Portable power and solar generators

Can You Take a Portable Power Station on a Plane? FAA's 100 Wh and 160 Wh Lines

Published · By the SolarPanelX editors · Updated · See individual checks and dates below

Summary

Only a very small one. FAA's PackSafe rules allow spare lithium ion batteries, power banks included, in carry-on baggage up to 100 Wh each with no quantity limit beyond personal use. Between 101 and 160 Wh, you may carry up to two, and only with the airline's approval. Spare batteries are never allowed in checked baggage, and if your carry-on is checked at the gate they have to come out. PackSafe lists no allowance above 160 Wh, and the smallest power stations in our guides start near 290 Wh.

The rules, as FAA states them

The page was last updated August 11, 2026 and cites 49 CFR 175.10(a)(18). FAA's tip for unlabeled batteries: Wh equals voltage times amp-hours.

Where the units on this site land

UnitCapacityAgainst the 160 Wh line
Anker SOLIX C300288 Wh1.8 times over
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2288 Wh1.8 times over
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh1.8 times over
EcoFlow DELTA 3 / DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh6.4 times over
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh6.7 times over
Anker SOLIX F38003,840 Wh24 times over

None of them qualifies, with or without approval. A USB power bank is the only product class on this site that can meet the 100 Wh line, and the Wh figure printed on the bank is what counts at the checkpoint.

What to do instead

Ship the unit as ground freight, drive, or rent at the destination. If you are flying to a campsite, a folding solar panel has no battery and is not covered by this entry; the power bank in your bag is.

Is a "Solar Power Station" Something You Can Buy, or a Power Plant?

Can a Small Solar Panel Charge a Phone, and Is It Better to Go Through a Power Bank?

Shopping for one? Browse portable power stations →

Sources

  1. FAA PackSafe — Lithium Batteries (last updated August 11, 2026)
  2. Anker SOLIX — C300 Portable Power Station
  3. BLUETTI — Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station
  4. EcoFlow US — RIVER 3 Max (RIVER 3 Plus + Extra Battery 300)
  5. EcoFlow US — DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station
  6. Jackery — Explorer 1000 v2
  7. Anker SOLIX — F3800 Portable Power Station

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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