Why this matters

Almost every traveler flies with electronics, and the rules split along one clear line: the device itself versus its batteries. Devices are welcome nearly everywhere; loose lithium batteries are treated as a fire hazard and locked out of the cargo hold. Knowing which side of that line your gear falls on saves you repacking at the gate.

There is also a practical angle — checked baggage is the wrong place for anything fragile, valuable, or essential, and most travel insurance is thin on checked electronics.

Restrictions

In carry-on, electronics are essentially unrestricted: laptops, tablets, phones, cameras, e-readers, headphones, and game consoles all fly without limits. At standard screening lanes, expect to place anything larger than a phone in a separate bin; PreCheck lanes and newer CT scanners often skip this step.

In checked luggage, the picture is more conditional:

  • Devices with installed lithium batteries are permitted, but should be switched fully off (not sleep mode) and protected from being crushed or switched on.
  • Spare batteries and power banks are prohibited in checked bags on every airline. This includes loose camera batteries and battery cases.
  • A few airlines restrict large devices like full-size hoverboards or e-bikes entirely because of battery size.

If your carry-on gets gate-checked on a full flight, take laptops, power banks, and spare batteries out first and keep them in the cabin.

What the official guidance says

TSA allows personal electronics in both cabin and hold, with screening procedures for larger devices. The FAA's PackSafe guidance adds the battery rules: installed lithium batteries may be checked but carry-on is recommended, spare lithium batteries must travel in the cabin, and devices in checked bags must be completely powered down. Officers and airlines make the final call on unusual or oversized equipment.