Power Bank 160 Wh: The Exemption Ends on 1 January 2027
6 min read
Last checked: 05.08.2026. Status: ANNOUNCED, not yet in force.
A power bank rated between 100 Wh and 160 Wh is still allowed on board today, provided your airline signs off on it first. That approval route is exactly what IATA is deleting on 1 January 2027. From then on, 100 Wh becomes a hard ceiling for passenger power banks.
The news sits in a subordinate clause of a guidance document IATA published for airlines on 31 March 2026. No new law, no EU regulation. And the same paper contradicts itself on this point.
Power Bank 160 Wh: What Applies Today, and What Applies From 01.01.2027
| Rated energy | Today (as of 05.08.2026) | From 01.01.2027 (IATA DGR, 68th edition) |
|---|---|---|
| up to 100 Wh | allowed, no approval needed | allowed, unchanged |
| above 100 Wh up to 160 Wh | only with airline approval | approval route removed |
| above 160 Wh | forbidden | forbidden |
| Quantity | max. 2 power banks per person | max. 2 power banks per person |
Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt describes the currently valid structure the same way. The legal basis is Addendum No. 1 to the ICAO Technical Instructions, in force since 27 March 2026. Everything else that addendum changed is covered in our post on the ICAO power bank rules of 27 March 2026.
Why this can already affect you in 2026
The IATA guidance document of 31 March 2026 carries an operator table on page 5. In the row for power banks above 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh, all three columns hold the same word: Forbidden. Including the column for operator approval.
Appendix C of that same document reproduces the ICAO text, which still permits the approval.
This is not an oversight. The IATA regulations are allowed to be stricter than the ICAO baseline, and on this point they already are. An airline working to the IATA DGR can therefore turn away your 120 Wh power bank today. Five months before the rulebook formally requires it.
Nearly every article on the topic blurs that difference. ICAO is the United Nations aviation body, and its Technical Instructions are the treaty-level baseline. IATA is the industry association, and its Dangerous Goods Regulations are the manual airlines actually operate to. And that's allowed to be stricter.
Why IATA is closing the route
The reasoning is stated word for word in the guidance:
"The addendum provides for passengers to carry power banks of 100-160 Wh with the approval of the operator; however, given the concerns with regulatory oversight of power bank manufacturers and the limitation to 100Wh of power banks for crew in the performance of their operational duties, this provision will not be carried into the 68th edition of the DGRs."
IATA, Guidance to Operators, 31.03.2026
Two reasons, both named by IATA itself: doubts about regulatory oversight of power bank manufacturers, and the 100 Wh cap that already applies to crew on duty. No single incident is cited.
Who the change actually hits
Probably not you.
The largest power banks on the German market are deliberately engineered to sit just under the line. The Anker Prime at 27,650 mAh is rated 99.54 Wh, and a widely sold ROMOSS model at 27,000 mAh is marketed as 99.9 Wh. Both are manufacturer specs, not independent measurements. Still not a coincidence.
Do the arithmetic yourself: Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × V, where V is the cell voltage of 3.7 V and not the 5 V at the USB port. For a typical unit that gives 20,000 mAh × 3.7 V ÷ 1000 = 74 Wh. The full derivation is in our post on converting mAh to Wh.
What really sits in that band is large power banks for laptops and small portable power stations. At Eurowings, a further rule has applied since 15 January 2026 anyway: two power banks per person at most, cabin baggage only, no charging on board. You'll find which airline demands what in our overview with Wh calculator.
Power Banks That Stay Under the 100 Wh Line
These power banks stay legal with no approval needed after 1 January 2027, because they sit well under the 100 Wh line. Every Wh figure below is a manufacturer spec, not an independent measurement.
| Product | Capacity | Rated energy (manufacturer figure) |
|---|---|---|
| IAPOS power bank, flight-ready | 26,800 mAh | 99.16 Wh |
| UGREEN Nexode 145 W | 25,000 mAh | 90 Wh |
| INIU 45 W, ultra-compact | 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh |
All three sit safely under the line: IAPOS Powerbank 26800mAh, Flugtauglich, UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 25000mAh 145W, 2X USB-C+1x USB-A and INIU 45W Power Bank, Ultra Klein 20000mAh.
Not available in your region — closest match
View at Amazon (as of Aug 15)Affiliate link. Buying through it earns us a commission; the price stays the same for you.
UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 25000mAh 145W, 2X USB-C+1x USB-A
View at Amazon (as of Aug 10)Affiliate link. Buying through it earns us a commission; the price stays the same for you.
Not available in your region — closest match
View at Amazon (as of Aug 15)Affiliate link. Buying through it earns us a commission; the price stays the same for you.
Conclusion
For a 160 Wh power bank, nothing changes for most people. It gets serious for large laptop power banks and small power stations: there, a route that is open today closes on 1 January 2027, and since IATA already prints "Forbidden", it may be closed to you before that.
The text of the 68th DGR edition had not been published as of 05.08.2026. The confirmation goes here as soon as it's published.
All products from this post
The ones we named above are marked; the rest are alternatives in the same category.
Not available in your region — closest match
Anker Powerbank, 20.000mAh tragbares Ladegerät mit integriertem USB-C-Kabel, 87W Max Schnellladung, kompatibel mit MacBook, iPhone, Samsung und mehr
View at Amazon (as of Aug 15)
Not available in your region — closest match
Anker Powerbank, 20.000mAh tragbares Ladegerät mit integriertem USB-C-Kabel, 87W Max Schnellladung, kompatibel mit MacBook, iPhone, Samsung und mehr
View at Amazon (as of Aug 15)Affiliate notice: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 160 Wh power bank limit disappear entirely in 2027?
No. Anything above 160 Wh has always been banned. What goes away is the option to carry a power bank between 100 Wh and 160 Wh with your airline's approval. From 1 January 2027, per IATA, 100 Wh becomes the hard ceiling.
Can I still take a 120 Wh power bank on a plane today?
Under the currently valid ICAO text, yes, provided your airline agrees in advance. IATA, however, already prints "Forbidden" for that band in its own operator table. So ask your airline directly rather than relying on the general rule. Checked 05.08.2026.
Does this also cover spare camera or laptop batteries?
The announcement refers specifically to power banks. ICAO only split that category out from general spare batteries in March 2026. For spare batteries that are not power banks, the approval route remains in place as things stand.
Is this an EU rule?
No. The watt-hour limits come from ICAO and are implemented nationally, in Germany by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. The IATA regulations are the airlines' own manual. EASA issues safety recommendations but sets no Wh threshold.
