LR44 and AG13 are nominally the same alkaline button cell, sharing the same 1.5 volt output and roughly the same size, so they are usually interchangeable. The exceptions matter: some listings use these codes for silver oxide cells instead, and height differences of a fraction of a millimeter can affect fit in tightly built devices. Because small batteries pose a serious swallowing hazard, always check the printed chemistry and safety guidance before buying or handling one.
TL;DR:
- LR44 and AG13 are generally interchangeable for alkaline cells, but some listings use these codes for silver oxide versions, which have higher voltage.
- Silver oxide cells like SR44 or 357 hold a steadier voltage but are physically similar in size, so compatibility depends on precise measurements and device requirements.
- Confirm the printed chemistry label on the old cell before replacement, especially for precision devices, since code ambiguity can lead to incorrect chemistry use.
- Even with a proper size and voltage match, a loose fit caused by height differences may require stabilization, and careful attention to polarity is essential to avoid damage.
- Proper disposal involves storing used cells in a secure container away from children and dropping them off at authorized collection points, as household waste is prohibited.
Table of Contents
- Comparing diameter, voltage, capacity, and chemistry
- When can you actually swap LR44 for AG13 in your device?
- Decoding the alphabet soup of equivalent battery names
- Button cell safety risks and correct disposal steps
- How AkkuPlus lists LR44 and AG13 cells for easy comparison
- What most substitution advice gets wrong
- Where to find verified LR44 and AG13 cells
- Sources
- FAQ
Comparing diameter, voltage, capacity, and chemistry
LR44 and AG13 both describe an alkaline manganese button cell with a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts. The "LR" prefix follows IEC naming conventions for alkaline cells, while "AG13" comes from a separate naming system used mostly in the United States and parts of Asia. Both point to the same physical cell in the vast majority of retail listings, but the code alone does not guarantee chemistry, which is why the printed label always deserves a second look.
Silver oxide cells occupy the same physical footprint but carry a nominal voltage around 1.55 volts, according to manufacturer datasheets and IEC cross-reference tables, which also confirm that products marketed as VARTA V13GA correspond to the IEC code LR44. That 0.05 volt gap looks small on paper, but silver oxide chemistry holds its voltage more steadily across the discharge curve, which is why precision devices often specify it by name rather than accepting either chemistry interchangeably.
Dimensions are where most confusion starts. Cross-referenced datasheets put the diameter at approximately 11.5 to 11.6 millimeters and the height at approximately 5.2 to 5.4 millimeters, with an everActive datasheet for the LR1154/LR44/AG13 family listing a maximum of 11.5 × 5.3 millimeters. A difference of a tenth of a millimeter rarely matters in a loose battery compartment, but in a spring-loaded watch case or a compact laser pointer it can be the reason a battery door will not close or a contact loses tension.
Battery specifications at a glance:
- Nominal voltage: 1.5 volts for alkaline LR44/AG13, versus approximately 1.55 volts for silver oxide SR44/357.
- Diameter: approximately 11.5 to 11.6 millimeters across both chemistries.
- Height: approximately 5.2 to 5.4 millimeters, with the small variance driving most fit complaints.
- Capacity: alkaline cells in this size typically run in the range advertised by the manufacturer, with silver oxide versions generally rated higher for the same footprint.
- Chemistry marking: printed on the cell as "alkaline" or "silver oxide," and this label overrides whatever generic code appears on the packaging.
AG13 and LR44 share a size and voltage rating, but they are not automatically the same chemistry as SR44 or 357 cells, according to cross-referenced manufacturer data. That distinction affects both runtime and voltage stability in demanding devices.
Actual capacity depends heavily on the current draw of the device. A cell rated for a certain milliamp-hour figure in a low-draw application like a small LED light will not deliver the same effective runtime in a device that pulls current in bursts, such as a laser pointer or a glucose meter. Alkaline chemistry also loses voltage more gradually and predictably as it depletes, while silver oxide tends to hold a flatter voltage curve until it drops off close to the end of its life.
Shelf life matters for anyone buying in bulk or stocking a drawer of spares. Alkaline button cells generally list a best-before date several years out from manufacture, and storing them at moderate room temperature rather than in a hot car or a humid bathroom cabinet preserves that shelf life. Heat accelerates the internal chemical reactions that slowly drain a stored battery even when it is not installed in a device.
When can you actually swap LR44 for AG13 in your device?
Substitution is safe in the overwhelming majority of cases, but a quick check before installing a new cell avoids both wasted trips back to the store and, in rare cases, device damage.
