Mobile phone on a plane
Allowed, with conditions
Short answer: Under TSA and FAA rules: yes, in carry-on bags with battery capacity up to 100 Wh, and in checked bags with battery capacity up to 100 Wh (reviewed 2026-10-27).
Short answer: not available right now. Some of the rules below are being rechecked against their official sources, so we do not sum them up. The rules that are still current are listed below; check the official sources before you travel.
These are the reviewed rules for a mobile phone 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: cell phone, smartphone, smart phone.
Check your mobile phone with the item checker · Work out its watt-hours (Wh)
Mobile phone in a carry-on bag
Security screening (TSA)
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Cell phone: allowed in carry-on bags at the TSA checkpoint.
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: TSA: What Can I Bring? Cell Phones. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Dangerous goods (FAA)
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery up to 100 Wh: allowed in carry-on baggage.
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: up to 100 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Airline approval required
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery of 101-160 Wh: airline approval required (carry-on baggage).
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: at least 101 Wh
- Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Not allowed
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery over 160 Wh: forbidden.
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: more than 160 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Delta Air Lines policy
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Cell phone on Delta: allowed as carry-on or checked baggage; at most 160 Wh per battery.
- Limits
- Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: Delta Air Lines: Battery or Fuel-Powered Items. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Mobile phone in a checked bag
Security screening (TSA)
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Cell phone: allowed in checked bags by the TSA.
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: TSA: What Can I Bring? Cell Phones. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Dangerous goods (FAA)
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery up to 100 Wh: allowed in checked baggage when powered off and protected.
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: up to 100 Wh
Also note
- In checked baggage the device must be powered off and protected from short circuit and unintentional activation.
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Airline approval required
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery of 101-160 Wh: airline approval required (checked baggage).
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: at least 101 Wh
- Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh
Also note
- In checked baggage the device must be powered off and protected from short circuit and unintentional activation.
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Not allowed
Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery over 160 Wh: forbidden.
- Applies when
- Battery capacity: more than 160 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Delta Air Lines policy
Allowed, with the conditions listed
Cell phone on Delta: allowed as carry-on or checked baggage; at most 160 Wh per battery.
- Limits
- Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh
Being rechecked: we are comparing this rule with its source again, so it is not shown. Check the official source below.
Source: Delta Air Lines: Battery or Fuel-Powered Items. Reviewed on 2026-10-27.
Before you pack mobile phone
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.
- 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.
- Check the item's specifications against the listed requirements:
- Carry-on bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: up to 100 Wh. Official source.
- Carry-on bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: at least 101 Wh; Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
- Carry-on bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: more than 160 Wh. Official source.
- Carry-on bag · airline policy: Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
- Checked bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: up to 100 Wh. Official source.
- Checked bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: at least 101 Wh; Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
- Checked bag · dangerous goods: Battery capacity: more than 160 Wh. Official source.
- Checked bag · airline policy: Battery capacity: up to 160 Wh. Official source.
- Do not pack a configuration covered by these prohibitions without checking the full rule and its conditions:
- Carry-on bag: Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery over 160 Wh: forbidden. Read the source.
- Checked bag: Mobile phone with a lithium ion battery over 160 Wh: forbidden. Read the source.
- Some configurations need airline approval. Contact the operating airline before travel and verify the conditions in the applicable rules below.
- Confirm the operating airline, connecting airports and destination rules. This site does not verify destination customs or quarantine restrictions.
- Recheck the linked official sources shortly before departure; published guidance and your flight circumstances can change.
What you need to know about your mobile phone
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 mobile phone rules
Airline pages for mobile phone show only the airlines whose own rules differ from the TSA and FAA rules.
Official sources
- Delta Air Lines: Battery or Fuel-Powered Items (source checked on 2026-10-01)
- FAA: Airline Passengers and Batteries (source checked on 2026-10-01)
- TSA: What Can I Bring? Cell Phones
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.