More than 3 billion dry-cell batteries are purchased by Americans each year, and unfortunately, most of them end up in landfills. We all should be more mindful of green living, and making the switch to rechargeable batteries is an excellent place to start. As if that weren't reason enough, they'll also save you money in the long run since you can reuse them hundreds of times.
You’ve probably realized that rechargeable batteries are more expensive than single-use batteries, but they’ll actually pay for themselves in the first year of use, even with the purchase of a charger. Before making the investment, you should think about what size and how many batteries you need.
As much as I'd love to nerd out and explain how rechargeable batteries work, I'll save you the time and won't bore you with battery chemistry. Instead, I'll leave you with common terms you'll probably stumble across in your search for the best rechargeable batteries.
→ NiMH
Nickel-metal hydride is a type of battery that's more efficient than nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries which were more common about 10 years ago. NiMH have a high energy density but a reduced lifecycle, while NiCD batteries have a higher discharge rate. It's worth mentioning that NiMH batteries will lose at least 20% of their charge within 6 months due to self-discharge.
→ Self-Discharge
Low Self-Discharge batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that has extra insulation to prevent this and extend their shelf life. Since these batteries tend to have lower storage charge rates, I recommend low self-discharge batteries for items you don't have to swap out batteries for frequently — like clocks.
→ maH
This is an abbreviation for milliamp-hours which is a measure of the amount of charge that is stored in a battery. Most AA batteries are rated for 2,000 mAh, and AAA batteries are rated for 800 mAh.
→ Cycles
Each full charge and discharge of a battery equals one battery cycle. Some brands use the terms “recharge life” or “cycle life” to illustrate how many cycles a battery can go through before it loses capacity.
→ Charger
A charger is a device that controls the flow of charge into a battery. Be sure to check that whatever charger you're planning on using is compatible with NiMH batteries, which are the most common type (and the ones I recommend most in this guide).
Check out our top picks to help you find the best, most-reliable rechargeable batteries that suit your needs and budget constraints, so you won't have to run to the store again the next time you need batteries.
Despite the fact that rechargeable batteries cost less in the long run, their price point is steeper, which may be difficult to swallow — especially if it's your first time buying rechargeables and you have to stock up. You might even be tempted to buy a budget rechargeable battery like the ones from Amazon Basics since you can buy more for less. I strongly urge you to spend a little extra on these batteries from eneloop.
According to Project Farm's rechargeable battery tests, the Eneloop batteries maintain their capacity over time better than most other brands. Some reviewers deem them the “best rechargeable batteries on the market,” with some even using Eneloop rechargeable batteries for over 10 years!
Energizer's rechargeable batteries have a lot going for them. They are made from 15% recycled materials, have a generous 2,300 mAh capacity, and they will deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles. The reasons why they're not our top pick? Eneloop batteries are harder to find in stock and don't maintain their capacity as long.
You can store an eneloop battery for a decade, and it will likely still have a 70% remaining charge. Energizer's rechargeables are oftentimes are more expensive than the competition. Regardless, they are still solid batteries that are plenty reliable. Plus, they come in less common sizes like C, D, and 9V.
If you're deciding between the Eneloop and the Eneloop Pro, the short answer is this: the Pros have a 25% higher capacity but at the expense of a shorter cycle life.
You can expect more than 2,000 cycles with the standard Eneloop batteries (our best overall pick) but just 500 cycles for the Pros. The Pros are the best option for speedlights, flashlights, or video game controllers. If you want a higher capacity so you won't need to recharge your batteries as frequently, I can't recommend them enough.
Pale Blue's batteries are a good option for folks who want to recharge their batteries quickly. In fact, this option charges five times faster than conventional rechargeable batteries. That's because they are lithium-ion rather than NiMH batteries. They conveniently use a micro USB cable for charging and have a LED light so you won't accidentally overcharge them.
It takes about an hour to charge AAA batteries and just under 2 hours for AA batteries. The 9-volt and “D” batteries take around three and 4.5 hours, respectively. You can also feel good buying these since Pale Blue has committed 1% of its annual sales to support environmental nonprofits.
Even if you already have an old battery charger lying around the house, the BQ-CC55 charger from Panasonic is still worth buying. It has an auto-shutoff feature, so you don't accidentally overcharge your batteries. This, in return, will ensure your batteries have a longer shelf life over time.
I like that the battery pack isn't so large that it covers up to one of your two outlets, has a convenient fold-out plug, and is compatible with both AA and AAA batteries. This option takes around 3 hours to recharge your batteries.
For folks who'd prefer to recharge their batteries using a USB cable, consider the iQuick Smart Battery Charger. Like the Panasonic charger, this option has an auto-shutoff feature and notification lights, so you know the batteries are charging. But rather than plugging directly into your wall, the EBL charger has a micro USB and USB-C input on its side that you plug your charging cable into.
Unfortunately, it does not come with a wall charger, which is good for environmental reasons but may be inconvenient if you don't have one lying around the house.
Brandon CarteSenior Electronics EditorBrandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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