Almost every traveler now flies with at least one electronic device — and most fly with five or six. Laptops, tablets, e-readers, headphones, smartwatches, cameras, drones, portable chargers, and gaming devices all have their own TSA and FAA rules, and getting any of them wrong can mean a bag search, a missed flight, or a confiscated device.
The rules are not arbitrary. Lithium batteries can catch fire, and the rules around them exist because of real incidents — not bureaucratic caution. Here is exactly what TSA requires for every common type of electronic device, what to take out at the checkpoint, and how to pack so you clear security in seconds instead of minutes.
The Core Rules in One Paragraph
If you remember nothing else: lithium-ion batteries (including power banks, spare laptop batteries, and most modern device batteries) must travel in your carry-on, never in checked luggage. Anything with a non-removable battery — phone, laptop, tablet, camera — can fly in either bag, but always do carry-on if you can. In standard security lanes, laptops and larger electronics (anything bigger than a phone) must come out of your bag and go in their own bin. In TSA PreCheck lanes, everything stays in the bag.
That’s 80% of what you need to know. The rest is edge cases — which is what trips people up.
Laptops at the TSA Checkpoint
Laptops are the single most common source of secondary screening, and the reason is almost always the same: they were left inside a stuffed, disorganized bag that the X-ray operator couldn’t see through clearly.
Standard lanes
- Remove your laptop from its case and place it directly in a bin, screen-side up
- Nothing on top, nothing underneath — no jackets, no chargers, no other devices stacked on the laptop
- Power cords and chargers can stay in the bag
TSA PreCheck lanes
- Laptops stay in your bag — this is the single biggest time-saver of PreCheck
- Same rule for tablets, headphones, and other electronics
Laptop bags and “checkpoint friendly” cases
Some laptop bags are designed to be X-rayed without removing the laptop. They must have a dedicated, unobstructed laptop compartment with no metal snaps, zippers, or pockets behind or in front of the laptop section. If you have one of these and you’re in a standard lane, ask the agent — most allow the laptop to stay in the bag if it lays flat in the dedicated compartment.
Multiple laptops
You can bring as many laptops as you want in carry-on. Each one needs its own bin and its own clear X-ray view. If you’re traveling with two or three laptops, expect extra screening time.
Tablets, E-Readers, and Handheld Gaming
- iPads, Kindles, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and similar devices follow laptop rules in standard lanes — out of the bag, in their own bin if they’re roughly tablet-sized or larger
- Smaller e-readers (basic Kindles) often stay in the bag, but PreCheck lanes are the only place this is guaranteed
- No special rules for power consumption or battery size as long as the device’s internal battery is under 100 watt-hours (which all consumer tablets and e-readers are)
Lithium Batteries: The Most Important Rule
This is the area where the most travelers run into trouble, and where the rules are strictest. The FAA — not just TSA — sets these rules, and gate agents and airline staff will enforce them even after you clear security.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries — the most common type
Found in: phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, power banks, electric toothbrushes, wireless headphones, most rechargeable devices.
Rules by watt-hour rating (Wh):
| Battery rating | Carry-on | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 Wh | Yes (unlimited installed in devices, ~2 spares) | Only if installed in device | Most consumer devices |
| 100–160 Wh | Yes, max 2 spares with airline approval | Never | Some pro camera batteries, larger power banks |
| Over 160 Wh | Not allowed in passenger aircraft | Never | Special cargo only |
Spare/loose batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on only. Never in checked luggage. This is a hard rule with no exceptions.
Lithium-metal (non-rechargeable) batteries
Found in: some watches, small electronics, hearing aids, key fobs.
- Carry-on: yes
- Checked: only if installed in device
- Spares: under 2 grams of lithium content, max 2 spares per passenger
How to read your battery’s Wh rating
It’s printed on the battery itself in small text. If you only see mAh (milliamp-hours) and voltage (V), you can calculate watt-hours: Wh = (mAh × V) ÷ 1000.
