- Package label is 100 mm × 100 mm; vehicle/container placard is 250 mm × 250 mm (273 mm also common).
- Class 9A is not interchangeable with Class 9: 9A covers sodium-ion vehicles under IATA DGR/ADR 2025; lithium batteries still use the standard Class 9 label.
- The old US Class 9 label (with horizontal line) expired on 1 January 2021 – only the international version without the line is valid.
In this guide
If you are shipping lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetized materials, or any other miscellaneous hazardous substance, the Class 9 dangerous goods label is non-negotiable for air, sea, road, and rail transport. This page settles the key questions that buyers and compliance teams ask before purchasing labels: What are the exact dimensions? Where do labels go on the package? What is the difference between a label and a placard? How do UN3480 and UN3481 shipments differ in labeling? And when can you use the miscellaneous dangerous goods label versus the limited quantity exemption?
The answers are found in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), the IMDG Code, and the UN Model Regulations. This guide walks through the specifications, placement rules, and practical sourcing decisions for Class 9 dangerous goods label compliance – whether you are a DG manufacturer, freight forwarder, or procurement specialist buying dangerous goods labels pdf templates or physical label stock.
The Bottom Line
Every package containing Class 9 dangerous goods must display the standard diamond-shaped hazard label – white with seven black vertical stripes on the upper half, the number “9” underlined at the bottom – at a minimum size of 100 mm × 100 mm. The label must be weatherproof, durable, and placed on a contrasting background where it remains visible and legible throughout the entire transport chain. For lithium batteries, the label includes a battery symbol with a flame (Model No. 9A), but the accessible dangerous goods labels used for packages follow the same dimensional and placement rules. Placards for freight containers and vehicles are larger – typically 250 mm × 250 mm or 273 mm × 273 mm – and use the same black-and-white striped design.
Label Dimensions, Colors & Placement: The Complete Table
Note: the "Class 9A" label is the air-transport hazard label for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries – it is required for fully regulated air shipments (IATA DGR 67th Edition, PI 965/966/968/969 Section IA/IB). For sea transport under IMDG, lithium batteries use the standard Class 9 label; UN3536 (BESS) and road transport follow the applicable mode's rules. The Class 9A diamond and the rectangular lithium battery mark are different markings – do not confuse them.
| Parameter | Package Label (Class 9) | Package Label – Lithium Battery (Class 9A) | Placard (Vehicle / Freight Container) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum size | 100 mm × 100 mm (edge to edge) | 100 mm × 100 mm | 250 mm × 250 mm (international); 273 mm × 273 mm also common |
| Design | White background; seven black vertical stripes on top half; class number “9” underlined and centered in white lower half | Same striped upper half, plus a battery symbol with a flame below the stripes | Same as label but with optional text (“MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS GOODS” or wordless) |
| Color | Black stripes on white background | Black stripes + black battery/flame symbol on white | Black stripes on white; border typically 5 mm black line, spaced 3–5 mm from edge |
| Material | Weather-resistant, durable adhesive – polypropylene (PP) or vinyl | Same – must withstand water, UV, abrasion | Permanent vinyl or PP; often BS5609 approved for marine exposure |
| Placement on package | Same face as proper shipping name; readily visible, not obscured by tape, other labels, or package seams | Same – must be adjacent to the UN number and shipping name | On both sides and ends of freight container / vehicle; must be visible from all directions |
| Minimum distance from other labels | Typically 150 mm apart, or on the same face with no overlap | Same | Placards on containers must be spaced evenly; no specific minimum distance but must not be obscured |
| Regulatory references | IATA DGR 7.2.6.1; IMDG Code 5.2.1.2; 49 CFR §172.446 | IATA DGR; IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 (2026) | IMDG Code; ADR 2025; 49 CFR §172. [source: imo.org] [source: imo.org]500 |
The Class 9 dangerous goods label comes in two physical formats – package labels and vehicle/container placards – and the dimensions, materials, and placement rules differ between them. The table below consolidates the key specifications from IATA DGR, IMDG Code, ADR, and 49 CFR so that procurement and compliance teams can verify label stock against the regulations before ordering.
