If you have lots of battery-powered devices in your house, making the switch to rechargeable batteries can save you quite a bit of money.
Our experts think most people should just buy the Energizer AA rechargeable batteries, which are perfect for remotes and low power devices.
If this is your first time buying rechargeable batteries, don’t forget you’ll need a charger—be sure to check out our list of the best rechargeable battery chargers.
This set of eight AA batteries from Energizer is a great household pack for keeping remotes, cameras, and kids’ toys up and running year-round. They’re also made from 4% recycled batteries, which makes them that much more environmentally friendly.
Best Overall
Energizer Rechargeable AA Batteries (8-Pack)
5-year average lifespan
Maintain charge for 12 months in storage
Made partially from recycled batteries
Runs down somewhat quickly between charges
These batteries are pre-charged and ready to use right out of the package and can be recharged about 1,000 times in their lifecycle, potentially replacing hundreds of single-use batteries.
Energizer’s “Extended Life Composition” also promises up to five years of regular use before they need to be recycled. If you aren’t using them right away, they can maintain a charge for up to a year in storage.
Each charge gives these batteries 5.5 to 8 hours of use. That’s quite a bit of time for devices that are used infrequently or draw a minimal amount of power, like TV remotes or flashlights. But if you want to use these in electronics that are on for longer stretches of time or use a lot of power, like a set of string lights or a video game controller, you may find you need to recharge these batteries pretty frequently.
Size: AA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 2,000mAh | Recharge Cycles: 1,000 | Pre-charged: Yes
Good value
Charger included
4-hour recharge time
Capacity diminishes with multiple recharges
Size: AAA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 800mAh | Recharge Cycles: 1,000 | Pre-charged: Yes
They’re a little pricier than the other options on this list, but Panasonic’s Eneloop brand AAA rechargeable batteries last the longest of any of them. These batteries can be recharged up to 2,100 times, which is about twice the lifespan of the average rechargeable battery, and can power up in about two hours.
Best Long-Lasting
Panasonic 16-Pack Eneloop AA and AAA
Up to 2,100 recharge cycles
Maintains charge for 10 years in storage
Works in cold weather
More expensive
No charger included
They are pre-charged out of the package and are “low self discharge,” meaning they can maintain about 70% of their power for up to 10 years in storage.
Unlike many other brands of rechargeable batteries, Eneloop AAA batteries work even in very cold temperatures as low as minus-4 F. This makes them a great option for outdoor electronics like lights, security cameras, or an emergency kit in your car.
Size: AAA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 800mAh | Recharge Cycles: 2,100 | Pre-charged: Yes
This pack of Energizer AAA rechargeable batteries is a great budget option for powering household items. The Recharge Power Plus model is designed to last longer between charges than some of Energizer’s other rechargeable options, so it’s great for electronics that use a lot of power, like digital cameras or kids’ toys.
Best Budget
Energerizer AAA Recharger Power Plus (4 count)
Maintains charge for 12 months in storage
Made partially from recycled batteries
Shorter overall lifespan
As an added bonus, these batteries are made from 4% recycled batteries and can hold their charge for about a year in storage. The main downside is that it doesn’t support quite as many recharges, maxing out at about 700 cycles.
Size: AAA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 800mAh | Recharge Cycles: 700 | Pre-charged: Yes
Best High Capacity
EBL AA and AAA
Higher capacity
Maintains 80% capacity for 3 years of use
Only pre-charged to 15% capacity
Longer charge time
These batteries are also LSD, or “low self discharge,” so they retain that larger capacity for longer—after three years of regular use, they should still be able to charge to 80%. They’re good for up to 1,200 recharge cycles.
While these batteries are technically pre-charged and useable out of the pack, they’re charged only to 15% capacity and will need several hours on the charger before they’re at full power. Their larger capacity also means they typically take longer to charge than 800mAh AAA batteries.
