What is the difference between Limited Quantity and Excepted Quantity?

Both are reduced-regulation exceptions under 49 CFR for small HazMat shipments. Limited Quantity (LQ) allows larger amounts per package (typically up to 1 L liquids or 5 kg solids per inner packaging, 30 kg gross per outer) with simpler combination packaging. Excepted Quantity (EQ) allows much smaller amounts (1–30 g/mL per inner, 300 g–1 kg per outer) but requires drop and stack testing and has a 1000-package-per-vehicle limit. LQ uses a black-and-white square-on-point mark; EQ uses a red-hatched square mark.

What are the EQ codes E0 through E5?

Each UN entry in the Hazardous Materials Table is assigned an Excepted Quantity code. E0 means excepted quantities are not permitted for that material. E1 allows 30 g/30 mL per inner packaging and 1 kg/1 L per outer. E2 allows 30 g/30 mL inner, 500 g/500 mL outer. E3 allows 30 g/30 mL inner, 300 g/300 mL outer. E4 allows 1 g/1 mL inner, 500 g/500 mL outer. E5 allows 1 g/1 mL inner, 300 g/300 mL outer.

Do Limited Quantity shipments require placards?

No. LQ shipments are excepted from placarding requirements on the transport vehicle. They are also excepted from most shipping paper requirements when transported by highway and rail, although air and vessel shipments still require basic documentation. The LQ mark on the package itself is required.

Do I need HazMat training to ship Limited Quantity or Excepted Quantity?

Yes. Both LQ and EQ shippers are subject to the HazMat training requirements under 49 CFR §172.704: general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness training. The exception reduces packaging and marking burdens; it does not waive training. Training must be completed within 90 days of hire and refreshed every three years.

Reference Guide

Limited Quantity vs Excepted Quantity

Q: What is a Limited Quantity in HazMat shipping?

Limited Quantity is a regulatory exception under 49 CFR §173.150 through §173.156 that allows hazardous materials to be shipped in smaller-than-bulk quantities with reduced packaging, marking, and documentation requirements. LQ shipments must use combination packaging (inner packagings in an outer box), must be marked with the LQ square-on-point symbol, and are limited to 30 kg gross per package by ground.

Q: Can lithium batteries ship as Limited Quantity?

Lithium batteries (UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091) do not use the standard Limited Quantity exception. They have their own dedicated exception system under 49 CFR §173.185, with quantity tiers based on Watt-hour rating (for lithium-ion) or lithium content (for lithium metal). Section II of the IATA Lithium Battery Guidance covers the air-shipment equivalents.

Two HazMat shipping exceptions, two very different rule sets. This page lays out the quantity limits, packaging requirements, markings, and decision logic side-by-side — with the regulatory citations and real UN-numbered examples.

49 CFR §172.315

Limited Quantity

Square-on-point · Black/white

49 CFR §173.4a

Excepted Quantity

Square · Diagonal hatched border

Most regulated HazMat shipments require UN-specification packaging, full shipping papers, placards on the transport vehicle, and complete marking and labeling. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the international community recognize, however, that very small quantities of many materials present substantially reduced risk. To avoid a system in which a one-ounce sample carries the same paperwork as a 55-gallon drum, the regulations build in two tiered exceptions: Limited Quantity (LQ) and Excepted Quantity (EQ).

Both are written into 49 CFR and harmonized internationally through the IATA DGR (air) and the IMDG Code (sea). Both reduce — but never eliminate — the regulatory burden. Picking the right one (or knowing when neither applies) determines what packaging you buy, what marks go on the box, what training your team needs, and ultimately how much each shipment costs.

The decision is not interchangeable. LQ allows more material per package but uses simpler packaging. EQ allows less material per package but demands certified drop and stack testing. Each UN-numbered material is independently assigned an EQ code (E0 through E5) and may or may not be eligible for LQ — both are looked up in the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR §172.101.

Option 1

Limited Quantity (LQ)

A regulatory exception that permits small quantities of hazardous materials to ship with reduced packaging, marking, and documentation requirements. LQ is the more common of the two — it's the exception most consumer products with embedded HazMat (paint, alcohol, lithium-battery-equipped devices, aerosols) move under.

LQ at a glance

49 CFR §173.150 – §173.156

Inner packaging limit	Typically 1 L (liquids) or 5 kg (solids) per inner. Exact limit varies by class; see the §173.150 series.
Outer package limit	30 kg gross per package for ground / vessel. 30 kg "Y" for cargo aircraft; passenger aircraft has tighter limits per IATA.
Packaging type	Combination packaging required (inner packagings inside an outer box). Single packagings generally not permitted under LQ.
Performance testing	No UN performance certification required. Outer package must withstand a 1.2 m drop test.
Mark required on package	The LQ square-on-point mark (black on white). For air shipments, the mark includes a "Y" inside the white band.
Shipping papers	Generally not required for ground / rail. Required for air and vessel, with reduced content.
Placards on vehicle	Not required. LQ shipments are excepted from placarding.
Training	Required. 49 CFR §172.704 applies. LQ does not exempt the shipper from HazMat training.

