How Many mAh Do You Really Need? (Power Bank Capacity Guide 2026)

How Many mAh Do You Really Need? (Power Bank Capacity Guide 2026)

Choosing the right power bank capacity can be confusing. Should you buy a 10000mAh model? Or is 20000mAh better? In this complete 2026 guide, we’ll explain exactly how many mAh you really need based on your devices and daily usage.

🔋 What Does mAh Mean?

mAh stands for milliampere-hour. It measures the total energy capacity of a battery. The higher the mAh, the more charge the power bank can store.

For a technical definition of mAh (milliampere-hour), you can check the explanation on

Wikipedia
.

For example:

• 5000mAh = small backup power
• 10000mAh = 1–2 full smartphone charges
• 20000mAh = 3–5 smartphone charges
• 30000mAh+ = laptop & multi-device charging

📱 For Smartphones (Light Daily Use)

If you only need emergency backup for your phone, a 10000mAh power bank is usually enough.

For official USB Power Delivery specifications, visit the

USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF)
.

👉 Recommended reading:

Best 10000mAh Power Banks in 2026

💼 For Travel & Heavy Users

If you travel frequently or use multiple devices (phone + tablet + earbuds), a 20000mAh power bank is the smarter choice.

Best 20000mAh Power Banks in 2026

💻 For Laptops & Remote Work

To charge laptops, you need two things:

• ✔ High capacity (20000mAh+)
• ✔ USB-C Power Delivery (PD support)

If you’re not familiar with Power Delivery, read:

What Is USB Power Delivery (PD)?

📊 Quick Capacity Comparison

⚡ Important Note About Real Capacity

Keep in mind that real usable capacity is usually 60–70% of the advertised mAh due to voltage conversion and efficiency loss.

Example:

A 10000mAh power bank may realistically deliver around 6500–7000mAh.

🏆 Final Recommendation

• ✔ Casual users → 10000mAh
• ✔ Travelers → 20000mAh
• ✔ Laptop users → 20000mAh+ with PD

Choosing the right capacity depends on your lifestyle. Bigger isn’t always better — balance portability and power.