Airlines and regulators are tightening enforcement of lithium battery restrictions this summer, and the rules are more specific — and more strictly applied — than most travelers realize. Knowing them before you pack could save considerable inconvenience at the security line.
There is a particular kind of travel disruption that feels especially avoidable in retrospect: having a bag pulled at the gate because of something you packed without thinking twice. Lithium batteries are increasingly the culprit, and with enforcement tightening at airports on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s worth understanding exactly what the rules require — not the vague version most travelers carry in their heads, but the actual specifics.
The core rule is this: lithium-ion batteries — the kind powering laptops, phones, cameras, e-readers, portable chargers, and most rechargeable devices — must travel in carry-on baggage, not checked luggage. This applies universally across commercial aviation. The reasoning is practical: a battery fire in a cabin can be detected and suppressed; the same fire in a cargo hold is significantly harder to manage. The FAA has documented hundreds of battery-related incidents over the past decade, and the number continues to rise as travelers carry more devices.
The restrictions become more granular from there, and this is where many travelers run into trouble. Spare batteries and power banks — meaning any lithium battery not installed in a device — are prohibited from checked bags entirely, without exception. They must be in the cabin, ideally in their original packaging or with the terminals covered to prevent short-circuiting. A loose power bank rattling around in a checked suitcase is a violation, regardless of its size.
Size does matter for larger batteries. The FAA measures lithium-ion batteries in watt-hours (Wh). Batteries up to 100Wh — which covers the majority of consumer electronics including most laptops — are permitted in carry-on without airline approval. Batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh, which includes some professional camera equipment and larger laptop batteries, require airline approval before the flight. Anything above 160Wh is prohibited on passenger aircraft altogether. Most travelers never encounter the upper limits, but photographers and videographers traveling with professional gear should check battery specifications before they pack.
E-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards occupy their own complicated territory. Their batteries typically exceed the 160Wh threshold by a significant margin, which means they are banned from both carry-on and checked baggage on most commercial airlines. Travelers planning to hire or purchase one at their destination — a common approach among active travelers — sidestep the issue entirely. Those hoping to bring their own should plan on shipping it ahead or accepting that it won’t be flying with them.
One area where enforcement has visibly increased is with high-capacity power banks, particularly those above 27,000mAh. Many airlines have begun actively checking these at gates, and some airports now have dedicated scanning equipment to identify battery capacity. The simplest approach: if a power bank doesn’t clearly display its watt-hour rating and it’s on the larger side, assume it will attract attention and check the specifications before travel day.
The rules themselves haven’t changed dramatically, but the consistency of enforcement has. Gate staff at major hubs are better trained than they were even two years ago, and the days of waving through oversized power banks with a shrug appear to be ending. For travelers with a lot of gear — and most experienced travelers qualify — a quick audit of anything battery-powered before packing is time well spent.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.