Can I bring a power bank on a plane?

Yes, in your carry-on only. Lithium batteries are not allowed in checked luggage. Most airlines allow banks up to 100Wh without approval and larger ones up to 160Wh with airline permission. The watt-hour rating is printed on the bank; check your carrier's policy before flying.

How many mAh do I need for a week of travel?

For a phone, a 10,000 mAh bank gives a couple of full charges and is easy to refill nightly, so it covers most trips. If you want to charge a laptop or several devices between outlets, step up to 20,000 mAh or more, accepting the extra weight.

Will a power bank charge my laptop?

Only if it supports USB-C Power Delivery at a high enough wattage. Most phone-class banks will not. Among our picks, the Anker 25,000 mAh 165W is built for laptops; the others are for phones, earbuds and tablets. Check the Amazon listing for the current output spec.

Buying guide · updated for 2026

Best Power Bank for Travel

A travel power bank must stay under the 100 Wh airline limit, charge fast over USB-C and not weigh down your personal item. These four picks cover a pocket bank, the best all-rounder and a laptop-capable option.

4 picks · compare in under 2 minutes · how we pick

Our picks

Best Overall

INIU 45W 10,000 mAh

Best for: Solo travelers and city-breakers who need a phone and earbuds charged through a long day of sightseeing

45W output is quick for a bank this size and price
Thin enough to carry every day without noticing
10,000 mAh will barely move a laptop or get a tablet through a long flight

About $17Check price

Miady 10,000 mAh power bank 2-pack charging two phones in a hotel room

Best Value

Miady 10,000 mAh 2-Pack

Best for: Couples and families on vacation who each need a phone charged through a day of sightseeing

Two batteries for roughly the cost of one branded bank
Dependable, no-frills design that is easy to hand to a kid or parent
Charging speeds are modest next to the INIU and the Anker picks

About $22Check price

Trending Now

Anker MagGo 10,000 mAh Qi2

Best for: iPhone owners on city trips who want cable-free top-ups while they keep using the phone

Cable-free charging that stays attached through a day of walking
Qi2 alignment is faster and more consistent than older wireless banks
Costs several times more than a plain bank of the same capacity

About $90Check price

Go Premium

Anker 25,000 mAh 165W

Best for: Remote workers and business travelers who need a laptop charged on long flights and train rides

Real laptop charging, not a trickle
Capacity to spare for a phone, earbuds and a tablet on the same day
Heavy enough to feel in a personal item every time you lift it

About $112.5Check price

Decide in 2 minutes

Who each pick is for, its main selling point, the reason you might skip it and the price.

Pick	Product	Best for	Main selling point	Potential drawback	Price
Best OverallPower Banks	INIU 45W 10,000 mAh	Solo travelers and city-breakers who need a phone and earbuds charged through a long day of sightseeing	A slim 10,000 mAh bank with 45W USB-C output, so a modern phone fast charges from a pocket instead of trickling.	10,000 mAh will barely move a laptop or get a tablet through a long flight	About $17
Best ValuePower Banks	Miady 10,000 mAh 2-Pack	Couples and families on vacation who each need a phone charged through a day of sightseeing	Two 10,000 mAh power banks in one box, so a couple or a family never argues over who gets the charge.	Charging speeds are modest next to the INIU and the Anker picks	About $22
Trending NowPower Banks	Anker MagGo 10,000 mAh Qi2	iPhone owners on city trips who want cable-free top-ups while they keep using the phone	A 10,000 mAh Qi2 bank that snaps to the back of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone and charges through the magnets.	Costs several times more than a plain bank of the same capacity	About $90
Go PremiumPower Banks	Anker 25,000 mAh 165W	Remote workers and business travelers who need a laptop charged on long flights and train rides	A 25,000 mAh bank with 165W total output, enough to run a laptop and a phone at the same time through a long flight.	Heavy enough to feel in a personal item every time you lift it	About $112.5

How to choose

Capacity: 10,000 mAh covers a phone for a day; laptops need 20,000 mAh or more
Output speed: look for USB-C Power Delivery so phones fast charge instead of trickling
Airline rules: carry-on only, and check the watt-hour rating against your carrier's limit
Weight: bigger batteries add noticeable heft to a personal item, so match capacity to need
Wireless: Qi2 magnetic banks are convenient for iPhone but less efficient than a cable
Ports: two or more ports let a couple or a phone-plus-earbuds setup charge at once
Recharge time: a bank that refills fast from a GaN charger is ready for the next day

Watch out: Large batteries add weight and are subject to airline limits.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a power bank on a plane?: Yes, in your carry-on only. Lithium batteries are not allowed in checked luggage. Most airlines allow banks up to 100Wh without approval and larger ones up to 160Wh with airline permission. The watt-hour rating is printed on the bank; check your carrier's policy before flying.
How many mAh do I need for a week of travel?: For a phone, a 10,000 mAh bank gives a couple of full charges and is easy to refill nightly, so it covers most trips. If you want to charge a laptop or several devices between outlets, step up to 20,000 mAh or more, accepting the extra weight.
Will a power bank charge my laptop?: Only if it supports USB-C Power Delivery at a high enough wattage. Most phone-class banks will not. Among our picks, the Anker 25,000 mAh 165W is built for laptops; the others are for phones, earbuds and tablets. Check the Amazon listing for the current output spec.

Explore the full rankings

Every pick on this page comes from one of these comparisons.