Reviewed 2026-09-30 · quarterly cycle
Electronics through the index: what changes at the border
Chargeable weight for this category
Electronics bill on actual weight rather than volume in most cases, because packaging is dense. The volumetric figure here refers to the empty packaging volume that inflates light accessories.
The restricted list belongs to the line, not to customs
Most electronics refusals happen at the warehouse rather than at the border, because each line publishes its own restricted list and those lists disagree with each other. A power bank accepted by one line is refused by another on the same route. The check that matters is therefore against the specific line, at the moment of booking.
A battery inside a device is not the same as a spare battery
Installed batteries are usually treated differently from loose cells, and the distinction is about packaging rather than chemistry. A device with the battery installed, in retail packaging, is the form most lines accept. The same device with a spare cell in the same box is a different proposition entirely.
Magnets are the quiet refusal
Speakers, magnetic mounts and some cases contain magnets, and magnetic items are restricted on air lines more often than buyers assume. Nothing about a magnet looks like a hazard in a photograph, which is why it survives QC and gets caught later.
Packing and inspection points
- Check the line restricted list at booking, not at ordering. Lists change and the booking is what counts.
- Keep the battery installed and the device in its original packaging if the line requires it.
- Ship spare cells separately, or not at all — do not put them loose in a mixed parcel.
- Confirm whether the item contains a magnet from the specification rather than from the product name.
- For high-value electronics, ask for the serial number to be photographed on the box and on the device.
These points feed the packing checklist generator.
Write-ups filed under this category
Electronics: batteries, magnets and what gets refused
Reviewed 2026-09-30
Declared value: how low is too low before customs flags it
Reviewed 2026-09-30
Line-by-line: matching a parcel to a carrier instead of a habit
Reviewed 2026-09-30
Destinations that change the picture
Index entries in this category
Metadata only: a description, the link shape and a volume hint. There are no images and no prices on this desk. Buying happens at kabosheet.com.
| Entry | Link shape | Volume hint | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless earbuds, charging case, installed cell | taobao | 1100 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Bluetooth speaker, magnetic base | weidian | 2600 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Power bank, 10000 mAh, loose cell inside parcel | taobao | 900 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Wired keyboard, compact layout, aluminium frame | 1688 | 3200 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Desk lamp with clamp, USB powered | Short address | 4800 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Phone case with magnetic ring, matte finish | taobao | 400 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Webcam, 1080p, clip mount, no battery | weidian | 1400 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Cable organiser set, silicone, pack of six | 1688 | 600 cm³ hint | 2026-09-30 |
| Smart watch band, woven nylon, 22 mm | taobao | Not verified | 2026-09-30 |