For years the only power bank rule most flyers knew was simple: the battery rides in the cabin, never in a checked bag. In 2026 it stopped being the only one. The International Civil Aviation Organization added a limit of two power banks per passenger and a ban on recharging them in flight, and two major US airlines set caps stricter than the Federal Aviation Administration’s.
What you can carry, and whether you can use it, now depends on the airline, the route and the watt-hour number printed on the bank. Here is what changed, why, and how to choose a bank that clears every rule in force as of September 2026.
Trend Signal
84/100 Strong momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
Rules tightening worldwide, with US airlines now setting their own caps
ICAO capped passengers at two power banks and barred recharging them on board from March 27, 2026; Southwest (one bank from April 20, per an internal memo reported by People) and American (two from May 1) then set caps stricter than the FAA’s.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 2Power banks allowed per passenger under ICAO rules in force from March 27, 2026ICAO
- 97FAA-recorded overheating or fire events tied to chargers and devices in 2025, a recordAerospace Global News
- 100 WhLargest power bank passengers may carry without airline approvalIATA
- 429,200Wireless power banks in a recall CPSC re-announced on April 16, 2026CPSC
What ICAO changed on March 27
The 36 states on ICAO’s Council approved an addendum to its dangerous-goods Technical Instructions, effective March 27, 2026, which ICAO is providing to all 193 member states. IATA notes that the rules previously treated power banks like ordinary spare batteries; the addendum separates the two.
Power banks must travel in carry-on bags, as before. New: they must not be recharged on board, no more than two may be carried per person, and they should not be used to recharge a phone or other device on board, which is a recommendation rather than a mandate. Each must also be protected against short circuits, for example in retail packaging or its own pouch.
The addendum still lets airlines approve banks of 100 to 160 Wh, but IATA told operators that provision will not carry into the 68th edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations, which replaces the current edition after December 31, 2026, and its own table already lists power banks above 100 Wh as forbidden. IATA also noted that enforcement timing depends on how each country adopts the change.
| Rule | ICAO addendum (March 27, 2026) | FAA PackSafe (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it travels | Carry-on only | Carry-on only; remove from gate-checked bags |
| How many | Two power banks per person | No general limit; airlines may set one |
| Size without approval | Up to 100 Wh | Up to 100 Wh |
| 100–160 Wh | Airline approval; IATA will drop this for power banks | Up to two spares with airline approval |
| Recharging the bank on board | Not allowed | Not covered on PackSafe; set by airlines |
US airlines now set stricter caps than the FAA
The FAA’s PackSafe page, last updated August 11, 2026, still sets no quantity limit for most spare lithium batteries carried for personal use, keeps a 100 Wh ceiling, and allows two larger spares of 101 to 160 Wh with airline approval. It warns that many airlines limit how many power banks each passenger may carry.
Southwest moved first, requiring power banks in use to be in plain sight from May 28, 2025, NPR reported. From April 20, 2026, it allows one portable charger, kept accessible rather than in an overhead bin and not recharged from seat power, according to an internal memo from its vice president of safety and security that People reported and Aerospace Global News relayed. American followed on May 1, 2026 with two chargers of up to 100 Wh each, visible while in use and kept out of overhead bins, Travel Noire reported. Some foreign carriers go further, Aerospace Global News reported. The main rules:
- Southwest: one power bank, kept accessible, not in overhead bins (from April 20, 2026, per the reported internal memo)
- American: two power banks of 100 Wh or less, visible while in use (from May 1, 2026)
- Lufthansa Group, including SWISS, Austrian and Eurowings: two power banks, no use or charging in flight (from January 15, 2026)
- Emirates: one power bank under 100 Wh, no use or charging on board
The strictest airline on your itinerary sets the rule for the whole trip.
Why regulators moved: the incident count
South Korean investigators said a fire that engulfed an Air Busan plane in January 2025 was likely started by a power bank, NPR reported. In September 2025, after 50 lithium-battery incidents on US flights that year, the FAA issued safety alert SAFO 25002 urging airlines to rethink stowage and firefighting, Aerospace Global News reported. By year end it had recorded a record 97 overheating or fire events linked to portable chargers and other devices, and 278 battery-pack events among more than 700 lithium-battery events since 2006, the outlet reported.
IATA’s guidance adds a supply-side worry: cheap, nonconforming makers and products that may not have passed UN 38.3 transport testing. It flags wireless power banks as an emerging concern after passengers reported them going into thermal runaway. The CPSC’s April 16, 2026 re-announcement of a recall of about 429,200 Casely MagSafe wireless power banks cited 28 more reports of overheating or fire, including a February 2026 case in which a woman charging her phone on an airplane was burned.