Critical Details Behind the Table
Size is non-negotiable. The 100 mm × 100 mm minimum applies to all package labels for Class 9 dangerous goods, including the miscellaneous dangerous goods label for substances like UN3077 (environmentally hazardous substances, solid) and UN3082 (environmentally hazardous substances, liquid). For lithium batteries – UN3480 (standalone lithium-ion batteries), UN3481 (lithium-ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment), UN3090 (lithium metal batteries), and UN3091 – the label is the same size but must display the battery-with-flame symbol. Older lithium battery marks sized 120 mm × 110 mm may still be used until December 31, 2026, under certain grandfather provisions, but new stock should be 100 mm × 100 mm.
Placards are larger for a reason. While a package label identifies the hazard on an individual box or drum, a placard warns everyone in the vicinity – dock workers, warehouse staff, emergency responders – that a freight container, truck, or rail car contains Class 9 goods. Placards must be at least 250 mm × 250 mm under IMDG and ADR. Some suppliers offer 273 mm × 273 mm or 300 mm × 300 mm versions. For UK domestic road transport only, 200 mm × 200 mm placards are permitted, but for international movements, 250 mm × 250 mm is the safe minimum.
Placement is where most violations occur. The IATA DGR requires that all labels be “securely affixed or printed on the packaging so that they are readily visible and legible and not obscured by any part of or attachment to the packaging or by any other label or mark”. In a real-world audit cited by Japan Airlines, a Class 9 hazard label was partially obscured by handwritten marker text on a plastic overwrap – and the FAA cited it as a violation. The same rule applies to markings: “All marks must be so placed on the packages or overpacks that they are not covered or obscured by any part of or attachment to the packaging or any other label or mark”.
For procurement teams buying dangerous goods labels pdf templates or physical label stock, the practical takeaway is this: order 100 mm × 100 mm labels in weather-resistant polypropylene or vinyl, confirm that the adhesive bonds to cardboard, plastic, metal, and wood, and train your packing team to place labels on a flat, clean surface – never over seams, never under tape, and never where another label or marking can overlap.
UN3480 vs. UN3481 Label Variations: What Changes and What Stays the Same
For procurement and compliance teams, the most frequent source of confusion is not the label design itself – it is knowing which UN number goes with which label, and whether the Class 9 dangerous goods label alone is sufficient. The short answer is: both UN3480 and UN3481 shipments require the same Class 9 lithium battery hazard label (the diamond with black stripes, battery symbol, and a bold “9”), but the accompanying lithium battery mark – the rectangular mark with the red hatched border – must display the correct UN number. The label alerts everyone to the hazard class; the mark tells them exactly what is inside.
UN3480: Lithium Ion Batteries Shipped Alone
UN3480 covers lithium-ion cells and batteries that are not installed in or packed with any equipment. These are standalone shipments – for example, a pallet of battery packs for power tools, a container of electric vehicle battery modules, or a box of replacement laptop batteries. Because the batteries are the only contents, the risk of thermal runaway is considered higher than when batteries are installed inside a device. As a result, UN3480 shipments face stricter packaging and documentation requirements than most UN3481 consignments.
Labeling for UN3480:
- Class 9 hazard label – diamond, minimum 100 mm × 100 mm, black-and-white striped upper half, battery symbol with flame below, class number “9” at bottom.
- Lithium battery mark – rectangular mark with a red hatched border (minimum 5 mm wide), displaying “UN3480” in letters at least 12 mm high. Minimum size for the mark is typically 100 mm × 100 mm, though some regulations permit 100 mm × 70 mm for smaller packages.
- Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) label – required for air transport when the shipment does not qualify for passenger aircraft carriage under the applicable packing instruction (e.g., PI965 Section IA or IB).
