Travelling with batteries and power banks

Two portable power banks and a travel backpack on a table overlooking an airport apron

Phones, cameras, laptops and power banks all run on lithium batteries, and aviation authorities treat them carefully. This guide summarises what the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says. Airlines can have stricter rules, so check yours before you fly.

1. Spare batteries go in your carry-on

CASA's current guidance is that power banks and loose spare batteries must be carried in your cabin baggage, not checked luggage. Batteries installed in a device under 100Wh can usually stay in checked luggage, with the device switched off and protected from damage or crushing.

2. Know your watt-hours

The size of a battery is measured in watt-hours (Wh). CASA's guidance on the limits is:

  • Batteries of 100Wh or less, which includes most phone, laptop and camera batteries, are generally permitted in cabin baggage.
  • Batteries above 100Wh and up to 160Wh require airline approval before you fly.
  • Batteries above 160Wh are generally not allowed. Wheelchairs and mobility aids are treated separately, and special exceptions can apply, so check with your airline well ahead of travel.

If a battery shows no Wh rating, you can work it out: volts × amp-hours = watt-hours. If it is rated in milliamp-hours (mAh), divide by 1,000 first to get amp-hours. Check the voltage the capacity is rated at, because a power bank may quote its capacity at its internal cell voltage rather than at its USB output.

3. Protect the terminals

CASA says to protect spare batteries' terminals so they cannot touch other metal objects. You can keep them in their original packaging, tape over exposed terminals or place each in its own plastic bag or container.

4. How many can you carry?

CASA's current guidance limits passengers to two power banks in total, and airlines can apply stricter rules. Check with your airline before you travel, including its rules on using or charging power banks during the flight.

5. Check before you pack

CASA also publishes a "Pack Right" tool for checking specific dangerous goods items. Its rules are updated from time to time, so check the current page before you fly.

This guide is general information, not official aviation advice. Rules change and airlines may apply their own restrictions. Check current advice from CASA and your airline.

Sources and further reading