Most batteries cannot go in checked luggage — they must travel in your carry-on bag
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) prohibit most batteries in checked baggage because they pose a fire risk in the cargo hold. Lithium batteries, which power phones, laptops, and power banks, are the main concern — they can overheat and ignite if damaged or short-circuited, and a fire in an unpressurized cargo hold is extremely difficult to fight.
The rules are strict and the same across nearly all U.S. airlines. If you pack prohibited batteries in checked luggage and the airline discovers them during screening, your bag will be removed from the flight. You will not be refunded for your ticket, and you may face fines.
The safest approach is to assume any battery-powered device stays in your carry-on. A few specific battery types are allowed in checked bags under narrow conditions, but those exceptions require you to know the exact specifications of your battery — something most travelers cannot verify on the spot.
Key Takeaways
- Lithium batteries of any size must stay in your carry-on bag; they are completely banned from checked luggage on all U.S. flights.
- Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) are allowed in checked bags in reasonable quantities, but most travelers should carry them in carry-on to avoid delays.
- Spare lithium batteries — including power bank batteries — count as prohibited items even if they are not installed in a device.
- Devices with non-removable lithium batteries (phones, laptops, tablets) can go in checked bags only if they are powered completely off, not in sleep mode.
- International flights have stricter rules than domestic flights; check your airline's website before packing anything battery-powered.
Lithium batteries are banned from checked luggage entirely
Lithium batteries — the rechargeable kind found in phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, e-readers, and power banks — cannot go in checked bags under any circumstance on flights within the United States. This includes spare lithium batteries you are not currently using. The TSA treats them as dangerous goods, the same category as explosives and flammable liquids.
The ban applies even if the battery is inside a device. A smartphone in your checked bag is a violation. A laptop is a violation. A power bank is a violation. The only exception is if the device is powered completely off — not sleeping, not in airplane mode, but fully shut down — and even then, many airlines recommend carrying these devices in your carry-on instead.
If you have a device with a removable battery (older cameras, some gaming devices), remove the battery and pack it in your carry-on. Pack the device itself in checked luggage if you want, but the battery must travel with you in the cabin.
Alkaline batteries are allowed in checked bags with limits
Standard alkaline batteries — AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and similar types — are allowed in checked luggage in reasonable quantities. The TSA does not specify an exact number, but "reasonable" typically means enough for personal use during your trip, not dozens of boxes. A handful of spares is fine; a case of 100 is not.
Alkaline batteries are also allowed in carry-on bags without restriction. Because they pose far less fire risk than lithium batteries, the TSA treats them as ordinary items. However, if you are traveling with alkaline batteries, packing them in your carry-on is still the safest choice — it avoids any possibility of a baggage handler questioning the quantity or an airline employee unfamiliar with the rules holding up your flight.
Devices with built-in batteries have different rules for checked bags
A smartphone, laptop, tablet, or any device with a non-removable lithium battery can technically go in checked luggage only if the device is completely powered off. Not in sleep mode, not in low-power mode — the screen must be dark and the device must not respond to button presses. Many airlines still recommend carrying these devices in your carry-on even when powered off, because a powered-off device can still be damaged in transit and pose a risk.
The safest rule is straightforward: any device you care about should travel in your carry-on. Checked luggage is thrown, crushed, and exposed to temperature swings. A laptop or phone in checked baggage risks physical damage regardless of battery rules. Pack your devices with you in the cabin where you can monitor them.
Spare batteries and power banks must go in carry-on luggage
A spare lithium battery — whether it is a replacement phone battery, a camera battery, or a power bank — is treated as a dangerous item and must go in your carry-on bag. You cannot pack it in checked luggage. This rule applies even if the battery is brand new and has never been used.
Power banks are particularly common sources of confusion. A power bank is a lithium battery in a plastic case. It must travel in your carry-on. The TSA limits you to two spare lithium batteries per person in carry-on luggage, so if you are traveling with multiple power banks or multiple phone batteries, you may exceed the limit.
International flights have stricter battery rules
If you are flying outside the United States, the rules become more restrictive. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets standards that most international airlines follow, and these standards are stricter than TSA rules. Some international airlines prohibit lithium batteries in carry-on bags entirely, or limit the watt-hour rating of batteries you can bring.
Before packing any battery-powered device for an international flight, check your airline's website or call their customer service line. Rules vary by airline and by destination country. A battery that is legal on a domestic U.S. flight may be prohibited on the same airline's international route.
What to do if you realize you packed batteries wrong
If you packed a lithium battery or device in checked luggage and realize the mistake before you reach the airport, remove it and repack it in your carry-on bag. If you discover the mistake at the airport after checking your bag, tell a TSA officer or airline employee when ready. They can pull your bag from the conveyor and allow you to remove the item before it boards the aircraft.
If you discover the mistake after your flight has landed, the battery has already traveled in the cargo hold. Nothing dangerous happened in this case — the flight completed safely — but the airline may contact you about the violation. Do not pack prohibited items in checked luggage on future flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pack my phone or laptop in checked luggage if I turn it off?
Technically yes, but most airlines recommend against it. A powered-off device with a lithium battery can go in checked luggage, but checked bags are handled roughly and exposed to temperature changes. Your phone or laptop risks physical damage. Pack devices you care about in your carry-on bag instead.
Are rechargeable batteries different from alkaline batteries for luggage rules?
Yes. Rechargeable batteries are almost always lithium-based and must go in carry-on luggage. Alkaline batteries (the disposable kind) are allowed in checked bags. If you are unsure what type of battery you have, assume it is lithium and pack it in your carry-on.
What if my power bank is very small?
Size does not matter. A small power bank is still a lithium battery and must go in your carry-on bag. The TSA rule applies to all lithium batteries regardless of capacity or physical size.
Can I pack batteries in checked luggage on a connecting flight?
The same rules explore to every leg of your journey. If you are connecting through another airport, batteries must stay in your carry-on the entire time. Do not pack them in checked luggage for any segment of your trip.
What happens if the airline finds prohibited batteries in my checked bag?
The airline will remove your bag from the flight. You will not be refunded for your ticket. You may also face fines from the TSA or the airline. The best approach is to pack carefully before you leave home and double-check your bags at the airport.