If you’re still using disposable batteries, it’s time to switch. Not only will you save money, but you will also contribute less e-waste to our planet. Not to mention, it puts an end to having to head out to the store to buy replacements.
But just as with most things, not all rechargeable batteries are made the same. There are countless batteries and chargers out there, and it can be hard to know what’s good and what’s not. There’s nothing more frustrating than buying something that’s supposed to be reusable but having to throw it away because it isn’t.
Also: The best solar chargers
So, when you need to stock up on batteries, we recommend getting one of our top picks. Our best overall rechargeable battery pick goes to the Panasonic Pro rechargeable battery pack due to its high capacity, variety of batteries, and quality of products.
The following rechargeable batteries are all top-notch and come in AA and AAA models. Keep reading to find our favorite rechargeable batteries — including cheap bulk packs and USB charging options.
Pros
- Great selection of batteries
- High capacity
- Quality products
- Comes with a charger
Cons
- Case can be bulky to store
Panasonic Eneloop Pro features: 8 Eneloop Pro AA rechargeable batteries | 2 AAA Eneloop Pro rechargeable batteries | CC55 advanced quick rechargeable battery charger | Convenient plastic battery storage case
The Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack is the perfect starter kit for those in need of rechargeable batteries. Not only are they some of the best batteries available on the market, but this kit comes with both AA and AAA batteries and a charger at a really good price. These batteries have a capacity of 2550mAh and are perfect for high-drain devices. They maintain 80% of their charge for a year of storage, work well in cold weather, and are good for 500 recharge cycles.
Pros
- Long life
- Can be stored in a charged state for years
Cons
- Not cheap, but will last you years
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries features: 16-pack AAA batteries | 12-pack AA batteries | Recharge up to 2,100 times | Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 10 years (when not in use) | Up to 800mAh type, 750mAh min, AAA Ni-MH batteries
The Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries redefine the idea of disposable batteries. Quality products and engineering mean that these batteries are good for 2,100 recharge cycles (so if you charged and discharged them daily, they’d easily last for six years).
Another plus side is that after you’ve charged them, these batteries will hold 70% of their charge for 10 years when stored, which is fantastic shelf life and means that you’ll always have charged batteries ready to go.
Pros
- Cheap
- 5-year shelf life
Cons
- Slightly bigger than standard AA so this can sometimes be a problem
Amazon Basics rechargeable AA batteries features: 24-pack of pre-charged AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (2,000 mAh) | Can be recharged up to 1000 times with minimal power loss; provides consistent discharge performance (requires separate battery charger) | Maintains 80% capacity for 2 years | Has a shelf-life up to 5 years for everyday or emergency use
The AA is the most commonly used battery size, and these batteries can be found in everything, from computer mice to pocket flashlights. If you need to have any size of battery, this is the one!
This 24-pack of batteries is perfect for those wanting to stockpile rechargeable batteries on a budget. You can charge them up, stick them in the cupboard, and have batteries ready to go at a moment’s notice as they should retain some 80% of their charge for a couple of years.
I’ve used a lot of these and they’re good quality and offer fantastic value for money. They’ll have paid for themselves in no tiem at all.
Pros
- Cheap
- 5-year shelf life
Cons
- Need to purchase battery charger separately
Amazon Basics rechargeable AAA batteries features: 16-pack AAA rechargeable performance-capacity batteries, 800 mAh | Can be recharged up to 1,000 times | Maintains 80% capacity for 24 months
As our gadgets get smaller, so do the batteries, and since AAA is the second most common battery size, it makes sense to have a few on the shelf ready to go.
This 16-pack of AAAs from Amazon is an affordable way to build a stockpile of rechargeable batteries. Like the AA option above, they’re good quality, store their charge well, and offer fantastic value for money.
Pros
- Convenient to recharge
- Very lightweight
Fuvaly Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries features: 2 D Batteries 1.5V | Rapid USB charging is achieved in 1.5 hours | Constant 1.5v output | Can be recharged 1,000+ times | Built-in integrated safety circuit protects the battery from over discharge/overcharge
While D cell batteries aren’t as common as they used to be — I remember every Christmas morning there would be some toy that would beed about a dozen of them! — if you need them, then using rechargeable batteries makes sense given their size and cost.
These batteries have a built-in micro USB port, allowing them to be recharged from any USB port and making them super convenient. You just have to plug them in, leave them to charge, and in a couple of hours you come back to fully-charged batteries.
