What Are the Different Hearing Aid Battery Types?

Date Updated: July 28, 2025

Written by:

Rachel Lustbader

Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.

Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers

Hearing aid batteries come in four sizes, and these sizes are standardized across all battery manufacturers worldwide. In order to make battery identification easier for the consumer, these highly specialized batteries are also color-coded. Fortunately, these batteries are widely available at drug stores and through online retailers. This guide provides an overview of the different hearing aid battery types, how long each battery usually lasts and common signs it’s time to install a new hearing aid battery.

How Are Hearing Aid Batteries Different?

Size 10 hearing aid batteries are the smallest size, and these are marked with a yellow activation tab. The next size up is 312, and 312’s have a brown activation tab. Size 10 and 312 batteries are typically found in hearing aids that fit directly inside the ear canal, although 312’s can also be found in mini behind-the-ear devices.

The second-largest hearing aid battery is a size 13, and this size is marked with an orange activation tab. Size 13’s are commonly used in traditional behind-the-ear hearing aids, while the largest size battery, 675, comes with a blue tab and works with high-powered behind-the-ear devices.

Do Hearing Aid Batteries Contain Mercury?

In the past, hearing aid batteries often contained mercury, but mercury battery cells have been largely banned due to environmental and health concerns.

Modern hearing aid batteries are known as zinc-air batteries. When the user removes the color-coded tab from the battery, oxygen in the air activates the battery. This is why hearing aid batteries need to be stored with the colored tab in place, and the tab should only be removed right before the battery is installed.

How Long Do Hearing Aid Batteries Last?

The lifespan of a hearing aid battery ranges from five to 14 days, depending on how many hours the hearing aid is activated each day, the battery size, the type of hearing aid and the level of amplification needed by the user.

It’s important to know that hearing aid batteries can fail without warning, so users should carry a set of fresh batteries at all times. Most modern hearing aids are equipped with a battery monitor that sends an audible alert to users when the battery is depleted.

Are Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries Available?

Yes. Some newer hearing aid models are now equipped with built-in rechargeable batteries. This battery type is typically found on Bluetooth hearing aids, which are the type of hearing aids that look like wireless earbuds.

Rechargeable hearing aid batteries need to be charged daily by placing the hearing aids in a special charging dock, and when the batteries no longer hold a charge, the hearing aids need to be serviced by a hearing aid technician.

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