The lithium battery mark is not a substitute for the Class 9 hazard label – both must appear on the package. The mark identifies the specific UN number, while the label communicates the hazard class to handlers and emergency responders.
UN3481: Lithium Ion Batteries Packed With or Contained in Equipment
UN3481 applies to lithium-ion batteries that are either installed inside the equipment they power (e.g., a smartphone with a built-in battery) or packed in the same outer package as the equipment (e.g., a drone shipped with a spare battery in the same box). The key distinction from UN3480 is that the equipment provides some physical protection and reduces the likelihood of damage or short circuits during transport.
Labeling for UN3481:
- Class 9 hazard label – identical to UN3480: diamond, 100 mm × 100 mm minimum, black stripes, battery symbol, “9” at bottom.
- Lithium battery mark – rectangular with red hatched border, displaying “UN3481”. The UN number height must be at least 12 mm. Minimum size: 100 mm × 100 mm, reducible to 100 mm × 70 mm for packages that cannot accommodate the full size.
- CAO label – required only when the shipment exceeds the watt-hour thresholds for passenger aircraft (typically > 100 Wh per battery or > 20 Wh per cell) or when the applicable packing instruction requires it.
The Critical Difference: It Is the UN Number, Not the Label Design
Many suppliers and shipping teams mistakenly believe that UN3480 and UN3481 require different hazard labels. They do not. The Class 9 lithium battery hazard label is the same for both. The difference is in the lithium battery mark – the rectangular mark with the red hatched border – which must show the correct UN number. A package with “UN3480” on the mark but a Class 9 hazard label is fully compliant for a standalone battery shipment. A package with “UN3481” on the mark and the same Class 9 label is compliant for batteries with equipment.
What this means for procurement: When ordering dangerous goods labels pdf templates or physical label stock, you can order the Class 9 hazard label in bulk for both UN3480 and UN3481 shipments. The lithium battery mark, however, must be ordered separately for each UN number because the mark is pre-printed with the UN number. Some suppliers offer marks that are blank except for the red border and battery symbol, allowing you to add the UN number with a separate sticker or printer – but pre-printed marks reduce the risk of human error.
Additional Label Variations for Other Lithium Battery UN Numbers
The same logic applies to other lithium battery UN numbers:
- UN3090 – lithium metal batteries shipped alone (non-rechargeable).
- UN3091 – lithium metal batteries packed with or contained in equipment.
- UN3551 – sodium-ion batteries shipped alone (newer classification under IATA DGR 67th Edition (2026)).
- UN3552 – sodium-ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment.
All of these use the Class 9 lithium battery hazard label (the same diamond design) but require their own UN number on the lithium battery mark. For sodium-ion batteries, the label has been formally renamed from “lithium battery label” to “Class 9 dangerous goods label for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries” under recent IATA DGR updates – but the design and dimensions remain unchanged.
Label Placement for Both UN3480 and UN3481
Placement rules are identical for UN3480 and UN3481:
- Both the Class 9 hazard label and the lithium battery mark must be affixed to the same face of the package as the proper shipping name.
- Labels must be placed on a contrasting background – white or light-colored packages do not require a background; dark packages may need a white backing label so the black stripes and red border remain visible.
- Labels must be at least 150 mm apart from each other and from any other labels or markings.
- Labels must not be obscured by tape, shrink wrap, or package seams.
- For overpacks (a larger outer package containing multiple inner packages), the labels and marks must be applied to the overpack – not to each inner package – but the overpack must display the same labels as if it were a single package.
Practical Sourcing Tip: Order the Right Combination
When buying labels for lithium battery shipments, the most cost-effective approach is to:
- Order Class 9 hazard labels in bulk – one SKU for all lithium battery shipments (UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091, UN3551, UN3552).
- Order lithium battery marks separately for each UN number you ship – or order blank marks and print the UN number in-house, provided your printer can produce 12 mm minimum height and weather-resistant ink.
