Do Phone Chargers Go in Hand Luggage or Suitcase?

One thing is for sure: In today’s world, most people cannot live without their electronic devices, be they smartphones, cell phones, tablets, laptops, iPods, etc. So, if you are traveling, you will need to keep them charged in the air and at your destination.

But can you take phone chargers on a plane and, if so, where should you keep them?

You will find the full details regarding whether you can bring a phone charger with you

The Quick Answer: Where to keep mobile charger in flight? The type of phone charger that plugs into a mains electricity supply can go in either carry on or checked bags. The type of charger that contains a battery (a power pack or power bank) can only go in carry on and cannot go in checked luggage.

Can phone chargers go in hand luggage?

Firstly, there are two types of phone charger:

• Mains phone chargers that plug into a power outlet
• Portable phone chargers that contain a lithium battery

Let’s deal with the first one quickly as it is very straightforward …

Plug-in mains chargers

You can take a regular plug-in phone charger in hand luggage through the security checkpoint since it does not contain a battery.

Normally you cannot use them onboard as most aircraft have no main power outlets.

Can phone chargers go in checked luggage? Yes, regular plug-in chargers can be packed in checked baggage.

Portable chargers/Power banks

These phone chargers are now more complicated due to their lithium batteries.

Power banks containing lithium batteries must be removed from your hand luggage and placed in a separate bin for screening through the x-ray machine.

Any device containing a battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery, comes under scrutiny at airport security these days. I believe all portable chargers and power bank chargers currently available contain lithium-ion batteries.

You can take these in your carry-on bag with a few exceptions. The exception is any power banks larger than 100 watt hours. You can take two of these devices per passenger, though.

Some airlines will allow up to 160 watt hours so check with your airline if yours are over 100 watt hours but under 160 watt hours.

Can I put a phone charger in checked luggage?

It is very important to remember that you cannot put power banks in your checked luggage!

You cannot put any portable charger in checked bags as these are spare batteries under the Federal Aviation Administration regulations. If you do your checked bags will likely be opened by airport security officers (breaking in if necessary) and the battery pack confiscated.

This passenger contacted the TSA to say, “I have forgotten to take my phone charger out of my hold luggage” and their response:

So, where should you keep a mobile charger on a flight? Not only can you take phone chargers in hand luggage, but you must also keep them in your carry-on bag because of the lithium battery!

I have a separate article on flying with power banks where I detail what capacity power banks can be taken on a plane—Is a power bank allowed on a plane?

The TSA has this useful article on taking chargers on a plane – Staying Charged on the Go

I have been using an Anker PowerCore+ 2680 for a while now. It works with most devices, can charge an iPhone over five times, and is allowed in your carry-on bag.

NOTE: Security officials may ask you to switch your power bank on to show that it is actually functioning. Make sure that it has some charge in it so you can do this. If you can’t, it may be confiscated.

For full details of the regulations on what batteries you can and cannot take in checked baggage and carry on baggage read my post – Can you take lithium batteries on a plane?

You can always use the TSA’s AskTSA service on Twitter if you are unsure as this passenger did below to ask can chargers go in hand luggage:

Type of Mobile Phone Charger	Carry-On Baggage	Checked Baggage
USB Wall Charger	Allowed	Allowed
Standard Charging Cable	Allowed	Allowed
Portable Power Bank (under 100Wh)	Allowed	Restricted*
Portable Power Bank (100Wh-160Wh)	Allowed with airline’s approval	Restricted*
Portable Power Bank (above 160Wh)	Not Allowed	Not Allowed
Wireless Charging Pad	Allowed	Allowed
Car Charger	Allowed	Allowed

*Note: Due to safety concerns, power banks or external battery chargers with lithium-ion batteries are generally restricted in checked baggage. Always check with your airline for specific regulations and restrictions.

Can I charge a phone on a plane?

Although it is unlikely that there will be a mains power outlet to allow you to plug in a mobile charger, onboard the aircraft, you can charge your phone using one of two methods:

Power banks

You can charge your phone with a portable power bank containing lithium batteries.

It can be removed from your hand luggage during the flight to charge the phone.

USB sockets

Make sure you take a USB charging lead with you that fits your devices. Most airlines now have a USB port as part of the inflight entertainment system, so you can charge devices in the air.

If you are on an airline without a power bank, you will need one if your device dies mid-flight. See the advice on portable chargers and power bank chargers below.

Read my full article Can you charge your phone on a plane

Mains travel adapters

If you are traveling abroad, make sure you take a travel adapter with you for your plug-in phone chargers or to charge your power banks or other electronic devices. Mains sockets are different around the world, so without one, you may be stuck with a device you cannot use.

You should be aware that most travel adapters are not voltage converters. The voltage in the US is 110v, but in many other parts of the world, it is 220-240v.

You should check that the device you wish to plug in can handle dual voltage (110-240v). Most new devices work with both. The exceptions are often hair dryers, curling irons and hair straighteners.

Other phone charger FAQs

Other related articles

Should I lock my luggage when flying?

What items are not allowed in hand luggage

What is not allowed in checked baggage?

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