You've been using your power bank wrong, and airline rules make that obvious

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's key takeaways

• Airline power bank rules expose our bad habits.
• Flying is safe, but how we carry power banks isn't.
• Treat power banks with respect at home and in the air.

I'm off to Mallorca next month to catch the solar eclipse, so I've been planning and preparing. For this eclipse, I'm not going to be photographing or videoing. Instead, I'm going to sit back and enjoy it using the eyes that my mom gave me. This approach means I won't be travelling with a load of camera gear and batteries, but I will want to take a power bank with me, in case of delays and such.

Also: This fake 5,000,000mAh power bank could have exploded at any moment

This preparation led me to researching power bank regulations, which in turn made me realize that we're using power banks all wrong. Dangerously wrong.

Flying is safe - our habits aren't

Air is one of the safest modes of transport. When measured per-passenger mile, you're far more likely to die in a car than you are on a flight. It seems that even UFOs crash more often. Well, if you believe the late-night History Channel documentaries.

Also: There are hundreds of power banks on the market, but this one is the fastest at recharging

Every layer of the aviation industry is designed to make flying as safe as possible, with safety-related incidents triggering formal investigations, where findings can result in big changes.

Last year there were three incidents -- the first involving Air Busan BX391 on 28 January (a serious incident that happened on the ground and caused 27 injuries and created holes in the fuselage of the aircraft), another that affected Virgin Australia VA1528 on 21 July, and another on Air China CA139 flight on 18 October, where power banks suffered thermal runaway incidents (they got hot and caught fire) on flights. 

Also: They said I could bring this TSA-approved multitool on a plane - here's how that went

While there were no deaths (in part due to stringent safety regulations and cabin crew training), these incidents still prompted investigations, which in turn led to rule changes that spread far beyond the affected carrier.

Sometimes, regulations get complicated, especially when there are multiple layers, as in air travel. Take screwdrivers. You'll have no problem getting through TSA and onto a flight in the US with a screwdriver as long as it's no bigger than seven inches in your carry-on bag. However, I can guarantee you that there's no way that you'll board a flight from the UK back home with that same screwdriver.

Fortunately, the rules on power banks are clear. On 27 March 2026, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issued an addendum to ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, Doc 9284. This document clarified how power banks can be used on aircraft.

Here are the rules

The rules are simple:

• No more than two power banks per person.
• Power bank capacity is capped at 100Wh (power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh are currently allowed "with the approval of the operator," but note that some airlines -- such as easyJet -- give automatic operator approval for lithium-ion batteries up to 160Wh). Note that 100Wh translates to a power bank with approximately 27,000 mAh capacity.
• No in-flight charging of devices or recharging of power banks.
• No overhead-bin storage.

Yes, regulators believe that power banks are too risky to use during a flight.   

Also: Why leaving extension cords plugged in permanently is riskier than you realize

It's also worth bearing in mind that all power banks over 100Wh will be prohibited from 1 January 2027 when new International Air Transport Association (IATA) dangerous goods regulations are released.

Airlines can be stricter. For example, if you are flying on a Chinese airline, be aware that uncertified power banks, or devices where the labeling or the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark has been worn off or isn't present, have been banned. However, the rules above are the minimum.

Oh, and a little-known fact for you. The FAA says that "damaged or recalled batteries and battery-powered devices" must not be carried aboard an aircraft. So, if you have a recalled power bank that you're still carrying around, stop using it.

These rules exist to keep people safe. Don't be the person who thinks the rules don't apply.

What we can learn

Power banks aren't as safe as we think. After all, lithium battery fires are at an all-time high. Here in the UK, fire departments have to deal with one lithium-ion battery fire every five hours.

Bottom line, as end users of power banks, devices that store a lot of energy, we've become complacent. Horribly so. 

Also: I cracked open cheap charging gadgets from Temu - and it was worse than I expected

I've lost count of the people I see with power banks permanently attached to their device, and who shove charging devices into pockets or bags, or leave them to bake under blankets and such. Add to that the fact that once a decent power bank is damaged, all bets are off as to how it might behave down the line.

Here's what I recommend:

• First and foremost, only buy and use quality power banks. One good power bank is better than several poor quality ones. I've seen some atrocious power banks. This tech was so bad that I'd only store the device in a fireproof container outdoors until I could discharge the battery and make it safe.
• Don't use damaged power banks or cables, or devices that have been recalled. You're just asking to shake hands with danger. Dispose of them safely.
• Power banks should be used for topping up a device, not as a permanent expansion battery. Get out of the habit of needing to keep your phone at 100%. That approach causes overheating and is inefficient and wasteful of the power in the power bank.
• Don't carry around big power banks if a small one will do. A 10,000mAh/37Wh is enough for most people, and I find that a 5,000mAh/18.5Wh power bank is sufficient most of the time. If you really want a big power bank, the Shargeek 170, EcoFlow 25,000, or Ugreen Nexode Pro 25,000 are large-capacity power banks perfect for travel. 
• Keep power banks in sight when they are charging or being charged. Don't put them in bags or pockets, and don't bury them under a pile of things, such as paper, clothing, or furnishings (this approach can trap heat and provide fuel in the event of a thermal runaway).
• When not in use, disconnect everything -- including cables -- from the power bank. Just the other day I came across a post by a filmmaker friend of mine about a melted USB-C cable he'd found in his house. The cable was plugged into a mains charger, and the end that melted wasn't plugged into anything. 

I understand that aircraft are particularly dangerous when it comes to lithium fires -- it's a situation where you have hundreds of people in a tube flying tens of thousands of feet above the earth. 

However, a power bank going into thermal runaway in your pocket at the gym, in your car as you're cruising along, or next to your head as you sleep is not going to be fun either.