Are Power Banks Safe? Check for a Recall Before You Fly

Most power banks are safe to use and safe to fly with. But a power bank is a lithium-ion battery in a box, and when one fails it can overheat, swell or catch fire with little warning. The single most useful check is also the quickest: look up whether yours has been recalled. That matters even more this month, because the FAA says a recalled battery is not allowed on a plane at all, in your carry-on or your checked bag.

A power bank that "works fine" can still be on a recall list, and a recalled one isn't allowed on your flight.

Here is what the official sources say, what 2026's recalls teach about cheap versus pricey chargers, and a short checklist for your own power bank or a secondhand one.

Are power banks safe to use every day?

Generally, yes. The FAA notes that lithium batteries must pass safety testing before they're sold. The same FAA page is also blunt about the risk: every lithium-ion battery can go into "thermal runaway," a chain reaction of heat that can start with no warning. The triggers it lists are damage, overheating, getting wet, overcharging, poor packing, and plain manufacturing defects.

That last cause is the one you can't see from outside, and it's why recalls matter. A drop or a soaking is something you'd remember. A bad cell from the factory is not, and the first sign of it may be smoke.

So "safe" really means three things together: a power bank that isn't damaged, isn't recalled, and is used and charged where you could notice if it got hot.

How many power banks were recalled in 2026?

More than you might think. We searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's public recall database for notices with "power bank" in the title. It returned at least five new power bank recalls from January through October 2026, plus one major re-announcement. In 2025 the same search returned at least 10. Some notices word it differently, so the true count may be higher.

Two of this year's notices show how serious a bad unit can be:

• HAIARA power banks, model W5 PRO (recalled October 29, 2026). About 11,000 units were sold on Amazon from May 2025 through September 2026. The seller had received 600 reports of fire and other heat incidents, including three burn injuries and nine reports of property damage. The recall covers black units with "20W" on the front and "Model: W5 PRO" on the side, and no date code printed on the side.
• Casely Power Pods, model E33A (re-announced April 16, 2026). About 429,200 units, first recalled in April 2025. After that first recall, CPSC says 28 more reports came in. One woman who was charging her phone on her lap in August 2024 was badly burned and later died. Another was burned in February 2026 when one caught fire on an airplane.

If you own either model, stop using it and follow the remedy in the CPSC notice: a refund for HAIARA, a free replacement for Casely. Either way, you'll be asked for a photo of the unit with "recalled" written on it in marker.

Are cheap power banks safe?

Price alone won't tell you. The HAIARA units sold for $18 to $22. The Casely units sold for $30 to $70. Both ended up on recall lists for fire and burn hazards. A higher price didn't protect buyers, and a low one didn't automatically doom them.

What does help:

1. Write down the brand and model number now. It's usually printed on the back or side in tiny letters. You can't check a recall without it.
2. Search the model at cpsc.gov/Recalls. Takes a minute. Do it again every few months, because the Casely recall shows a product can be recalled years after you buy it.
3. Keep your receipt or order page. Recall refunds and replacements often ask for proof of where you bought it.
4. Watch for warning signs. The FAA tells flyers to speak up if a battery is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning. At home, the same signs mean stop using it.

Are power banks allowed on planes?

Yes, but only in your carry-on. This is the part most holiday travelers get wrong. Here are the federal rules, from the FAA and TSA:

Finding the watt-hours. Newer power banks print the Wh rating on the label. If yours only lists mAh and volts, the FAA's formula is volts times amp-hours. To get amp-hours, divide mAh by 1,000. For example, a label reading 10,000 mAh at 3.7 V works out to 37 Wh, well under the limit.

If you're flying out of DCA, Dulles or BWI for Thanksgiving, these federal rules are the same at all three. The difference is your airline's own limit, so look that up the night before, not at the gate.

Is it safe to buy a used power bank?

It can be, with more care than most used electronics. Federal law bars anyone from selling a product that's under a CPSC recall. Not every private seller knows that, though, and a power bank's battery health is hard to judge by looking at it. Before you buy one secondhand, or use one you found in a drawer:

1. Find the model number and check it at cpsc.gov/Recalls. No model number printed on it? Walk away.
2. Look along every edge for swelling. A case that bulges, won't sit flat, or has a seam pulling apart is a no.
3. Check the ports and casing for cracks, burn marks or a melted look.
4. Charge it the first time where you can watch it, on a hard surface, not on a bed or couch. If it gets too hot to hold comfortably, stop.
5. Never test it on your lap. The Casely death began with a power bank charging a phone on someone's lap.

For more on looking up any product, see our guide on how to check if a product is recalled before you buy used. You can browse Buy Now or the categories on DealsDMV. If you have questions about how our shop works, the FAQ has the answers.

What should I do with a recalled or swollen power bank?

Don't throw it in the trash. CPSC's Casely notice goes further: don't put a recalled lithium-ion battery in curbside recycling, or even in the battery drop-off boxes at many stores. Recalled batteries carry a higher fire risk than ordinary ones. Instead, call your county's household hazardous waste site first and ask whether they take recalled lithium-ion batteries. If they don't, ask your local government where to take it. Our earlier article on why old lithium batteries don't belong in the trash explains how to get rid of them safely.

The bottom line

Power banks are safe for everyday use when they're undamaged, not recalled, and charged where you can keep an eye on them. Before holiday travel, take a minute to find the model number, search it at cpsc.gov, and pack the power bank in your carry-on with its contacts covered. If it's swollen, recalled or getting hot, it stays home, and it doesn't go in the trash.

If someone you know is flying for the holidays, send this their way. It's a quick check that could save them a confiscated charger, or something much worse.