CR2032 vs CR2430
Almost the same thickness — 3.2 mm against 3.0 mm — but the CR2430 is 24.5 mm across against 20 mm, so the two never interchange.
Last reviewed
Not interchangeable, and this pair catches people out. The two cells are almost the same thickness (3.2 mm against 3.0 mm), so they feel alike in the hand — but the CR2430 is 4.5 mm wider. It will not drop into a CR2032 holder, and a CR2032 is too small to reach the contacts in a CR2430 one. The CR2430 does hold about 25% more power.
- Verdict:
- No — near-identical thickness, wrong diameter
- Interchangeable:
- no
Side-by-side specifications
| Specification | CR2032 | CR2430 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Lithium | Lithium |
| Type | Coin Cell | Coin Cell |
| Nominal voltage | 3 V | 3 V |
| Diameter | 20 mm | 24.5 mm |
| Height | 3.2 mm | 3 mm |
| Typical capacity | 210–240 mAh | 270–300 mAh |
| Rechargeable | No | No |
| Also sold as | DL2032, BR2032, ECR2032 | DL2430, BR2430, ECR2430 |
Size comparison
These cells do not share a footprint, so one will not sit correctly in the other's compartment.
Why it misleads
Thickness is what people check by eye, and these two are within 0.2 mm of each other. Diameter is what decides the fit, and there they are 4.5 mm apart.
Runtime
270–300 mAh for the CR2430 against 210–240 mAh for the CR2032 — the wider cell holds roughly a quarter more despite being marginally thinner.
Check the first two digits
20 versus 24. Reading only the last two digits of a coin cell code is how this swap gets attempted in the first place.
The mistake this pair causes
Someone measures the old cell's thickness, gets about 3 mm, and buys the code they half-remember. Both are close to 3 mm thick, so the check that usually works here does not. Diameter is the axis that matters and it is the one people skip.
Reading the code properly
The first two digits are millimetres of diameter, the last two are tenths of a millimetre of thickness. CR2032 is 20 mm by 3.2 mm; CR2430 is 24 mm nominal by 3.0 mm. Read all four digits and the two are never confusable.
What each is used for
The CR2032 is the default coin cell of consumer electronics — motherboards, key fobs, scales, thermometers. The CR2430 is rarer and turns up where a designer wanted the wider 24.5 mm footprint in a shallow space, most often car keys and medical monitors.
Can I use a CR2430 instead of a CR2032?
Not directly. The CR2430 measures 24.5 × 3 mm against 20 × 3.2 mm for the CR2032, so it will not seat properly in the same compartment.
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.
CR2032 vs CR2430: common questions
Is the CR2430 a direct replacement for the CR2032?
Not interchangeable, and this pair catches people out. The two cells are almost the same thickness (3.2 mm against 3.0 mm), so they feel alike in the hand — but the CR2430 is 4.5 mm wider. It will not drop into a CR2032 holder, and a CR2032 is too small to reach the contacts in a CR2430 one. The CR2430 does hold about 25% more power.
What is the difference between the CR2032 and the CR2430?
Almost the same thickness — 3.2 mm against 3.0 mm — but the CR2430 is 24.5 mm across against 20 mm, so the two never interchange. In short: no — near-identical thickness, wrong diameter.
Are the CR2032 and the CR2430 the same size?
No. The CR2032 is 20 × 3.2 mm and the CR2430 is 24.5 × 3 mm.
Which lasts longer, the CR2032 or the CR2430?
The CR2430. It is rated at 270–300 mAh against 210–240 mAh for the CR2032 — roughly 1.3× the capacity, though real runtime depends on how much current your device draws.
Background reading
The wider questions behind these two codes.