UN 3481: Lithium Ion Batteries In or Packed With Equipment
Updated 2026-07-25 · DGM One
UN 3481 is the entry for lithium ion batteries shipped inside, or alongside, the equipment they power. Get that distinction right and most of the rest of the classification follows.
What UN 3481 covers
UN 3481 is the proper shipping name group for lithium ion batteries contained in equipment and lithium ion batteries packed with equipment. If your battery is lithium ion (not lithium metal) and it ships installed in a device or boxed with the device it runs, UN 3481 is almost certainly your entry. It is assigned to Class 9, the miscellaneous dangerous goods class.
UN 3481 vs. the other lithium battery entries
Two questions decide the UN number: is the battery lithium ion or lithium metal, and is it standalone or with equipment?
| UN number | Chemistry | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| UN 3480 | Lithium ion | Standalone (shipped by themselves) |
| UN 3481 | Lithium ion | In, or packed with, equipment |
| UN 3090 | Lithium metal | Standalone |
| UN 3091 | Lithium metal | In, or packed with, equipment |
What you must do
- Confirm the configuration. “Contained in equipment” means installed in the device; “packed with equipment” means in the same outer packaging as the device. Both are UN 3481; batteries shipped alone are UN 3480.
- Apply the marks and labels your provision requires. Fully regulated packages carry the Class 9 lithium battery label; packages shipped under the small battery provisions carry the lithium battery mark, with limited exceptions.
- Use the packing provision for your mode. Ground, air, ocean and rail each have their own instructions and quantity thresholds. The watt hour rating of the battery decides whether the fuller or lighter provisions apply.
- Prepare the documentation your mode requires, and keep the test summary (see our UN 3480 guide for more on documentation).
Common mistakes that get shipments rejected
- Declaring UN 3480 when the batteries are actually installed in a device (should be UN 3481).
- Omitting the lithium battery mark, or using an outdated mark format.
- Assuming the same rules apply across ground, air, ocean and rail. Package limits, marks and documents differ by mode.
- Missing the battery quantity and packaging limits that apply to equipment shipments.
Editorial note: lithium battery provisions change with each regulatory edition and differ by mode. Treat this as orientation, not a substitute for the current IATA DGR, IMDG Code, or 49 CFR, or let DGenius apply the right provision for your shipment automatically.
Questions shippers ask
What is the difference between UN 3480 and UN 3481?
UN 3480 is for standalone lithium ion batteries shipped by themselves. UN 3481 is for lithium ion batteries that are contained in equipment or packed with equipment. The chemistry is the same; the configuration is what changes the UN number.
Is UN 3481 a Class 9 dangerous good?
Yes, Class 9. Fully regulated packages carry the Class 9 lithium battery label; packages shipped under the small battery provisions carry the lithium battery mark, with limited exceptions.
Do state of charge limits apply to UN 3481?
By air, the 30% state of charge limit applies to standalone lithium ion cells and batteries (UN 3480), and the current IATA DGR also sets a state of charge limit for some lithium ion batteries packed with equipment. Batteries contained in equipment are treated differently. Always check the current edition of the applicable regulation for your mode.
