Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: a 10,000 mAh power bank holds twice the energy of a 5,000 mAh one, and in our catalog it typically comes with a lower minimum order and a higher unit price. How many full phone charges either gives depends on the phone’s battery and on losses, so compare energy in watt-hours (Wh) rather than mAh, and treat “one charge” or “two charges” as estimates for a stated phone, not a promise.
Why mAh alone can mislead
mAh measures charge at a given voltage. Power bank capacity is rated at the internal cell’s nominal voltage, usually 3.7 V, while phones charge over USB at 5 V or more and have their own battery voltage. mAh figures stated at different voltages cannot be compared directly. Watt-hours can:
Wh = mAh × nominal voltage ÷ 1,000
| Rated capacity (at 3.7 V) | Energy stored |
|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh |
Changing voltage does not by itself lose energy. Energy is lost as heat in the power bank’s converter, the cable, the phone’s charging circuit and the battery, and a phone that is in use while charging consumes some of it too. Wireless charging loses more than a cable.
How many charges does that give?
A worked example, with stated assumptions. Take a hypothetical phone with a 15 Wh battery (roughly a 4,000 mAh battery at 3.85 V), charged by cable, screen off. If about 80% of the power bank’s stored energy ends up in the phone’s battery (an assumption for illustration, not a measurement of our products):
| Power bank | Stored | Delivered at 80% | Charges of a 15 Wh phone battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh | about 14.8 Wh | about 1 |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | about 29.6 Wh | about 2 |
A phone with a larger battery, wireless charging or use during charging all lower the count. For your recipients’ phones, compare the power bank’s Wh with the phone’s battery Wh.
Listed unit prices by capacity
From the 473 power banks in our current catalog:
| Capacity | Products | Median minimum order | Median price at the minimum | Median price at the top quantity break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4,000 mAh | 93 | about 28 pieces | $14.03 | $10.98 |
| 4,000 to 7,999 mAh | 182 | 25 pieces | $30.96 | $25.44 |
| 8,000 to 12,999 mAh | 133 | 15 pieces | $44.98 | $36.86 |
| 13,000 mAh and up | 25 | 10 pieces | $75.59 | $68.33 |
| Capacity not stated in the product data | 40 |
Method: catalog snapshot of October 15, 2026. Capacity taken from the product name or description. Medians use only products whose price includes decoration (blank-priced items excluded); each median is calculated separately, so the three figures in a row can come from different products. Prices exclude setup, shipping and tax.
Medians hide a wide range. The Viceroy 10000mAh Power Bank starts at $16.45 with a 25-piece minimum, far below the median for its size; the higher medians come from branded retail lines and wireless or magnetic models. In this catalog snapshot the larger-capacity groups have lower median minimum orders, but each product has its own minimum.
Which size fits which program?
- Trade show or conference giveaway, 250+ pieces: under 4,000 to 5,000 mAh. Light, affordable in volume, and enough to rescue a low battery.
- Onboarding or sales team kit: around 5,000 mAh with USB-C in and out, ideally with a built-in cable, which removes the most common complaint about promotional power banks.
- Client or executive gift: around 10,000 mAh, wireless or magnetic if recipients carry phones that support it.
- Teams who carry laptops: high capacity with USB-C Power Delivery; check each product’s wattage before promising it charges a laptop.
Can employees take a power bank on a plane?
For personal use, yes, under FAA rules: power banks must travel in carry-on baggage, never in checked bags, and must come out of a carry-on that is gate-checked. Protect them from short circuits and check the airline’s own limits. Up to 100 Wh is allowed without airline approval; check the Wh rating printed on the power bank, or calculate it from the stated nominal voltage.
These passenger allowances do not cover stock carried for distribution. A box of branded power banks for a trade show booth is not personal use; ship it to the venue instead. See the FAA’s lithium battery guidance.
Shipping
Power banks contain lithium cells and ship as regulated goods. Ground shipping inside the US is routine; express and international air shipments cost more and take longer than cables or wall chargers.
Choose a power bank for your program
Tell us your budget per piece, the quantity, and which phones your recipients mostly use, through our contact page, and we will shortlist models. Or browse all power banks.
