Battery Size Reading Check
Paste a battery designation and see which size it means in each region.
Data last maintained
Battery Size Reading Check
Paste a battery designation and see which size it means in each region.
Data last maintained
About battery size designations
Regional numbers are separate systems, not translations
Taiwan numbers run from the largest cell downwards, so 1號 is D and 3號 is AA. Mainland China uses a different assignment in which AA is 5号 and AAA is 7号. The two agree on 1 and 2 but not beyond, so a bare number only has meaning once you know which system wrote it.
The first letters of an IEC code describe chemistry, not size
In IEC 60086 the trailing number identifies the physical size while the leading letters identify the chemistry: R is zinc-carbon, LR is alkaline, FR is lithium iron disulfide and HR is nickel-metal hydride. R6, LR6, FR6 and HR6 are therefore the same physical cell in four chemistries.
What this tool does and does not cover
This tool matches designations to physical sizes and shows where regional names collide. It does not recommend a brand or where to buy, and it does not cover battery safety such as swallowing, swelling or disposal. Follow the device manual and your local rules for those. Values not confirmed against a published standard are marked as not verified rather than filled in by inference.
FAQ
Common questions and answers about this topic.
I only know the letters printed on the cell. How do I use this?
Type whatever you can see: a regional number such as 3號, an IEC code such as LR6, an ANSI code such as 15A, or a Japanese designation such as 単3形. Spacing, full-width characters and the word battery are ignored, and 号 and 號 are treated as the same character.
What is a mainland Chinese 5号 battery called in Taiwan?
It is the AA cell, IEC LR6, which Taiwan calls 3號 and Japan calls 単3形. It measures 14.5 mm across and 50.5 mm tall.
Do Taiwan and mainland China mean the same thing by 5號?
No, and this is the collision the tool exists for. In Taiwan 5號 is the N cell, IEC LR1, at 12 mm across and 30.2 mm tall. In mainland China 5号 is AA, IEC LR6, at 14.5 mm across and 50.5 mm tall. They are not interchangeable.
What do the letters in LR6, R6, FR6 and HR6 mean?
They describe the chemistry, not the size. Under IEC 60086 the 6 is the physical size, R is zinc-carbon, LR is alkaline, FR is lithium iron disulfide and HR is nickel-metal hydride. All four fit an AA compartment.
Why does a bigger Taiwanese number mean a smaller cell?
Taiwan numbers the sizes in descending order of the cell, so 1號 is the largest at D and each step down is smaller. Mainland China assigned its numbers separately, which is why AA landed on 5号 rather than 3号. Because both systems reuse small integers, the same digit can point at two different cells.
Which sizes does this cover, and what is out of scope?
It covers the 7 sizes that take part in the regional numbering systems: D, C, AA, AAA, N, AAAA and the 9-volt cell. Button and coin cells such as CR2032 carry no regional number and are out of scope. The tool also does not recommend brands or retailers, and does not give battery safety or disposal guidance.
Data Sources
This tool's data is compiled from the authoritative sources below.
- IEC 60086-2 Ed. 14.0 - Primary batteries: Physical and electrical specifications(opens in a new tab)
Data last maintained