Can You Bring a Hoverboard on a Plane?

No. Hoverboards Are Banned on Planes

Let's not bury the lead: you cannot bring a hoverboard on a plane. Every major U.S. airline bans hoverboards from both carry-on and checked baggage. This isn't a gray area or a maybe-it-depends situation. It's a hard no.

The ban applies to self-balancing scooters, self-balancing boards, and any similar device regardless of brand name or battery size.

Why Hoverboards Are Banned

It comes down to the lithium-ion batteries. Hoverboards use large lithium battery packs — typically 150-250+ watt-hours — that have a documented history of overheating, catching fire, and even exploding.

Between fires in homes, retail stores, and several incidents on aircraft, aviation regulators decided the risk was too high. When a lithium battery goes into thermal runaway in the cargo hold of an aircraft at 35,000 feet, crew members can't access it to put out the fire. That's an unacceptable safety risk.

The Numbers Behind the Ban

• FAA lithium battery limit for carry-on — 100 watt-hours (160 Wh with airline approval)
• Average hoverboard battery — 150-250+ watt-hours
• Result — Most hoverboard batteries exceed even the highest allowable limit

Even if a hoverboard had a battery under 100 Wh (which would barely power the board), airlines still wouldn't allow it. The categorical ban is based on the device type, not just the battery size.

Which Airlines Ban Hoverboards?

All of them. Here's a non-exhaustive list of airlines with explicit hoverboard bans:

• American Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• Delta Air Lines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• United Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• Southwest Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• JetBlue — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• Alaska Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• Spirit Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags
• Frontier Airlines — Banned in carry-on and checked bags

International airlines follow the same policy. British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Qantas — the list goes on. This is a global aviation ban.

Can You Remove the Battery and Fly with Just the Board?

In theory, a hoverboard without its battery is just a plastic shell with wheels and motors. The TSA wouldn't necessarily stop you at the checkpoint. However:

• Most hoverboard batteries aren't designed to be easily removed by consumers
• Even if you remove the battery, you then need to ship the battery separately via ground — lithium batteries over 100 Wh can't fly as cargo on passenger aircraft either
• Airlines may still refuse the board itself out of an abundance of caution

It's a lot of hassle with no guarantee of success. There are better options.

What About Checked Baggage?

Nope. The ban covers checked bags too. In fact, checked baggage is arguably more dangerous for large lithium batteries. If a battery catches fire in the cargo hold, there's no way for crew to detect or fight it until it becomes a serious emergency.

The FAA specifically warns against putting large lithium battery devices in checked luggage, and hoverboards are one of the primary examples they cite.

Alternatives for Getting Your Hoverboard to Your Destination

Ship It

Ground shipping is the most reliable option:

• UPS or FedEx Ground — Both carriers accept hoverboards via ground shipping (not air)
• Expect to pay $30-80+ depending on distance and packaging
• Allow 3-7 business days for delivery
• Package it well — Use the original box if you have it

Important: Even shipping companies have restrictions on lithium batteries. The battery must be at 30% charge or less for shipping, and you may need to declare it as a lithium battery shipment. Check the carrier's specific requirements before shipping.

Buy or Rent at Your Destination

If you're going somewhere for vacation and just want to ride around, renting might be cheaper and easier than shipping. Many tourist areas and beach towns have rental shops that carry hoverboards and similar devices.

Drive Instead

If your destination is within driving distance, that's obviously the simplest solution. Toss the hoverboard in your car and avoid the whole issue.

Similar Devices That Are Also Banned

The ban isn't limited to the classic two-wheeled hoverboard. These similar devices are also prohibited on most airlines:

• Self-balancing unicycles (like Segway One)
• Electric skateboards (with large lithium batteries)
• Electric scooters (with non-removable batteries over 160 Wh)
• Segways

The common thread is large lithium batteries in personal transportation devices. If it moves you around and has a big battery, assume it's not welcome on an airplane.

What Happens If You Show Up with a Hoverboard?

If you arrive at the airport with a hoverboard, you'll be told you can't bring it onboard — period. Your options at that point are limited:

• Leave it with someone who drove you to the airport
• Find a shipping counter at or near the airport (some airports have UPS/FedEx locations)
• Abandon it at the airport (not recommended, but it's happened)

Don't count on talking your way through this one. Gate agents and TSA officers are well aware of the hoverboard ban, and there are no exceptions.