SPARES
Cabin only
The FAA says spare lithium batteries, including those for cameras, must travel in carry-on baggage only. The UK CAA says to always take spares with you in the cabin.
Check your kitA new camera often travels with a pocketful of batteries.
The camera itself can usually go in hand or hold luggage. Spare lithium batteries and power banks are different: aviation rules keep them in the cabin, protected, and within a watt-hour limit.
- Spares stay with you
- Cover the terminals
- Know the watt-hours
- Simple packing, smoother security
THE SHORT ANSWER
Batteries in the bag
you keep with you.
Cameras are welcome on board.
The rules are mostly about the spare batteries.
TERMINALS
Stop the short circuit
Keep each spare in its retail packaging, tape over the terminals, or use a separate pouch or battery sleeve so the contacts cannot touch metal.
How to pack
THE CAMERA
Usually fine either way
GOV.UK says you can usually take camera equipment in hand and hold luggage, with possible limits on specialist kit such as professional video cameras.
See the limits
FOUR PACKING HABITS
Ready for
the security tray.
None of these needs special kit. They follow the CAA and FAA guidance for anyone flying with a camera and spare batteries.
Put every spare in the cabin bag
Spare batteries and power banks never go in checked luggage, where they can overheat and cause a fire.
Give each battery its own cover
Retail packaging, tape over the terminals, a battery case or a snug plastic pouch all stop short circuits.
Charge before you go
GOV.UK warns that if a device does not switch on when asked, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.
Pull batteries out at the gate
If your cabin bag is taken to the hold at the gate or planeside, remove spare batteries and power banks and keep them with you.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
The limits
on the label.
One figure for each battery,
one for power banks since March 2026.
100 Wh
Lithium-ion limit without airline approval
Batteries under 100 Wh are common in phones, laptops and cameras. From 100 to 160 Wh you need airline approval, and over 160 Wh is prohibited in passenger baggage.
WATT-HOURS · CAA AND FAA
2
Power banks allowed per person
ICAO rule changes effective from 27 March 2026 limit passengers to two power banks each, carried in the cabin and never recharged on board.
POWER BANKS · CAA
No watt-hour figure on the battery? The CAA gives the formula: volts × amp hours = watt-hours, or volts × milliamp hours ÷ 1000.
A QUICK KIT CHECK
What are you
packing?
Pick an item from your camera bag. The bar shows how many extra rules apply to it on a passenger flight.
Based on UK CAA and US FAA passenger guidance. Airlines can set stricter limits, so always check with yours before you fly.
WHY THE CARE
Small cells,
real heat.
The FAA explains that all lithium-ion batteries can overheat in a process called thermal runaway, which can be set off by damage, overheating, water, overcharging or poor packing, or by a manufacturing defect.
In the cabin, crews are trained to recognise and deal with battery fires, which is why spares stay with passengers. If a battery or device starts overheating, swelling or smoking on board, the FAA says to tell the crew immediately.
In conversation
Questions people ask
Can I put my camera in checked luggage?
GOV.UK says you can usually take camera equipment in hand and hold luggage, though specialist equipment may be restricted. The CAA recommends keeping devices with batteries under 100 Wh, such as cameras, in the cabin.
Can spare camera batteries go in the hold?
No. The FAA says spare lithium batteries, including those for cameras, must be carried in carry-on baggage only, and the CAA says to always take spare batteries with you in the cabin.
How do I find a battery's watt-hours?
Newer lithium-ion batteries usually have the Wh rating marked on them. If not, the CAA says to multiply the voltage by the amp hours, or multiply volts by milliamp hours and divide by 1,000.
How many spare camera batteries can I take?
The FAA sets no quantity limit for most batteries if they are for your own use, but allows only two of the larger 100 to 160 Wh spares, with airline approval. Airlines may set stricter limits.
What changed for power banks in 2026?
From 27 March 2026, under ICAO changes reported by the CAA, power banks must be carried in the cabin, individually protected, not recharged on board, and limited to two per person.
Sources
Each figure on this page comes from the sources below.