2026 Lithium Battery State of Charge Cheat Sheet

For some shippers of lithium batteries by air, the current recommended limits on state of charge (SoC) for lithium batteries during transport aboard aircraft will become mandatory requirements as of January 1, 2026, when the updated IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) takes effect.

Lion created the one-page cheat sheet linked below to clarify what's changing for shippers of lithium batteries by air on January 1, 2026, when the 67th Edition DGR takes effect. The cheat sheet lists the affected UN numbers, the relevant IATA Packing Instructions (PIs), and the Watt-hour (Wh) thresholds for battery-powered vehicles and batteries packed with equipment (UN 3481).

Cheat Sheet: Lithium Batteries by Air 30% State of Charge Limit

IATA has limited the state-of-charge for lithium batteries shipped alone for several years. IATA introduced additional limits on state-of-charge for batteries shipped in- or with-equipment as recommendations in the 2025 DGR.

Starting January 1, 2026, the following must be offered for transport at a state of charge not exceeding 30% of their rated design capacity or an indicated battery capacity not exceeding 25%:

• UN 3481, lithium ion batteries packed with equipment where the cells/batteries have a Watt-hour rating greater than 2.7 Wh.
• UN 3556, Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered where the battery has a Watt-hour rating greater than 100 Wh.

Video: Shipping Lithium Batteries by Air in 2025-26

What is the IATA DGR?

The International Air Transport Association’s Dangerous Goods Regulations is the manual used by dangerous goods/hazardous materials shippers, freight forwarders, brokers, and air carriers around the world to mitigate the risks posed by hazardous materials in air transportation.

The IATA DGR combines international hazmat regulations from the United Nations, the ICAO Technical Instructions or "TI," with unique requirements and preferences of member airlines, including passenger airlines and major cargo carriers like UPS and FedEx. The DGR is updated annually, and all revised requirements take effect on January 1 of each new year.

Kickstart 2026 with Hazmat Shipper Training

Start the new year strong with live or self-paced hazmat shipper training that covers the latest regulations you must know to keep your shipments in full compliance with the rules that regulate your mode, whether that’s highway/rail, air, or vessel.

Lion.com/Hazmat

Tags: dangerous goods, hazmat shipping, IATA DGR, lithium batteries, lithium batteries by air, shipping lithium batteries