Can I Fly With This?
Can I bring lithium battery on a plane?
Quick rules for flying with lithium battery in carry-on and checked baggage. Verdicts and conditions across the major aviation regions below.
🇺🇸 United States (TSA)
Spare lithium batteries must be in carry-on, with terminals protected (taped or in original packaging). Regular AA/AAA alkaline batteries are fine in both bags.
🇪🇺 European Union (EASA)
Spare lithium batteries in carry-on only. ICAO baseline: ≤ 100 Wh standard, 100–160 Wh with airline approval (max 2). Never in checked.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom (CAA)
Carry-on only. UK CAA mirrors ICAO 100 Wh / 160 Wh-with-approval limit. Spare batteries banned from hold luggage.
🌎 Latin America
Carry-on only across all LATAM carriers (LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Aeroméxico, GOL, Azul, Copa). ICAO 100 Wh / 160 Wh-with-approval limit. Never in checked.
🌏 Asia (ICAO / IATA baseline)
Spare lithium batteries in carry-on only — same ICAO 100 Wh / 160 Wh-with-approval limit as the rest of the world. China CAAC requires the Wh / mAh rating to be clearly printed on the battery casing; unmarked spares confiscated at security on domestic Chinese flights. Hong Kong and Macau enforce the same.
🇦🇺 Australia & Pacific (CASA)
Spare lithium batteries in carry-on only (ICAO baseline). Australia CASA + NZ CAA strictly enforce the 100 Wh / 160 Wh-with-approval limit.