What's the largest power bank you can take on an airplane?

Published Aug 25, 2026, 1:15 PM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, six years ago, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published there there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also a youth pastor at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. Are you getting ready to fly home for the holidays, but want to make sure your phone can stay charged on the trip? Carrying a portable power bank is an easy way to power up without a wall outlet—but how big can you go when flying? There are a few stipulations to what types of power banks can fly with you, and some even require permission from the airline before you can bring it onboard. Here’s everything you need to know about how big of a power bank you can (and can’t) fly with. Small to medium power banks are always fine (Under 100wh) Most batteries fall in this category There’s a very good chance that your power bank is perfectly fine to take on an airplane. Any and all power banks under 100Wh are allowed on all airplanes. If your battery doesn’t say what watt-hour it is, check the mAh (milliamp hour) rating. If the battery is a standard lithium-ion battery, then you can bring up to a 27,000mAh battery on a plane. Most lithium-ion batteries are 3.7V nominal, which makes a 27,000mAh battery right at 99.9Wh, letting it skirt in right under that 100Wh battery threshold. In reality, most portable batteries sold are under 27,000mAh because any larger, and you start to get too big to be truly “portable.” Larger batteries definitely do exist, but pocketable batteries typically fall in the 10,000-20,000mAh range. Anker 25K Power Bank (165W, Built-In and Retractable Cables) $105 $120 Save $15 8/10 Never run out of power, whether you're charging smartphones, tablets, or other USB-enabled devices. Connect up to four at once thanks to dual USB-C Cables, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port. Color Silver or space gray Battery Capacity 25,000mAh Cable included Two attached cables Charging Ports Two available ports Weight 21oz (595g) Dimension 6.18 x 2.12 x 1.93in (156.97 x 53.85 x 49.02mm) Medium to large power banks require approval (101wh to 160wh) Call ahead to make sure Credit: Anker Moving on up, batteries ranging from 101Wh to 160Wh, or 30,000mAh to 43,000mAh, will typically need permission from the airline that you’re flying with before being allowed to bring them on the plane. These batteries are definitely larger and normally a bit more specialized. Typically, these larger batteries are used with photography and videography gear or other more power-hungry products. However, there definitely are consumer-grade portable batteries that can start to merge into this area. Typically, the airlines will approve your request to bring these batteries on the flight, but the airlines do have the power to tell you no. If approved, you’re only allowed two batteries of this size per passenger per FAA rules. So, before you travel with your massive portable battery on a plane, be sure to call the airline for permission first—and don’t bring too many. Large power stations can’t fly at all (over 160wh) Leave it at home Credit: Bill Loguidice / How-To Geek Once you get over 160Wh, you’re not allowed to bring the battery on a plane at all. These are FAA rules and regulations, and could change at any time (as anything over 100Wh used to not be allowed on flights either). A battery over 160Wh is definitely starting to move out of the realm of a power bank to a power station, though, and is much harder to travel with. I have a few power stations at my house—one 256Wh and one 1,024Wh—and I couldn’t imagine trying to fly with either of them. If you want to transport these batteries across the country, they’ll have to be mailed through a ground shipping provider, as USPS doesn’t allow lithium-ion batteries to fly at all in packages. Shipping a battery definitely isn’t convenient, and depending on how far you’re traveling, it could take a long time to get there since it has to be transported via ground. However, shipping is the only way to legally transport a battery over 160Wh if you’re flying. Keep batteries in your carry-on, and don't place them in the overhead bin When it comes to traveling with batteries, there are definitely a lot of rules and regulations to follow. Not only does the FAA and TSA limit the size of batteries you can bring on a plane, but also the method in which you carry them. For example, all lithium-ion batteries must be transported in your carry-on luggage. No rechargeable batteries are allowed in checked luggage, which definitely makes traveling with camera equipment more difficult.