Classes generally not eligible for LQ

Class 1	Explosives — not permitted.
Class 2.3	Toxic Gas — not permitted.
Class 4.1 self-reactive	Not permitted.
Class 4.2 PG I	Not permitted (PG II and III may be allowed).
Class 4.3 PG I	Not permitted.
Class 5.1 PG I	Not permitted.
Class 5.2	Most organic peroxides — not permitted.
Class 6.1 PG I (inhalation)	Not permitted.
Class 6.2	Infectious — not permitted (uses separate exception system).
Class 7	Radioactive — not permitted (uses Excepted Package system under §173.421).

Always confirm eligibility in column 8A of the Hazardous Materials Table (§172.101). The blanket class rules above are common — but specific UN entries can carry additional restrictions, special provisions, or exceptions that override the general class rule.

Common LQ-eligible UN numbers

UN1090 Acetone UN1170 Ethanol UN1219 Isopropanol UN1789 Hydrochloric Acid UN1813 Potassium Hydroxide, Solid UN3082 Environmentally Hazardous Substance UN1263 Paint

Option 2

Excepted Quantity (EQ)

A tighter exception for very small quantities — typically grams and milliliters, not liters and kilograms. EQ shipments are almost fully exempt from the HazMat regulations (no placards, no shipping paper, in many cases no Dangerous Goods declaration for air) but the packaging must pass specific drop and stack tests, and the rules cap the number of packages per transport vehicle.

EQ at a glance

49 CFR §173.4a

The E-code system

Each UN entry in the Hazardous Materials Table is assigned an Excepted Quantity code in column 8A. The code dictates the maximum quantity per inner and per outer packaging.

Code	Inner packaging	Outer packaging
E0	Excepted Quantities not permitted for this material.
E1	30 g or 30 mL	1 kg or 1 L
E2	30 g or 30 mL	500 g or 500 mL
E3	30 g or 30 mL	300 g or 300 mL
E4	1 g or 1 mL	500 g or 500 mL
E5	1 g or 1 mL	300 g or 300 mL

Packaging requirements

Packaging type	Three-layer system required: inner packaging, intermediate packaging with absorbent (for liquids), and rigid outer packaging.
Drop test	1.8 m drop onto a rigid target, six different orientations. No leakage permitted.
Stack test	24-hour stacking at a load of 3 × the package mass. No deterioration permitted.
Outer package limit	30 kg gross per package.
Per-vehicle limit	1,000 packages maximum per transport vehicle. Strict.
Mark required on package	The EQ mark — a square with diagonal red hatched border, class number(s) shown in center, plus shipper or consignee name.
Shipping papers	Not required for ground in most cases. Air and vessel modes have specific requirements; check IATA / IMDG.
Placards on vehicle	Not required.
Training	Required. §172.704 applies.

EQ is not a "no rules" exception. The drop and stack tests are real, the per-vehicle limit is real, and the marking must be on every package. Routine shippers using EQ typically purchase pre-certified EQ kits from packaging vendors rather than testing in-house.

Typical EQ-eligible materials

UN1090 Acetone (E2) UN1170 Ethanol (E1) UN1789 Hydrochloric Acid (E2) UN1942 Ammonium Nitrate (E1) UN1654 Nicotine (E4)

EQ codes shown above are illustrative. Always verify the current EQ code in 49 CFR §172.101 column 8A or the IATA DGR.

Side-by-Side

Direct comparison

	Limited Quantity	Excepted Quantity
Citation	49 CFR §173.150–§173.156	49 CFR §173.4a
Inner limit	~1 L liquid / 5 kg solid (class-dependent)	1–30 g/mL (per E-code)
Outer limit	30 kg gross	300 g – 1 kg (per E-code), 30 kg gross max
Packaging	Combination (inner + outer). No UN cert required.	3-layer system. Drop + stack tested.
Marking	LQ square-on-point (black/white)	EQ square (red hatched border) + class + shipper name
Shipping papers	Mostly exempt (ground/rail); required for air/vessel	Mostly exempt; check air/vessel rules
Placards	Not required	Not required
Per-vehicle cap	No package-count limit	1,000 packages maximum
Best for	Consumer products with embedded HazMat, retail-quantity chemicals, aerosols	Lab reagents, analytical samples, R&D quantities, specialty chemistry

Decision Flow

Which exception applies?

Work through these questions in order. The first "no" pushes you to the next option down.

Is the material assigned a UN number in 49 CFR §172.101?

If no — the material may not be regulated for transport. Verify against the Hazardous Materials Table. If yes — continue.

Check column 8A. Is the EQ code not E0?

EQ option If the assigned code is E1–E5 and your quantity per inner/outer fits within those limits, you can ship as Excepted Quantity. Requires drop-tested packaging.

Is the material eligible for Limited Quantity under §173.150–§173.156?

LQ option If yes and your quantity per inner ≤1 L (or class-specific limit) and per package ≤30 kg, you can ship as Limited Quantity. Simpler combination packaging acceptable.

Neither exception applies, or your quantities exceed both?