- Verify that all labels are BS5609 approved if they will travel by sea – this standard confirms resistance to seawater, abrasion, and UV exposure. Air-only shipments may not require BS5609, but marine-durable labels are a safe default for multimodal freight.
: Miscellaneous Label, Limited Quantity, Lithium Batteries & Old Label Versions
What is the difference between the Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods label and the limited quantity marking?
The Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods label (the black-and-white diamond) is a hazard communication label that tells handlers and emergency responders that the package contains a Class 9 hazardous material. The limited quantity marking is a rectangular mark (typically a square-on-point with a “Y” for air shipments or an empty diamond for surface) that indicates the package contains a small quantity of dangerous goods that qualifies for regulatory relief.
The key regulatory distinction:
Under the US HMR limited quantity provisions, limited quantities of miscellaneous hazardous materials in Packing Groups II and III are excepted from labeling requirements – meaning you do not need to apply the Class 9 hazard label – unless the material is offered for transportation or transported by aircraft. For ground transport only, a limited quantity shipment of Class 9 goods can move without the Class 9 diamond label, provided it meets the inner packaging quantity limits and gross weight cap of 30 kg (66 pounds).
However, for air transport,
the exception does not apply. Any Class 9 limited quantity shipment offered for air carriage must display both the limited quantity mark (with the “Y” symbol) and the Class 9 hazard label. This is a common trap: a ground-compliant limited quantity package with only the limited quantity marking will be rejected at an air carrier sort center.
Practical takeaway for procurement:
If your shipments move exclusively by ground and qualify as limited quantity under Packing Group II or III, you may not need the Class 9 hazard label at all. But if there is any chance the package will touch air freight, order and apply both the Class 9 label and the limited quantity mark.
No – they are not interchangeable.
This is the single most common compliance error in lithium battery shipping. The lithium battery mark is a marking, not a hazard label. It identifies the package contents but does not communicate the hazard class in the same visual way as the diamond label. Under IATA DGR, smaller Section II batteries (under 20 Wh per cell or 100 Wh per battery for lithium-ion) carry the lithium battery mark and typically do not require the Class 9A diamond label. Fully regulated Section IA shipments require the Class 9A label, the lithium battery mark, and the Cargo Aircraft Only label. Section IB is the overlap case: it requires all three.
The rule of thumb:
If you are unsure which applies, check the watt-hour rating and the applicable packing instruction (PI965 for standalone lithium-ion, PI966 for packed with equipment, PI967 for contained in equipment). A package that only needs the mark but receives the diamond label is not necessarily non-compliant – but a package that needs the diamond label and only receives the mark is non-compliant and will be rejected.
No – the old U.S. version of the Class 9 miscellaneous hazardous material label expired on January 1, 2021
. The prior version had a horizontal line running across the label at its midpoint. In 2011, the DOT adopted the international version of the label that does not have the horizontal line, aligning with the UN Model Regulations and IMDG Code. The agency allowed a transition period for existing stock depletion, but that period ended on January 1, 2021.
For lithium batteries specifically,
a separate change took effect on January 1, 2017. The previous Class 9 lithium battery label and the lithium battery handling label (used for Section II shipments) were replaced by new Class 9 labels. The new 9A hazard label now expressly refers to lithium batteries (or sodium-ion batteries) instead of the generic “miscellaneous substances and articles” wording used on the old Class 9 label.
What this means for procurement:
If your label stock still shows a horizontal line across the middle, it is no longer compliant for any mode of transport. Order only the current version: white background, seven black vertical stripes on the upper half, no horizontal dividing line, and the class number “9” underlined at the bottom. For lithium battery shipments, order the 9A version with the battery symbol and flame.
Yes – significantly different.
This is one of the most operationally impactful distinctions for shippers.
