Southwest Airlines Power Bank Rules 2026: Can I Take a Power Bank on Southwest Airlines?

• How many

  1 (from 20 Apr 2026)

  Source: Southwest Airlines, checked 6 Nov 2026

• Maximum size

  100 Wh

  Source: Southwest Airlines, checked 6 Nov 2026

• Using it on board

  No charging from in-seat power; must be visible (not in a bag) while in use

  Source: Southwest Airlines, checked 6 Nov 2026

• Where to keep it

  In your personal item under the seat; not in the overhead bin

  Source: Southwest Airlines, checked 6 Nov 2026

What size power bank can I take on Southwest Airlines?

Up to 100 Wh.

Source: Southwest Airlines official page, checked 6 Nov 2026

Can I take a 20,000 mAh power bank on Southwest Airlines?

Yes. A typical 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh (20,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000). Check the Wh printed on yours.

Source: Southwest Airlines official page, checked 6 Nov 2026

Can I take a 30,000 mAh power bank on Southwest Airlines?

No. A typical 30,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is 111 Wh, which is over 100 Wh.

Source: Southwest Airlines official page, checked 6 Nov 2026

Can I put a power bank in checked baggage on Southwest Airlines?

No. Power banks are banned in checked bags on every airline, including bags checked at the gate. Take it out and carry it in the cabin.

Source: IATA guidance on the ICAO rule, checked 6 Nov 2026

Is there a national power bank rule in the United States?

Yes: Portable chargers/power banks with lithium-ion batteries must be in carry-on bags, not checked (Transportation Security Administration (TSA), from ongoing).

Source: tsa.gov

How many Wh is my power bank?

Wh = mAh × volts ÷ 1,000. Most power banks use 3.7 V cells. The last column applies Southwest Airlines' rule.

Capacity	Watt-hours at 3.7 V	Allowed on Southwest Airlines?
10,000 mAh	37 Wh	Yes
20,000 mAh	74 Wh	Yes
26,800 mAh	99.2 Wh	Yes
30,000 mAh	111 Wh	No

Source: FAA PackSafe: lithium batteries, checked 6 Nov 2026

All Southwest Airlines carry-on rules

Power bank rules for every airline