In modern global supply chains, power is everything. From smartphones and medical devices to electric vehicles, lithium-ion technology drives the world's economy. However, when a business needs to ship batteries internationally, they are no longer just moving cargo—they are transporting hazardous materials. Because of their chemical volatility and risk of thermal runaway (uncontrollable fires), aviation authorities treat shipping lithium batteries with extreme caution. Navigating this regulatory minefield is mandatory. A single undeclared battery can ground an aircraft, result in massive corporate fines, and permanently revoke your company's shipping privileges. Here is the strategic blueprint for compliant dangerous goods shipping.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
In the logistics industry, hazardous materials are categorized by UN numbers. If your business is shipping standalone, loose lithium-ion cells (such as power banks or replacement batteries not installed in a device), your shipment falls under UN3480 regulations.
This is the most strictly regulated category in air freight. To legally ship UN3480 batteries, businesses must adhere to uncompromising standards:
The 30% SoC Rule: Lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped under UN3480 must be offered for transport at a State of Charge (SoC) not exceeding 30% of their rated capacity. Shipping a fully charged standalone battery via air is a direct violation of international law.
Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO): Loose UN3480 batteries are generally banned from passenger aircraft. They must be transported exclusively on dedicated cargo planes.
Rigid Packaging: Batteries must be packed in strong, rigid outer packaging that can withstand a 1.2-meter drop test without damaging the cells or causing a short circuit.
Expert Insight: Aviation safety rules evolve constantly. For example, recent updates to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) mandate that the 30% SoC rule will also strictly apply to batteries packed with equipment by 2026. Always consult the latest IATA Lithium Battery Guidance before dispatching your freight.
The rules shift significantly when the battery is inside a device. Laptop battery shipping or sending mobile phones typically falls under a different classification: UN3481 (Lithium batteries contained in equipment).
While UN3481 is slightly less restrictive than UN3480, it still requires precise handling:
Power It Down: The device must be completely powered off. It cannot be in "sleep" or "standby" mode, as accidental activation during flight could cause the battery to overheat.
Immobilization: The device must be packed so it cannot move within the box.
Limit per Package: There are strict limits on the net quantity of lithium batteries allowed per package without requiring specialized dangerous goods contracts.
Whether you are distributing a hundred laptops to remote employees or sending a single server, you must provide a flawless commercial invoice and the correct HS Code for the electronic equipment to ensure smooth customs clearance.
You cannot simply drop off a box containing lithium batteries at a local post office. Dangerous goods shipping requires specialized infrastructure. Businesses must utilize premium courier networks that have certified dangerous goods handling capabilities.
By leveraging an advanced corporate shipping platform, you can seamlessly calculate shipping costs specifically for hazardous materials, ensuring you select a carrier that is legally certified to transport your specific UN classification on that specific trade lane.
UN3480 regulations apply to standalone, loose lithium-ion batteries (not installed in equipment). Key rules dictate that these batteries must be shipped at a State of Charge (SoC) of less than 30%, packed in rigid drop-tested packaging, and generally restricted to Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO).
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Yes. Laptops contain lithium-ion batteries and are classified as dangerous goods under UN3481 (Batteries contained in equipment). While the rules are slightly less strict than shipping loose batteries, the device must still be completely powered off and packaged securely to prevent accidental activation.
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No. Most standard postal services globally prohibit the international air transport of lithium batteries due to safety risks. To ship batteries internationally, businesses must use certified express courier networks equipped to handle dangerous goods shipping.
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Manufacturers and shippers are legally responsible for ensuring the State of Charge does not exceed 30% prior to packing. While carriers don't open boxes to test the battery, if an incident occurs and the battery is found to have been fully charged, the shipper will face severe legal and financial penalties.
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UN3480 refers to loose, standalone lithium-ion batteries (like power banks or replacement laptop batteries). UN3481 refers to lithium-ion batteries that are either contained inside a device (like a finished laptop) or packed in the same box alongside the equipment they are meant to power.
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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
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