A 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7V = 74 Wh, which is under 100 Wh and allowed. A 30,000 mAh power bank at 3.7V = 111 Wh, which requires airline approval.
If the rating isn’t printed anywhere on the battery, TSA and the airline can refuse it. Take a photo of the battery’s label before you pack.
Power Banks (Portable Chargers)
Power banks are technically just lithium-ion batteries with USB ports, so they follow the same rules:
- Carry-on only, never in checked luggage
- Under 100 Wh: allowed without airline approval, but see the count limits below
- 100 to 160 Wh: maximum 2, with airline approval before flying
- Over 160 Wh: not allowed
The 2026 power bank limits
TSA’s checkpoint rule above hasn’t changed. The limits on top of it have, and they come from airlines and international aviation rules rather than TSA:
- International flights, since March 27, 2026: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) caps passengers at two power banks, bans recharging a power bank on board, and recommends against using one to charge your devices during flight. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and other international carriers enforce it, and some go further.
- Southwest, since May 28, 2025: a power bank in use must be out of your bag and in plain sight, on the tray table or in the seat pocket. No charging inside a bag in the overhead bin.
- Other US airlines published their own 2026 rules on how many power banks you can carry and where they can be stowed. These differ by carrier, so check yours before you fly.
The safe default everywhere: no more than two, in the bag under the seat in front of you, never plugged into seat power. For the rest of the rules that changed since 2025, see the new TSA rules for 2026.
Cameras and Camera Equipment
- DSLR and mirrorless cameras: carry-on preferred (impact-sensitive), no special TSA rules
- Spare camera batteries: carry-on only, follow lithium-ion rules above
- Camera bags: can stay packed in standard lanes if small; full camera backpacks may need to come out
- Film: ask for a hand-check at the checkpoint. Modern CT scanners (now installed at most major US airports) can damage film of any speed, including standard 400 ISO. Old X-ray machines were generally safe for film under ISO 800, but the new scanners are not. All photographic film should be hand-checked, and TSA is required to honor the request.
- Tripods: small to medium tripods are fine in carry-on. Very large tripods may be required to be checked.
Drones
Drones are allowed in carry-on with their batteries, but with caveats:
- Carry-on strongly preferred — drone batteries are lithium-ion and shouldn’t go in checked
- Battery rules apply — most consumer drone batteries are under 100 Wh, but some professional drones (DJI Inspire, Matrice) have larger batteries that require approval
- Discharge batteries before flying if you can — many manufacturers recommend storing batteries at 50% charge
- Some destinations restrict drones at the destination — check the country’s rules before you go
Headphones, Earbuds, and Wireless Devices
- AirPods, wireless headphones, Bluetooth earbuds: no restrictions, carry-on or checked
- Charging cases: lithium-ion rules apply, but capacities are tiny — no practical limit
- Wireless devices generally: keep them in your bag in PreCheck lanes; standard lanes may ask you to remove them if they’re larger than a phone
TSA screens devices physically and does not search what is stored on them. Customs at the border is a different story; see can TSA search your phone.
Smart Watches, Fitness Trackers, and Wearables
- Wear them through the metal detector or body scanner — no need to remove
- They will generally not trigger an alarm
- If you’re wearing a smartwatch with a metal band, you may be asked to remove it for body scanners
What About Smart Luggage?
“Smart luggage” with built-in batteries (for charging phones, tracking, or self-propulsion) has special rules:
- Removable battery: remove the battery before checking the bag; carry the battery in your carry-on
- Non-removable battery: most US airlines no longer allow smart luggage with non-removable batteries to be checked. Check with your airline before flying.
