Yes, you can take a Theragun on a plane, but the massage gun and its lithium battery should ride in your carry-on, not loose in checked bags.
Long flights can leave muscles tight and sore, so taking a Theragun on trips feels natural. The snag appears when battery rules, security checks, and airline fine print all overlap. The good news is that a Theragun usually fits standard limits, as long as you pack it with a bit of care.
This guide shows how to fly with a Theragun without stress. You will see where to pack it, how lithium battery limits work, what security agents look for, and when it makes sense to leave the device at home. By the time you reach the end, you will know exactly how to answer your own question: can you take theragun on plane?
Can You Take Theragun On Plane? Core Rules You Need
For most travelers, a Theragun counts as a personal electronic device with a lithium battery. Air safety rules focus less on the massage gun shape and more on the battery inside, so the same basic limits that apply to laptops and cameras apply here as well.
In simple terms, your Theragun can fly if the battery sits under common consumer limits, usually under 100 watt hours, and if you keep spare batteries out of checked bags. Many brands design travel sized Theragun models to fall well under those limits, which is why you sometimes see them advertised as cabin ready or TSA friendly.
| Scenario | Carry On | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Theragun with built in lithium battery under 100 Wh | Allowed, preferred spot | Often allowed, check airline rules |
| Theragun with removable lithium battery installed in the handle | Allowed | Often allowed if switched off and protected |
| Spare lithium battery for Theragun, not installed | Allowed in cabin if contacts covered | Not allowed in most checked bags |
| Massage gun without battery, corded only | Allowed | Allowed |
| Mini Theragun marketed as TSA compliant | Allowed, carry on is ideal | Usually allowed, still safer in cabin |
| Massage gun with large battery above 160 Wh | Needs airline approval, sometimes refused | Often refused or handled as special cargo |
| Flights with stricter airline house rules | Allowed if rules mention small electronics | May be refused even when general rules allow |
This table gives a quick map, but real safety rules come from two places. Airport security controls what passes the checkpoint, while airlines decide what they accept in the cabin or cargo hold. Both usually follow similar lithium battery limits, yet some carriers tighten those limits on their own flights.
Taking A Theragun In Carry On: Step By Step Guide
Cabin bags are the safest place for a Theragun. If a lithium battery inside the device fails, crew can react faster when it sits in the cabin instead of deep in the hold, so many safety pages say small battery powered devices belong in carry on bags whenever space allows.
Check The Battery Label
Start with the small print on the Theragun or inside the manual. Most massage guns list either milliamp hours and voltage or watt hours. If you see Wh on the label, compare it with the common limit of 100 Wh that appears on many airline and safety pages. Consumer massage guns, including compact Theragun models, usually sit well below that number.
If the label only lists mAh, you can still estimate the watt hour rating. Multiply amp hours by voltage to get watt hours. A battery with 2.5 amp hours at 12 volts lands at 30 Wh, which sits far under the typical limit and keeps your Theragun within normal travel rules.
Pack The Theragun So It Stays Safe
Once you know the battery fits common limits, think about how the device will ride in your bag. A hard case or padded sleeve stops the trigger from pressing while the gun sits under other gear. Turn the device fully off, place each attachment in its slot, and slide the case near the top of a backpack so it is easy to pull out at security.
Move Through Security Smoothly
Screening agents know what massage guns look like on an X ray, yet the shape still stands out. When you reach the belt, place the Theragun case in a bin with laptops and other electronics instead of leaving it buried in your bag. That small step shortens the chance of a bag search and gives agents a clear view of the device.
Packing A Theragun In Checked Luggage: Risk And Limits
Many travelers ask “can you take theragun on plane?” and tuck it into checked luggage by habit, right next to shoes and toiletry bags. That feels tidy, yet it is not always the safest choice, because crew cannot reach a bag mid flight if a battery overheats.
Plenty of airlines still allow small electronic devices with installed lithium batteries in checked bags, as long as each device is switched off and protected from damage. At the same time, safety agencies advise keeping spare lithium batteries in cabin bags only, since loose cells in checked bags raise fire risk.
Devices With Built In Batteries
If your Theragun has a built in battery that never comes out, treat it like a tablet or game console. Some airlines allow those devices in checked bags, yet many safety pages now ask travelers to keep them in carry on bags instead. When rules conflict, follow the stricter version and place the Theragun in your cabin bag.
Spare Batteries And Attachments
Spare lithium batteries tell a different story. Airline and safety pages treat loose rechargeable cells as higher risk, so those usually must stay out of checked bags. Pack spare Theragun batteries in your cabin bag, cover the terminals with tape or caps, and keep each one in its own pocket or sleeve.
Foam or plastic massage heads, rubber grips, and charging cables can ride in checked luggage without trouble. If weight limits feel tight in your carry on, move those soft accessories into the checked suitcase and keep only the main body and any spare batteries with you in the cabin.
International Flights With A Theragun: Reading The Fine Print
Rules for small electronics look similar across regions, yet each airline adds its own language on top. Some carriers spell out massage guns by name on their restricted item lists, while others group them under general electronic devices with lithium batteries.
Before a long trip, visit both your airline baggage rules and an aviation safety page that lists battery limits. In the United States, the TSA massagers list shows that handheld massagers are allowed in both carry on and checked bags, while the Federal Aviation Administration and groups such as IATA battery guidance explain how watt hour limits work across airlines and regions.
Those pages usually point to the familiar 100 Wh cap for most personal devices, with room for slightly larger batteries when airlines give specific approval. Reading them once for your route can save a lot of guesswork and gives you clear language to quote if staff at the desk seem unsure about your Theragun.
Where To Check For Updates
If your route uses more than one airline, read each carrier’s baggage page. Connectors and code share flights sometimes follow the stricter partner rules, so you do not want a device cleared on the first leg and questioned on the second. When in doubt, carry the Theragun in cabin luggage and keep a screenshot of the relevant rule page on your phone.
Theragun Travel Checklist Before You Fly
Once you understand the rules, a simple checklist keeps packing quick. Use this list the evening before your flight so you do not rush through battery checks at the airport gate.
| Step | What To Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm battery size | Find the Wh rating or convert from mAh and voltage | Makes sure your Theragun fits typical limits |
| 2. Read airline baggage rules | Check online section for lithium batteries and devices | Spots any stricter house rules on your route |
| 3. Choose carry on spot | Place Theragun near the top of a backpack or small case | Keeps it easy to remove during screening |
| 4. Protect the power switch | Use a hard case or wrap it in clothing so nothing presses the trigger | Prevents bumps from starting the motor in transit |
| 5. Pack spare batteries in cabin | Cover terminals and store each spare in a separate pocket | Follows safety advice against spare cells in checked bags |
| 6. Shift soft accessories | Move foam heads and straps to checked luggage if you need space | Leaves more cabin room for devices and documents |
| 7. Take a quick test run | Check charge level and make sure the motor sounds normal | Spots problems before you depend on it on the road |
On some trips, packing space, baggage fees, or strict regional rules make a Theragun more hassle than relief. Ultra light backpackers, guests on small regional planes, or travelers heading to remote cabins with tiny aircraft cabins sometimes leave massage guns off the packing list.
When A Theragun Stays At Home Instead
If your airline caps the number of battery powered devices per person, you may also need to choose between a Theragun and other gear such as camera bodies or gaming systems. When weight or rules push you to leave the Theragun behind, simple body weight stretches, a small lacrosse ball, or a compact foam roller can still keep muscles happy on the road. That choice keeps packing simple.