Full HazMat Standard fully-regulated shipping applies. UN-specification packaging, shipping papers, placards on the transport vehicle, and full marking and labeling required.

Mode-Specific Rules

Ground, air, and sea handle these differently

The exceptions exist in all three modal regulations, but the details — quantity limits, marking variants, and documentation — diverge meaningfully.

Ground / Rail

49 CFR — PHMSA

The most permissive of the three. LQ and EQ shipments by highway and rail are generally excepted from shipping papers entirely. Standard LQ mark and EQ mark required on packages. No placards on the vehicle.

Air

IATA DGR

Stricter. LQ packages must bear the "Y" variant of the LQ mark. Quantity limits are typically lower than ground. Passenger and cargo aircraft have separate limits per substance — check Section II of the relevant IATA packing instruction. A Dangerous Goods Declaration is generally still required for EQ shipments.

Sea

IMDG Code

Roughly aligns with ground. LQ shipments are excepted from many but not all IMDG requirements; segregation rules still apply on vessels. Marine pollutants require the marine pollutant mark in addition to LQ or EQ marks.

Common Mistakes

Where shippers most often get cited

1. Treating the exception as a documentation waiver

LQ and EQ reduce paperwork and marking — they do not waive training, segregation rules in the warehouse, or the requirement to have basic emergency response information available. PHMSA cites this regularly.

2. Using the wrong mark

The LQ mark and the EQ mark are different shapes, different colors, and not interchangeable. Putting an LQ mark on an EQ shipment (or vice versa) is a marking violation. Pre-2015 LQ marks (with class number inside) are obsolete and should not be reused.

3. Mis-summing inner packagings

The inner limit is per inner packaging, not per box. Six 30-mL inners in one outer is fine under E2 if the total is ≤500 mL — but seven 30-mL inners (210 mL) is also fine; what you cannot do is put a single 60-mL inner in there, because it exceeds the per-inner limit.

4. Forgetting the per-vehicle cap on EQ

EQ allows 1,000 packages per transport vehicle. For ground LTL freight where multiple shippers consolidate, the carrier — not you — is enforcing this limit, and they will refuse loads that breach it.

5. Assuming lithium batteries qualify

They don't ship under either standard exception. Lithium batteries use a dedicated exception framework under UN3480 (Lithium-Ion Batteries), UN3481 (Lithium-Ion in or with Equipment), UN3090 (Lithium Metal), and UN3091, governed by 49 CFR §173.185 and the IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document. Different rules entirely.

FAQ

Common questions

What's the practical difference between LQ and EQ?

Both reduce regulation for small shipments, but LQ allows about 30× more material per package with simpler combination packaging, while EQ allows much smaller quantities but demands certified drop and stack testing on the packaging. LQ is the workhorse exception for consumer products; EQ is used for laboratory and analytical samples.

What is a Limited Quantity?

An LQ is a HazMat shipment that fits within the reduced-regulation thresholds defined in 49 CFR §173.150–§173.156. Typical limits are 1 L liquids or 5 kg solids per inner packaging, with a 30 kg gross outer package limit, shipped in standard combination packaging marked with the LQ square-on-point mark.

What do the EQ codes E0–E5 mean?

Each UN entry has an EQ code in column 8A of the Hazardous Materials Table. E0 = not permitted as excepted quantity. E1 = 30 g/30 mL inner, 1 kg/1 L outer. E2 = 30 g/30 mL inner, 500 g/500 mL outer. E3 = 30 g/30 mL inner, 300 g/300 mL outer. E4 = 1 g/1 mL inner, 500 g/500 mL outer. E5 = 1 g/1 mL inner, 300 g/300 mL outer.

Do LQ shipments need placards on the truck?

No. LQ shipments are excepted from vehicle placarding requirements. They are also excepted from most shipping paper requirements for ground and rail. The LQ mark must still be on each package.

Can lithium batteries ship as Limited Quantity?

No. Lithium batteries (UN3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091) use a dedicated exception framework, not the standard LQ exception. Quantity tiers are based on Watt-hour rating (for lithium-ion) or lithium content (for lithium metal), governed by 49 CFR §173.185.

Does shipping as LQ or EQ remove the training requirement?

No. HazMat employees who handle, package, mark, or ship under LQ or EQ are still subject to the training requirements of 49 CFR §172.704 — general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness training, refreshed every three years.

Which is cheaper — LQ or EQ?

It depends on volume. LQ packaging is cheaper per box (standard combination packaging, no UN certification), but you can put more material in each LQ box. EQ packaging is more expensive per box (drop and stack tested kits) and holds much less. For a few small lab samples, EQ is usually more economical. For retail-volume product, LQ wins.

UNLookup is a reference utility. This page summarizes the Limited Quantity and Excepted Quantity exceptions under 49 CFR and references the IATA DGR and IMDG Code for modal differences. It is not a substitute for current editions of those regulations. Quantity limits, EQ codes, packaging requirements, and class exclusions are subject to amendment — always verify against the official source applicable to your shipment and mode of transport before tendering a shipment. The EQ mark and LQ mark shown above are stylized representations; the exact specification appears in 49 CFR §172.315 and §173.4a respectively.