Power Bank Rules for Air Travel in China

Planning to travel by air in China with a power bank in your bag? It's essential to understand the latest regulations issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to ensure a smooth and safe journey. Here's a comprehensive guide for international passengers on how to bring portable chargers (power banks) on domestic flights within China.

What Is a Power Bank?

A power bank is a portable lithium battery device primarily used to charge phones and other electronic devices.


 

Key Regulations for Carrying Power Banks on Flights in China

The following rules are in accordance with the latest CAAC and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards on the safe air transport of dangerous goods:

1. Personal Use Only
Power banks must be carried for personal use only. They cannot be brought as cargo or commercial goods.

2. Carry-on Luggage Only
Power banks must be packed in carry-on luggage or carried on your person. They are strictly prohibited in checked baggage.

3. Power Capacity Limits

• Power banks with a rated energy of 100Wh or less can be brought on board without airline approval.
• Power banks with a rated energy between 100Wh and 160Wh can be carried with airline approval. However, each passenger is allowed to bring no more than two such power banks.
• Power banks with rated energy exceeding 160Wh are strictly prohibited.
• Power banks without clear labeling of rated energy (Wh) and those from which the rated energy cannot be calculated based on other marked parameters are also prohibited.

4. Usage During the Flight
You may not use your power bank to charge devices during the flight. If your power bank has an on/off switch, it must remain turned off throughout the flight.

5. New Rule Starting June 28, 2025: 3C Certification Required
To further enhance flight safety, starting June 28, 2025, passengers are not allowed to carry power banks that:

• Do not have a visible and legible 3C certification mark (China Compulsory Certification),
• Have unclear or tampered 3C markings, or
• Are from models or batches officially recalled by manufacturers.
  
  
   

How to Determine the Rated Energy (Wh) of Your Power Bank

If your power bank does not explicitly show its rated energy in watt-hours (Wh), you can calculate it using the following formulas:

Method 1: If Voltage (V) and Capacity in Amp-hours (Ah) Are Marked
Use this formula:
Wh = Voltage (V) × Capacity (Ah)

Method 2: If Capacity is Marked in milliamp-hours (mAh)
1. Convert mAh to Ah:
Ah = mAh ÷ 1000

2. Then apply:
Wh = V × Ah

Example:
A power bank shows:

Voltage = 3.7V

Capacity = 760mAh

Convert: 760mAh ÷ 1000 = 0.76Ah

Calculate: 3.7V × 0.76Ah = 2.9Wh

Final Travel Tips

Check the labeling on your power bank before packing.

Ensure it has a valid 3C mark, especially for flights within mainland China.

Do not pack power banks in your checked luggage, even by mistake.

Turn off your power bank and avoid using it while in the air.