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Lithium Battery State of Charge Limits in 2025 and 2026

Posted on 10/21/2024 by Lion Technology Inc.

Lithium Batteries: IATA Rules and Recommendations for 2025, 2026

For the 2025 Edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA added new recommendations related to lithium ion batteries in air transportation. IATA now recommends that shippers of lithium-ion batteries packed in or with equipment (UN 3481), or in vehicles (UN 3556), abide by a limit on state-of-charge in air transportation.

Effective January 1, 2026, some of the currently recommended state-of-charge limits become mandatory requirements. A 30% state-of-charge limit already applies to lithium batteries shipped alone by air (UN 3480). 

Lithium Battery State of Charge Limits in 2025 and 2026

Recommended Limits for 2025

As of this year, the IATA DGR recommends that shipments of the following be offered for transport at a state of charge not exceeding 30% of their rated design capacity:

  • UN 3481, lithium ion batteries packed with equipment  
  • UN 3481, lithium ion batteries contained in equipment * 
  • UN 3556, Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered * 

* An "indicated battery capacity" not exceeding 25% is also acceptable. 

Mandatory Limits in Effect January 1, 2026

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

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

Starting January 1, 2026, shipments of 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 3556, Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered where the battery has a Watt-hour rating greater than 100 Wh. 

While the mandatory limits apply to some lithium battery shipments only starting in 2026, IATA will continue to recommend that all shipments referenced above be offered a state of charge not exceeding 30%.

The official summary of significant changes to the IATA DGR for 2025 is available. IATA Packing Instructions (PI) 965, 966, and 967 for lithium ion battery shipments were updated to reflect the new recommendations (and 2026 requirements):

Significant Changes and Amendments in the 66th Edition DGR (2025)
New: Significant Changes and Amendments in the 67th Edition DGR (2026) 

Online Training to Ship Lithium Batteries shipping lithium batteries online training hazmat training

The Shipping Lithium Batteries Online Course provides hazmat general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific training to help satisfy US DOT (49 CFR), IATA DGR, and IMDG Code training mandates for logistics leaders and hazmat employees involved in shipping lithium batteries by ground, air, and/or vessel. 
 

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