TSA Bans Batteries & Chargers From Checked Luggage

The TSA no longer allows lithium batteries or power banks to be placed in checked baggage because of the danger they will ignite in-flight, even explode.

But you can bring them in your carry-on. There are size limits and other rules, of course.

woman airline passenger using seatback entertainment system_ecoxplorer — Photo: Delta

Key Lithium Battery Rules:

Carry-on Only: Spare batteries, portable chargers, and power banks must be in carry-on.

Exceptions are made for medical devices such as glucose monitors and CPAP machines.
Check the TSA website for specifics

Checked Bags: Only if the battery is installed in a device (camera, phone, heated gloves or socks, etc.). If checked, the device must be completely powered down.

Power Limits: Batteries up to 100Wh are allowed. That includes most commonly-used devices such as laptops, phones, digital cameras and their chargers. Larger batteries require advance airline approval.

To calculate Watt-hours (Wh) from Milliamp hours (mAh), divide the mAh by and multiply by the voltage.
The TSA website advises that batteries with less than 100 hours are generally okay.

Prohibited: Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries are forbidden in both checked and carry-on bags.

Smart Bags: Batteries must be removed if the bag is checked.

Vapes/E-Cigarettes: Strictly prohibited in checked luggage; must be in carry-on.

The rationale for limiting batteries to carry-on is that if any overheating or fire-related incidents occur, cabin crew can quickly respond to prevent escalation, especially with lithium-ion batteries, which are known to be volatile under certain conditions.

The prohibition is not a recent development.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ban on spare, uninstalled lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage back in 2020. However, as incidents involving these batteries continued, the regulations have been extended to include power banks and cell phone battery cases in carry-on bags.

These items are now prohibited from being packed in checked luggage:

Power banks
Cell phone battery charging cases
Both rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries
Cell phone batteries
Laptop batteries
External batteries
Portable rechargers

According to the industry site Travel Pulse, there were at least 46 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat on board planes in 2025, according to data from the FAA.

In 2025, Southwest Airlines became the first US carrier to mandate that passengers keep portable chargers and similar devices “visible” while traveling. By keeping these devices in clear view, flight attendants and crew members are better able to monitor the situation and react swiftly if a battery begins to overheat or shows signs of igniting.

International airlines also are joining the battery ban.

Emirates no longer permits passengers to use power banks or chargers in flight.

Korean airline Air Busan now requires passengers to keep power banks “on their person”at all times, following a battery fire before take-off that prompted the evacuation of nearly 200 passengers and crew. The battery fire was traced to damaged insulation.

hand holding cellphone_EvelynKanter — Photo: AARP

How to Protect Yourself and Other Passengers

These types of incidents are not new. US-based carriers now include a warning about cellphones during the pre-take-off safety message.

You’ve heard it – It’s a warning to contact a crew member immediately if your phone falls into the gaps between seats, as this could also present a fire hazard.

The danger lies in the fact that the batteries inside these devices are at risk of short-circuiting if they come into contact with metal or other objects in the seat gap, which could cause them to overheat or ignite.

In 2017, according to the trade publication Tour and Travel News, a cell phone caught fire on a United Airlines flight after it fell between the seats. A similar event took place a year later in 2018, when another fire broke out aboard a Delta Airlines flight due to a similar situation. While these incidents did not result in catastrophic consequences, they served as important learning experiences for the aviation industry and led to heightened awareness about the potential dangers of electronic devices during flights.

Keep lithium ion devices within reach while flying
That means placing your battery-powered devices in the small bag that goes under the seat, rather than in the overhead bin.
Stay alert to the warning signs of battery problems, such as swelling or overheating.
Batteries that are damaged, under pressure, overcharged, or substandard are more likely to have what the professionals call a “thermal incident” and the rest of us call a fire or explosion.

Of course, you should buy and use chargers, power banks, etc. which are certified and damage-free.

Onboard battery fires are preventable, and following the basic safety guidelines can help ensure that your flight arrives safely and on time.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is an award-winning journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.