Ryanair Power Bank Rules: Lithium Batteries, Phones, Laptops & Vapes
Checked and updated: August 2026
Flying Ryanair with a power bank, spare camera battery, laptop or another rechargeable device?
Most everyday battery-powered electronics can travel with you, but Ryanair has specific rules about lithium batteries and where they can be packed.
The most important rule is simple:
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in the cabin — never in your checked luggage.
Ryanair currently limits passengers to a maximum of two power banks, each no more than 100Wh, and they should not be stored in the overhead locker.
Here's what to check before you pack.
Ryanair Power Bank Rules: Quick Answer
If you're travelling with Ryanair:
Power banks must be carried in cabin baggage, not checked baggage.
You can currently carry a maximum of two power banks.
Ryanair limits power banks to 100Wh or less.
Power banks should not be stored in the overhead locker.
Keep them with you or in your small cabin bag beneath the seat.
Spare lithium batteries must also remain in the cabin and be protected against short circuits.
Power banks should not be used to charge or power portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing.
Under international rules introduced in March 2026, you must not recharge the power bank itself during the flight.
Damaged, swollen or defective lithium batteries should not travel.
And if Ryanair asks you to place a cabin bag in the hold at the gate, remove your power banks and spare lithium batteries first.
Can You Take a Power Bank on a Ryanair Flight?
Yes.
Ryanair permits power banks in the aircraft cabin, subject to its battery limits.
A power bank is treated as a spare lithium battery, which means it cannot be placed in checked baggage.
Ryanair's current published rules limit power banks to:
Maximum quantity: 2 per passengerMaximum capacity: 100Wh each
This is worth checking carefully if you have a particularly large portable charger.
Some general aviation battery rules provide a mechanism for certain lithium batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh to travel with airline approval, but you should not assume that makes an oversized power bank acceptable on Ryanair.
Ryanair's current power-bank limit is 100Wh.
Can a Ryanair Power Bank Go in Checked Luggage?
No.
Power banks must stay with you in the aircraft cabin.
This isn't simply a Ryanair preference. Power banks are treated as spare lithium batteries under aviation dangerous-goods rules.
Keeping them in the cabin means that if a battery overheats, smokes or catches fire, the problem can be detected and dealt with by trained cabin crew.
A battery incident hidden inside luggage in the aircraft hold is considerably more difficult to identify and manage.
What if Ryanair takes your cabin bag at the gate?
This is particularly relevant on busy flights.
If a bag you intended to take onboard is instead tagged for the hold, remove your power bank and any spare lithium batteries before handing the bag over.
The fact that the bag originally qualified as cabin baggage doesn't change the battery rules once it is placed in the hold.
Where Should I Keep My Power Bank on Ryanair?
Ryanair's current guidance says power banks should not be stored in the overhead locker.
Instead, keep your power bank readily accessible — for example:
with you;
or inside your small cabin bag stored beneath the seat in front.
This reflects a wider change taking place across the airline industry.
Modern lithium-battery guidance increasingly focuses not just on getting power banks out of checked luggage, but on keeping them somewhere an overheating battery can be noticed and reached quickly.
So don't bury your power bank at the bottom of a large cabin bag in the overhead locker.
Can I Use a Power Bank on a Ryanair Flight?
There are two different questions here:
Can you recharge the power bank itself?Under international rules introduced in March 2026, passengers must not recharge power banks during the flight.
Can you use the power bank to charge another device?Ryanair's published guidance states that power banks should not charge or power portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing.
That wording is important because airline policies aren't identical.
Some airlines now prohibit power-bank use throughout the entire flight. Ryanair's published wording is more specific, so we shouldn't turn it into a blanket Ryanair prohibition that the airline itself hasn't stated.
Always follow instructions given by Ryanair cabin crew onboard.
What Size Power Bank Can You Take on Ryanair?
The figure to look for is 100Wh.
Battery capacity for aviation purposes is measured in watt-hours rather than simply the mAh figure commonly used to market power banks.
The calculation is:
Wh = volts × mAh ÷ 1,000
Many power banks already display their Wh rating on the casing. If yours does, use that figure.
