Do I have to declare spare (loose) lithium batteries at Germany customs?

No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.

What happens if I do not declare spare (loose) lithium batteries in Germany?

If you declare the excess yourself, a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Abgabenordnung, § 375 Absatz 2 Satz 1, if the goods are found without being declared: the goods are confiscated.

Can I post or ship spare (loose) lithium batteries to Germany instead of carrying it?

Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you is outside this allowance.

Can I take spare (loose) lithium batteries out of Germany?

Germany publishes no separate rule for taking spare (loose) lithium batteries out; the destination's rules are what will apply.

Can I carry spare (loose) lithium batteries in the cabin or in checked baggage?

In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Prohibited. The carriage limit is 100.0000 Wh / 2.0000 g lithium. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.

Does the Germany limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries apply per person or per family?

Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.

Where does this rule come from?

Generalzolldirektion (German Customs Administration) states it in Zoll online - Reisefreimengen. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.

How does Germany compare with other countries on spare (loose) lithium batteries?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit spare (loose) lithium batteries, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. Germany is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Spare (loose) lithium batteries can I bring into Germany?

Allowed

You can bring Spare (loose) lithium batteries into Germany without a special limit.

Extra conditions apply

Cabin baggage Allowed with conditions Source: International baseline

Checked baggage Prohibited Source: International baseline

Declaration Not required

Limit 430 EUR

What you need to know

No stated quantity
Value cap: 430 EUR
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply

On the plane

International baseline

On person Not stated

Cabin baggage Allowed with conditions

Checked baggage Prohibited

Airline differences

Airline	Difference from the baseline
American Airlines	More permissive
All Nippon Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
British Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
Delta Air Lines	Stricter than the standard rule
easyJet	More permissive
Japan Airlines	More permissive
Korean Air	Stricter than the standard rule
Ryanair	Stricter than the standard rule
Turkish Airlines	Stricter than the standard rule

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-19

Zoll online - Reisefreimengen Generalzolldirektion

Questions about Spare (loose) lithium batteries in Germany

How much spare (loose) lithium batteries can I bring into Germany?: Germany publishes no quantity limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries carried by a traveller. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare spare (loose) lithium batteries at Germany customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare spare (loose) lithium batteries in Germany?: If you declare the excess yourself, a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Abgabenordnung, § 375 Absatz 2 Satz 1, if the goods are found without being declared: the goods are confiscated.
Can I post or ship spare (loose) lithium batteries to Germany instead of carrying it?: Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you is outside this allowance.
Can I take spare (loose) lithium batteries out of Germany?: Germany publishes no separate rule for taking spare (loose) lithium batteries out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Can I carry spare (loose) lithium batteries in the cabin or in checked baggage?: In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Prohibited. The carriage limit is 100.0000 Wh / 2.0000 g lithium. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.
Does the Germany limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries apply per person or per family?: Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
Where does this rule come from?: Generalzolldirektion (German Customs Administration) states it in Zoll online - Reisefreimengen. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.
How does Germany compare with other countries on spare (loose) lithium batteries?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit spare (loose) lithium batteries, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. Germany is among the ones that set a limit.

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