CR2032 vs CR2016
Both are 20 mm 3 V lithium coin cells. The CR2032 is 3.2 mm thick against 1.6 mm, giving it more than twice the capacity.
Same width, same 3 volts, but the CR2016 is exactly half the thickness and lasts well under half as long. A CR2016 will drop into a CR2032 slot, though it often sits too low to touch the contact. One important warning: some devices take two CR2016 stacked on top of each other. That pair adds up to 6 volts, not 3, so it is not the same as a single CR2032 — never swap one arrangement for the other.
- Verdict:
- CR2032 unless the holder is genuinely too shallow
- Interchangeable:
- sometimes — check the fit
Side-by-side specifications
| Specification | CR2032 | CR2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Lithium | Lithium |
| Type | Coin Cell | Coin Cell |
| Nominal voltage | 3 V | 3 V |
| Diameter | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Height | 3.2 mm | 1.6 mm |
| Typical capacity | 210–240 mAh | 85–100 mAh |
| Rechargeable | No | No |
| Also sold as | DL2032, BR2032, ECR2032 | DL2016, BR2016 |
Size comparison
Both are 20 mm across, so only thickness separates them: CR2016 at 1.6 mm against CR2032 at 3.2 mm.
Thickness
Exactly half: 1.6 mm against 3.2 mm. A CR2016 fits inside a CR2032 holder but frequently sits too deep for the sprung contact to reach, which reads as a dead battery.
Runtime
85–100 mAh against 210–240 mAh. The CR2016 delivers roughly 40% of the runtime, so expect to replace it more than twice as often.
The 6 V trap
Two stacked CR2016 measure the same 3.2 mm as one CR2032, and some devices are designed around exactly that pair. Stacked, they deliver 6 V. Fitting two CR2016 where one CR2032 belongs doubles the voltage and can destroy the device.
Can I use a CR2016 instead of a CR2032?
It depends which way round. Both cells are 20 mm across, so the only difference is thickness. The thinner CR2016 will usually drop into a holder built for the CR2032, but it can sit low and lose contact with the sprung terminal. The reverse does not work: a 3.2 mm CR2032 will not fit a compartment cut for a 1.6 mm CR2016, and forcing it risks bending the contact or the cover.
Check before you swap. Batteries with similar dimensions are not always interchangeable. Always verify voltage, chemistry and the requirements printed in your device manual before fitting a replacement.