How To Ship Batteries

We have assembled this illustrative guide to help you safely pack and ship many kinds of batteries. In some cases, such as with alkaline or certain nonspillable lead-acid batteries, your responsibilities may be limited to simple steps such as: selecting strong outer packaging; carefully protecting battery terminals to prevent sparking or short circuit; and carefully preparing the interior package components to keep tools or other metal objects away from batteries.

Learn How To Safely Pack and Ship Batteries

Damaged, defective, or recalled lithium battery shipping is restricted to ground transportation by law and is only accepted by UPS for the lower US 48 contiguous states and excludes service to Alaska; Hawaii; Puerto Rico; Avalon, CA; Catalina Island, CA; Beaver Island, MI; Mackinac Island, MI (winter only); The Bass Islands, OH; Kelley’s Island, OH and San Juan Islands, WA.

UPS does not accept Damaged, Defective, or Recalled Lithium Batteries (DDR LB) prepared under 49CFR §173.185(f).

UPS provides service for Damaged, Defective, or Recalled Lithium Batteries (DDR LB) when compliantly prepared under U.S. Department of Transportation Special Permits (DOT-SP) as authorized under 49CFR Part 107, Subpart B. This DDR LB DOT-SP service requires UPS pre-approval and a specialized service agreement, please contact your account representative for more detail on this program.

UPS Provides service for Battery Collection, Recycling, and/or End of Life Battery shipments when tendered in UPS-approved U.S. DOT Special Permit packaging designed to contain a thermal event. The program requires pre-approval and a specialized service agreement, please contact your account representative for more detail on this program.​

The Battery Collection, Recycling, and/or End of Life Battery Shipment program is only accepted by UPS for Ground service and restricted to the lower US 48 contiguous states and excludes service to Alaska; Hawaii; Puerto Rico; Avalon, CA; Catalina Island, CA; Beaver Island, MI; Mackinac Island, MI (winter only); The Bass Islands, OH; Kelley’s Island, OH and San Juan Islands, WA.

Effective July 1, 2015, all existing customers and new customers who wish to ship lithium metal batteries without equipment (UN3090) via UPS^® Air services must obtain pre-approval from UPS Airlines. This requirement is to ensure that proper training has occurred and that all applicable safety regulations are properly followed for such shipments.

The pre-approval requirement applies to lithium metal battery shipments that are fully regulated and require dangerous goods shipping papers. Fully regulated shipments will also require a separate UPS Dangerous Goods Agreement.

UPS offers a Lithium Battery specific webinar training course designed to focus on the general knowledge of the rules and regulations involving the air and ground transportation of lithium batteries, and how to utilize the regulations when preparing compliant lithium battery shipments for transport under DOT/49CFR and IATA regulations.

The training course will guide attendees through general lithium battery requirements as well, as providing step-by-step procedures on how to classify, package and ship lithium batteries alone, in-equipment, or with equipment.

This course will also, provide an overview of UPS specific policies regarding the transport of lithium batteries.

For more information, dates and locations, and to register visit UPS Hazmat Webinars - 2024. For additional information on private webinar training offerings, email dgseminars@ups.com.