If you’re a music lover and listening through your cellphone or laptop just won’t cut it when you’re away from home, you might be wondering if you can bring a speaker on a plane.
According to TSA regulations, you can bring speakers on a plane in both your carry on and checked bags, provided that the speaker does not contain any lithium-ion batteries.
If the speaker does contain a lithium-ion battery, it should be packed in your carry on bag.
But do the regulations change when flying internationally?
Can you take all speakers on a plane, including portable, Bluetooth, Wireless, and Smart speakers?
Where does the TSA stand when it comes to soundbars and speakers like subwoofers?
Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Can You Bring a Speaker on a Plane?
Carry on Bags
The TSA state that you can bring speakers on a plane in your carry on bags.
If the speaker contains a lithium-ion battery, you have no choice but to pack it in your carry on.
The TSA also state that you should check with the airline to ensure that your speaker will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.
When going through airport security, you will have to place the speaker in a separate bin for screening.
Checked Bags
As long as your speaker doesn’t contain a lithium-ion battery, you can pack it in your checked bag.
However, packing speakers in your checked bag usually isn’t the best idea due to the risk of damage and even theft.
Domestic vs. International Flights
While the TSA only has authority for flights departing from the USA, you’ll be pleased to know that it should make no difference if you want to bring a speaker onboard for international flights.
Whether you’re flying from or within Europe, Mexico, Canada, the UK, Australia etc., you’ll find that the same rules apply.
So speakers packed in your carry on and checked bags will be fine unless it contains a lithium-ion battery, in which case it should only be packed in your carry on.
By Airline
99% of the time, for items that you want to bring on a plane, you just need to listen to what the TSA says, and you won’t run into any issues.
Speakers are one of the very few exceptions due to their potentially large size.
All airlines have size and weight restrictions for items that you want to bring onboard in your carry on.
So it’s best to check with the airline to ensure that your speaker will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the plane before you get to the airport.
For reference, 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high are the standard size restrictions that most airlines will have for your carry on.
Personal items, which should fit underneath the seat in front of you, generally have a size restriction of 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high.
Portable/Large/Bluetooth/Smart/Wireless Speakers
Whether you want to bring a Portable, Bluetooth, Smart or Wireless speaker on a plane generally won’t matter.
As long as the speaker meets size restrictions, it can be placed in your carry on or count towards your personal item allowance.
If the speaker contains a lithium-ion battery, it is not allowed to be packed in your checked bag.
Loudspeakers vs. Soundbars vs. Subwoofers and Other Speakers
Again, the type of speaker you want to bring on a plane doesn’t matter.
You just need to make sure that you follow each airline’s size and weight restrictions.
You may struggle to bring a soundbar on your next flight, though, given that they are generally quite long and will exceed an airline’s size restrictions.
Don’t Use a Speaker During the Flight
You generally won’t find any airlines specifically stating that passengers aren’t allowed to use a speaker during the flight because it is a very rare occurrence.
However, if you start to use your speaker on a plane, it’s very likely that you be asked to stop for the consideration of other passengers.
Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.
Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.
Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).