Can You Bring Portable Chargers On a Plane? Everything You Should Know

Key Takeaways

• If you’re in the US, you can bring portable chargers in your carry-on luggage.
• Portable chargers can’t exceed 100 Wh in capacity, or 160 Wh with special airline approval.
• Regulations around portable chargers and planes can vary a lot based on airlines and countries, so you should always double-check before leaving.

You’re at the airport, ready for that incredible trip you’ve been planning, when that dreaded question finally hits you: Can you actually bring a power bank on a plane? The rules around portable chargers on planes aren’t exactly common sense, and knowing what’s allowed beforehand can save you a ton of trouble before boarding.

Get all the answers you need with this quick guide and stay powered up for your next adventure. 

Can You Bring Portable Chargers on a Plane?

We’ll cut to the chase. Yes*. You can bring your trusty power bank on your next flight, provided you meet a few conditions. Wondering what that asterisk’s for? We’ve got you covered.

TSA and FAA Regulations

According to the latest TSA regulations, you can absolutely bring a portable charger with a lithium-ion battery if it’s packed in your carry-on luggage. You cannot bring a portable charger or any spare batteries in your checked luggage.

Now, not all portable chargers are created equal, and chargers exceeding a certain capacity are prohibited. The FAA’s PackSafe rules can give us a bit more insight here about whether you can bring a portable charger on a plane.

• Capacity: Generally, only portable chargers with a maximum capacity of 100 watt hours (Wh) are allowed in your carry-on luggage. If your battery exceeds that limit, you cannot carry your portable charger on planes.
  
• Exceptions: Traveling with a larger device and/or professional equipment? You can apply for approval with your airline. If approved, you can carry up to two spare lithium-ion batteries (up to 160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries up to 8g.
• Safety Considerations: According to the FAA, your wireless charger or power bank’s terminals need to be shielded from short circuits, i.e., coming into contact with other metal devices. This shouldn’t keep you from bringing portable chargers on planes. Protecting your portable charger is as easy as keeping it in its packaging or using a simple plastic bag or battery case.
  
  PackSafe rules also mention that you cannot bring any damaged or recalled portable chargers with you. If you’re buying from a trusted third-party brand like Mophie, this won’t be a problem.

Considerations for International Travel

The TSA and FAA’s regulations are one thing. You might even be familiar with them if you’ve flown with a charger in the past. International travel, on the other hand, comes with an entirely different maze of regulations.

Can you bring a power bank on a plane if you’re traveling internationally? Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Things can, however, get more complicated if you’re flying with a low-cost airline or a carrier that diverges significantly from the FAA’s rules. Worried whether you can bring portable chargers on planes? Let’s look at the international guidelines.

• International Air Transport Association (IATA) Guidelines: The IATA is in charge of, among other things, deciding the rules around portable chargers on planes for international flights. Most countries/airlines follow these guidelines.
  
  Fortunately, the IATA guidelines are mostly identical to the FAA’s. You can freely bring multiple 100Wh chargers with you, and you’ll still need permission for two larger batteries up to 160Wh.
• Non-IATA Conforming Countries: Some countries and airlines don’t stick to the IATA guidelines as closely. For example, China completely prohibits portable chargers that don’t meet its 3C certifications.
  
• Airline-Specific Policies: While you can bring portable chargers on international planes, you might not always be allowed to actually use them. For instance, Emirates recently imposed a ban on using portable chargers during flights, although they can still be transported in your carry-on luggage.
  
  If you’re flying internationally, make sure you always double-check both the regional flight guidelines and your chosen airline’s policies.

If you’re wondering why some airlines and countries are getting stricter with rules around portable chargers, it ultimately comes down to safety. The IATA notes that the high-pressure and low-humidity conditions on flights can cause damaged and substandard portable chargers to malfunction on flights. 

How To Stay Compliant with Regulations

Finding the Watt Hours of Your Portable Chargers

Now that you know whether you can bring portable chargers on planes, you’ll have to determine the Wh of your chargers. 

• New Portable Chargers: Most chargers and cables from reliable third-party brands like Mophie will directly feature the Wh on the packaging, making it easier to carry those portable chargers on planes.
• Determining Wh Manually: If you’re working with an older portable charger, or one that doesn’t feature the Wh rating on the packaging, you can use the FAA’s watt hours calculator. Just plug in the voltage and Amp hours listed on the packaging, and you’ll find out whether you can bring that power bank on a plane in seconds.

Buying Airline-Approved Portable Chargers

Ready to fly? The best way to save yourself the hassle of calculating Wh and wondering whether you can bring an older portable charger on a plane is to order airline-approved portable chargers from a brand you can trust. 

• Heavy Duty Portable Chargers: If you’re flying for work with a combination of energy-hungry devices like a laptop, iPhone, and iPad, you’ll need a portable charger that can stand up to the task.
  
  The Mophie Powerstation Ultra 25k mAh power bank rises to the challenge and then some, coming in at just below the 100Wh (27k mAh) limit. With fast 140W charging, you can comfortably power your MacBook on the go, even while performing intensive tasks like editing or 3D modeling. You also get multiple charging ports, so you can plug in several devices at once.
• Mid-Sized Power Banks: If you’re a moderate user and you expect to have consistent access to a charging port on your trip, you probably don’t need to bring a large portable charger on a plane.
  
  Mid-sized portable chargers on planes are the perfect solution here. A Mophie Powerstation 10K power bank can power your phone up to around 2.5 times on a single charge. This is more than enough for most casual travelers, and it’s significantly more affordable than 20-25k mAh power banks.
• Mini Power Banks: Mini power banks are perfect for a quick day out. Mophie’s Powerstation Mini 5K power bank is affordable, can comfortably keep you at 100% through the day, and is one of the most affordable portable chargers you can bring on a plane.
• Battery Cases: A reliable battery case like the Mophie Juice Pack is the ultimate traveling companion if moving light is your top priority. It charges and protects your phone, without weighing you down on the move. With MagSafe charging, you’ll never have to worry about running out.

Stay Charged On Your Next Trip

If you’re planning a trip in the future, you should know that you can bring a power bank on a plane, provided you’re complying with local and airline regulations. Do your research before lift-off and shop from a reliable brand like Mophie for a hassle-free trip.

With Mophie, you can bring portable chargers on a plane and keep all your crucial devices at 100%. Investing in Mophie means investing in high-quality, safe materials, elevated design, and the latest in charging tech.