- Open the device manual or look at the manufacturer's printed spec sheet for the exact battery code it calls for.
- Check the printed chemistry on the old cell you are replacing, since the packaging code alone will not always tell you whether it was alkaline or silver oxide.
- Measure the depth of the battery compartment against the new cell's height if the old cell was tight going in or coming out.
- Confirm polarity markings match the compartment's plus and minus contacts before closing the device.
- Check that the contact springs make firm contact once the new cell is seated, since a loose fit from a height mismatch can cause intermittent power.
- Power on the device immediately after installation to confirm it works before you put the device back into regular use.
Substitution is generally fine in toys, calculators, small flashlights, and remote controls, where a 0.05 volt difference and a tenth of a millimeter of height rarely change the outcome. Caution applies to precision watches, medical devices like blood glucose meters, and sensors that were designed around a specific voltage curve. A watch built for silver oxide's flat discharge profile can run measurably fast or slow on alkaline chemistry as the voltage sags earlier in its life, which shows up as accumulated timekeeping drift rather than an outright failure.
Pro Tip: If your device manual lists both LR44 and SR44 as acceptable, choose SR44 for anything where consistent timing or voltage matters, and save the alkaline AG13/LR44 cells for lower-stakes gadgets.
Mechanical fit problems have simple fixes in most cases. A cell that sits slightly loose because of a height difference can sometimes be stabilized with a small strip of tape on the back, though this is a workaround rather than a permanent solution, and a cell that will not seat at all is a sign to buy the exact chemistry and dimensions the manual specifies rather than force it.
Decoding the alphabet soup of equivalent battery names
Retailers, manufacturers, and import labels all use different naming systems for what is often the same physical cell, and that inconsistency is the main source of confusion when shopping.
- Alkaline equivalents: AG13, LR44, A76, LR1154, V13GA, and G13 all typically refer to the same 1.5 volt alkaline cell in the same size.
- Silver oxide equivalents: SR44 and 357 refer to a different chemistry in the same physical size, rated around 1.55 volts.
- Read the chemistry field, not just the code: a listing that says "LR44/AG13" without specifying alkaline versus silver oxide should be treated as alkaline unless stated otherwise.
- Prefer listings with a manufacturer datasheet link: pages that link to a spec sheet or list exact dimensions let you confirm compatibility before the package ever arrives.
- Check for sealed blister packaging and safety marks: intact packaging and standard conformity marks are a basic signal of a legitimate, correctly labeled product.
Product listings that carry multiple designations on one page, such as Ansmann's LR44/A76/V13GA cell, are following a common retail convention rather than trying to obscure the chemistry, and the same pattern shows up on a Duracell LR44/A76/V13GA listing. For comparison, a VARTA silver oxide watch battery listed as SR44/V13GS/357 shows the higher voltage rating in the product name itself, which is the fastest way to tell the two chemistries apart at a glance. If you want to confirm an installed cell's actual output before replacing it, a battery tester built for button cells gives a direct reading rather than relying on guesswork.
Button cell safety risks and correct disposal steps
Button cells present a real swallowing hazard, particularly for young children, and the risk is often underestimated. According to a 2023 BfR press release, a swallowed button cell can cause severe esophageal burns, and injury can develop before any obvious symptoms appear, so clinical assessment is warranted immediately rather than waiting to see if a child reacts.
BfR reports numerous cases of children swallowing button cells over recent years, and a 2023 consumer survey found that many respondents had never heard of the risk, according to the BfR press release. That gap between how common the hazard is and how few people know about it is the reason safety guidance belongs in a purchasing decision, not just a poison control pamphlet.
The mechanism is electrochemical rather than purely physical: contact with wet tissue lets current flow through the cell and generate hydroxide ions, which burn through soft tissue in the esophagus. This is why speed matters more than symptoms when a swallowing incident is suspected.
- Store spare cells in a locked box or a container with a screw-secured lid, away from where young children can reach them, particularly around holidays when battery-powered toys and gadgets multiply in the house.
- If a swallowing incident is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency services immediately, even if the child shows no symptoms.
- Never store loose button cells in household waste or a drawer with metal objects, since a short circuit can generate heat and pose a fire risk.
- Tape the terminals of a spent cell or keep it in its original blister packaging before disposal to prevent accidental short circuits during transport.
