh threshold. Power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval.
Can I take two power banks on a plane?
Current UK CAA guidance permits a maximum of two power banks per person, subject to the capacity restrictions and any additional rules imposed by your airline.
Can I charge my phone with a power bank on a plane?
Do not assume that you can. Current UK CAA guidance advises that power banks should not be used to recharge portable electronic devices onboard, while individual airlines can have their own specific policies.
Follow the rules of the airline you are travelling with and any instructions from the cabin crew.
Can a power bank go in checked luggage?
No. Power banks should be carried in the cabin and must not be packed in checked or hold luggage.
Do I need to take my power bank out at airport security?
Security procedures can vary between airports and circumstances. Keep the power bank accessible and follow the instructions given by airport security staff.
Final Check Before You Fly
Power banks are useful travel accessories, but because they contain lithium batteries they need to be packed correctly.
For most travellers, the simplest rule is to keep the power bank in your cabin baggage, check that it is no more than 100Wh, and make sure it is protected from damage.
Larger power banks require more care, while airline-specific restrictions can go beyond the general rules.
A quick check of the capacity printed on your power bank and your airline's current policy before leaving home can prevent problems at the airport.
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