Carry-on vs checked: the one rule that never changes.
Lithium-ion batteries belong in your carry-on. Always. Here’s why — and what airlines do if you don’t.
Lithium-ion, carry-on, every time.
FAA, EASA, UK CAA, ICAO — every aviation authority agrees: spare lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries must travel in carry-on baggage only. Installed batteries (inside a phone, laptop, camera, drone) can travel in checked bags, but loose spares and power banks cannot.
Cargo holds are unreachable.
If a battery overheats in the cabin, crew can isolate it within seconds. If it happens in the cargo hold, no one knows until smoke detectors trigger — by which point a thermal runaway can be hard to contain. Cargo-hold lithium fires have been the cause of multiple aircraft accidents.
Practical rules.
Power banks: carry-on
Always. No airline allows them in checked baggage.
Laptops, phones, cameras
Devices with installed batteries can travel checked, but pack them off and protected.
Spare camera/drone batteries
Always carry-on. Use original packaging or a battery case.
What happens at security.
Checked-bag X-ray will flag the lithium signature. Your bag gets pulled, the battery is removed, and you may not get it back. International routes sometimes confiscate batteries outright. Domestic US routes typically reroute them to carry-on if you’re still at the gate.
15 colors. Pick yours.
The matte finish hides fingerprints, scuffs, and whatever happens after a long day.
The one charger to pack right.
Clutch Pro lives in carry-on, lives in your pocket, and clears every airline’s rules.
Shop the Clutch ProFrequently asked
Is the Clutch Pro allowed on any airline?
Yes. The Clutch Pro is approximately 18.5 Wh (5,000 mAh × 3.7V), well under the 100 Wh carry-on limit every major airline uses.
Can I put a power bank in checked luggage?
No. Lithium-ion batteries must always travel in carry-on luggage. This is an FAA, EASA, CAA, and ICAO rule — no airline allows it.
How do I convert mAh to Wh?
Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × voltage. For lithium-ion power banks, voltage is typically 3.7V. So 5,000 mAh ≈ 18.5 Wh, 10,000 mAh ≈ 37 Wh, 27,000 mAh ≈ 100 Wh.
What if my power bank is over 100 Wh?
Power banks between 100–160 Wh require airline approval and are limited to two per passenger. Anything over 160 Wh is banned from passenger aircraft.
Reviewed by The Clutch Team · June 2026
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