Lithium Batteries on Airplanes
A Complete Guide to Safe Air Travel with Lithium Batteries
Can Lithium Batteries Be Taken on Planes?
Lithium batteries can be brought on airplanes. However, the rules differ depending on the situation. Batteries inside devices—such as those in phones, laptops, and cameras—can be carried both in checked luggage and carry-on bags without any issues.
Power banks are different. Power banks can only be carried in your carry-on bag; they won't pass security screening if placed in checked luggage. China's Civil Aviation Administration issued a notice about this in 2014, and the US FAA has the same requirements.
Why These Rules Exist
The reasoning is straightforward. If something goes wrong in the cabin, flight attendants can see it and respond. If a fire breaks out in the cargo hold, who would know? That's why all spare batteries are required to be placed in carry-on luggage.
Capacity Limits - The 100 Watt-Hour Threshold
The capacity threshold is set at 100 watt-hours. Below this limit, no restrictions apply—you can bring them directly. For batteries between 100 and 160 watt-hours, you need to apply to the airline for approval, and only after approval can you bring them, with a maximum of two per person. Above 160 watt-hours, no exceptions—they're not allowed.
Regular phone batteries are only a few watt-hours. Laptop batteries on the larger end can reach 100 watt-hours. The devices we use daily basically don't hit this limit.
| Capacity Range | Requirement | Quantity Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 100 Wh | No restrictions | Reasonable quantity | Allowed |
| 100–160 Wh | Airline approval required | Maximum 2 per person | Approval Needed |
| Above 160 Wh | Not negotiable | None | Forbidden |
How to Calculate Watt-Hours
The numbers printed on power banks are often in milliamp-hours (mAh), not watt-hours. Here's how to convert:
Watt-Hour Calculation Formula
China's New 3C Certification Requirement
🇨🇳 New Regulation: Effective Late June 2025
China added a new rule at the end of June 2025. Power banks must have a 3C certification mark. Those without it can't be brought; those with unclear markings can't be brought either; and those batches that have been recalled are definitely not allowed. Many power banks sold before August 2024 didn't have 3C certification at all, and they're all restricted now.
Beijing Capital Airport, Daxing Airport, and Pudong Airport have opened temporary storage services—items can be stored for seven days, allowing people to come back and retrieve them later.
In-Flight Rules and Regional Variations
You cannot use power banks to charge your phone during flight. Power banks with switches must be kept off throughout the flight.
South Korea has even stricter rules. Starting in March 2025, power banks cannot be placed in overhead bins—they can only be placed under seats or in seat pockets. Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and AirAsia later followed suit.
Incident Statistics - A Growing Concern
Lithium battery incidents have been increasing in recent years. The FAA has statistics: from 2006 to November 2024, there were 579 combined incidents of smoke, fire, and overheating.
In 2015, there were only 16 incidents for the whole year. By November 2024, there were already 69—basically one every two days.
Recent Incident: Air Busan, January 2025
Case Study: Pre-Takeoff Fire
In January 2025, there was an incident with Air Busan—the plane caught fire before it even took off. South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport later said the cause of the fire was likely a portable charger. After this incident, several Korean airlines tightened their policies significantly, and other Asian carriers followed with adjustments.
Lithium Metal Battery Regulations
Lithium metal batteries are counted separately, categorized by lithium content.
| Lithium Content | Requirement | Quantity Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 2 grams | No restrictions | Bring directly | Allowed |
| 2–8 grams | Airline approval required | Maximum 2 | Approval Needed |
| Above 8 grams | Not allowed | None | Forbidden |
These batteries are rarely encountered in daily life.
Items That Cannot Be Transported
Completely Prohibited Items
Electric balance boards, unicycles, and electric skateboards have battery capacities far exceeding 160 watt-hours—they can't be carried or checked.
How to Protect Spare Batteries
Spare batteries must be protected against short circuits. You can keep them in their original packaging, put tape over the positive and negative terminals to insulate them, or put each battery in a separate plastic bag.
Original Packaging
Keep batteries in their original retail packaging for best protection.
Tape the Terminals
Cover positive and negative terminals with electrical tape to prevent contact.
Individual Bags
Place each battery in its own plastic bag or protective pouch.
⚡ Why This Matters
Leaving batteries loose in your bag where they can touch keys or coins could cause a short circuit—and a short circuit generates heat.
Important Safety Reminders
Don't bring batteries that are swollen or deformed. If a device gets hot or starts smoking, tell the flight attendants—they're trained to handle it.
Quick Reference Checklist
- Batteries inside devices (phones, laptops, cameras) can go in checked or carry-on luggage
- Power banks must be in carry-on bags only—never in checked luggage
- Capacity limit is 100 Wh; 100-160 Wh requires airline approval (max 2 per person)
- Above 160 Wh is strictly prohibited
- Convert mAh to Wh: divide by 1000, multiply by voltage
- In China, power banks need 3C certification (as of June 2025)
- Don't use power banks to charge during flight
- Protect spare battery terminals from short circuits
- Never bring damaged or swollen batteries
- Report any overheating or smoking devices to crew immediately
Regulatory References
This guide is based on regulations from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) 2014 announcement, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, and current airline policies. South Korean regulations took effect in March 2025, with 3C certification requirements in China effective late June 2025. FAA incident statistics cover the period from 2006 to November 2024. Always check with your specific airline before travel as policies may vary.