Contained in equipment
The battery is installed inside the device it powers and is not intended to be removed for shipping. Examples: laptops, cameras, drones, power tools, medical monitors. The device and battery ship as one article under UN3481.
Classification guide
UN3480 vs UN3481: Which Classification Applies to Your Battery Shipment?
Two UN numbers cover most lithium-ion shipments out of China: UN3480 for batteries shipped on their own, and UN3481 for batteries packed with or contained in equipment. Which one applies decides your packaging, your paperwork and how many carriers will accept the cargo.
By the Cargo163 operations team · Updated 24 September 2026 · 7 min read
Misclassifying a battery shipment is one of the most expensive mistakes in dangerous-goods logistics. Declare loose cells as UN3481, or declare batteries inside devices as UN3480, and the shipment no longer matches its own labels, documents or packing instruction. Airlines stop the cargo at acceptance, and the booking has to start over.
The good news: the distinction is mechanical once you understand one question — is the battery travelling alone, or with a device?
The core rule
Why the distinction matters
UN3480 means lithium-ion batteries shipped separately; UN3481 means they travel with or inside equipment.
UN3480 applies when lithium-ion cells or batteries are shipped on their own — power bank cells, battery packs for e-bikes, replacement modules, cells bound for a pack assembly line. Nothing else is in the box except packaging materials. Because standalone batteries have no device to contain them, regulators treat them as the higher-risk configuration, and the packing instructions reflect that.
UN3481 applies in two situations: batteries contained in equipment (the battery is installed in the device it powers) and batteries packed with equipment (the battery and the device travel in the same outer packaging, but the battery is not installed). The presence of equipment changes the risk profile, so UN3481 generally carries lighter restrictions than UN3480.
| Cargo configuration | UN number | Packing instruction style | Typical restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion batteries shipped alone (loose cells or packs) | UN3480 | Dedicated packing instruction for standalone batteries | Stricter: state of charge limited (commonly ≤30% for air), quantity limits per package, fully regulated packaging; many carriers restrict or decline standalone cells |
| Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment | UN3481 | Packing instruction for battery + equipment in one package | Moderate: battery must be protected from damage and short circuit, separated from the device; quantity limits are more generous than UN3480 |
| Lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment | UN3481 | Packing instruction for equipment with installed battery | Most flexible: device protects the battery; small batteries under the watt-hour thresholds may even qualify for limited-quantity provisions |
The watt-hour rating interacts with both numbers. Large batteries above the applicable Wh thresholds face the fully regulated regime regardless of configuration, while small batteries installed in equipment often move under simplified provisions. The configuration sets the UN number; the Wh rating sets how heavy the requirements are.
Definitions
What counts as “contained in equipment” vs “packed with equipment”
The wording is precise, and the difference shows up in the labels and documents.
Packed with equipment
The battery is not installed, but travels in the same outer box as the device it powers. The classic example: a tool kit with the tool in one compartment and its spare battery pack in another. Still UN3481 — but the battery needs its own protection against short circuit and movement.
Neither — batteries alone
Spare batteries shipped by themselves, in their own carton, with no device in the box: power bank cells, e-bike packs, replacement modules. That is UN3480, no matter how well they are packed. A spare battery in the same shipment as the device it powers is the boundary case — if the box holds both, it is packed with equipment (UN3481); if the battery travels in its own box, it is UN3480.
Two quick tests we apply on the warehouse floor: open the outer carton. If the only saleable item is a battery, think UN3480. If a device is in there too, ask whether the battery is installed (contained in) or sitting beside it (packed with) — both are UN3481, but the second requires the battery to be individually protected.
Practical impact
How the classification changes your shipping options
The UN number on your shipment opens or closes doors before price is ever discussed.
- Express acceptance. International express networks handle UN3481 contained-in-equipment shipments far more readily than UN3480. Loose cells and spare packs often fall outside standard express terms or require special arrangements, particularly for larger watt-hour ratings.
- DG air freight. Standalone batteries (UN3480) almost always need dedicated dangerous-goods air freight with Class 9 handling, a shipper's declaration and carriers that accept the commodity. UN3481 shipments — especially small batteries in equipment — may qualify for simplified provisions that ordinary forwarders can handle.
- Cost impact. Stricter classification usually means more expensive handling: DG surcharges, compliant packaging, lower density per package and fewer routing choices. A shipment that qualifies as UN3481 contained in equipment frequently costs less to move than the same batteries declared as UN3480 — which is why classification done correctly at the start is a cost decision, not just a compliance one.
One caution: the classification is determined by the physical configuration of the cargo, not by preference. You cannot downgrade a loose-cell shipment to UN3481 by dropping a charger in the carton — acceptance staff check for exactly that.
Beyond lithium-ion
The lithium metal note
UN3480 and UN3481 are the lithium-ion numbers only. Lithium metal batteries — primary (non-rechargeable) cells and the button cells in watches, remotes and sensors — have their own pair: UN3090 for batteries shipped alone and UN3091 for batteries packed with or contained in equipment. The same logic applies, but the packing instructions, quantity limits and carrier acceptance policies differ from the lithium-ion regime.
Mixed shipments raise the stakes further: a device containing a lithium-ion battery packed alongside spare lithium metal cells involves two classifications in one package. Configurations like that are reviewed case by case against the current regulations before booking.
How to confirm your classification
- Check the spec sheet for the watt-hour rating (or voltage × Ah)
- Determine the configuration: battery alone, with equipment, or in equipment
- Identify the chemistry — lithium-ion (rechargeable) or lithium metal (primary)
- Match the configuration to UN3480 / UN3481, or UN3090 / UN3091
- Send the spec sheet and a photo of the packed carton for a second opinion
Cargo163 classifies from the actual configuration and documents, not the product name — send the details before you book.
Not sure which UN number applies?
Send your battery specification, quantity and destination — we confirm the classification and quote the compliant route.
Related reading: Battery Shipping from China · Air Freight from China · Battery Shipping Cost · Cargo163 Blog
Note: Battery transportation requirements vary by chemistry, configuration, packaging, transport mode, destination and applicable carrier and regulatory requirements. This guide is general logistics information and does not replace the applicable dangerous-goods regulations. Cargo163 reviews each shipment before confirming a transportation solution.