Yes, regular plug-in chargers can go in checked luggage, but power banks and spare lithium batteries must stay in your carry-on bag.
Why Travelers Worry About Chargers In Checked Bags
Many flyers search for can chargers go in checked luggage? the night before a trip, staring at a tangle of cables and bricks on the floor for many anxious travelers. You do not want a last-minute gate speech from security, or a fried phone on day one of your holiday. The good news is that most plug-in chargers are allowed in the hold, as long as you know which items hide lithium batteries and which do not.
Fast Answer: Can Chargers Go in Checked Luggage?
Chargers without batteries can ride in the hold, while anything that contains a lithium battery cannot. Aviation regulators treat those two categories in a different way because of fire risk in the cargo hold.
| Charger Or Battery Type | Checked Luggage | Carry-On Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Phone or tablet wall charger (no battery) | Allowed | Allowed |
| Laptop power brick (no battery inside) | Allowed | Allowed |
| USB charging cables and adapters | Allowed | Allowed |
| Power bank or portable charger with lithium battery | Not allowed | Carry-on only |
| Phone battery case with built-in pack | Not allowed | Carry-on only |
| Spare lithium camera or drone batteries | Not allowed | Carry-on only, terminals protected |
| NiMH or alkaline AA/AAA batteries in a charger | Usually allowed | Allowed |
So when you hear airport staff talk about chargers, they mostly worry about lithium battery packs and spare cells, not the plain plastic block you plug into a wall.
What Counts As A Charger When You Pack
A simple phone charger is just a plug and cable, while a modern travel kit can include heavy laptop bricks, power banks, wireless charging pads, and battery cases. Each piece behaves differently in a fire, so airline rules treat them differently.
Plain wall chargers and power bricks take power from the outlet and pass it through. They do not store energy, so they are low risk from a fire point of view. Power banks and battery cases do store energy inside lithium cells. Those cells can overheat and feed a fire, which is why regulators place them under battery rules instead of simple electronics rules.
Charging docks for cameras, drones, or game controllers often sit somewhere in the middle. The dock itself is usually just a plug, while the battery that clips in is a lithium pack that must travel in cabin baggage.
Checked Luggage Rules By Charger Type
To give a clear answer that keeps both your airline and your gear happy, break your packing list into four groups: plug-in chargers, power banks, spare batteries, and devices with batteries built in.
Plug-In Phone Chargers And Laptop Bricks
These are the classic wall cubes and laptop power bricks that have a plug at one end and a cable at the other, with no internal battery. Aviation rules treat them as standard electronics. You can put them in checked bags or carry-on, and security screening is usually straightforward.
From a practical angle, it still makes sense to keep at least one phone charger in your cabin bag so you can top up your phone during delays.
USB Cables, Adapters, And Small Accessories
Cables, plug adapters, and tiny wireless dongles are harmless in the eyes of battery rules because they do not contain energy storage on their own. You can tuck them into a tech pouch inside your checked luggage or cabin bag. Avoid leaving loose cables all over your suitcase, since they catch on zippers and can snap or fray.
Power Banks And Portable Chargers
Power banks and other portable chargers with lithium cells fall under battery safety rules, not simple charger rules. The TSA power bank rules state that portable chargers containing a lithium ion battery must ride in carry-on bags only, never in checked luggage.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration gives the same message in its PackSafe battery guidance: spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in the cabin, where crew can deal with smoke or fire quickly. Once a suitcase is in the hold, there is no easy way to reach it if a battery overheats.
Spare Batteries And Charging Docks
Camera batteries, drone packs, handheld game batteries, and other removable lithium cells count as spares when they are not installed in a device. They must travel in carry-on baggage with terminals taped or covered so they cannot short against coins or keys.
The small plastic dock or charger that those batteries clip into can ride in the hold. Just keep the dock separate from any loose batteries when you pack.
Devices With Built-In Batteries
Laptops, tablets, phones, and e-readers all have lithium batteries inside, yet airlines still allow them in checked bags in many cases. The safety difference comes from the fact that the battery is enclosed inside the device and less exposed to damage.
