Shipping lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are dangerous goods. Air carriers, IATA, ICAO, IMO, and most national authorities classify them as a Class 9 hazard. The rules differ for batteries shipped alone vs packed with equipment vs in equipment — and for ion vs metal chemistry.
Quick reference (passenger flight)
- Carry-on only for spare lithium-ion batteries + power banks.
- Up to 100 Wh per cell — no airline approval needed.
- 100–160 Wh per cell — needs prior airline approval; max 2 spare.
- Above 160 Wh — refused as passenger baggage.
- Installed batteries in laptops, phones, cameras — fine in either cabin or hold.
Quick reference (air cargo)
- Every lithium battery must be UN 38.3 tested.
- Cells over 20 Wh / batteries over 100 Wh need a Class 9 DG declaration.
- Lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480) must ship at 30% state of charge or less on passenger aircraft.
- Watt-hour rating must be permanently marked on each cell/battery.
- UN-specification packaging required for higher-Wh cells.
Postal services
Most postal operators refuse lithium batteries sent alone. Batteries installed in equipment (laptop, phone) are usually accepted up to modest watt-hour limits and quantity caps. Power banks shipped alone are categorically refused by most postal services.