TSA Power Bank Rules: What Wattage Can You Bring on a Plane?

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INIU P62-E1 Power Bank

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What power bank wattage does TSA allow?

Good news: almost any phone or laptop power bank you'd normally buy can fly with you.

TSA's rule is about watt-hours, not watts. A lithium ion power bank rated at 100 watt-hours (Wh) or less is fine in your carry-on bag.

With your airline's approval, you can also bring up to two larger spares rated from 101 to 160Wh. And power banks never go in checked luggage.

Watts vs. watt-hours: the number that matters

This is where most people get tripped up. Watts (W) tell you how fast a power bank charges, like 65W or 165W. Watt-hours (Wh) tell you how much energy is stored inside.

The airport rule cares about watt-hours. So a 165W laptop power bank can still be carry-on friendly, as long as its battery is rated at 100Wh or less.

Check the label first. The FAA notes that newer lithium ion batteries have the Wh rating marked right on them.

How to turn mAh into watt-hours

No Wh on the label? You can work it out. The FAA's formula is simple: volts multiplied by amp-hours.

Divide the mAh by 1,000 to get amp-hours, then multiply by the battery voltage. Anker's own math shows how it works: its 25,000mAh Laptop Power Bank is rated at 90Wh, which is 25 amp-hours at 3.6 volts.

Using that same 3.6-volt figure, about 27,000mAh is where a pack starts brushing up against 100Wh. If yours is close, look for the printed Wh rating or the maker's spec page before you pack it.

Power banks between 100 and 160Wh

Bigger packs aren't automatically banned, but they need a yes from your airline first.

TSA and the FAA allow up to two spare lithium ion batteries from 101 to 160Wh per person with airline approval. Ask before you get to the gate, not after.

Carry-on only, even at the gate

TSA lists power banks as carry-on yes, checked no. That includes portable chargers and phone battery cases.

If your carry-on gets checked at the gate or planeside, the FAA says to take the power banks and spare batteries out and keep them with you in the cabin.

Keep the terminals protected from short circuits, too. The original packaging, a little tape over the ports or a snug pouch all work.

Two power banks that fit comfortably under 100Wh

Want something that's easy to bring through security? These two are rated well under the limit by their makers.

The Anker Laptop Power Bank is rated at 90Wh and can send up to 100W to a laptop through one USB-C port. Anker lists it at $119.99.

The INIU P62-E1 is a compact 20,000mAh pack rated at 73Wh, with 65W output that's enough for many thin laptops. INIU lists it at $50.99.

Charging a MacBook Air on the road? Our guide to the best power banks for MacBook Air goes deeper on wattage for each model.

Your before-you-fly checklist

Find the Wh rating on the label or the maker's spec page. At 100Wh or less, you're set.

Between 101 and 160Wh? Get airline approval, and bring no more than two.

Pack it in your carry-on, not your checked bag, and pull it out if your bag gets gate-checked.

Check your airline's own rules. The FAA notes that many airlines set stricter limits, including how many power banks each passenger can bring.

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