LR44 vs SR44
These two cells are physically identical at 11.6 × 5.4 mm. The difference is chemistry: the SR44 is silver oxide, holds a steadier voltage for longer and stores more energy, while the LR44 is alkaline and costs a fraction as much.
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These two are the same size, so both will fit. The SR44 costs more but holds a steady power level until it dies, which matters in a watch or a light meter. The LR44 is cheap and fades gradually — fine for a toy, a calculator or a thermometer. If your device came with an SR44, stick with it.
- Verdict:
- SR44 for anything precise, LR44 for anything cheap
- Interchangeable:
- usually, in low-drain devices
Side-by-side specifications
| Specification | LR44 | SR44 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Alkaline | Silver Oxide |
| Type | Button Cell | Button Cell |
| Nominal voltage | 1.5 V | 1.55 V |
| Diameter | 11.6 mm | 11.6 mm |
| Height | 5.4 mm | 5.4 mm |
| Typical capacity | 110–130 mAh | 170–200 mAh |
| Rechargeable | No | No |
| Also sold as | AG13, A76, L1154, 157 | 357, 303, SR44W, V357 |
Size comparison
Both cells share an identical 11.6 × 5.4 mm footprint, so physical fit is not the deciding factor here.
Chemistry
LR44 is alkaline (1.5 V nominal). SR44 is silver oxide (1.55 V nominal). Silver oxide keeps its voltage nearly flat until it is exhausted; alkaline sags gradually from the first day.
Runtime
SR44 typically delivers 170–200 mAh against 110–130 mAh for the LR44 — roughly 50% more usable energy in the same shell.
Compatibility
In most low-drain devices an SR44 drops straight into an LR44 socket. Devices calibrated to a specific voltage — light meters, some medical instruments — should use the chemistry named in the manual.
How to tell which you have
Look at the code, not the cell — they are the same 11.6 × 5.4 mm disc. Anything beginning LR is alkaline, anything beginning SR is silver oxide. Retail numbers muddy it: AG13 and A76 are the alkaline one, 357 and 303 the silver oxide one. Where a packet shows only a trade number, the IEC code is usually in the small print.
What the flat discharge curve actually changes
A quartz watch keeps time from a crystal, not the battery, so an LR44 will not make it run slow. What it does is shorten the period the display and the motor behave predictably, and in a light meter or a pair of callipers, where the reading is derived from a voltage, a sagging cell shifts the number before it dies.
Buying in bulk
LR44s are sold in strips of ten for the price of a single branded silver oxide cell, which is why they dominate toys and giveaways. That economy is real, but alkaline button cells are also the ones that leak when left flat, so the strip in a drawer is worth checking on anything you care about.
Can I use an SR44 instead of an LR44?
Physically, yes — the SR44 occupies exactly the same space as the LR44. The question is electrical: the SR44 runs at 1.55 V against 1.5 V, and uses silver oxide rather than alkaline. For everyday low-drain devices such as toys, calculators and remotes, that difference is not usually a problem. For calibrated instruments, follow the manual.
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.
LR44 vs SR44: common questions
Is the SR44 a direct replacement for the LR44?
These two are the same size, so both will fit. The SR44 costs more but holds a steady power level until it dies, which matters in a watch or a light meter. The LR44 is cheap and fades gradually — fine for a toy, a calculator or a thermometer. If your device came with an SR44, stick with it.
What is the difference between the LR44 and the SR44?
These two cells are physically identical at 11.6 × 5.4 mm. The difference is chemistry: the SR44 is silver oxide, holds a steadier voltage for longer and stores more energy, while the LR44 is alkaline and costs a fraction as much. In short: sR44 for anything precise, LR44 for anything cheap.
Are the LR44 and the SR44 the same size?
Yes. Both measure 11.6 × 5.4 mm, so either fits where the other does. Whether they are interchangeable is an electrical question, not a physical one.
Which lasts longer, the LR44 or the SR44?
The SR44. It is rated at 170–200 mAh against 110–130 mAh for the LR44 — roughly 1.5× the capacity, though real runtime depends on how much current your device draws.
Background reading
The wider questions behind these two codes.
Mostly the same words — where it matters, coin means the thin 3 V ones
Silver oxide for precision, alkaline for price
Not alternatives — different voltages for different jobs
L is alkaline, S is silver oxide — the number after is the size