How to Package Batteries for Shipping

Batteries are considered a potential fire hazard, which is why it’s incredibly important to ensure they are packaged correctly for shipping. Choosing suitable battery packaging and ensuring you follow the recommendations for securing and posting all regulated products, will ensure they arrive safely.

Why Are Batteries a Regulated Product?

In certain conditions, some batteries are considered dangerous as they can cause fires. Usually, this is because they have been exposed to high temperatures or damaged in some way. This is why it’s extremely important to ensure you choose the right packaging for your batteries so that there is a limited chance they will move about in transit.

The Rules for Packing Batteries

Different shipping carriers will have different rules for how they want batteries and other regulated products to be packaged. You must check the regulations surrounding the specific type of battery, the destination and the carrier. For example, Royal Mail will only allow one, new wet, non-spillable battery to be packaged per parcel.

With all types of batteries, it’s a good idea to follow the below:

• Batteries must be labelled correctly and where possible kept in their original packaging
• Wrap batteries and devices in protective packaging such as bubble wrap
• Ensure lithium batteries in devices have a low charge (ideally less than 30%)
• Do not package damaged batteries

Lithium Batteries

One of the most popular battery types is lithium due to its long life and use in many electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. However, lithium batteries are the most likely to cause an explosion if not packaged correctly. Before shipping a lithium battery, it’s important to confirm the carrier restrictions. These may include how many batteries can be packaged together, the watt-hour rating of each battery and the max weight of the parcel.

Choosing the Right Packaging for Batteries

You must choose the right packaging for your batteries to ensure safety. Cardboard boxes are the most efficient way to package your batteries, but there’s more to it than chucking them inside and hoping for the best. Here’s our step-by-step guide for packing your batteries.

1. Choose a Box

Here at ASC Direct, we highly recommend using our single-walled postal boxes for packaging your batteries. These cardboard boxes come in various sizes so you can select the appropriate box for your needs, ensuring that it isn’t over or underfilled. Some batteries may require to be packaged in a box within a box - if this is the case, contact us directly for our bespoke box builder services.

2. Safety First

Ensure electrical items are switched off and batteries are individually wrapped and protected against short circuits.

3. Secure the Items

Use bubble wrap to protect the batteries from damage and movement and parcel tape to secure the packaging.

4. Label the Boxes

Once secure, apply the appropriate handling labels so the carrier knows what’s included in the package and handles it with care.

It’s imperative that any time you package regulated items such as batteries, you follow the appropriate guidance by the shipping carrier. Choosing the right packaging is also key, which is why ASC Direct provides a huge variety of stock boxes, as well as offering custom-size cardboard boxes. Get in touch with the team today if you want more information on choosing the right packaging for your products. 

James Palfrey-Smith is the Commercial Manager at ASC Direct with extensive experience in both operations and sales. James is passionate about solving packaging problems, delivering fast customer support, and building lasting relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and skiing. A fan of real ale and business podcasts, he continuously seeks personal and professional growth. 

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