Can you take a portable power station on a plane?

By the Ferncharge team · Figures last checked 24 October 2026

Advertising disclosure: This page contains no affiliate links.

The short answer: usually not in your luggage. The Civil Aviation Authority says lithium batteries over 160 Wh are prohibited in passenger baggage and must be sent separately as dangerous goods cargo. Batteries from 100 Wh to 160 Wh need your airline's approval (CAA). All four models on our spec table are above 160 Wh: the smallest is 245 Wh.

From official UK guidance. Ferncharge has not tested any of these products. Your airline's rules decide what it accepts.

The CAA's limits

Battery rating (Wh)	In passenger baggage	Source
Under 100 Wh	Allowed; the CAA recommends taking devices with you in the cabin	CAA
100–160 Wh	Needs the airline's approval	CAA
Over 160 Wh	Prohibited; must go as dangerous goods cargo	CAA

For power banks, the CAA's restricted-items list says: cabin only, never in the hold, no more than two per person, and they must not be recharged on board (CAA restricted items). Spare lithium batteries are also cabin only, two per person, each protected against short circuits.

Check the watt-hours, not the watts

The limit is the battery's capacity in watt-hours (Wh), not its output in watts or the number in the model name. Find the Wh figure in the maker's manual or spec sheet. If you're not sure what the figures mean, see our spec sheet checklist.

Before you book

Check the Wh rating of the exact unit you'd take.
If it's 100–160 Wh, ask the airline for approval before you travel, and check each airline on the journey. The CAA says airports can confiscate items they consider dangerous and airlines can refuse carriage (CAA restricted items).
If it's over 160 Wh, it can't go in your luggage. Plan for power at your destination instead, such as an electric hook-up pitch: see electric hook-up vs power station.
Smaller kit: phones, laptops and power banks follow the limits above. A laptop can charge from a power station at the other end: see laptop and monitor.

Safety

See our safety guide for lithium battery charging and storage advice from UK fire services.

FAQs

Can I take a power station in hand luggage?

Only if its battery is within the CAA's limits: up to 100 Wh without approval, 100–160 Wh with the airline's approval. Over 160 Wh is prohibited in passenger baggage.

What is the airline limit for lithium batteries?

The CAA says over 160 Wh is prohibited in passenger baggage, and 100–160 Wh needs the airline's approval.

Can I put a power station in my checked bag?

Over 160 Wh, no: it must go as dangerous goods cargo. Power banks and spare lithium batteries must never go in the hold. Check with your airline for anything else.