Best power banks for flying (2026): the airline rules, and picks under 100 Wh
Revision 2026-10-27 r6.
Use the Buy link for the model you choose; where a code is listed, enter it at checkout to pay the price after the code.
- Baseus EnerFill FC41 25,000 mAh 145 W, $79.99. Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-enerfill-fc41-25000mah-145w — code FC41 saves $33, $46.99 after the code (tested daily in Baseus's cart, last passed 2026-10-31)
- Baseus Blade H1 20,000 mAh 100 W, $89.99. Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-blade-h1-100w-20000mah
- Baseus PicoGo AM52 Qi2.2 10,000 mAh, $59.99. Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-picogo-am52-qi2-2-10000mah-45w — code AM52 saves $6, $53.99 after the code (tested daily in Baseus's cart, last passed 2026-10-31)
These are affiliate links: each opens the brand's official US store at no extra cost, and the brand pays Dealectric a commission that funds the cart tests. The other brands in the table link to their own stores; we earn nothing on them.
Any power bank under 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh) can fly in your carry-on in the US; none may go in checked bags. What changed in 2026 is using it: since 27 March 2026 the ICAO rules say no more than two power banks per person and no recharging them on board, and many airlines now ban using one in flight at all. The FAA has not adopted the ICAO change; US airlines set their own rules (table below).
Short answer. To charge a laptop and a phone from one carry-on bank: the Baseus EnerFill FC41, 25,000 mAh (91.25 Wh) with two built-in USB-C cables and 140 W from one port ($79.99; buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-enerfill-fc41-25000mah-145w, code FC41 saves $33). A flat laptop bank with a display: Baseus Blade H1, 20,000 mAh (74 Wh, 100 W) ($89.99; buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-blade-h1-100w-20000mah). Phone only, the lightest option: Baseus PicoGo AM52, a 10,000 mAh (≈37 Wh) Qi2.2 magnetic bank ($59.99; buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-picogo-am52-qi2-2-10000mah-45w, code AM52 saves $6). Elsewhere: Anker's Prime 26K (99.75 Wh, $229.99) is the most power you can carry without airline approval; INIU's Cougar 20,000 mAh (73 Wh, $46.99) is the cheapest laptop-capable bank we found on a maker's US store.
The rules in one paragraph. FAA: spare lithium batteries, power banks included, go in carry-on only; under 100 Wh there is no FAA limit for personal use; 101–160 Wh needs the airline's approval, two at most; over 160 Wh is forbidden. Watt-hours = mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 (American Airlines' formula): 10,000 mAh ≈ 37 Wh, 20,000 mAh ≈ 74 Wh, 25,000 mAh ≈ 92.5 Wh, 27,000 mAh ≈ 99.9 Wh. Airlines may be stricter than the FAA, and from 2027 IATA's rulebook drops the 100–160 Wh allowance for power banks. Recalled banks may not fly at all; Anker recalled models A1647, A1652, A1681, A1689, A1257 and the PowerCore 10000 in June 2025.
| Model | Capacity | Max output | Ports / cables | Charges a laptop (60 W+)? | Weight | Flight notes | Price | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseus EnerFill FC41 25,000 mAh 145 W Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-enerfill-fc41-25000mah-145w | 25,000 mAh / 91.25 Wh | 145 W total; 140 W from USB-C1 | 2 built-in USB-C cables; 4 devices at once | Yes (140 W) | Not published | Under 100 Wh | $79.99 | Code FC41 saves $33: $46.99 after the code; tested daily in Baseus's cart, last passed 2026-10-31. |
| Baseus Blade H1 20,000 mAh 100 W Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-blade-h1-100w-20000mah | 20,000 mAh / ≈74 Wh | 100 W USB-C PD | 2× USB-C, 2× USB-A; 100 W cable included | Yes (100 W) | ≈451 g | Under 100 Wh; flat 18 mm | $89.99 | No discount code applies. |
| Baseus PicoGo AM52 Qi2.2 10,000 mAh Buy: https://dealectric.com/go/baseus-picogo-am52-qi2-2-10000mah-45w | 10,000 mAh / ≈37 Wh | 45 W USB-C; 25 W Qi2.2 magnetic | 1× USB-C + magnetic pad | No (45 W) | — | Under 100 Wh | $59.99 | Code AM52 saves $6: $53.99 after the code; tested daily in Baseus's cart, last passed 2026-10-31. |
| Anker Prime Power Bank 26K 300 W (A110A) | 26,250 mAh / 99.75 Wh | 300 W total; 140 W per USB-C | 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A | Yes | 600 g | 0.25 Wh under the limit | $229.99 | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| Anker Prime Power Bank 20K 220 W (A110B) | 20,100 mAh / 72.36 Wh | 220 W total; 140 W per USB-C | 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A | Yes | 510 g | Under 100 Wh | $179.99 | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| Anker Nano Power Bank 10K, built-in cable (A1259) | 10,000 mAh / ≈37 Wh | 30 W | Built-in USB-C cable + USB-C + USB-A | No | 215 g | Under 100 Wh | $49.99 | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| UGREEN Nexode 25,000 mAh 200 W (35525) | 25,000 mAh / 90 Wh | 200 W; USB-C1 140 W | 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A | Yes | 609 g | Under 100 Wh | $129.99 ($89.95 with