How to pick a power bank that clears every rule
Start with the watt-hour number. The FAA notes that newer lithium-ion batteries have the Wh rating marked on them and that Wh equals voltage times amp-hours; American’s own example, as reported by Travel Noire, puts a 10,000 mAh charger at 37 Wh. At that 3.7-volt rating, 20,000 mAh works out to 74 Wh, and anything above about 27,000 mAh crosses 100 Wh.
Then count. If any leg is on Southwest, one bank is the limit, so a single 20,000 mAh unit beats two small ones. Since recharging on board is barred by ICAO, Southwest and American, top it up before you leave for the airport.
Finally, plan where it rides: in a personal item under the seat or the seat pocket, not an overhead bin. A pouch per bank satisfies the short-circuit rule, and the FAA bars recalled or damaged batteries unless made safe, so check the model number against recall notices.
| Capacity on the label | Watt-hours at 3.7 V | Status under ICAO and FAA rules |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh | Allowed; still counts toward bank limits |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Allowed |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Allowed |
| 26,800 mAh | 99.2 Wh | Allowed; confirm the printed Wh |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Needs airline approval; IATA plans to forbid it |
Who should replace a power bank now
Replace now if your bank is rated above 100 Wh, shows no Wh or voltage rating, or appears on a recall list. IATA will stop allowing power banks between 100 and 160 Wh in its next regulations edition.
You can wait if you carry one or two labeled wired banks under 100 Wh. The 2026 changes govern how many you bring and when you use them, not the hardware. The open question for US travelers is whether the FAA adopts ICAO’s two-bank limit; as of its August 11, 2026 update, it had not.
What to watch next
- The FAA PackSafe page, last updated August 11, 2026, for any move to adopt ICAO’s two-power-bank limit on US flights
- IATA’s 68th Dangerous Goods Regulations edition, which takes over after December 31, 2026, and ends airline approval for power banks between 100 and 160 Wh
- Whether United, Delta and other US carriers publish power bank caps like Southwest’s and American’s
Where to start
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Power bank setups for flying in 2026, compared on what the rules check
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh power bank with printed Wh rating | Fits one-bank airline caps | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| 20,000 mAh power bank (about 74 Wh) | Fits long travel days | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Zippered electronics pouch for banks and cables | Fits under-seat storage rules | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
10,000 mAh power bank with printed Wh rating
Where to look: Amazon
Suits phone-only travelers and anyone flying Southwest, where one bank is the limit. Make sure the Wh rating is printed on the case.
- About 37 Wh, far under every limit
- Small enough for a pocket
- Less reserve for long travel days
- Recharge it every night of the trip
20,000 mAh power bank (about 74 Wh)
Where to look: Amazon
The one-bank answer for long itineraries. Confirm the listing shows a Wh figure, not only mAh, and charge it fully before you leave.
- About 74 Wh, under the 100 Wh line
- One bank instead of two
- Heavier than slim banks
- Check USB-C output if you charge a laptop
Zippered electronics pouch for banks and cables
Where to look: Amazon
Keeps a bank covered and reachable under the seat. Pick one with a separate slot for each bank.
- Keeps banks and cables together
- Helps meet the protect-terminals rule
- Not a fire containment product
- Adds bulk to a personal item
More: Travel and Adventure trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- New power bank restrictions will safeguard international aviation — ICAO
- Changes Regarding Power Banks: Guidance Document for Operators — IATA
- PackSafe: Lithium Batteries — Federal Aviation Administration
- Southwest Airlines limits passengers to one power bank per flight — Aerospace Global News
- New rules: What you need to know about flying with a power bank — Aerospace Global News
- FAA issues safety alert on lithium battery fire risks in cabins — Aerospace Global News
- American Airlines Has A New Rule For Power Banks On Flights — Travel Noire
- Southwest Airlines will require passengers to keep chargers visible due to fire risk — NPR
- Casely Reannounces Recall of Wireless Portable Power Banks — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Questions readers ask
How many power banks can I take on a plane in 2026?
ICAO rules in force since March 27, 2026 allow two per passenger. Southwest limits flyers to one from April 20, 2026, according to an internal memo reported by People, and American allows two from May 1, 2026. The FAA sets no general limit for most spare batteries but says airlines may be stricter, so the lowest limit on your itinerary applies.
Can I charge my phone from a power bank during a flight?
It depends on the airline. ICAO says power banks should not be used to recharge devices on board. The Lufthansa Group and Emirates prohibit use in flight, while American and Southwest allow use as long as the bank is visible.
Is a 20,000 mAh power bank allowed on planes?
Yes, in the cabin. At a 3.7-volt cell rating, 20,000 mAh works out to about 74 Wh, below the 100 Wh limit that applies without airline approval. It still counts toward any per-passenger limit, and the Wh printed on the case is what counts.
Can a power bank go in checked luggage?
No. The FAA requires spare lithium batteries, including power banks, to travel in carry-on bags only, and if a carry-on is checked at the gate you must take the power bank out and keep it with you.