These are ideal for powering toys, radios, flashlights, and anything else that draws its power from D cell batteries..
The Eneloop Pro AA and AAA NiMH ready-to-use starter pack is the best overall. These batteries can be recharged up to 500 times, maintain 85% of their charge for up to one year, and come pre-charged by solar power (at the factory) — so they are ready to use out of the package. The included Panasonic Eneloop Pro BQ-CC55 Ni-MH battery charger can also quickly and individually charge any combination of up to four AA or AAA Eneloop Pro batteries in just 4 hours (or one to two AA or AAA batteries can be fully charged in up to 2 hours).
And then there’s a case to carry the whole kit. What’s not to love?
Best rechargeable batteries | Cost | Battery Type | Charger |
Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack | $64 | 8 AA and 2 AAA | Yes |
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries | $74 | 16 AAA and 12AA | No |
Amazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries | $33 | 24 AA | No |
Amazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteries | $17 | 16 AAA | No |
Fuvaly D Cell Batteries USB and Type-C Rechargeable Lithium Ion D Batteries | $19 | 2 D Batteries 1.5V | Yes |
*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.
Depends on what you need.
In this listing, I’ve included a great starter pack, as well as options for those who want to buy some bulk batteries. There are also rechargeable AA batteries that don’t need a separate charger and a great charger that will handle pretty much any battery out there.
Choose this rechargeable battery | If you need… |
Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable battery pack | A starter kit that includes rechargeable batteries and a charger |
Panasonic Eneloop AAA and AA rechargeable batteries | A good selection of AA and AAA rechargeable batteries |
Amazon Basics 24-pack rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries | A bulk pack of AA rechargeable batteries that won’t break the bank |
Amazon Basics 16-pack rechargeable AAA Ni-MH batteries | A budget bulk pack of AAA rechargeable batteries |
Fuvaly D Cell Batteries USB and Type-C Rechargeable Lithium Ion D Batteries | Lithium Ion D rechargeable batteries that don’t need a separate charger |
I’ve been testing and using rechargeable batteries for many years, some great, a lot junk. Over that time, I’ve narrowed down the field to the batteries and chargers that offer the best performance.
Here’s what I look for:
- Longevity: I need them to last dozens of recharge cycles over many months.
- Performance: I want batteries that give decent performance with each recharge, as I don’t want to be swapping the batteries in my TV remote control every few weeks. I test the capacity of batteries both with real-world usage and benchmark drain tests using a variety of loads.
- Value for money: Sometimes, it works out much cheaper to buy a big pack of batteries than it is to buy them in packs of two or four. In this list, we’ve included the packs that offer the best bang for your buck.
- Good shelf life: Most people charge up a rechargeable and store it in a box until needed. I demand that rechargeable batteries can hold at least 80% of their charge capacity for a year.
- Safety: During tests, I check the batteries’ temperature both during recharging and under heavy load to ensure they remain safe.
It’s a way to measure the wear placed on a rechargeable battery in use. Discharging it fully and recharging it counts as one cycle, but it doesn’t have to be a full discharge/charge. If you have a battery at 100%, use 50%, and then recharge it, that’s half a cycle.
It stands for Nickel Metal Hydride, and it is a technology used for many rechargeable batteries. It replaced the older Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium) technology.
No, don’t do this.
While I’ve seen chargers that claim to do this, the process is both dangerous and doesn’t work. For safety, modern chargers designed for rechargeable batteries won’t recharge a disposable battery.
Yes! Check out some of our other recommended picks below.
Best rechargeable batteries kit alternative
EBL Purple Super Power Battery Box
This EBL kit comes with 12 high-capacity 2800mAh AA batteries, 8 1100mAh AAA batteries, and both C and D cell adapters so you can transform AA batteries into bigger ones.
Best AA rechargeable batteries alternative
Bump 2600mAh AA Rechargeable Batteries
Need just a few AA but don’t want the hassle of a charger? These AA batteries from Bump come equipped with a USB-C port for convenient charging from a phone charger, computer, or laptop.
Best rechargeable battery charger
Nitecore UMS4 Intelligent USB four-slot quick battery charger
The Nitecore UMS4 Intelligent USB four-slot quick battery charger is one of the best chargers on the market and will recharge pretty much every battery you throw at it (including Ni-MH or Ni-Cd AAA, AA, C, and D cells, as well as IMR/Li-ion/LiFePO4 cells).
