4.5-Volt, D, C, AA, AAA, 9-Volt, SR41/AG3, SR44/AG13
(NOTE: The tape measure is Centimetres)

This article refers to common battery types and sizes in household and light industrial use.

Battery size generally refers to the shape, voltage, and terminal layout of a battery. Thus the term "size" has become interchangeable with "type". Batteries of different types will usually not have the same dimensions and terminal layout.

Battery chemistry

New battery chemistries have strained the original common naming conventions. In all old batteries the voltages were in increments of 1.5 volts, which reflected the number of individual cells in the battery. Newer chemistries such as rechargeable NiCd and NiMH typically output 1.25 V per cell. Some devices may not run properly on rechargeable batteries, but most handle them reasonably well. Other devices have exceptionally high drain rates and require a lithium type battery to run properly. Many new battery sizes refer to both the batteries' size and chemistry, while older names do not. For a more complete list see "battery types" at the bottom of this page. This summary is only for types relating to battery "sizes".

Battery chemistry primary

(charge density order)

Battery chemistry rechargeable

(charge density order)

Brand models

Even more confusing is that many manufacturers assign their own names and numbers to their batteries in disregard of common, colloquial, IEC, and ANSI naming conventions (See LR44 battery as an example). Many times this is to steer customers towards their brand and away from competitors by obfuscating the common name for a battery. For instance, if your TV remote needs a new battery and inside the battery compartment it says, "Replace with CX472 type battery", many customers will get that specific type, which is a product model for a common battery from a specific company, not knowing that many other companies also make that exact same battery. In this article brand models have been purposefully omitted to avoid confusion.

On the other hand, with obscure batteries, a specific brand model will sometimes become the most common name for a battery 'size' with most other manufacturers copying that name or deriving a new name from it.

Table of modern battery sizes

The following table is a list of battery sizes which are currently available in modern society. Note that there were other sizes other than those listed in this table which are no longer available due to either a decline in popularity or changing technological needs. Batteries for obsolete portable vacuum tubes devices for example, are not listed. A table of older, obsolete, and uncommon-availability batteries types and sizes can be found below this table.

Naming notes

• SR# / LR# / AG# Button Cells: IEC SR series batteries are silver oxide chemistry and provide 1.55 volts, while IEC LR series batteries are alkaline chemistry and provide 1.5 volts. Since there are no 'common' names beyond the AG# designation, many places use these three terms interchangeably, and they will all fit and work. The only difference is that the SR series typically have 50% greater capacity than the LR series. In low-drain devices like watches (without lights) this isn't very important, but in high-drain devices like blinkies, key chain flashlights, or laser pointers the SR type is preferred. Typically SR and LR will be the same price unless one buys in wholesale volume so there is no reason not to get the SR version. Often the free 'demo' batteries that come with a device are the LR version.
• IEC CR# series: Denotes lithium–manganese dioxide chemistry. Since LiMnO₂ cells produce 3 volts there are usually no alternate chemistries for a CR# coin battery. Conversely one LiMnO₂ cell can replace two alternate chemistry cells, in a 3, 6, 9, or 12 volt battery. CR cell numbers correlate with the cell dimensions, being the diameter in millimetres (except for the extra half millimetre in some cases) followed by the height in tenths of a millimetre.
• Button / Coin / Miniature: In many places these are used interchangeably.

Summary of Battery Type, Size, Shape and Usage

A Duracell-Brand AA Alkaline battery

Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries

See also

• Earth battery
• List of battery sizes
• Silicone Battery Silicone Batteries

Table of historical battery sizes

These battery types and sizes are generally no longer available or are difficult to obtain, and were used in the early developing years of the science of electricity, and the early years of electronics when vacuum tubes were used in portable devices.

Most Common Name	Other Common Names	Typical Battery Composition	Nominal Voltage	Shape	Terminal layout	Comments
A Battery	Filament battery	Carbon-zinc and lead-acid	Varies from 6-12 volts	Typically 2.5" x 2.5" x 5"	large clasp connectors spaced inches apart	The first battery to use a letter designation, this large-capacity cell provided power to heat vacuum tubes in the first portable electronic devices. No longer in production due to replacement of vacuum tubes with low-power transistors.
B Battery	Plate battery	Carbon-zinc	Varies from 30 to 100 volts	Typically 2.5" x 1" x 5" to fit alongside an A battery	two or more large clasp connectors spaced inches apart	The second battery to use letter designations, this provided plate voltage to operate vacuum tubes in the first portable electronic devices. No longer in production due to replacement of vacuum tubes with low-power transistors.
C Battery	Grid battery	Carbon-zinc	Typically 1.5 volts	Varies	two or more large twist-knob or banana-plug connectors spaced inches apart	The third battery to use letter designations, this provided grid voltage to operate vacuum tubes in the first portable electronic devices. No longer in production due to replacement of vacuum tubes with low-power transistors.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Electric batteries

• 9 volt battery
• AA battery
• AAA battery
• AAAA battery
• LR44 battery (Good example of manufacturer naming versus IEC/ANSI naming)
• Button cell
• A battery (vacuum tubes)
• B battery (vacuum tubes)
• C battery (vacuum tubes)

References

• IEC 60086-1: Primary batteries - Part 1: General
• IEC 60086-2: Primary batteries - Part 2: Physical and electrical specifications
• IEC 60086-3: Primary batteries - Part 3: Watch batteries
• IEC 60086-4: Primary batteries - Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries
• ANSI C18.1, Part 1 Portable Primary Cells and Batteries With Aqueous Electrolyte - General and Specifications
• ANSI C18.1, Part 2 Portable Primary Cells and Batteries With Aqueous

Electrolyte ? Safety Standard

• ANSI C18.2, Part 1 Portable Rechargeable Cells and Batteries - General and Specifications
• ANSI C18.2, Part 2 Portable Rechargeable Cells and Batteries ? Safety

Standard

• ANSI C18.3, Part 1 Portable Lithium Primary Cells and Batteries - General and Specifications
• ANSI C18.3, Part 2 Portable Lithium Primary Cells and Batteries ? Safety Standard

External links

• Duracell Technical OEM Data Sheets
• Energizer/Eveready Data Sheets
• Energizer/Eveready European Data Sheets
• Radio Shack Useful for cross referencing common/IEC/ANSI and manufacturer numbers of batteries. NOTE: Sometimes there are small inaccuracies pertaining to button/coin cell battery names. These naming problems are industry wide.
• The Small Battery Company Some obscure button size equivalents.
• Battery Force Also useful, Same note as for Radio Shack.
• Batteries Plus Useful for cross-referencing different batteries (small and large), especially when only application and model is known.
• Powerstream.com Battery Chemisty Tutorial
• The relevant US standard is ANSI C18.1 American National Standard for Dry Cells and Batteries-Specifications.
• Historic Battery Types