How to carry a power bank on a plane under ICAO and IATA standards, how to convert mAh to Wh, and which rules apply in China, Hong Kong and Korea.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A power bank is one of the most common items in carry-on baggage. Yet airports in different countries apply different requirements to it: some check only capacity, others the number of units, and China also checks a safety certification mark. Passengers who know these rules in advance get through security without delay and keep their battery.
On 27 March 2026, Addendum No. 1 to the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284) took effect. ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, is the UN agency that sets aviation safety standards. The document places power banks in a separate category and sets uniform rules for carrying them as a passenger. In addition, since June 2025 China has required the national CCC mark on power banks taken on domestic flights.
Below we explain how to pack and carry a power bank under the current rules, how to determine its capacity, how to use it on board, and which additional requirements apply in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.
Contents
- №1. What are the rules for carrying a power bank on a plane in 2026
- №2. What power bank capacity is allowed on a plane and how to convert mAh to Wh
- №3. How to use a power bank on board a plane
- №4. What the new power bank rules are based on
- №5. What is the CCC (3C) mark and how to carry a power bank on a domestic flight in China
- №6. What power bank standard China introduces from 1 April 2027
- №7. What power bank rules apply in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan
- №8. How to prepare a power bank for a flight under the current rules
№1. What are the rules for carrying a power bank on a plane in 2026
Under ICAO standards in force since 27 March 2026, a passenger carries power banks in carry-on baggage, up to two units per person. Each unit must be packed individually to protect against short circuits and must meet the UN 38.3 standard.
The rules of ICAO and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which brings together the world's airlines, form a common baseline. Airlines and national aviation authorities may add their own requirements, so passengers should check the rules on their carrier's website before departure.
Individual packing keeps the battery's terminals away from metal objects. The original box, insulating tape over exposed terminals or a separate pouch all serve this purpose. UN 38.3 is a section of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria; compliance confirms that the battery withstands changes in pressure and temperature, vibration and impact.
- Where to carry it: carry-on baggage
- How many: up to two power banks per passenger
- Packing: a separate pouch, the original box or taped terminals
- Battery standard: UN 38.3
- Capacity without airline approval: up to 100 Wh
- Source: ICAO — Dangerous Goods
- Source: IATA — Lithium Batteries
№2. What power bank capacity is allowed on a plane and how to convert mAh to Wh
A power bank of up to 100 Wh (roughly up to 27,000 mAh) is carried in carry-on baggage without airline approval. Units of 100 to 160 Wh may be carried with the airline's approval until the end of 2026. From 1 January 2027, according to IATA, 100 Wh becomes the single threshold for passengers.
Manufacturers usually state capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh), while aviation rules use watt-hours (Wh). A watt-hour takes voltage into account and better reflects stored energy. For a typical 3.7 V lithium-ion cell, the conversion formula is: Wh = mAh × 3.7 / 1000.
According to IATA, the provision allowing 100–160 Wh power banks with airline approval will not be carried into the 68th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, effective 1 January 2027. Batteries over 160 Wh are carried only as dangerous goods cargo, not as passenger baggage.
- 10,000 mAh ≈ 37 Wh — allowed in carry-on
- 20,000 mAh ≈ 74 Wh — allowed in carry-on
- 26,800 mAh ≈ 99 Wh — within 100 Wh
- 27,000 mAh ≈ 100 Wh — check the exact Wh rating printed on the unit
- 30,000 mAh ≈ 111 Wh — exceeds the passenger allowance from 1 January 2027
- Source: IATA — Lithium Batteries
- Source: ICAO — Dangerous Goods
№3. How to use a power bank on board a plane
Under ICAO rules, a power bank is not plugged into the aircraft's power outlet or in-seat USB port. ICAO and IATA also recommend not charging phones or other devices from it during the flight. The airline decides how power banks may be used on a specific flight.
The rule exists because a battery heats up while charging. This increases the likelihood of thermal runaway, an uncontrolled reaction in a lithium-ion battery in which the cell overheats and may give off smoke.
Airlines apply this rule in different ways. Thai Airways and AirAsia do not allow power banks to be used or charged at any point during the flight, and Singapore Airlines does not allow charging them through in-seat USB ports. Many carriers also ask passengers to keep power banks on their person rather than in the overhead bin, so that the device stays in sight if it heats up.
- Do not connect the power bank to aircraft power or USB ports
- Charge devices from it only if the airline explicitly allows it
- Keep the battery with you, in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat
- Tell a flight attendant about any heat, smoke or burning smell
- Source: IATA — Lithium Batteries
- Source: Airports of Thailand — power bank rules
№4. What the new power bank rules are based on
The ICAO rules were prepared by its Dangerous Goods Panel, which reviewed the risks of lithium-ion batteries in the cabin. These included the fire on board an Air Busan aircraft on 28 January 2025, whose preliminary cause was identified as a power bank.