Drones, Hoverboards, and E-Bikes
- Hoverboards and electric skateboards: not allowed on most US passenger aircraft, in carry-on or checked, due to their large lithium batteries
- E-bikes: typically not allowed due to battery size (over 160 Wh)
- Some airlines will ship them as cargo — call the airline directly
What to Take Out at the Checkpoint: Quick Reference
Standard lanes — remove from bag
- Laptops
- Tablets and large e-readers
- Game consoles (Switch, Steam Deck)
- Large cameras (DSLR, mirrorless)
- Large power banks (over the size of a phone)
- CPAP machines and other medical electronics
Standard lanes — leave in bag
- Phones
- Headphones and earbuds
- Smart watches (if worn)
- Chargers and cables
- Small e-readers
- Power banks the size of a phone or smaller (though some airports still want them out)
PreCheck lanes — everything stays in the bag
This is why PreCheck saves so much time. See our PreCheck vs Global Entry comparison for whether it’s worth it for your travel pattern.
Packing Strategy for Faster Screening
The single biggest predictor of whether your carry-on triggers a search is how clearly the X-ray operator can see what’s inside. A messy, overstuffed bag gets searched. A well-organized one slides through.
- Use a “checkpoint friendly” laptop sleeve with no metal hardware behind the laptop
- Group cables and chargers in a single pouch — a tangled nest of cables looks like a wiring harness on X-ray and triggers manual review
- Keep batteries together in their own clear pouch if you’re carrying spares
- Don’t stack metal items (laptop on top of cameras, etc.) — split them across bins
- Lay your laptop flat in the bin — never on edge, and count it back into your bag on the other side. Laptops are among the items most often left at checkpoints; if it happens, here is how TSA lost and found works
For more pre-checkpoint prep, see 12 proven tips for getting through airport security faster.
International Differences You Should Know
- EU airports: similar laptop rules in standard lanes, but liquids screening is stricter
- UK airports: many now have CT scanners that allow electronics to stay in the bag at standard lanes (rolling out through 2026)
- Asian hubs (Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo): generally stricter on power banks, may require them visible during flight
- Middle East (Dubai, Doha): occasionally restrict certain electronics on US-bound flights — check the news before traveling
For broader checkpoint rules, see our complete guide to what you can bring through TSA. The same lithium-battery rules cover vapes and e-cigarettes — which must travel in carry-on, never checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my laptop in checked luggage?
Yes, but it’s a bad idea. Laptops contain lithium-ion batteries and impact-sensitive components. Theft and damage from checked baggage handling is also common. Always pack laptops in carry-on if possible. For everything else that belongs in the hold, see our TSA checked bag rules guide.
Do power banks need to be charged when I fly?
No. There’s no requirement that a power bank be charged or discharged for TSA. Some international airlines may ask you to demonstrate that a device powers on at the gate, which means it must have at least some charge.
How many power banks can I bring on a plane?
On international flights, two per passenger under the ICAO rule that took effect March 27, 2026, and you can’t recharge them on board. TSA sets no count limit for power banks under 100 Wh at the checkpoint, but your airline can, so check its policy. Power banks are never allowed in checked bags.
Do headphones count as electronics at airport security?
Yes, but they almost never need to come out of your bag. TSA allows headphones in both carry-on and checked bags. In standard lanes you remove laptops and devices larger than a phone, while earbuds and folded headphones usually stay packed. The officer has the final say, so take them out if asked.
Are AirTags and Tile trackers allowed?
Yes, they are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage. They use small lithium-metal button-cell batteries that are well within TSA limits.
Can TSA search the contents of my laptop or phone?
TSA generally does not. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can, when entering or leaving the United States. If you’re concerned about CBP searches at the border, that’s a separate topic from TSA screening.
What if my laptop battery is swollen?
Don’t fly with it. A swollen lithium-ion battery is a fire risk and may not be allowed in carry-on or checked. Replace the battery before traveling.
Can I charge devices at the gate?
Yes, every major US airport has charging stations at gates and throughout the terminal. Most have USB-A and USB-C ports as well as standard outlets.
Plan Ahead and Check Wait Times Live
The fastest way to avoid an electronics-related delay is to know what kind of line you’re walking into. A 5-minute PreCheck line means a packed bag is no problem. A 40-minute standard line means every bin matters.
Look up your airport’s busiest checkpoint hours before you head out.