For illustration, assuming a typical nominal battery voltage of 3.7V:
Power bank | Approximate capacity | Ryanair |
10,000mAh | 37Wh | Normally within limit |
20,000mAh | 74Wh | Normally within limit |
27,000mAh | 99.9Wh | Around the 100Wh limit — check actual label |
30,000mAh | 111Wh | Above Ryanair's 100Wh power-bank limit |
These figures are examples only. Check the Wh rating printed by the manufacturer, because voltage and battery construction can differ.
Can I Take a 20,000mAh Power Bank on Ryanair?
Normally, yes.
At a typical nominal voltage of 3.7V, a 20,000mAh power bank is approximately 74Wh.
That's below Ryanair's current 100Wh maximum.
It still needs to travel in the cabin, must comply with Ryanair's quantity and storage rules, and should have a clearly identifiable capacity.
Can I Take a 30,000mAh Power Bank on Ryanair?
Be careful with this one.
A 30,000mAh power bank operating at a nominal 3.7V would be approximately:
111Wh
That would exceed Ryanair's current 100Wh maximum for power banks.
Don't judge a power bank from the mAh figure alone. Check its actual Wh marking before travelling.
What Other Lithium Batteries Can You Take on Ryanair?
Power banks aren't the only lithium batteries passengers routinely carry.
Your luggage could contain batteries in:
mobile phones
laptops
tablets
e-readers
cameras
action cameras
wireless earbuds and charging cases
smartwatches
fitness trackers
handheld games consoles
Bluetooth headphones
electric toothbrushes
electric shavers
rechargeable hair clippers
baggage trackers
smart luggage
vapes and e-cigarettes
medical equipment
The important distinction is often whether the battery is installed inside a device or being carried as a spare.
Loose spare lithium batteries require particular care and must remain out of checked luggage.
Can I Take Spare Camera Batteries on Ryanair?
Small spare camera batteries can normally travel in your cabin baggage provided they meet the applicable capacity requirements.
They must not go in checked luggage.
You should also protect spare batteries against short circuits.
Suitable methods can include:
keeping batteries in their original packaging;
using individual battery cases or pouches;
covering exposed terminals with non-conductive tape.
Don't carry loose batteries alongside keys, coins or other metal objects that could bridge their terminals.
Can I Take a Laptop on Ryanair?
Ordinary laptops and other small consumer electronic devices are generally straightforward to travel with when their lithium battery is installed correctly.
Cabin baggage is the sensible place for valuable electronics such as:
laptops
tablets
cameras
phones
Keep the device protected from damage and follow any instructions given by airport security or Ryanair crew.
If you're travelling with unusually large batteries or specialist electronic equipment, check with Ryanair before departure rather than assuming the standard consumer-device rules apply.
Can I Take an Electric Toothbrush or Shaver on Ryanair?
Normally, yes.
An electric toothbrush, rechargeable shaver or similar small personal-care device contains an installed battery rather than a loose power bank.
These ordinary consumer devices are generally permitted.
The device should be in good condition and packed so that it cannot accidentally switch on or become damaged.
Can I Take a Vape on Ryanair?
Vapes and e-cigarettes contain lithium batteries and are subject to additional aviation rules.
Where permitted, they need to remain in the cabin rather than checked baggage and should be protected against accidental activation.
They must not be recharged onboard.
Remember that airline carriage rules are only part of the picture.
Vaping devices can be restricted or prohibited in some destinations, so check the laws of the country you're travelling to as well as Ryanair's requirements.
What About AirTags and Baggage Trackers?
Small electronic baggage trackers typically contain batteries far smaller than a conventional rechargeable power bank.
They're therefore not the same thing as carrying a suitcase with a large integrated battery.
However, smart-baggage and tracker rules can vary, particularly where luggage contains a rechargeable power pack rather than a tiny tracker battery.
If your suitcase contains a substantial integrated lithium battery, check whether it can be removed before travelling.
Don't Travel With a Damaged Lithium Battery
Regardless of its capacity, don't take a lithium battery onto your Ryanair flight if it appears damaged or defective.
Warning signs include:
swelling;
unusual heat;
deformation;
leakage;
impact or puncture damage;
strange smells;
a relevant unresolved product safety recall.
