UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091: Which UN Number Applies to Your Lithium Battery Shipment
Every lithium battery shipment starts with one decision: the UN number. Get it wrong and everything downstream is wrong too — the packing instruction, the mark, the label, the paperwork, and the reason your carrier hands the box back. The good news is that the choice comes down to two questions.
Key points
- Question 1 — chemistry: lithium ion (rechargeable) → UN3480/UN3481; lithium metal (primary) → UN3090/UN3091.
- Question 2 — configuration: batteries shipped alone → UN3480/UN3090; batteries packed with or contained in equipment → UN3481/UN3091.
- Standalone lithium batteries by air (UN3480/UN3090) can no longer use Section II; they ship as Section IB or IA with a Class 9 label.
- A power bank is a battery, not equipment. It is UN3480.
1. The four UN numbers in one table
| UN number | Chemistry | Configuration | Typical products |
|---|---|---|---|
UN3480 | Lithium ion | Cells/batteries shipped alone | Replacement packs, power banks, e-bike batteries sold separately, bulk cells |
UN3481 | Lithium ion | Packed with, or contained in, equipment | Laptops, phones, cameras, power tools with battery in the box |
UN3090 | Lithium metal | Cells/batteries shipped alone | CR123A / CR2032 cells in bulk, lithium primary packs |
UN3091 | Lithium metal | Packed with, or contained in, equipment | Meters, sensors, medical devices with lithium primary cells |
2. Question 1: ion or metal?
Lithium ion means rechargeable chemistries — Li-ion, LiPo, LiFePO4, NMC, LCO and so on. Capacity is expressed in watt-hours (Wh), and the Wh rating drives most thresholds (2.7 Wh, 20 Wh per cell, 100 Wh per battery).
Lithium metal means primary, non-rechargeable cells that contain metallic lithium — coin cells like CR2032, cylindrical CR123A, and industrial lithium thionyl chloride packs. Capacity is expressed in grams of lithium content (1 g per cell, 2 g per battery are the key limits). Lithium metal is regulated more strictly: standalone lithium metal batteries are forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft.
If the cell says "rechargeable" or shows a Wh rating, it is lithium ion. If it says "do not recharge" and gives lithium content in grams, it is lithium metal. Mixed shipments must be split by UN number — one package cannot carry two UN numbers under one entry.
3. Question 2: alone, packed with, or contained in equipment?
- Shipped alone (UN3480 / UN3090): the package contains only batteries. Spare packs, bulk cells, and — importantly — power banks. A power bank has no function other than being a battery, so it is not "equipment".
- Packed with equipment (UN3481 / UN3091): the battery and the device are in the same outer package but the battery is not installed — a drill sold with a separate battery pack, a camera with a boxed spare.
- Contained in equipment (UN3481 / UN3091): the battery is installed in the device — a laptop, a phone, a smartwatch, a medical monitor.
"Packed with" and "contained in" share a UN number but sit in different packing instructions (for lithium ion under IATA: PI 966 for packed with, PI 967 for contained in). The difference matters for quantity limits per package and for whether the device itself provides protection.
4. Section IA, IB, II — what they mean for your box
Under IATA (air), each packing instruction is split into sections by battery size:
| Section | Applies to | Mark / label on the package | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| IA | Large batteries: > 100 Wh (ion) or > 2 g lithium (metal), or larger quantities | Class 9 lithium battery hazard label; proper shipping name and UN number | Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods |
| IB | Small batteries (≤ 100 Wh / ≤ 2 g) shipped alone in quantities above Section II limits — and, since 2022, all standalone UN3480/UN3090 by air | Class 9 lithium battery hazard label and the Lithium Battery Mark | Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods |
| II | Small batteries packed with or contained in equipment (UN3481 / UN3091) within the quantity limits | Lithium Battery Mark only | No Shipper's Declaration; air waybill statement |
The 2022 change is the one people still miss. IATA's 63rd edition removed Section II from PI 965 (UN3480) and PI 968 (UN3090). Since 1 April 2022, every standalone lithium battery shipment by air is at least Section IB: Class 9 label, Lithium Battery Mark, Shipper's Declaration, and a 30% state-of-charge limit for lithium ion. Section II survives only for UN3481 and UN3091. Road and sea (ADR, IMDG) have their own special provisions (SP 188 in particular) with different quantity thresholds, so the same box may be "excepted" by sea and "fully regulated" by air.
5. Which mark goes on which package
- Lithium Battery Mark (white rectangle, red hatched border, battery symbol, UN number): required for Section II shipments and Section IB shipments. Size and design rules are covered in this article; you can generate a print-ready version with the Lithium Battery Mark Generator.
- Class 9 lithium battery hazard label (the diamond with the battery graphic): required for Section IA and IB. Minimum 100 × 100 mm.
- Cargo Aircraft Only label: required for standalone lithium ion above 30% SoC exceptions and for all standalone lithium metal by air.
6. Mistakes that get packages rejected
- Declaring a power bank as UN3481 "contained in equipment".
- Putting a UN3480 mark on a box that also contains UN3090 cells — split the shipment.
- Shipping UN3480 by air with only the Lithium Battery Mark and no Class 9 label (that was Section II, which no longer exists for standalone batteries).
- Using a UN3481 mark for a battery that is in the same box as a device but is actually a spare for a different product — it is still "packed with" only if it powers that equipment.
- Lithium ion shipped alone above 30% SoC without the required approval.
Generate the mark once you know the UN number
Select UN3480, UN3481, UN3090 or UN3091 (or a combined mark), choose 100 × 100 mm or the reduced 100 × 70 mm size, and download SVG or 300 DPI PNG. Open the tool →
References
This article is based on the following primary sources; always check the edition in force before shipping or labelling.
- IATA — Lithium Batteries: Dangerous Goods Regulations guidance
- UNECE — UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations
- ICAO — Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
- IMO — IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code)
- US DOT PHMSA — Lithium Battery Safety
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UN3480 and UN3481?
Both are lithium ion. UN3480 is lithium ion cells or batteries shipped on their own; UN3481 is lithium ion cells or batteries packed with equipment (in the same outer box) or contained in equipment (installed in the device). The chemistry is the same; the packaging configuration is what changes the UN number, and with it the packing instruction and the state-of-charge rules.
What is the difference between UN3090 and UN3091?
Both are lithium metal (primary, non-rechargeable). UN3090 is lithium metal cells or batteries shipped alone; UN3091 is lithium metal packed with or contained in equipment. Lithium metal is generally treated more strictly than lithium ion, and lithium metal shipped alone is prohibited as cargo on passenger aircraft.
Does a power bank ship as UN3480 or UN3481?
A power bank is a battery, not equipment, so it ships as UN3480 (lithium ion batteries shipped alone) even though it has a case and a USB port. Regulators and carriers treat it exactly like a standalone battery, which means Section IB or IA under IATA, a 30% state-of-charge limit, and a Class 9 lithium battery hazard label.
Can I still ship UN3480 under Section II?
Not by air. IATA removed Section II from Packing Instructions 965 (UN3480) and 968 (UN3090) in the 63rd edition, with a transition that ended on 31 March 2022. Standalone lithium batteries by air are now Section IB or IA. Section II still exists for UN3481 and UN3091 (batteries packed with or in equipment).