- Find out if you can fly with speakers, and which ones qualify.
- Learn which airlines share the same rules.
- Understand why watt-hours matters.
The short answer is that most small, portable Bluetooth speakers you can fit in a standard-sized backpack or carry-on luggage are permissible to bring on most flights.
However, there are nuances you should be aware of, especially when deciding on whether to bring larger-sized speakers. If you’re wondering whether you can bring your speakers on the plane, consider the following:
- Size and weight: Airlines have specific restrictions on the size and weight of carry-on and checked baggage, so it is important to check with your airline to ensure that your speakers meet their requirements. If your speakers are too large or heavy, you may need to check them in as oversized or special baggage, which may incur additional fees.
- Power source: If your speakers require a power source, such as an electrical outlet or battery, you must ensure they comply with airline regulations. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, are subject to specific restrictions due to their potential fire risk.
- Security: Speakers that contain metal components or wiring may trigger security alarms or be subject to additional screening, so it is important to be prepared for this possibility. You may need to remove your speakers from your carry-on baggage for inspection or pass them through a separate screening process.
- International travel: If you are traveling internationally, you may need to comply with additional regulations and restrictions, such as customs requirements or local laws and regulations regarding electronic devices.
- The airline: Regarding item restrictions, there are general guidelines that most airlines follow. However, some are more lenient than others when bringing items like speakers and musical instruments on board.
Tip! Always check your airline’s official documentation, or call them and ask. Rules and regulations can change over time, and every airline will have variations in their regulations.
Here’s a handy table to help you figure out whether you should either check your speaker in, or bring it as a carry-on:
| Speaker Type | Carry-on/Check-in | Considerations |
| Portable Bluetooth Speakers | Both, but restrictions apply to check-in | Must comply with size and weight restrictions; must comply with battery regulations; may be subject to additional security screening |
| Wired Speakers | Both, but restrictions apply to check-in. | Must comply with size and weight restrictions; must comply with battery regulations; may be subject to additional security screening. |
| Powered Speakers | Both, but restrictions apply to check-in. | Must comply with size and weight restrictions; may be subject to additional security screening. |
| Subwoofers | Check-in only | Generally too large and heavy to comply with airline restrictions; may need to be checked in as oversized or special baggage. |
| Studio Monitors | Both, but restrictions apply to check-in. | Must comply with size and weight restrictions; must comply with battery regulations; may be subject to additional security screening. |
Important! Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) encourage airline passengers to keep portable speakers in their carry-on luggage. This is because of the presence of lithium-ion batteries and their risk of exploding.
Common Airline Restrictions on Bringing Battery-Powered Portable Speakers On Board
Airlines in the United States follow TSA’s and FAA’s air travel safety rules. They all share the same stance on flying with battery-powered speakers.
Portable speakers usually come with lithium-ion batteries. Some are built-in, while some are removable.
So, when is it okay to put the speakers in with the checked luggage? See the table below.
| Speaker battery type | Carry-on luggage | Checked luggage |
| Built-in/chargeable | Yes | No |
| Removable | Yes | Yes, but without the batteries |
Lithium-ion batteries are a fire risk, which is why airlines prefer these to be in carry-on luggage. This way, they will be easier for the cabin crew to manage in case of trouble.
Besides, gadgets like portable Bluetooth speakers are much safer with you than with checked luggage. You never know how they handle those, anyway!
Portable Speaker Carry-on Rules & Regulations
We looked up some top airlines to know if they share the same views on speakers and air travel as the United States. This is what we discovered:
The rules on battery-powered devices, such as portable speakers, are pretty much the same.
Most airlines allow portable electronic devices (PEDs) that run on lithium-ion batteries as carry-on or checked baggage.
There are some conditions to be aware of when bringing your portable speakers/PEDs on a flight.
- Ensure they are fully switched off and not just on hibernate/standby mode.
- Aviation authorities also advise travelers to avoid their PEDs unintentionally activating mid-flight.
- They allow a maximum of 15 PEDs for every person on a single flight.
- They also must not exceed 160 Wh (watt-hours). More than that, you’ll require management approval before flying with your speakers.
In addition, it’s important to ensure that your speaker dimensions don’t exceed the minimum size and weight requirements for check-in.
Examples of airline companies that follow similar regulations are:
- Qatar Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Etihad Airways
- Korean Air
- Singapore Airlines
- Qantas
- Virgin Australia
Understanding Watt-Hours & Airline Regulations
Most portable speakers within the allowable size for carry-on and check-in luggage are quite low, around the 25-watt-hour capacity.
Here’s a quick table with a few popular models, and their respective watt-hours. These would all be permissible, given the 160 Wh limit.
| Speaker Name | Watt Hours |
| JBL Flip 5 | 20 |
| Bose SoundLink Revolve+ | 26 |
| Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 | 10 |
| Sony SRS-XB43 | 24 |
| Anker Soundcore 2 | 12 |
| Marshall Emberton | 20 |
| Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 | 7.2 |
| Tribit StormBox Micro | 9.75 |
| FUGOO Sport 2.0 | 37 |
| OontZ Angle 3 Ultra | 14 |
So you can get a better idea, here are a few models that exceed 160 Wh, and would be forbidden from bringing aboard most airlines.
| Speaker Name | Watt Hours |
| Soundboks 3 | 324 |
| LG OK99 | 320 |
How To Calculate The Watt-Hours For Your Bluetooth Speaker
- Convert the battery capacity to ampere-hours if it is given in milliampere-hours. To do this, divide the battery capacity by 1000. For example, if the battery capacity is 7500mAh, divide by 1000 to get 7.5Ah.
- Determine the voltage of the battery. This information should also be available in the speaker’s specifications or user manual.
- Multiply the battery capacity in Ah by the battery’s voltage to get the watt-hours. For example, if the battery capacity is 7.5Ah and the voltage is 3.7V, multiply 7.5 x 3.7 to get 27.75 watt-hours.
What To Do If Your Speakers Are Over 160-Watt-Hours
Speakers with batteries over 160 watt-hours probably won’t qualify for air travel baggage, so you may have to ship them as freight instead.
Generally, we recommend shipping speaker systems that are too bulky for carry-on.
Shipping them through a trusted courier might be the safer route, mainly because couriers offer package insurance.
FAQ
Do I Need To Declare That I’m Carrying A Portable Speaker?
That would be best. Also, security may ask you to take the speaker out of your bag to be checked individually.
If they do, place them on the provided tray to be scanned through the security conveyor.
Can You Use Bluetooth Speakers On The Plane?
As a courtesy to the other passengers, it’s best not to use your speakers on the plane. Consider wearing headphones if you must listen to your favorite playlist to keep you calm or entertained.
The same applies to when you’re at the airport, or any public place for that matter. While it may not be restricted, it’s common courtesy not to invade other people’s personal space with your tunes (as good as your music taste may be). Save that for your DJ sets instead.
Before You Go…
If you’re a guitarist who frequently travels, check out our roundup of the best TSA-approved guitar flight cases.
