What's the largest battery you can travel with if you're flying?

According to the TSA , this depends on the battery's watt-hours (Wh). Laptop batteries are only allowed in carry-on luggage and cannot be inside checked bags. Passengers can carry up to two spare batteries, but they can't exceed 160 watt-hours each. All laptop batteries must list their capacity on the product, typically in milliamp-hours (mAh). That equates to about a single 81K mAh battery or two 43K mAh batteries.

How can you extend the life of your laptop battery?

There are several ways to improve the lifespan of your laptop battery. Firstly, keep your laptop cool by shutting it down when not in use and never storing it in a hot place. If your battery is fully charged, never leave it plugged in. And finally, you should fully discharge the battery once a month to help your battery life estimate stay accurate.

How does a laptop battery explode?

Fail-safes are in place to prevent "thermal runaway," which refers to a battery generating more heat than it can handle. This process usually results from faulty manufacturing or product tampering but can also result from overcharging or storing it in scorching areas. However, batteries will rarely combust under these conditions, but they can rupture. Regardless, if it begins to swell, dispose of it immediately (and safely) and replace it.

The Best Portable Laptop Battery Chargers of 2024

Your laptop is portable; why not your power, too?

Patrick Hyde

Updated on March 15, 2024

Fact checked by

Stephen Slaybaugh

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Size and weight are important considerations when shopping for a laptop power bank. We’ve researched and reviewed the best portable laptop battery chargers to find the best ones for different needs.

Best Overall

Anker PowerCore+ 26800

PHOTO: Amazon

$100 at Amazon

Pros

USB-C fast charging
TSA approved
Comes with wall charger

Cons

Laptop compatibility limited to models with USB-C

The PowerCore+ 26,800mAh power bank includes a wall charger and a USB-C charging cable. It has two standard 15W USB ports and a 45W USB-C port. This faster connection and the included USB-C wall charger make this bundle a fantastic option for USB-C-compatible laptops.

The Anker PowerCore+ power bank is TSA-approved and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Unlike many other laptop batteries, it’s surprisingly compact at 7.7 x 3.5 x 2.4 inches, making it an easy addition to your carry-on or commuter bag. And it holds a lot of power for its size.

The PowerCore+ can charge a smartphone up to six times or completely recharge a 13-inch MacBook Pro. That’s hours and hours of extra time on your devices without finding a wall outlet.

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Battery Pack Bundle Review

High Capacity

Halo Bolt 58830

PHOTO: Amazon

$100 at Amazon

Pros

Lots of battery capacity
Includes AC plug
Can jump start cars
Built-in protection against over voltage

Cons

Heavy

The Halo Bolt is a high-capacity portable laptop charger with plenty of juice to meet all your needs. It's a big, hefty power bank with two USB-A 2.4V charging ports, a 120V AC wall outlet, and the ability to double as a portable jump starter.

The battery has a 58,830mAh capacity, making it one of the most capacious chargers we've seen. It can charge a phone for up to 116 hours, a tablet for 19 hours, and a laptop for 11 hours, enough to keep most of your devices powered for a workday. You can charge three devices simultaneously with USB outputs and an AC plug.

Halo Bolt ACDC 58830 — Lifewire / Andrew Hayward

The jumper cable features over-voltage protection, auto power off, short circuit protection, reverse polarity protection, reverse current protection, timer circuit protection, and jumper cable spark protection. The charger also doubles as a car emergency kit. It has an LED light, jumper cables, and a carrying pouch, making it an excellent tool for your glove box.

Halo Bolt Portable Charger/Jump Starter Review

Versatile

MAXOAK 185Wh/50000mAh Battery Pack

MAXOAK 185Wh/50000mAh External Battery Power Bank

PHOTO: Amazon

$181 at Amazon

Pros

High capacity
Includes a ton of adapters

Cons

Absolutely massive
Slow and underpowered ports

The MAXOAK External Battery is a versatile power beast. First, it features six charging ports: One 20-volt/3-amp port for laptops, one 12-volt/2.5-amp port for digital cameras, two 5-volt/2.1-amp USB ports, and two 5-volt/1 amp USB ports.

Second, it has 50,000 mAh of battery life, meaning you can recharge your laptop and phone many times before recharging the external battery power bank.

Our tester also liked that it measures 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches and weighs 2.77 pounds, so it could easily fit into your camping bag and won’t be that much heavier. Finally, it includes 14 types of laptop connectors, so it covers most models but not those powered via USB-C.

Check if your laptop is supported before purchasing.

MaxOak 185Wh/50000mAh Battery Pack Review

ZMI PowerPack 20000 — Lifewire / Andrew Hayward

What to Look For in a Portable Laptop Battery Charger

Capacity

When picking a portable laptop battery charger, one of your primary considerations should be its capacity to store energy (measured in mAh)—this denotes the device’s battery life before it needs to be recharged. Be sure that the battery has equal or more capacity than the one already inside your machine so that you can expect a full charge.

Output

Some portable chargers can be a bit slow when outputting a charge, so be sure that the battery you’re purchasing has an output equal to or higher than the wattage of your typical laptop charger.

Connectors

It’s critical to ensure you can plug your laptop into your new portable charger. Check the type of inputs the charger supports—whether that’s a standard wall outlet plug, a USB-C port, or other universal solutions.

Omnicharge Omni 20 Portable Power Bank — Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen

FAQ

What's the largest battery you can travel with if you're flying?

According to the TSA, this depends on the battery's watt-hours (Wh). Laptop batteries are only allowed in carry-on luggage and cannot be inside checked bags. Passengers can carry up to two spare batteries, but they can't exceed 160 watt-hours each. All laptop batteries must list their capacity on the product, typically in milliamp-hours (mAh). That equates to about a single 81K mAh battery or two 43K mAh batteries.
How can you extend the life of your laptop battery?

There are several ways to improve the lifespan of your laptop battery. Firstly, keep your laptop cool by shutting it down when not in use and never storing it in a hot place. If your battery is fully charged, never leave it plugged in. And finally, you should fully discharge the battery once a month to help your battery life estimate stay accurate.
How does a laptop battery explode?

Fail-safes are in place to prevent "thermal runaway," which refers to a battery generating more heat than it can handle. This process usually results from faulty manufacturing or product tampering but can also result from overcharging or storing it in scorching areas. However, batteries will rarely combust under these conditions, but they can rupture. Regardless, if it begins to swell, dispose of it immediately (and safely) and replace it.