Power banks in the cabin

Yes, a power bank can go on a plane from the UK, but only in hand luggage. Since 27 March 2026, UK Civil Aviation Authority rules allow two power banks per person, each up to 100 Wh without airline approval, and ban recharging a power bank on board. Most UK airlines go further: British Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic ban using one during the flight, and Ryanair, BA and Wizz Air keep them out of the overhead locker.

A 10,000 mAh or 20,000 mAh power bank sits well inside every limit. Compare Electronic's airline table below covers ten carriers flying from the UK, checked against each airline's published rules on 3 October 2026, and the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W is the best power bank for flying at £49.96 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026).

What are the UK rules for power banks on planes?

The UK rules come from the Civil Aviation Authority, which applies the International Civil Aviation Organization's dangerous goods instructions. Six rules apply on every UK flight:

• Hand luggage only. Power banks are banned from checked baggage.
• Two per person. The CAA's passenger guidance says "You can only take two power banks per person."
• Up to 100 Wh without approval; 100 Wh to 160 Wh needs the airline's approval; above 160 Wh is prohibited.
• No recharging on board. Power banks must not be recharged during the flight.
• No charging devices, as a recommendation: the CAA says power banks should not be used to charge devices on board, and many airlines make it a ban.
• Protected terminals. Each power bank must be protected from short circuits, in retail packaging, its own pouch or with the ports taped.

The CAA also warns passengers that cabin crew may ask for power banks to go in the seat-back pocket rather than an overhead locker, so a fire can be seen and reached quickly.

What changed for power banks in 2026?

Two rules changed on 27 March 2026, when an ICAO amendment took effect across all 193 member states and the CAA adopted it the same day. Power banks became their own category, limited to two per person, where before they counted among up to 20 spare batteries. Recharging a power bank on board became prohibited.

A third change is due on 1 January 2027. IATA's guidance to airlines says the 100 Wh to 160 Wh approval route for power banks will not carry into the 68th edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations, which takes effect that day. In practice, 100 Wh becomes the ceiling for power banks on most airlines from 2027, so a buyer choosing one now should stay under it.

What are each airline's power bank rules?

Airline rules range from Ryanair, which allows two power banks and lets passengers charge a phone from one, to Wizz Air and Emirates, which allow one and ban all use in flight. Compare Electronic checked the rules each airline publishes on 3 October 2026. Airlines can change them at short notice, so check before travelling.

The pattern is clear: every UK carrier in the table keeps power banks out of the overhead locker or requires them to be accessible, and eight of the ten ban using one in flight. Only Ryanair still allows charging a device from a power bank, outside taxi, take-off and landing.

What is the best power bank for flying?

The UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W is the best power bank for flying. UGREEN rates it at 72 Wh, 28 Wh under the 100 Wh limit that needs no approval, and its built-in display shows the charge left at a glance. It is also the top pick in Best power bank UK 2026.

The UGREEN Nexode costs £49.96 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Its 100 W single-port output charges a laptop at the gate, where the in-flight rules do not apply, and its 65 W input refills it quickly between flights. At 420 g it is the heaviest pick here.

How many mAh is 100 Wh?

100 Wh is about 27,000 mAh for a power bank with standard 3.6 V to 3.7 V lithium-ion cells. To convert, multiply the mAh rating by the cell voltage and divide by 1,000, the formula the CAA publishes. Compare Electronic's table converts common sizes:

The manufacturer's Wh figure beats the calculation when it is printed on the case, because cell voltages vary. The Anker Prime Power Bank 26K is rated at 26,250 mAh and 99.75 Wh, 0.25 Wh under the line.

Can you use a power bank during a flight?

On most UK airlines, no. British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, Loganair, Emirates and the Lufthansa Group ban using a power bank on board. Ryanair is the exception in Compare Electronic's table: it allows charging a device from a power bank, except during taxi, take-off and landing. No airline allows a power bank to be recharged in flight, from seat power or anything else.

The workaround is to arrive charged. GOV.UK warns that a device which does not switch on when security asks may not be allowed on the aircraft, so charge phones and laptops before leaving home and top them up at the gate. A fast charger in the hand luggage helps on long layovers.

Which power banks pass every airline's rules?

Every power bank in Compare Electronic's power bank guide that is under 100 Wh and has its capacity printed passes every airline's rules in the table, including Wizz Air's ban on unmarked units. The flight-ready check below lists the four smallest picks with their Amazon UK prices at the time of writing (October 2026).

For a weekend away, the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K at £39.99 is the easiest to carry, with a USB-C cable built into the case so nothing gets left behind. The Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K at £47.49 snaps onto an iPhone with Qi2 magnets, though its wireless charging counts as use on board for airlines that ban it. The INIU 10000mAh at £19.99 is the budget pick.

Why did airlines tighten power bank rules?

Airlines tightened the rules after a run of lithium battery fires in aircraft cabins. On 28 January 2025, Air Busan Flight 391 caught fire in an overhead bin before take-off at Gimhae, South Korea; all 176 people were evacuated and the Airbus A321 was destroyed, and investigators linked the fire to a power bank. Asian airlines banned in-flight use within weeks, and Emirates followed on 1 October 2025.

Fires have continued under the new rules. On 17 September 2026, KLM flight KL735 from Amsterdam to Curaçao turned back after a power bank caught fire in the business cabin about five and a half hours into the flight. The overhead-locker rule exists because a fire in a closed bin goes unseen for longer than one in a seat pocket.

How should you pack a power bank for a UK airport?

• Pack it in hand luggage, never in a checked suitcase.
• Carry no more than two, or one on Wizz Air and Emirates.
• Check the Wh or mAh rating is printed on the case and readable.
• Protect the ports: keep it in a pouch or its original box.
• Charge phones and laptops before the flight, not from the power bank on board.
• Keep it in the seat pocket or under-seat bag once on board.
• Leave swollen, damaged or very old power banks at home.

Heathrow's banned items list allows power banks in hand luggage and defers to the airline for anything else, so the airline's rules in the table above are the ones that apply at the gate.

Verdict

A power bank can fly from the UK in hand luggage: up to two per person, up to 100 Wh each without approval, never recharged on board and, on most UK airlines, not used in flight at all. Buy one under 100 Wh with its capacity printed on the case and it passes every airline's rules. The UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W at £49.96 is the best power bank for flying, and the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K at £39.99 is the lightest carry. The full ranking is in Best power bank UK 2026, and wireless alternatives are in Best wireless charger UK 2026.