CR2032 vs CR2450
Both are 3 V lithium coin cells, but the CR2450 is 24.5 × 5 mm against 20 × 3.2 mm — a different size class with about 2.5 times the capacity.
Last reviewed
These are not swappable. The CR2450 is wider (24.5 mm against 20 mm) and thicker (5 mm against 3.2 mm), and holds around two and a half times the power. A CR2450 physically cannot go into a CR2032 holder, and a CR2032 would rattle around in a CR2450 one without touching the contacts. Both give 3 volts, but that is the only thing they share.
- Verdict:
- Not interchangeable — the CR2450 is a size class up
- Interchangeable:
- no
Side-by-side specifications
| Specification | CR2032 | CR2450 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Lithium | Lithium |
| Type | Coin Cell | Coin Cell |
| Nominal voltage | 3 V | 3 V |
| Diameter | 20 mm | 24.5 mm |
| Height | 3.2 mm | 5 mm |
| Typical capacity | 210–240 mAh | 560–620 mAh |
| Rechargeable | No | No |
| Also sold as | DL2032, BR2032, ECR2032 | DL2450, BR2450 |
Size comparison
These cells do not share a footprint, so one will not sit correctly in the other's compartment.
Diameter
24.5 mm against 20 mm. The 4.5 mm difference settles it: no holder accepts both, and no spacer makes the swap safe.
Runtime
560–620 mAh against 210–240 mAh. Where a design has the room, the CR2450 buys roughly two and a half times the service interval.
Reading the code
The first two digits give the diameter in millimetres and the last two the thickness in tenths: CR2450 is 20-plus-4.5 mm across and 5.0 mm thick, CR2032 is 20 mm across and 3.2 mm thick.
How to spot the difference without measuring
This is the one coin cell pair you can tell apart at a glance. The CR2450 is 4.5 mm wider and half again as thick, and next to a CR2032 it looks like a different class of object. If two cells look similar, they are not this pair.
Why devices choose the larger cell
Smart home sensors, access badges and medical monitors are specified around the CR2450 because they must run for years untouched, and because a wider cell has lower internal resistance and copes better with the current bursts a radio transmitter draws.
No adapter bridges this
Unlike the AA-into-C case, there is no sleeve that lets a CR2032 stand in for a CR2450. Coin cell contacts press on the faces rather than the rim, so a smaller disc simply sits in the well without touching anything.
Can I use a CR2450 instead of a CR2032?
Not directly. The CR2450 measures 24.5 × 5 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 CR2450: common questions
Is the CR2450 a direct replacement for the CR2032?
These are not swappable. The CR2450 is wider (24.5 mm against 20 mm) and thicker (5 mm against 3.2 mm), and holds around two and a half times the power. A CR2450 physically cannot go into a CR2032 holder, and a CR2032 would rattle around in a CR2450 one without touching the contacts. Both give 3 volts, but that is the only thing they share.
What is the difference between the CR2032 and the CR2450?
Both are 3 V lithium coin cells, but the CR2450 is 24.5 × 5 mm against 20 × 3.2 mm — a different size class with about 2.5 times the capacity. In short: not interchangeable — the CR2450 is a size class up.
Are the CR2032 and the CR2450 the same size?
No. The CR2032 is 20 × 3.2 mm and the CR2450 is 24.5 × 5 mm.
Which lasts longer, the CR2032 or the CR2450?
The CR2450. It is rated at 560–620 mAh against 210–240 mAh for the CR2032 — roughly 2.6× the capacity, though real runtime depends on how much current your device draws.
Background reading
The wider questions behind these two codes.