Coin cells - also known as button cells - are a small variety of battery known as such for their size and shape which is thin and round very much like a coin or button. The smallest of these are used for hearing aids and other similar products. These are typically made of a zinc-air chemistry which gives a higher capacity and a slightly shorter lifetime. One step up in diameter is the watch battery. Alkaline and silver oxide are the possible chemical compositions of these button cells. For a full description of everything you might need to know about choosing the right battery for you watch, check out our page dedicated to watch batteries.

Largest on the list of power's smallest tools is the lithium coin cell. They are primary Lithium, meaning these single use batteries are non rechargeable. However, their low-self discharge means they will last over one year of constant use in many cases. Lithium coin cells are also well known for retaining their charge in storage, sometimes up to 10+ years! These are a great battery to buy in bulk because you never have to worry about them dying before you get the chance to use them. What are these button cells used for, though?

Coin Cell Cross Reference & Specifications
If you need help figuring out what coin cell you have or need, the you can use our coin cell cross reference. It breaks down the popular size into dimensions, volts, amps and common known as model numbers.

Uses of Primary Lithium Coin Cells
Some coin cells, such as the CR2032 are used very commonly in a sort of underground, unnoticed work. They power such household items as a calculator, thermometer, and your car alarm keyfob. The battery in these items rarely dies (unlike the television remote that constantly needs new AAs), and so we may not fully appreciate the role our tiny button cell plays until one day it finally runs out of power. Other sizes, like the CR2335, are unusual and can be hard to find. These may be used in specialty applications such as keyless door entry, toll passes, COMS, and backup for the motherboard in computers. Even what may be rarely used in the home, may be commonly seen in repair work of small appliances and dozens of forms of medical equipment.

If this sounds like the type of battery you need, feel free to browse around our selection of popular, quality brands like Exell, Energizer, Kodak, and Panasonic. You can shop by size, or by brand just below here. If you have any questions about finding the right coin cell give us a call at 1-800-515-BIAF.

We also carry rechargeable batteries in some of the same sizes as coin cells! These are used mostly for building battery packs.

Due to the changing laws imposed by USDOT, this product classifies as HAZMAT, therefore we reserve the right to determine what shipping method and carrier to meet USDOT shipping requirements.