Regulators such as the FAA advise that any device with a lithium battery placed in checked baggage should be completely switched off and protected from crushing or accidental activation.
Why Power Banks Stay Out Of The Cargo Hold
Power banks concentrate a lot of energy in a small box. If cells inside the pack fail, they can enter thermal runaway, where heat builds, gases vent, and nearby items catch fire. In the cabin, crew can see smoke, move passengers, and use fire containment steps. In a sealed hold, that event is far harder to manage.
Reports of in-flight incidents linked to lithium batteries led aviation bodies such as IATA and the FAA to tighten carriage rules. Guidance tells passengers that if baggage with removable lithium batteries is checked, those batteries must be removed and carried in the cabin instead.
Taking Chargers In Checked Luggage Safely
Once you separate battery packs from plain plug-in chargers, the rules get easier to follow. Anything that stores power travels in the cabin; anything that only passes power through can go in either place. For chargers that you do decide to place in checked bags, a few simple packing habits keep them in good shape and keep your suitcase tidy.
| Packing Step | What To Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle cables | Loop each cable and secure it with a tie or strap. | Prevents tangles, broken connectors, and snagged zippers. |
| Use a padded pouch | Place chargers and adapters in a small padded bag. | Shields plugs from impact when bags are stacked or dropped. |
| Keep one set in carry-on | Pack a phone cable and wall cube in your personal item. | Lets you charge during delays even if your suitcase runs late. |
| Separate batteries from chargers | Put power banks and spare cells in a cabin-safe pouch. | Aligns with battery rules and keeps gear easy to reach. |
| Protect sharp prongs | Face prongs inward or use plug covers where possible. | Stops chargers from puncturing clothing or the suitcase lining. |
| Label unusual chargers | Add a small tag to drone or camera chargers. | Makes them easier to spot in security bins or hotel rooms. |
| Keep receipts or serials | Store photos of serial numbers in your phone. | Helps with claims if a charger is lost with your luggage. |
Choosing What Stays With You
You can check plain chargers, but it still pays to carry the ones you rely on. Keep your main phone charger, a short cable, and any medical device chargers in your personal item. A tiny spare charger in a jacket pocket can feel like cheap insurance.
Protecting Chargers From Damage
Suitcases bounce on conveyor belts and into cargo holds. Packing a charger inside shoes or a padded cube gives it soft armor and keeps weight off the prongs and casing.
Common Airport Scenarios With Chargers
Bags get gate-checked, overhead bins fill, and connections run tight. Planning for a few common charger moments can keep you relaxed when plans change.
When Your Carry-On Is Gate-Checked
If staff ask to check your carry-on at the gate, pull out power banks and spare lithium batteries before you hand the bag over. Those items must stay with you in the cabin even if the bag itself rides in the hold. Slip them into a small sling or duty-free bag so your hands stay free.
Security Pulls A Charger For Extra Screening
Sometimes a dense ball of electronics looks odd on an X-ray. If an agent needs to see a charger more clearly, lay it flat in its own tray, with cables untangled. Clear packing cubes and labeled pouches speed this process so you can repack quickly and head to your gate.
Your Checked Bag Arrives Late
A lost or delayed suitcase hurts less when your phone stays powered. Keeping at least one cable and wall charger in your personal item means you can recharge in the airport and call your airline. Cheap backup chargers work well for this role.
Simple Pre-Flight Checklist For Chargers
Before you zip your suitcase, run through a quick charger check. First, pull every power bank, battery case, and loose lithium battery out of your checked luggage and place them in a small carry-on pouch. Next, decide which wall chargers, adapters, and cables you truly need in flight or on arrival day, and put those in your personal item.
Then sort the rest of your plug-in chargers into a single pouch for the suitcase. Make sure prongs face inward and nothing sharp presses on screens or lenses nearby. At the end, ask yourself one last time, can chargers go in checked luggage? for this trip, or do a few more items deserve a spot in your carry-on instead.