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Can I Carry It? — verified carry-on guide

Lithium Battery & Electronics Travel Hub

The definitive guide to Watt-hour (Wh) thresholds, spare battery packaging, airline approval requirements, and Asian aviation marking laws.

Will your power bank fly?

Enter the mAh rating printed on the label. We convert it to watt-hours and check the limit instantly.

mAh
ℹ️

Enter the mAh number from your battery label to see the verdict.

Assumes 3.7 V lithium-ion cells. Check your label for the exact voltage.

Open the full Battery Wh Calculator Read the battery rules guide

1. Interactive Watt-Hour (Wh) Calculator

If your battery or power bank only states milliamp-hours (mAh) and Voltage (V), use our calculator to verify its legal carriage status:

🔋 Battery watt-hour calculator

Power banks show mAh, airlines limit Wh. Under 100 Wh flies free in carry-on; 100–160 Wh needs airline approval.

2. The Three Statutory Watt-Hour (Wh) Categories

Category 1: Under 100 Wh (Standard Consumer Electronics)

No Airline Approval

Covers almost all smartphones, tablets, laptops, wireless headphones, camera batteries, and power banks up to ~27,000 mAh.

  • Carry-on: Permitted with no airline quantity limit (reasonable personal use).
  • Checked: Installed inside a device (laptop turned OFF) is permitted; spare loose batteries are strictly prohibited.

Category 2: 101 Wh – 160 Wh (Extended Capacity & Pro Video)

Airline Approval Required

Covers high-capacity laptop power stations, professional cinema camera batteries (V-mount/Gold-mount), and extended drone battery packs.

  • Carry-on: Permitted ONLY with prior airline approval (maximum of 2 spare batteries per passenger).
  • Checked: Installed inside equipment requires airline approval; spare loose batteries are strictly prohibited.

Category 3: Over 160 Wh (Industrial & Electric Vehicles)

BANNED on Passenger Aircraft

Covers electric bicycles, hoverboards, high-power electric scooters, and commercial power generators. Strictly prohibited from both carry-on and checked luggage on passenger flights (allowed solely via dedicated cargo freighters under ICAO Class 9 hazmat shipping).

3. Spare Battery Terminal Protection & International Marking Laws

Short-Circuit Terminal Protection

Federal law requires all spare batteries to be protected from short circuits: keep them in original retail packaging, place non-conductive electrical tape over exposed contacts, or store each battery in a separate plastic pouch.

Asia / CAAC Factory Marking Law

Aviation authorities in China (CAAC), Singapore, and across Asia strictly confiscate any power bank whose capacity text (Wh or mAh + V) has rubbed off or is missing. Hand-written labels are rejected.

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