Can You Bring Chargers on a Plane?

The Quick Answer

All chargers are allowed on planes. Phone chargers, laptop chargers, USB cables, wireless charging pads, wall adapters — TSA has no problem with any of them. The only rule that matters: if your charger has a built-in lithium battery (like a portable power bank), it must go in your carry-on, not your checked bag.

That's the short version. But chargers come in many forms, and each type has slightly different considerations. Let's go through them all.

Types of Chargers and Their Rules

Phone Chargers (Wall Adapters and Cables)

A standard phone charger — the wall plug and USB cable you got with your phone — has no battery inside. It's just a power adapter and a wire. These are unrestricted:

• Carry-on: yes
• Checked bag: yes
• No security screening issues
• No quantity limits

You don't need to remove a phone charger from your bag at security. It's not an electronic device that requires separate screening.

Laptop Chargers

Same deal as phone chargers. A laptop charger is a power adapter with a cable. No battery, no restrictions. Pack it in your carry-on or checked bag — wherever it fits.

Some laptop chargers are bulky (looking at you, gaming laptop bricks), but size doesn't matter to TSA. They're allowed regardless. Just be aware that heavy chargers eat into your carry-on weight allowance if your airline enforces weight limits.

Portable Chargers / Power Banks

This is where the rules get specific. Portable chargers contain lithium-ion batteries, and the FAA regulates lithium batteries on aircraft.

The key rules:

• Carry-on only — power banks must be in your carry-on bag. They are banned from checked luggage. This is an FAA safety rule, not optional.
• Under 100 Wh — allowed without airline approval. Most consumer power banks fall here.
• 100-160 Wh — allowed with airline approval, limited to two per person
• Over 160 Wh — banned from passenger aircraft entirely

We'll go deeper on power banks in the sections below, since they're the most common source of confusion.

Wireless Chargers

Wireless charging pads (like Qi chargers for iPhones or Samsung devices) are simple electronics with no battery. They're allowed in carry-on and checked bags with no restrictions. They don't need to be removed from your bag at security.

Multi-Port Charging Stations

Travel charging stations with multiple USB ports are fine in carry-on and checked bags. These are just power adapters — no batteries, no issues.

Solar Chargers

Solar panels themselves are allowed. If the solar charger has a built-in battery (many do), it follows the same rules as a power bank — carry-on only, and the battery must be under 100 Wh.

Understanding Watt-Hours

Since watt-hours (Wh) determine whether your charger is allowed, you need to know how to figure out your device's rating.

Finding the Wh Rating

Many power banks print the Wh rating directly on the label. If yours only shows milliamp-hours (mAh), here's the conversion:

Wh = (mAh / 1000) x Voltage

Most power banks use 3.7V internally, so:

• 10,000 mAh = 37 Wh (well under limit)
• 20,000 mAh = 74 Wh (under limit)
• 26,800 mAh = 99.16 Wh (just under limit)
• 30,000 mAh = 111 Wh (needs airline approval)

The 100 Wh threshold roughly translates to about 27,000 mAh at 3.7V. If your power bank is 26,800 mAh or less, you're almost certainly fine.

What If There's No Label?

If your power bank doesn't have a visible Wh or mAh rating, TSA officers may not let it through. They can't verify it meets the limit without a label. Always travel with chargers that have their specs clearly printed on the device.

Security Screening for Chargers

Most chargers don't cause any issues at TSA checkpoints, but here's what to expect.

What to Remove From Your Bag

TSA requires electronics larger than a cell phone to be removed for X-ray screening. Most chargers don't meet this threshold:

• Phone chargers and cables — stay in bag
• Laptop chargers — stay in bag (they're accessories, not standalone electronics)
• Small power banks — can usually stay in bag, though pulling them out preemptively can prevent a bag check
• Large power banks — consider pulling these out. A dense brick of lithium battery can look suspicious on an X-ray

In TSA PreCheck lanes, nothing needs to come out. Same for airports with CT scanners.

Why Chargers Sometimes Get Flagged

Power banks are dense rectangular objects that show up prominently on X-rays. If a TSA officer can't identify what the dense block in your bag is, they'll pull the bag for a manual check. This isn't because chargers are prohibited — they just need to verify what the object is.

To speed things up: put your power bank in an easily accessible pocket of your bag. When the bag gets flagged, you can quickly show the officer what it is.

Charging Your Devices During the Flight

Having the right charger setup makes a big difference on long flights.

In-Seat Power Options

Modern aircraft increasingly offer charging at every seat, but the type varies:

• USB-A ports — the most common. Charge phones and tablets at standard speed.
• USB-C ports — newer aircraft are adding these. Faster charging, and they can charge some laptops.
• AC power outlets — full 110V outlets, usually in business/first class but increasingly in economy. Plug in your laptop charger and work all flight.
• EmPower ports — older aircraft have these proprietary ports. You'll need a special adapter.

Not every seat has power. Budget carriers and older aircraft may have no charging at all. Check your airline and aircraft type before you fly if charging matters to you.

Portable Charger Strategy

If you're not sure about in-seat power, bring a portable charger as backup. A 10,000 mAh power bank weighs about half a pound and can fully charge most phones twice. That's plenty for a domestic flight.

For international flights or heavy use, a 20,000 mAh power bank gives you four to five phone charges. Still well under the 100 Wh limit.

Charging Multiple Devices

If you're traveling with a phone, tablet, headphones, and a smartwatch, a multi-port charger is your friend. Bring a wall adapter with at least two USB ports for gate charging before your flight, and a small power bank for the air.

International Travel Charger Tips

Different countries use different electrical outlets and voltages. If you're flying internationally, you'll need to consider:

• Plug adapters — a simple physical adapter that lets your US plug fit into a foreign outlet. Allowed in carry-on and checked bags without restriction.
• Voltage converters — converts between 110V and 220V. Most modern phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage (check the fine print: it should say "100-240V"), so you usually only need a plug adapter, not a converter.
• Universal travel adapters — combination adapters that work in multiple countries. Many have built-in USB ports. These are allowed in carry-on and checked bags.

Gate Check Situations

If you're forced to gate-check your carry-on bag (common on small regional jets), you need to remove any power banks or portable chargers before handing the bag over. Gate-checked bags go into the cargo hold, where lithium batteries aren't allowed.

Flight attendants or gate agents should remind you, but don't count on it. Make a habit of keeping your portable charger in your personal item (purse, backpack, or laptop bag) rather than your carry-on suitcase, so you're never caught scrambling at the gate.

Quick Reference Guide

• Phone charger (wall adapter + cable) — carry-on or checked bag, no restrictions
• Laptop charger — carry-on or checked bag, no restrictions
• USB cable — carry-on or checked bag, no restrictions
• Wireless charging pad — carry-on or checked bag, no restrictions
• Portable charger under 100 Wh — carry-on only
• Portable charger 100-160 Wh — carry-on only, airline approval needed
• Portable charger over 160 Wh — not allowed on plane