Drone on a plane

Not fully confirmed

Short answer: not confirmed. We have reviewed American Airlines and Delta Air Lines rules for this item (listed below), but no TSA or FAA rule yet. Check with the TSA and your airline before you fly.

These are the reviewed rules for a drone on flights departing the United States. Each rule is listed as its official source states it, with the date we last reviewed it. A rule from security screening, from the dangerous goods regulations and from your airline can all apply at once, and you need to meet every one of them.

Most recent review on this page: 2026-10-27. Also called: quadcopter.

Check your drone with the item checker · Work out its watt-hours (Wh)

Drone in a carry-on bag

American Airlines policy

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Drone on American: allowed with restrictions; the battery must not exceed 160 Wh.

    Limits
    Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh

    Also note

    • All drone batteries must be removed before travel and packed in a carry-on bag.
    • A drone in a carry-on bag must be less than 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 centimeters).

    Source: American Airlines: Restricted items in bags. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Delta Air Lines policy

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Drone on Delta (carry-on): lithium-battery powered devices are allowed as carry-on or checked baggage; at most 160 Wh per battery. The page does not name this item; its general statement on lithium-battery powered devices is applied.

    Limits
    Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh

    Source: Delta Air Lines: Battery or Fuel-Powered Items. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Drone in a checked bag

Delta Air Lines policy

  • Allowed, with the conditions listed

    Drone on Delta (checked baggage): lithium-battery powered devices are allowed as carry-on or checked baggage; at most 160 Wh per battery. The page does not name this item; its general statement on lithium-battery powered devices is applied.

    Limits
    Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh

    Source: Delta Air Lines: Battery or Fuel-Powered Items. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.

Before you pack drone

Use this list with your actual item and itinerary. It summarizes the current source-reviewed entries below; it does not replace the complete conditions or the airline's instructions.

  1. Check the reviewed Carry-on bag and Checked bag rules below. If a bag type is not listed, that does not mean it is allowed: verify it with the airline and relevant authority.
  2. Check the item's specifications against the listed requirements:
    • Carry-on bag · airline policy: Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
    • Carry-on bag · airline policy: Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
    • Checked bag · airline policy: Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
  3. Confirm the operating airline, connecting airports and destination rules. This site does not verify destination customs or quarantine restrictions.
  4. Recheck the linked official sources shortly before departure; published guidance and your flight circumstances can change.

What you need to know about your drone

The rules above depend on:

  • Battery capacity

Battery rules use the watt-hour (Wh) rating. Many batteries print it. If yours shows only mAh, the Wh rating is mAh × rated voltage ÷ 1,000, using the rated voltage printed on the battery. Do not assume a voltage: the Wh calculator gives no result without one.

Commonly confused

  • Allowed in a carry-on bag does not mean allowed in a checked bag. The rules for each are listed separately above.
  • Security screening (TSA) and dangerous goods rules (FAA) are different rules. An airline can also set stricter limits. Where a source has no rule for a case, we say so instead of guessing.
  • Airline rules come from the airline that operates the flight, which can differ from the one you booked with.
  • Being allowed on board does not mean the item is allowed into your destination. Customs rules are not covered.

Airlines with their own drone rules

Airline pages for drone show only the airlines whose own rules differ from the TSA and FAA rules.

Official sources

This page lists rules as the official sources state them, for travel departing the United States. It is not a decision about your item: security officers and your airline make the final call, and rules can change after the review dates shown. Destination customs and quarantine rules are not checked. See the terms and disclaimer.