Lithium-Ion Battery Transport
Lithium batteries classified, packed and declared for road, sea and air
Batteries on their own, packed with equipment or inside it, shipped under ADR, IMDG and IATA rules with UN38.3 evidence checked.
- UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091
- UN38.3 test summary checked
- 30% charge limit by air
What Is Lithium-Ion Battery Transport?
Lithium batteries are classed as Class 9 dangerous goods for road, sea and air, because a damaged or short-circuited battery can overheat and catch fire. That covers batteries shipped on their own, batteries packed with equipment and batteries fitted inside equipment.
How a shipment is handled depends on the battery chemistry (lithium ion or lithium metal), its watt-hour rating or lithium content, how it is packed, and whether it travels by road, sea or air. Each mode has its own rules: ADR for road, the IMDG Code for sea and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air.
Getting the classification, packaging, marks and paperwork right at the start avoids carriers refusing the shipment.
Get Specialist Support for
Lithium Battery Transport
Lithium Battery at a glance
Watch out for: lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own (UN3480) are forbidden on passenger aircraft and must fly on cargo aircraft. A missing UN38.3 test summary or state of charge evidence is one of the most common reasons lithium shipments are refused.
When Specialist Lithium-Ion Battery Transport Is Required
Batteries on their own (UN3480 and UN3090)
Spare batteries, battery packs and cells shipped without equipment face the strictest rules, especially by air.
Batteries packed with or inside equipment (UN3481 and UN3091)
Laptops, tools, medical devices and electronics with batteries still need to be declared, marked and packed correctly.
Large and high-energy batteries
Batteries over 100 Wh, including energy storage and vehicle batteries, need fully regulated dangerous goods shipments.
E-bikes, e-scooters and battery-powered vehicles
These are classed as lithium-ion powered vehicles (UN3556) and need specialist handling.
Damaged, defective or recalled batteries
These cannot fly and need special packaging and approval to travel by road or sea.
Lithium Battery Transport Solutions We Provide
We coordinate a range of specialist logistics solutions for lithium-ion battery shipments.
Dangerous Goods Transport
Compliant handling of Class 9 hazardous cargo
Air Freight for Lithium Batteries
Priority transport with strict airline compliance
Sea Freight & Container Shipping
Cost-effective global transport for large-volume shipments
Packaging & Labelling Compliance
Approved packaging and correct hazard labelling
Documentation & Regulatory Management
Preparation of all required declarations and approvals
How We Manage Lithium-Ion Battery Shipments
1. Classification
We check the battery type, UN number, watt-hour rating, quantity and the UN38.3 test summary from the manufacturer.
2. Mode and route
We choose road, sea or air based on the battery, the destination and carrier acceptance. Some airlines and shipping lines set stricter rules than the regulations.
3. Packaging and marking
Batteries are packed in approved packaging with terminals protected, and marked with the correct lithium battery mark or Class 9 label.
4. Documentation
We prepare the dangerous goods declaration and any state of charge evidence required for air.
5. Transport and delivery
The shipment travels with carriers approved for lithium batteries, with customs clearance and delivery at destination.
Lithium-Ion Battery Compliance & Classification
The main UN numbers are listed below. Small batteries can qualify for reduced requirements: under ADR special provision 188 and IATA Section II, that generally means lithium-ion cells up to 20 Wh and batteries up to 100 Wh, or lithium metal cells up to 1 g and batteries up to 2 g of lithium. Above those limits, the shipment is fully regulated.
By air, lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own (UN3480) may only travel on cargo aircraft and must be at no more than 30% state of charge. Since 1 January 2026, the same 30% limit also applies to most lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment.
Every lithium cell and battery type must have passed the UN38.3 tests, and the manufacturer must provide a test summary. Carriers will not accept lithium batteries without it.
Lithium battery UN numbers explained
The UN number decides the packing, labelling and paperwork. These are the ones we handle most often.
UN3480
Lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own, such as spare batteries and battery packs.
UN3481
Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment or contained in equipment, such as a laptop with a spare battery in the box.
UN3090
Lithium metal batteries shipped on their own, such as non-rechargeable coin and primary cells.
UN3091
Lithium metal batteries packed with or contained in equipment.
UN3556
Vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries, including e-bikes and e-scooters.
UN3551 and UN3552
Sodium-ion batteries, on their own or with equipment. These have had their own UN numbers since 2025.
Case Study – Compliant Lithium Battery Transport
A manufacturer required international transport of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries for an energy storage project.
The shipment required accurate classification, compliant packaging, and full regulatory documentation.
An end-to-end solution was coordinated, ensuring compliance at every stage and safe delivery without delay.
Lithium Battery Shipping FAQs
Multiply the nominal voltage by the capacity in amp-hours. For example, a 3.7 V battery rated at 5,000 mAh (5 Ah) is 18.5 Wh. Most batteries made since 2009 have the watt-hour rating printed on the case.
It is a document from the battery manufacturer confirming the cell or battery type has passed the UN38.3 safety tests for altitude, temperature, vibration, shock, short circuit and overcharge. Shippers must be able to provide it, and carriers will ask for it.
Not by air. They can travel by road or sea in special packaging designed to contain a fire, usually with prior approval from the carrier. Let us know the condition of the batteries before booking.
Anyone who prepares dangerous goods for air transport must be trained under the IATA regulations, and ADR also requires training for staff involved in road shipments. If your team is not trained, we can prepare the packaging and paperwork for you.
Yes, as Class 9 dangerous goods under the IMDG Code, with a dangerous goods declaration. Not every shared container service accepts them, so we book with consolidators and shipping lines that do.
They follow very similar rules. Since 2025 they have their own UN numbers, UN3551 and UN3552, and are also Class 9 dangerous goods for road, sea and air.