Can you take power tools and batteries on a plane?

Tools: hold luggage, not hand luggage

The UK government's hand luggage guidance lists drills and drill bits, including cordless portable power drills, among items not allowed in hand luggage. Other tools with blades or long shafts are restricted too. Power tools generally travel in the hold.

Airlines may add their own rules and some ask you to remove the battery from a tool before it goes in the hold. Check gov.uk and your airline's dangerous goods page before you pack.

Batteries: hand luggage only

Spare lithium-ion batteries, including tool packs not fitted to a tool, must usually be carried in hand luggage, not in checked bags. Protect terminals with the original cover, tape or a separate bag so they cannot short circuit. Damaged, swollen or recalled batteries must not be carried at all.

Limits are based on watt hours. The figures below are the widely used aviation limits; your airline's rules apply.

Working out your pack's watt hours

Many tool packs print the watt hours on the label. If not, multiply nominal voltage by amp hours. An 18 V 2 Ah pack is 36 Wh, an 18 V 5 Ah pack 90 Wh, an 18 V 6 Ah pack 108 Wh and an 18 V 8 Ah pack 144 Wh. Use the nominal voltage, not a US max label; see volts and amp hours explained.

The battery energy calculator does the sum for you. Larger and multi voltage packs such as FlexVolt may show special transport ratings on the label; follow the maker's guidance.

See compact drills with small packs →

Practical tips for travelling with tools

Plan ahead so you are not turned back at security or asked to leave a tool or battery behind at the airport.

• Pack tools in a hard case in hold luggage.
• Remove batteries from tools if your airline asks, and carry them in the cabin.
• Cover battery terminals or use original covers.
• Take only the packs you need, ideally 2 Ah to 5 Ah sizes under 100 Wh.
• Carry the charger in either bag; it contains no battery.
• Check the rules at your destination too.

Alternatives to flying with tools

If you need a lot of tools, sending them by courier or hiring at the destination may be easier. Couriers have their own lithium battery rules, so check before you send packs. Buying a small bare tool at the destination is another option if you are on a widely sold platform; see what body only means.

For storing packs safely before and after a trip, read how long do tool batteries last.

Safety in transit

Lithium-ion batteries can overheat if damaged or short circuited. Carrying spares in the cabin lets crew deal quickly with a problem. Never carry a pack that is swollen, cracked or has been dropped hard, and never pack loose batteries with coins or keys.

If a battery gets hot or smokes during the trip, tell the cabin crew immediately. Keep spare packs somewhere you can reach them easily, such as a small bag under the seat in front, rather than deep in an overhead locker.

Note:Rules change and airlines can be stricter than the general limits. Always check gov.uk and your airline's dangerous goods guidance before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a cordless drill in hand luggage? No. UK guidance lists cordless drills as not allowed in hand luggage. Pack them in the hold.

Can tool batteries go in checked luggage? Spare lithium batteries usually must go in hand luggage, not the hold.

Is an 18 V 5 Ah battery allowed on a plane? At 90 Wh it is under the usual 100 Wh limit for spares in hand luggage, subject to your airline.

Can I take the charger? Yes, chargers contain no battery and can usually go in either bag.