Note: For the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s most up-to-date guidelines regarding batteries, visit the CASA website.
With phones, laptops, cameras, drone, and speakers, these days we are reliant on portable battery packs, or “power banks”. Unfortunately, batteries can cause sudden fires. Therefore, airlines have strict legal requirements about how batteries are transported.
Carry On vs Check-In
Spare batteries must never be packed into checked luggage, no matter the size. Batteries that form part of a device, such as a laptop, are sometimes allowed in checked luggage. But, as it can be a huge inconvenience to rearrange all your luggage, it’s best not to risk being told to move devices from your check-in to your carry-on – especially since it may put your carry-on over a weight limit.
Under 100 Wh
Airlines measure power banks in Watt Hours (Wh). If your power bank is under 100 Wh you can keep it in your carry-on luggage on the plane, but it cannot be stored beneath the plane. This is because a battery-fire beneath the plane would be difficult to extinguish.
The confusion is that power banks are generally measured in Milliamp Hours. Power banks that are 27,000mAh typically be below 100 Wh, but there is a specific equation we need to find the exact Wh rating: Multiply the voltage (V) by the milli-amp hours (Ah). Then, divide this by 1000 to find your Wh.
For example, a 3.7V battery with a 10,000mAh hour rating is 37Wh (V x mAh / 1000 = Wh).
The vast majority of lithium-ion power banks are 3.7V. We will put a simple table at the bottom of this page to make calculating easier 😉
Over 100 Wh
If your power bank is between 100Wh and 160Wh you may still take it with you, but it will need to be cleared by the airline.
- Virgin will approve 2 spare battery packs, 101-160Wh, when declared at check-in.
- Qantas and Jestar will approve these batteries at check-in but also require prior-approval via an email to dg@qantas.com.au – be prepared as they often take a week to respond!
- Rex will approve 2 spare battery packs, 101-160Wh, when declared at check-in.
Quick Reference Table
| mAh | Wh (at the typical 3.7V) | Status |
| 5,000 | 19 | Safe to carry-on |
| 10,000 | 37 | Safe to carry-on |
| 15,000 | 56 | Safe to carry-on |
| 20,000 | 74 | Safe to carry-on |
| 25,000 | 93 | Safe to carry-on |
| 27,000 | 100 | Limit without airline approval |
| 30,000 | 111 | Seek airline approval |
| 35,000 | 130 | Seek airline approval |
| 40,000 | 148 | Seek airline approval |
| 43,000 | 160 | Legal limit |
| 45,000 | 165 | Illegal to bring on plane |
The Best Flight Safe Power Banks
We will update this section with our selection of best flight safe power banks.
