Can I take my drone battery on a plane?

Yes, in the cabin. The FAA allows lithium ion batteries of 100 watt-hours or less on passenger aircraft without airline approval. Packs of 101 to 160 Wh need the airline's approval and you may carry no more than two spares of that size. Packs over 160 Wh are forbidden. Every consumer drone battery this page lists is under 100 Wh.

Spare batteries cannot. The FAA requires spare lithium batteries to travel in carry-on baggage only, and if your carry-on is checked at the gate you must take the spares out and keep them with you. A battery installed in the drone may go in a checked bag only if the drone is completely powered off and protected from switching on.

For packs of 100 Wh or less the FAA sets no quantity limit, provided they are for your personal use and not for resale. For packs of 101 to 160 Wh the limit is two spares per person. Airlines may set stricter limits on count or watt-hours, so check your carrier before you fly.

Most drone packs print watt-hours on the label. If yours shows only capacity and voltage, multiply the capacity in amp-hours by the nominal voltage. A 1,300 mAh pack at 22.2 V is 1.3 times 22.2, or about 28.9 Wh.

Protect the terminals from short circuit: leave each pack in its retail packaging, cover the terminals with tape, or use a battery case or its own pouch. Keep them where you can reach them. Tell the crew immediately if a pack swells, smokes, or gets hot.

No. The FAA bars damaged or recalled batteries that are likely to spark or overheat from both carry-on and checked baggage unless the battery has been removed or made safe. A swollen pack belongs at a battery recycler, not in your bag.