Size: AAA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 1,100mAh | Recharge Cycles: 1,200 | Pre-charged: Yes, only 15%
Kids’ toys tend to be high-drain devices that can burn through batteries fairly quickly. If you’re tired of constantly throwing out dead batteries from their favorite electronics, these Bonai Rechargeable AA Batteries are a great alternative.
Best for Toys
Bonai 16-pack AA
Higher capacity
Ideal for high-drain electronics
Slightly larger diameter may not fit all battery compartments
Only pre-charged to 15% capacity
These are high-capacity, 2,300mAh batteries that last longer between charges and can be recharged up to 1,200 times.
They also maintain 80% of their charge when left in storage for three years. Some reviewers note these batteries have a slightly larger diameter than the average AA, which may mean they don’t fit in every battery compartment.
Size: AA | Type: NiMH (nickel metal hybrid) | Capacity: 2,300mAh | Recharge Cycles: 1,200 | Pre-charged: Yes
What to Look for in a Rechargeable Battery
Long Life
The life of a rechargeable battery is defined by how many times you can charge it, use it, and charge it again before it no longer works. Look for rechargeable AA and AAA batteries that are rated for at least 500 recharge cycles, or up to 2,000 recharge cycles for higher-end batteries.
- What’s the difference between types of batteries?
- Typically, AA and AAA batteries come in one of two flavors: lithium or alkaline (though please don’t lick your batteries). Lithium batteries are longer-lasting, less prone to leakage, and more expensive. Alkaline batteries are cheaper, more ubiquitous, but rarely rechargeable.
- How long do rechargeable AA and AAA batteries last?
- The total lifespan of your batteries, as well as the duration of a single charge for rechargeable batteries, depends on a number of factors: the draw of the device they’re inserted in, voltage, the total time they’re in active use vs. downtime, environmental factors, and manufacturing process/component quality. Generally, lithium and eneloop batteries will last longer than their alkaline alternatives, both in terms of individual charge and total life span.
- Can batteries explode?
- It’s extremely rare that consumer AA or AAA batteries will explode. To avoid ruptures, be sure you’re not inserting batteries in the wrong direction, especially for long periods of time, and store your batteries (or the devices they’re living in) away from heat sources and in dry conditions (to avoid corrosion and deteriorating the case, as well as the battery cavity of the device itself)
Typically, AA and AAA batteries come in one of two flavors: lithium or alkaline (though please don’t lick your batteries). Lithium batteries are longer-lasting, less prone to leakage, and more expensive. Alkaline batteries are cheaper, more ubiquitous, but rarely rechargeable.
The total lifespan of your batteries, as well as the duration of a single charge for rechargeable batteries, depends on a number of factors: the draw of the device they’re inserted in, voltage, the total time they’re in active use vs. downtime, environmental factors, and manufacturing process/component quality. Generally, lithium and eneloop batteries will last longer than their alkaline alternatives, both in terms of individual charge and total life span.
It’s extremely rare that consumer AA or AAA batteries will explode. To avoid ruptures, be sure you’re not inserting batteries in the wrong direction, especially for long periods of time, and store your batteries (or the devices they’re living in) away from heat sources and in dry conditions (to avoid corrosion and deteriorating the case, as well as the battery cavity of the device itself)
Charge Capacity
Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries are defined by charge capacity, which is given in mAH. If your devices use a lot of power, then high-charge capacity is essential. If you’re buying batteries for devices that require less power, like wall clocks and remote controls, a lower capacity is fine.
Low Self-Discharge
This refers to how much charge the batteries lose when they aren’t in use. This is extremely important if you want to keep a bunch of extra AA and AAA rechargeable batteries in your drawer and grab fresh ones when you need them instead of waiting for the charger.
About Our Trusted Experts
Emmeline Kaser is an experienced product researcher and reviewer in the field of consumer tech. She is a former editor for Lifewire’s product testing and recommendation round-ups.