German disposal rules, per Umweltbundesamt guidance, require that spent portable batteries never go into household waste. Retailers that sell batteries are obligated to accept spent portable batteries free of charge, and the same guidance notes that reporting duties under battery law expand starting in 2026. The practical step for any household is simple: drop the old cell off at the retailer where you bought the replacement, or at a municipal collection point, rather than throwing it in the trash.
How AkkuPlus lists LR44 and AG13 cells for easy comparison
Reading a product page correctly is most of the work when choosing between LR44 and AG13 listings. Product pages list voltage, capacity in milliamp-hours, chemistry, and diameter by height together, which lets you confirm a listing matches your device's manual before ordering.
- Check the voltage field first: 1.5 volts signals alkaline chemistry, while 1.55 volts signals silver oxide.
- Compare the milliamp-hour rating against similar listings to judge relative runtime for the same physical size.
- Confirm the diameter and height figures against your device's compartment or against the cell you are replacing.
- Contact AkkuPlus support directly if a listing is ambiguous about chemistry or dimensions before placing an order.
Some product pages link to manufacturer datasheets where available, which is a way to double-check a cell's specifications against the original source rather than relying on a secondhand summary.
What most substitution advice gets wrong
Most guidance on this topic treats LR44 and AG13 as simply "the same battery" and stops there, which is true often enough to be useful but wrong often enough to cause a burned-out watch or a swallowed cell nobody was watching for. The bigger risk is not chemistry mismatch, since alkaline and silver oxide are both clearly printed on the cell. The bigger risk is that people skip the label entirely because the codes have trained them to assume sameness.
If you take one habit from this guide, make it this: read the chemistry word on the packaging every time, not just the size code. The five-minute check of pulling out the old cell, reading its label, and matching height to your device's compartment prevents almost every substitution problem this article covers. Treat the safety guidance around ingestion with the same weight as the technical specs. A battery that fits perfectly and reads the right voltage is still a hazard sitting in a drawer a toddler can reach.
— Waldemar Pelich
Where to find verified LR44 and AG13 cells
Once you know which chemistry and dimensions your device needs, buying the right cell is straightforward. AkkuPlus lists alkaline and silver oxide button cells side by side in its batteries category, with chemistry, voltage, and capacity spelled out on each product page so you are not guessing from a code alone.
- Browse the full battery range on the AkkuPlus batteries page to compare alkaline and silver oxide options side by side.
- Check pricing and availability for your country, since AkkuPlus tailors both to European customers by region.
- Reach out to support before ordering if a device manual lists a code that does not clearly match either chemistry.
If your search turns up something outside the standard button cell range, the full product catalog covers everything from household batteries to specialized repair services.
Sources
- Gefährliche Verätzungen im Hals: Fragen und Antworten zu Knopfzellen - BfR
- Ratgeber Batterien und Akkus - Umweltbundesamt
FAQ
Can LR44 replace AG13?
Yes, LR44 and AG13 refer to the same 1.5 volt alkaline button cell in the same physical size in the vast majority of listings, according to manufacturer cross-reference data. Always confirm the printed chemistry on the packaging matches before swapping, since some listings use similar codes for silver oxide cells instead.
What battery can replace LR44?
AG13, A76, LR1154, V13GA, and G13 are alkaline equivalents that typically replace LR44 directly in the same devices. SR44 and 357 are silver oxide alternatives in the same size but with a higher nominal voltage around 1.55 volts, so they suit devices that need steadier voltage over their lifespan.
What battery is equivalent to AG13?
LR44 is the direct IEC equivalent of AG13, and A76, LR1154, V13GA, and G13 name the same alkaline cell under different regional systems. SR44 and 357 look similar but use silver oxide chemistry, which is not a direct chemical match even though the size lines up.
Is an LR44 battery the same as AG12?
No, AG12 refers to a smaller button cell size than LR44/AG13, so the two are not interchangeable despite the similar naming pattern. Always check the cell size and height printed on the device manual or the old cell rather than assuming adjacent AG numbers share a size.
Recommended
- Ansmann - LR44 / A76 / V13GA - 1.5 Volt 115mAh AlMn
- Duracell - LR44 / A76 / V13GA - 1.5 Volt 105mAh Alkali - 2er Blis
- Varta - SR44 / V13GS / 357 / SR1154W / V76PX - 1.55 Volt 155mAh S
- tecxus - LR54 / AG10 - 1.5 Volt 75mAh Alkali-Mangan - Knopfzelle
This article was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and has been reviewed by our editorial team. Despite careful preparation, we assume no liability for the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information provided. The technical data and specifications supplied by the respective manufacturer shall always prevail.