Can You Put Batteries In Checked Luggage

Here is the relevant screengrab from the TSA website.

Can you put batteries in checked luggage. Such batteries can be found in electric bikes car batteries and underwater lamps. For loose lithium batteries in carry-on bags you must individually protect each one to prevent short circuiting. You need to get the permit for carrying 2 batteires in advance and the power of each one should not be over 160Wh.

Lithium-ion batteries with more than 160-watt-hours are prohibited in both hand luggage and checked baggage. Lithium Ion batteries 100-160Wh rating. If a power tool has an installed lithium-ion battery you can pack that in checked luggage.

Since 2009 and 2011 respectively manufacturers have been required to mark lithium ion batteries with the watt-hour rating. Check the restrictions on certain types of batteries or contact your airline if youre not sure what you can carry. You can pack the device in your checked bag but you must remove the battery and carry in in your hand luggage.

Car batteries wet batteries or spillable batteries are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage unless they are being used to power a scooter or wheelchair. Despite lithium batteries being banned from hold luggage you can put a laptop in a checked bag. They must be carried with the passenger in carry-on baggage.

If you need to pack a spare battery for a scooter or wheelchair you must advise the aircraft operator so the battery can be properly packaged for air travel. The airline will likely have the battery removed from the wheelchair and transported in a special. If you land in this category youre probably wondering by now how you can get special permission.

Infrequently batteries can short-circuit and overheat and in some cases cause sparks or a fire. Spare batteries regardless of their size are not to be carried in checked luggage. Smoke and fire incidents involving lithium batteries can be mitigated by the cabin crew and passengers inside the aircraft cabin.