Can You Bring a Laptop on a Plane?

The Quick Answer

Laptops are absolutely allowed on planes. You can bring one — or multiple — in your carry-on bag. TSA has no limit on the number of laptops you can carry through security.

The main things you need to know: you'll probably need to take your laptop out of your bag at the security checkpoint, lithium batteries should stay in the cabin (not checked luggage), and TSA officers may ask you to power on your device. Let's cover everything.

TSA Security Screening Rules

This is where most of the confusion happens. The screening process for laptops depends on which type of security lane you're in and what equipment the airport uses.

Standard Screening Lanes

In a regular TSA line, you must remove your laptop from your bag and place it in a separate bin by itself. Nothing on top of it, nothing underneath it. The X-ray operator needs a clear, unobstructed view of the device.

This applies to all laptops — MacBooks, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, tablets that are laptop-sized. Basically, anything larger than a standard smartphone needs to come out of the bag.

TSA PreCheck Lanes

If you have TSA PreCheck, you don't need to remove your laptop from your bag. Your carry-on goes through the X-ray as-is. This alone makes PreCheck worth the $78 application fee for frequent flyers.

CT Scanner Lanes

Some airports have upgraded to computed tomography (CT) scanners that create 3D images of your bag. At these checkpoints, you don't need to remove your laptop either — even without PreCheck. The CT technology can see through everything without requiring items to be separated.

Major airports like Phoenix, Boston, JFK, and Atlanta have CT scanners at some or all checkpoints. The rollout is ongoing, so coverage varies. Don't assume your airport has them — always be prepared to pull your laptop out.

Powering On Your Device

TSA officers can ask you to power on any electronic device, including your laptop. If it won't turn on, it won't be allowed through the checkpoint. This is a security measure to verify the device is what it appears to be.

Make sure your laptop has some battery charge before you get to the airport. You don't need a full charge — just enough to boot to the login screen if asked.

Carry-On vs. Checked Baggage

Here's the critical distinction that trips people up.

Carry-On (Recommended)

Your laptop should always go in your carry-on. Period. There are several reasons:

• Lithium battery safety — the FAA strongly recommends keeping devices with lithium-ion batteries in the cabin, where the crew can respond if a battery malfunctions
• Theft protection — checked bags go through many hands, and laptops are high-value targets
• Damage prevention — checked luggage gets tossed, stacked, and compressed. Your laptop isn't built for that
• Temperature extremes — cargo holds can get very cold, which isn't great for batteries and screens

Checked Baggage

Technically, TSA allows laptops in checked bags. But the FAA's lithium battery guidance complicates this. Nearly every modern laptop contains a lithium-ion battery, and the FAA recommends these devices travel in the cabin. Some airlines explicitly prohibit lithium-battery devices in checked luggage.

If you absolutely must check a laptop, make sure it's powered off completely (not just in sleep mode), padded extensively, and ideally in a hard-shell case. But honestly, just carry it on.

Lithium Battery Rules for Laptops

Laptop batteries are regulated by the FAA, and the rules are based on watt-hours (Wh).

• Under 100 Wh — allowed in carry-on without restrictions. Most consumer laptops fall in this range (a MacBook Pro 16-inch battery is about 100 Wh)
• 100-160 Wh — allowed in carry-on with airline approval. Some high-performance gaming laptops or workstation laptops may be in this range. You're limited to two spare batteries in this category
• Over 160 Wh — not allowed on passenger aircraft at all

Spare laptop batteries (ones not installed in the laptop) must always go in your carry-on. You can't put a loose lithium battery in your checked bag under any circumstances.

To check your laptop's battery capacity, look at the fine print on the bottom of the laptop or on the battery itself. It'll be listed in Wh. You can also find it in your laptop's system settings or on the manufacturer's spec sheet.

How Many Laptops Can You Bring?

TSA doesn't limit the number of laptops you can bring through security. Plenty of people travel with a work laptop and a personal one. Some IT professionals travel with three or four. As long as each one goes through the X-ray (either in a bin or through a CT scanner), you're fine.

That said, bringing an unusually large number of laptops might draw attention. A TSA officer could pull you aside for additional screening or questions. This is rare, but it happens — especially if the laptops are still sealed in retail packaging, which could suggest commercial intent.

Using Your Laptop During the Flight

Once you're past security, here's what you need to know about using your laptop in the air.

Takeoff and Landing

Most airlines require laptops to be stowed during takeoff and landing. This means put away in your bag or in the seatback pocket (if it fits). The concern is that a loose laptop becomes a projectile during turbulence or an emergency. Flight attendants will ask you to close and stow it before departure and before descent.

Cruising Altitude

Once the captain turns off the seatbelt sign or announces that electronics can be used, you're free to work on your laptop for the rest of the flight. A few things to keep in mind:

• WiFi availability — many airlines now offer inflight WiFi, though speeds and pricing vary wildly. Don't count on being able to video conference.
• Power outlets — not every seat has one. Check your airline and aircraft type before boarding if you need to charge. Seat guru websites show power outlet availability by seat.
• Screen brightness — dim your screen on red-eye flights. Your neighbors will appreciate it.
• Space constraints — economy seats don't give you much room. A 13-inch laptop works fine. A 17-inch gaming laptop is going to be tight, especially if the person in front of you reclines.

Airplane Mode

Your laptop needs to be in airplane mode during the flight. This disables cellular connections (if your laptop has one) and usually WiFi. You can re-enable WiFi separately to connect to the plane's inflight WiFi without violating airplane mode requirements.

International Travel Considerations

If you're flying internationally, a few extra things matter.

Customs Declarations

Bringing a laptop into another country is generally fine for personal use. If you're traveling with multiple laptops or expensive equipment, some countries may ask questions at customs. Keep receipts handy if the equipment is new, so you can prove you didn't buy it in-country to avoid import duties on return.

Electronics Bans

In the past, certain routes have had laptop bans requiring all electronics larger than a phone to be checked. While no such ban is currently in effect, they can be reimposed quickly in response to security threats. Check current travel advisories before international flights.

Data Privacy

Customs officers in many countries — including the US — can search your electronic devices at the border. If you're carrying sensitive business data, consider what's on your laptop before traveling internationally.

Packing Tips for Laptops

• Use a padded sleeve or compartment — even in your carry-on, protection matters. TSA bins aren't exactly gentle.
• Keep it accessible — pack your laptop where you can easily pull it out at security. Nothing worse than unpacking half your bag in the security line.
• Bring your charger in carry-on — laptop chargers are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, but keep it with you so you can charge during the flight or at the gate.
• Back up before you travel — if your laptop gets damaged, lost, or confiscated, you don't want to lose your data too.
• Charge before you go — TSA may ask you to power it on. A dead laptop that can't turn on at security is a problem.

Tablet Computers

Tablets like iPads fall into a gray area. TSA's official rule is that electronics larger than a cell phone must be removed from bags in standard screening. Full-size iPads (10 inches and up) should be treated like laptops — pull them out. iPad Minis and similar small tablets might not trigger the rule, but it's safer to pull them out too.

In TSA PreCheck or CT scanner lanes, tablets stay in your bag just like laptops.