The fire on the Air Busan aircraft operating Flight 391 injured 27 people and destroyed the aircraft. The ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel analysed this and other cases in working paper DGP/30-WP/34 in October 2025. On that basis, requirements were set for where power banks are carried, how many, their capacity and their use.
IATA separately recommends paying attention to where a device comes from. According to the association, low-cost, counterfeit and wireless power banks more often lack evidence of UN 38.3 testing. An ICAO regional working paper for the Asia-Pacific region (APRAST/24) proposes that states apply a common approach: cabin-only carriage, capacity and quantity limits, no in-flight charging, and no damaged or swollen units.
- Source: ICAO — Dangerous Goods
- Source: IATA — Lithium Batteries
№5. What is the CCC (3C) mark and how to carry a power bank on a domestic flight in China
CCC (China Compulsory Certification, or 3C) is China's mandatory product safety certification. Since 28 June 2025, only power banks with a valid 3C mark are allowed on domestic flights in China. In practice, the requirement is also checked on international flights departing from mainland Chinese airports.
CCC certification has been mandatory for power banks sold in China since August 2024. The notice from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) officially applies the requirement to domestic flights in mainland China; international passengers comply when transferring to a domestic flight. The mark must be clear, and the model must not belong to a recalled batch. International certifications such as UL are not accepted in place of the 3C mark.
In practice, security at mainland Chinese airports also applies the requirement to passengers departing on international flights: travellers have reported power banks without the mark being removed at international security in Beijing and Shanghai. Aviation service providers advise against bringing power banks without the 3C mark into China, as they may not be allowed on board on departure. The requirement does not apply to flights arriving in China. The same model may be sold in China with the CCC mark and abroad with the European CE or US FCC mark instead. Airports provide temporary storage points where non-compliant batteries can be left.
- The CCC mark is printed on the power bank itself
- The mark is clear and legible
- The model and batch have not been recalled by the manufacturer
- ICAO rules on capacity, quantity and packing also apply
- For any departure from mainland China, domestic or international, a power bank with the 3C mark is recommended
№6. What power bank standard China introduces from 1 April 2027
On 31 March 2026, China published GB 47372-2026, a mandatory national safety standard for power banks that takes effect on 1 April 2027. Power banks already purchased with a valid CCC mark can continue to be used.
The standard sets requirements for protection against high temperature, overcharging and crushing, introduces a lithium-plating test after cycle ageing, and requires units to store data on abnormal operation. Each device receives a unique identification code that can be used to look up information such as the battery manufacturer.
On 31 May 2026, the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) incorporated GB 47372-2026 into the CCC system and approved certification rules CNCA-C09-02:2026. Until 31 March 2027, manufacturers may certify products under either the old or the new standard. From 1 April 2027, only power banks certified under the new rules may be manufactured, sold or imported.
When buying, note that some products labelled "new national standard" are designed in line with it but are not yet certified under it.
- Source: CAICT — GB 47372-2026
- Source: Cisema — new CCC requirements for power banks
№7. What power bank rules apply in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan
Only mainland China requires a national safety certification mark for air travel. Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan apply ICAO rules on quantity and on-board use, with particular attention to having the capacity clearly printed on the unit.
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department allows departing passengers up to two power banks in carry-on baggage, which may not be used to charge devices at any time during the flight; units above the allowance stay at security. An airline may refuse to carry an old power bank with an illegible label.
Several Asian airlines require the capacity in watt-hours, amp-hours and the voltage to be shown on the unit; in South Korea, a departing passenger whose power bank lacked such a label was not allowed to take it on board. In South Korea and Taiwan, power banks are not used or charged during the flight.
- Hong Kong: up to two power banks, no use on board
- South Korea: capacity, voltage and amp-hours printed on the unit; no use in flight
- Taiwan: no use or charging for the entire flight
- The CCC mark is not required in these jurisdictions
№8. How to prepare a power bank for a flight under the current rules
Before departure, check the capacity printed on the unit: take no more than two power banks, each rated at no more than 100 Wh. Pack each one separately and put it in carry-on baggage. For departures from mainland China, also check for the CCC mark, and for any flight, check the airline's rules.
Take only power banks in good condition: not swollen, without damage to the casing or signs of overheating, and not from recalled batches. The capacity should be clearly visible on the casing. If the label has worn off, it is easier to replace the device in advance than to explain its specifications at security.
If your route includes a domestic flight in China or a departure from a Chinese airport, it is more convenient to take a power bank with the CCC mark on the casing. The final rules for a specific flight are set by the airline operating it, so check them on its official website before heading to the airport.
- Find the Wh rating on the casing; if only mAh is shown, convert: mAh × 3.7 / 1000
- Take no more than two power banks, each rated up to 100 Wh
- Pack each in a separate pouch or tape the terminals
- Place the batteries in carry-on baggage where they are easy to take out at security
- For departures from mainland China, make sure the CCC mark is on the casing
- Check that the device works properly and is not part of a recalled batch
- Confirm the rules on the airline's official website
