Camera Batteries on Planes: FAA and TSA Rules for Photographers

Why airlines regulate lithium batteries

Lithium-ion batteries store considerable energy in a compact package. Physical damage, manufacturing defects, excessive heat, overcharging, or a short circuit can cause a battery to overheat.

A battery incident is easier for flight crew to detect and address in the passenger cabin than in an inaccessible cargo compartment. This is the main reason spare lithium batteries remain with passengers.

The rules apply to more than camera batteries. Power banks, charging cases, drone batteries, monitor batteries, lighting batteries, laptops, and portable production equipment may all contain lithium cells.

Installed batteries versus spare batteries

An installed battery is secured inside the device it powers. A spare battery is not installed in equipment.

A camera containing an installed battery may be accepted in carry-on or checked baggage under applicable rules, but spare lithium batteries are prohibited from checked baggage.

Devices placed in checked baggage should be turned completely off, protected from accidental activation, and packed against physical damage.

Where spare camera batteries must be packed

Spare lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries must be carried in the aircraft cabin. Power banks are treated as spare batteries and follow the same rule.

Do not leave a battery pouch or portable charger inside a camera backpack that airline personnel are taking at the gate.

Keep the batteries accessible enough to remove quickly or present for inspection.

Understand the 100 Wh and 160 Wh limits

Battery capacity for air travel is commonly expressed in watt-hours, abbreviated Wh. Most ordinary camera batteries fall well below 100 Wh.

Lithium-ion batteries up to 100 Wh are generally allowed for passenger use when packed correctly.

Batteries from 101–160 Wh generally require airline approval, and passengers are normally limited to two spare batteries in this larger range.

Lithium-ion batteries above 160 Wh are not allowed on passenger aircraft.

• Find the Wh rating printed on the battery.
• If only volts and amp-hours are shown, multiply volts by amp-hours.
• A 7.2 V, 2.2 Ah battery is approximately 15.84 Wh.
• Contact the airline before traveling with cinema batteries.
• Do not judge capacity only by physical size.

Protect battery terminals against short circuits

A loose battery can short circuit when its contacts touch a conductive object. Every spare should have its own protected position.

Original terminal covers, individual cases, silicone sleeves, separate compartments, or nonconductive tape can provide protection.

Avoid storing loose batteries beside coins, keys, tools, tripod plates, adapters, or metal camera-cage components.

Power banks and portable chargers

A power bank is a lithium battery even when it is marketed mainly as a phone, tablet, camera, or laptop charger.

Power banks must remain in carry-on baggage. Some airlines also restrict their use or charging during the flight.

Do not charge equipment from a power bank while it is buried in a closed backpack. Monitor it for excessive heat and follow crew instructions.

What to do when a camera bag is gate checked

Remove every spare lithium battery and power bank before handing the bag to airline personnel.

A removable battery pouch makes the process much easier. Place it in your personal item or another bag that will remain in the cabin.

This is also a good time to remove the camera body, memory cards, backup drive, and other essential photography equipment.

Flying with drone batteries

Drone batteries are lithium batteries and follow the same capacity, carry-on, and terminal-protection rules.

Protect every drone battery individually. Do not travel with swollen, punctured, or unstable batteries.

Permission to transport a drone does not grant permission to operate it. Check registration, aviation, park, property, and destination restrictions separately.

Cinema, monitor, and lighting batteries

V-mount, Gold-mount, cinema, monitor, and lighting batteries may be considerably larger than ordinary camera batteries.

Check the watt-hour rating carefully and contact the operating airline before departure when a battery exceeds 100 Wh.

Do not arrive at the airport expecting gate staff to resolve an unclear high-capacity battery situation.

Do not travel with damaged batteries

Do not transport batteries that are swollen, cracked, punctured, leaking, recalled, excessively hot, producing an unusual odor, or behaving unpredictably.

Do not press or attempt to flatten a swollen battery. Follow manufacturer or local hazardous-waste guidance for disposal.

Battery planning for cold-weather photography

Cold temperatures reduce apparent battery performance. Winter, mountain, and northern-lights trips may require additional batteries.

Keep spares in an interior pocket and rotate them throughout the day.

Allow cold batteries and equipment to acclimate before charging when condensation may be present.

International and multi-airline itineraries

Many airlines follow similar lithium-battery safety standards, but policies and enforcement may differ.

Check every operating carrier when the itinerary contains codeshares, separate tickets, charter flights, regional airlines, or low-cost carriers.

The airline operating the aircraft controls what is accepted at the gate.

Camera battery flight checklist

• Check the watt-hour rating of every large battery.
• Place spare lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.
• Keep power banks in carry-on baggage.
• Protect every exposed terminal.
• Separate batteries from conductive metal objects.
• Remove swollen or damaged batteries.
• Prepare a removable battery pouch.
• Review every operating airline’s policy.
• Obtain approval for batteries from 101–160 Wh.
• Do not bring batteries above 160 Wh onto passenger aircraft.