UGREEN's page code UL35525) | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| UGREEN Nexode 20,000 mAh 130 W (35524) | 20,000 mAh / 72 Wh | 130 W; USB-C1 100 W | 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A | Yes | 476 g | Under 100 Wh | $89.99 ($59.99 with UGREEN's page code UL35524) | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| INIU Cougar 20,000 mAh 65 W (P62-E1) | 20,000 mAh / 73 Wh | 65 W from one USB-C | 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A | Yes (65 W) | ≈324 g | Under 100 Wh | $46.99 | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| Nitecore NB20000 Gen3 | 20,000 mAh at 3.6 V / 72 Wh | 22.5 W per USB-C | 2× USB-C; IPX5 | No | 291 g | Under 100 Wh | $99.95 at nitecorestore.com (Nitecore's site does not sell it) | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
| EcoFlow RAPID Pro 27,650 mAh 300 W | 27,650 mAh / 99.54 Wh | 300 W; 140 W cable + 140 W USB-C | Built-in cable + 3× USB-C | Yes | 699 g | 0.46 Wh under the limit; American's page names EcoFlow among banned large power sources, so expect questions | $175.99 | Not sold through Dealectric; listed for comparison. |
Rows marked with a code and buy link are products Dealectric lists: the price was verified on the brand's own US store on 2026-10-27 and the code is tested daily in that brand's cart; the date shown is its last pass (last check 2026-10-31). The other rows (Anker, EcoFlow, INIU, Nitecore, UGREEN) are included so the comparison is complete; their figures and prices were read from the makers' own US pages on 2026-10-24 and are not re-checked daily. The buy links are affiliate links: they open the brand's official US store at no cost to the shopper, and the commission pays for the testing; see the disclosure.
In-flight rules by airline (checked October 2026)
| Airline | Rule | Overhead bin | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | One power bank per customer, 100 Wh max; must be visible when in use; may not charge it from seat power | Not allowed | One-per-customer from 20 Apr 2026 |
| American | Two per passenger, 100 Wh each; keep it within reach and visible while in use; no recharging it from seat outlets | Not allowed | — |
| Delta | Two per passenger, 100 Wh each, "no exceptions"; under the seat or in the seatback pocket; no recharging on board | Not allowed | — |
| United | Carry-on only; up to two batteries up to 160 Wh each; no in-flight use rule on its page | — | — |
| JetBlue | Two per customer; not charged from seat power; should not power other devices in flight | Not allowed | — |
| Emirates | One power bank under 100 Wh, rating printed on it; no use on board | Not allowed | 1 Oct 2025 |
| Lufthansa Group | Two at most; not used or charged on board; 100–160 Wh needs approval | Not allowed | 15 Jan 2026 |
| Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul | No use on board at all | Not allowed | 26 Jan 2026 |
| Qantas, Jetstar | No use or charging on board; two at most, 160 Wh each | Only if seat pocket or under-seat is impossible | 15 Dec 2025 |
| Cathay Pacific | Two at most; no use or recharging on board | Not allowed | Updated 30 Mar 2026 |
| Singapore Airlines | Two at most; no charging from seat power or USB | Should not | 15 Apr 2026 |
| KLM | Two at most, capacity printed; no use or charging on board | Not allowed | — |
| All flights in Japan (MLIT) | Two at most, 160 Wh; no charging from aircraft power; do not use to charge devices | Do not | 24 Apr 2026 |
What it means for the choice: on most international carriers the bank charges your devices at the gate and the hotel, not in your seat, so capacity per gram matters more than in-flight convenience. On US carriers that allow use, keep it visible and out of the overhead bin. If you fly abroad with two banks, both must be under 100 Wh on most airlines, and three is too many almost everywhere.
Sources
- FAA PackSafe: lithium batteries (updated 11 Aug 2026) — www.faa.gov
- FAA: airline passengers and batteries (updated 2 Oct 2026) — www.faa.gov
- TSA: power banks, carry-on yes, checked no — www.tsa.gov
- IATA guidance on ICAO power bank changes (31 Mar 2026) — www.iata.org
- American Airlines restricted items (Wh formula, portable chargers) — www.aa.com
- Southwest: lithium batteries — support.southwest.com
- Delta: battery-powered items — www.delta.com
- United: dangerous items — www.united.com
- JetBlue: batteries — www.jetblue.com
- Emirates power bank rule — www.emirates.com
- Lufthansa Group power bank rule — business.lufthansagroup.com
- Qantas and Jetstar power bank rule — www.qantasnewsroom.com.au
- Cathay Pacific power bank restrictions — www.cathaypacific.com
- Singapore Airlines power bank advisory — www.singaporeair.com
- KLM restricted hand-baggage items — www.klm.com
- Japan MLIT power bank rules (English) — www.mlit.go.jp
- Anker product recalls — www.anker.com
- Baseus EnerFill FC41 25,000 mAh — www.baseus.com
Published 2026-10-25; figures for other brands read on 2026-10-24; our prices verified 2026-10-27. Corrections welcome at [email protected] or /feedback.