A damaged lithium battery has a greater risk of entering thermal runaway, where rapidly increasing internal temperature can lead to smoke, extreme heat or fire.
Replace or safely dispose of the battery before travelling.
What Should I Do if My Power Bank Gets Hot on a Ryanair Flight?
Tell the cabin crew immediately.
Don't wait to see whether the problem disappears.
Warning signs can include:
unusual heat;
swelling;
hissing;
an unusual smell;
smoke;
flames.
The cabin crew are trained to respond to lithium-battery incidents.
Similarly, if your phone or another battery-powered device falls into an aircraft seat mechanism, don't move the seat to try to retrieve it. Tell a member of the crew.
Crushing a lithium battery can damage it and potentially trigger a thermal event.
Why Have Power Bank Rules Become Stricter?
Lithium-battery incidents on aircraft have attracted increasing attention.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority reported in July 2026 that reports involving overheating or malfunctioning passenger devices had nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025.
Several serious incidents during 2025 involved power banks, including fires in aircraft cabins and overhead lockers.
The response hasn't generally been to ban power banks altogether.
Instead, aviation authorities and airlines have increasingly concentrated on:
keeping power banks out of checked baggage;
limiting how many passengers can carry;
limiting battery capacity;
protecting batteries from short circuits;
keeping power banks accessible;
restricting overhead-locker storage;
preventing power banks being recharged onboard;
restricting their use during the flight.
Ryanair's current rules form part of that wider aviation-safety picture.
Ryanair Lithium Battery Checklist
Before travelling:
Check your power bank's Wh rating.For Ryanair, keep it at 100Wh or below.
Don't take more than two power banks.
Put power banks and spare lithium batteries in cabin baggage only.
Don't store your power bank in the overhead locker.
Protect loose batteries against short circuits.
Remove power banks before handing a cabin bag over for hold loading.
Never travel with a swollen, damaged or defective battery.
Don't recharge your power bank during the flight.
Follow Ryanair's instructions about using power banks to charge other devices.
Tell cabin crew immediately if a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, smells or smokes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power banks can I take on Ryanair?
Ryanair currently permits a maximum of two power banks per passenger, each no more than 100Wh.
Can I put my power bank in my Ryanair checked suitcase?
No. Power banks are treated as spare lithium batteries and must remain in the cabin.
Can I put my power bank in the overhead locker on Ryanair?
Ryanair's current guidance says power banks should not be stored in the overhead locker. Keep yours accessible or inside your small under-seat cabin bag.
What is Ryanair's maximum power bank size?
Ryanair currently limits power banks to 100Wh.
Is a 20,000mAh power bank allowed on Ryanair?
Normally yes. At a typical 3.7V nominal voltage it is approximately 74Wh, below the 100Wh limit. Check the actual Wh rating printed on your power bank.
Is a 30,000mAh power bank allowed on Ryanair?
A typical 30,000mAh power bank rated at 3.7V would be approximately 111Wh and therefore above Ryanair's current 100Wh power-bank limit. Check the actual manufacturer's rating.
Can I charge my power bank on a Ryanair flight?
No. Current international aviation provisions prohibit passengers from recharging power banks during flight.
Can I use my power bank to charge my phone on Ryanair?
Ryanair's published guidance states that power banks should not charge or power portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing. Follow any additional instructions given by the crew during your flight.
Can I take spare batteries on Ryanair?
Generally yes, subject to battery limits, but spare lithium batteries must be carried in the cabin and protected against short circuits.
What happens if Ryanair puts my cabin bag in the hold?
Remove your power banks and spare lithium batteries before handing the bag over.
The CabinCleared Bottom Line
Flying Ryanair with a power bank? Keep it in the cabin, keep it at 100Wh or below and don't carry more than two.
Don't put power banks or spare lithium batteries in checked luggage, and don't leave your power bank buried in an overhead bag.
Battery rules have changed significantly during 2025 and 2026, particularly around power-bank storage and onboard charging.
CabinCleared checked this guidance in August 2026. Airline policies can change, so always confirm the latest requirements with Ryanair before departure.
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