Power Bank Rules on Flights from Bali in 2026

Flying out of Bali, power banks must go in your cabin bag, are banned from checked luggage, and may not be used to charge devices during the flight. Up to 100 Wh is allowed without approval, 100-160 Wh needs airline approval (maximum 2 units), and anything above 160 Wh is prohibited. The rules come from Directorate General of Civil Aviation Circular SE 015 of 2018 and are now reinforced by Transport Minister's Instruction No. 3 of 2026, which tells airports to tighten screening (checked September 2026). Several foreign airlines at Bali are stricter still.

How many Wh is my power bank?

Check the label on the power bank. If it only shows mAh, calculate: Wh = mAh × cell voltage ÷ 1,000. Cell voltage is usually 3.6-3.7 V. For example, 20,000 mAh × 3.7 V = 74 Wh, and 26,800 mAh × 3.7 V comes to about 99 Wh. Indonesia's Transport Ministry uses a simple rule of thumb of 20,000 mAh for 100 Wh, so anything at 20,000 mAh or below is safe on any calculation. A power bank with a worn or missing capacity label risks being held back, because its capacity can't be proven.

Can I use it on the plane?

No. SE 015/2018 bans using a power bank to charge devices and bans recharging the power bank itself during the flight. Some airlines also forbid charging a power bank from the seat socket or USB port. Charge your phone straight from the seat port if there is one, not from the power bank.

Rules of the main airlines at Ngurah Rai Airport

• Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air: up to 100 Wh in the cabin, 100-160 Wh with approval (maximum 2), no use during the flight (Kompas, September 2025). Batik Air belongs to the Lion group; check the dangerous-goods page on its official site before flying.
• AirAsia: since 1 April 2025, using or charging power banks is banned on all its flights. Maximum 2 units of up to 100 Wh each; 100-160 Wh needs approval at the check-in counter. Keep them in the seat pocket or under the seat in front, not in the overhead bin.
• Qantas and Jetstar: since 15 December 2025, power banks may not be used or charged on board. Maximum 2 units, each no more than 160 Wh.
• Singapore Airlines: since 15 April 2026, a maximum of 2 power banks per passenger, not in the overhead bin, and no use or charging. The 2-unit cap also applies to every flight departing Singapore, so it affects you if you connect through Changi on another airline.
• Virgin Australia: has also banned in-flight use of power banks since late 2025.

How many power banks can I bring?

Indonesian rules only cap the number for the 100-160 Wh class (2 units). But since AirAsia, Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines and flights out of Singapore cap all sizes at 2, carrying no more than two is the safe choice. A third unit may have to be left behind, and the airport won't store it for you.

What if it's already in my checked suitcase?

Bags containing a power bank are usually flagged at hold-baggage X-ray, and you'll be called to take it out, or the bag is held until it's sorted. That can take a while at peak times. The same goes for smart luggage with a built-in battery: the battery must be removable and carried in the cabin. Power banks that are swollen, leaking, cracked or modified are not allowed at all.

Before you leave for the airport

• Charge the power bank fully at the hotel, because you can't charge it on board.
• Keep it in a small, easy-to-reach bag, not at the bottom of your carry-on, so you can pull it out at screening and move it to the seat pocket.
• Cover the ports or unplug cables to avoid short circuits.
• Avoid cheap, unbranded power banks without a capacity label.

For other items that often come up at screening, see our rules on bringing prescription medicine and the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport guide.

Sources: Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation website (SE 015/2018 and Instruction No. 3/2026), AirAsia Newsroom, Qantas Newsroom, Singapore Airlines and CAAS announcements (April 2026), Kompas Travel (September 2025).

The night before you fly, flip your power bank over and read the label. If the Wh or mAh figure has rubbed off, leaving it at the hotel costs less than arguing at the screening desk at five in the morning.