Ground transport (road, rail, domestic surface):
The regulations are notably more permissive. For small battery shipments on the ground, there are generous exceptions – no Class 9 hazmat label required, no mandatory dangerous goods training, and no shipping papers. For limited quantities of Class 9 materials in Packing Groups II and III, ground shipments are excepted from labeling requirements entirely. The assumption is that ground transport, while not risk-free, creates a manageable and containable hazard profile.
Air transport:
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) govern what goes on commercial aircraft, and the requirements are substantially stricter. Standalone lithium ion batteries (UN3480) require a Class 9 hazmat label, a Cargo Aircraft Only label, the UN3480 package marking, a state of charge at or below 30%, and a regulated dangerous goods declaration.The most common compliance failure is not ignorance of the rules – it is assuming the rules are the same. A ground-compliant package will be rejected at an air carrier sort center, every single time.
Critical for procurement:
If your supply chain includes any air leg – even if the shipment originates by ground – you must apply air-compliant labels. Do not rely on ground exceptions when air carriage is possible. The FAA collects shipper information from rejected packages and pursues enforcement.
Not always – it depends on the packing instruction and the shipment size.
UN3481 (lithium-ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment) can move under different IATA packing instructions: - PI966 / PI967 Section I (fully regulated, larger batteries): Requires the Class 9A hazard label. - PI966 / PI967 Section II (smaller batteries, under 20 Wh per cell / 100 Wh per battery): Typically requires only the lithium battery mark, not the Class 9 diamond label. For example, wireless headphones fall under UN3481 (packed with/in equipment). If the battery is small (under 100 Wh) and packed according to PI967 Section II, you typically only need the lithium battery mark, not the Class 9 diamond label.
However, there is an important nuance for air cargo:
Even for Section II, some operators and countries may require the Class 9 label. Check the specific operator variations and the latest IATA DGR before shipping. For ground transport, UN3481 shipments often do not require the Class 9 label at all, provided they meet the limited quantity or Section II thresholds.
Procurement takeaway:
Do not assume that all UN3481 shipments require the Class 9 label. Verify the watt-hour rating, the packing instruction, and the mode of transport. Order both the Class 9A label and the lithium battery mark in bulk, and train your packing team to apply the correct combination based on the specific shipment parameters.
What is the minimum size for the Class 9 label and the lithium battery mark?
The 100 mm × 100 mm minimum applies to all package labels for Class 9 dangerous goods, including the miscellaneous dangerous goods label and the lithium battery 9A label. Placards are larger – typically 250 mm × 250 mm under IMDG and ADR – because they must be visible from a distance on freight containers and vehicles.
You can do either – but pre-printed labels reduce risk.
Many suppliers offer dangerous goods labels pdf templates that you can download and print in-house. This can be cost-effective for low-volume or variable shipments. However, in-house printing introduces several risks: - Color accuracy: The Class 9 label requires specific black-on-white contrast. If your printer produces off-white or gray tones, the label may be rejected. - Durability: Inkjet and laser prints may not withstand moisture, abrasion, or UV exposure – especially for ocean freight, where BS5609 approval is often required. - Size precision: The 100 mm × 100 mm minimum must be exact. Scaling errors can render labels non-compliant.
Pre-printed labels
from a reputable supplier guarantee correct dimensions, color, material, and durability. For high-volume shippers, the marginal cost of pre-printed labels is typically lower than the cost of a single rejected shipment.
Procurement recommendation:
For routine shipments, order pre-printed Class 9 hazard labels and lithium battery marks in bulk. Keep a dangerous goods labels pdf template on hand only for emergency or low-volume use – and verify every printed label against the regulatory specifications before application.
Need help shipping dangerous goods from China?
Send your cargo details – UN number, class, weight, and destination – and get a compliance-checked quotation within one business day.
Our DG desk handles classes 2-9 with carrier pre-approval arranged before you book.
Related Guides
What each class covers, port acceptance and shipping limits.
Lithium-specific packaging certificate requirements from China.
How BESS and battery cabinets are classified and shipped under UN3536.
Classes 2-9 FCL/LCL export service with carrier pre-approval.