The short answer
Yes, in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage. Power banks under 100 Wh are allowed without asking. Between 100 and 160 Wh you need the airline's approval. Over 160 Wh they are not allowed in passenger baggage.
The three bands
These are the limits set out by the US FAA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Why not in checked luggage?
Spare lithium batteries, including power banks, must stay with you in the cabin, where a problem can be spotted and dealt with. The FAA also says that if your carry-on is checked at the gate, you must take power banks out and keep them with you.
How many can you take?
The UK CAA says two power banks per person. Some airlines allow fewer: Emirates allows one, and it must be under 100 Wh.
Can you use it on the plane?
Not always. The UK CAA says power banks should never be recharged on board and you may be asked to keep them in the seat pocket rather than an overhead locker. Emirates bans using power banks in the cabin at all, both to charge devices and to charge the power bank itself. Check your airline's rules before you fly.
Find your power bank's Wh
Look on the case or the maker's spec page for a figure in Wh. If only mAh is shown, multiply by 3.6 and divide by 1,000. A 20,000 mAh power bank works out at about 72 Wh. For more, see How many mAh do I need?
Which one to buy
Our best power banks for flights guide picks three, all checked against these rules.
Sources
- FAA PackSafe: lithium batteries, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- UK CAA: Pack right, accessed 3 Oct 2026
- Emirates: power bank rules, accessed 3 Oct 2026