New Lithium Battery State of Charge Limit In Effect Jan 1

Posted on 12/11/2025 by Lion Technology Inc.

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.

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.

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

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

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