Jenna McMahon | 

The Cheapest Places to Buy Batteries & How Much You Should Pay

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Finding the cheapest place to buy batteries isn’t always a cakewalk. It’s easy to overpay for batteries without comparing the costs of different brands and pack sizes. And sometimes calculating prices can get so confusing, you’ll pay any amount just to avoid the math.

I’m going to show you how to get the cheapest batteries the easy way. And by “cheap,” I mean rock-bottom prices, not low quality.

Batteries come in all different forms, like rechargeable batteries or lithium batteries (which tend to last longer but cost more). For the sake of this post, I’m focusing on the most common type: single-use alkaline batteries.

I’ll show you how to get the best battery coupons and where to shop for the absolute lowest prices, plus which brands tend to be the cheapest on the reg.

Download the free The Krazy Coupon Lady app so I can show you more money-saving tips and discounts.

 

Best Battery Deals Available Now

Shop the most-popular batteries now on Amazon.

BEST DEAL ON AAA:

Amazon Basics AAA Battery 100-Pack — $20.96

$0.21 per battery

 

BEST DEAL ON AA:

Amazon Basics AA Battery 48-Pack — $14.02

$0.29 per battery

 

BEST DEAL ON RECHARGEABLE:

Amazon Basics AAA Rechargeable 24-Pack — $15.07

$0.63 per battery

 

BEST DEAL ON LITHIUM:

LiCB 3V Lithium Battery 10-Pack — $5.39

$0.54 per battery

 

1. To compare battery prices across pack sizes, brands, and stores, calculate the cost per battery.

a person holding two makes of batteries at costco

If you’re mathematically challenged like me, don’t panic. I put math to bed a long time ago and swore off of it forever. But when it comes to saving money, I’ll gladly whip out my calculator to avoid overpaying for anything. And you should, too.

To calculate the cost per battery, take the total price of the pack and divide it by the number of batteries included. For example, if a 24-pack of AA batteries costs $18.99, the cost per battery is $0.79 ($18.99 / 24).

 

2. Aim to pay $0.11 per AAA, $0.25 per AA, or $0.59 per C or D battery.

Energizer batteries with a box

Based on the absolute best deals I’ve seen, these are the costs per battery you should aim for when you buy AAA, AA, C, or D batteries.

  • AAA Goal Price — $0.11 per battery
  • AA Goal Price — $0.25 per battery
  • C Goal Price — $0.59 per battery
  • D Goal Price $0.59 per battery

Quick disclaimer here — these prices won’t be available all the time. I based these numbers on the lowest of the low prices I’ve seen from various sales, coupons, and other limited-time deals. So it IS possible to hit these goal prices, but probably not every day. Use these as a standard of comparison when you shop, but don’t stress if you’re spending a little bit more. Just try to get as close as you can.

TIP: We found the best rechargeable batteries range from $1.60 – $7.50 per AA battery.

 

3. Are store-brand batteries always the cheapest option?

Target Up&Up batteries.

Most of the time, store-brand batteries are your cheapest option, but not all of them will get you a great deal. Most store-brand batteries have a much lower cost per battery than Duracell and Energizer. But on the other hand, you’ll pay about $0.10 more per battery for the Walgreens brand than you will with Energizer Max.

Overall, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, and Amazon have the most affordable store-brand batteries, even at regular prices.

a list of store-brand costs per battery, showing that Home Depot has the cheapest batteries and Walgreens has the most expensive batteries

 

 

4. The cheapest place to buy AAA batteries is Amazon.

Pay as low as $0.07 per battery

A person holding up an orange amazon basics battery with an open box of batteries in the background.

Amazon Basics has the lowest regular price for AAA batteries as it is, and when you factor in sale prices with up to 15% off Subscribe & Save orders, the deal is a no-brainer. You’ll end up paying as low as $0.07 per AAA battery, which is WAY lower than the goal price I stated earlier ($0.11 per AAA battery). Even if you don’t use the Subscribe & Save discount, you’ll still pay just $0.09 per battery with a really good sale.

Amazon Basics batteries go on sale often, so all you have to do is keep an eye out. Remember, you’re aiming to pay $0.11 per AAA battery, but the ultimate goal is to save as much as possible.

Here’s an example of what an unbeatable deal on AAA batteries looks like:

Amazon AAA Batteries
ONLINE Deal
As low as$21.92$61.38(64% off)
What to buy
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.07 per battery
 

5. The cheapest place to buy AA batteries is Home Depot.

Pay $0.25 per battery

Home Depot HDX batteries

At regular prices, Home Depot’s HDX AA batteries are cheaper than any others I’ve seen. You’ll pay just $0.25 per battery for their AA and AAA batteries. (Remember, $0.25 was our goal price for AA batteries.) Who needs a coupon when you’re already getting this great of a deal?

ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$16.00
Price Summary
$0.25 per battery
 

6. The cheapest place to buy C and D batteries is Target.

Pay as low as $0.59 per battery

an 8 pack of Up & Up D alkaline batteries hanging among other battery packs at Target

Target’s Up & Up C and D batteries are regularly priced at $0.62 per battery, which is much lower than C and D battery prices anywhere else. Plus, you’ll save an extra 5% with your Target RedCard. It’s also worth looking for Target Circle offers on Up & Up batteries to see if you can score extra savings on your purchase.

Target C Batteries
ONLINE or In-Store Deal
As low as$4.74$4.99(5% off)
Mobile coupons needed
5% Off - Target RedCard Savings
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.59 per battery
Target D Batteries
ONLINE or In-Store Deal
As low as$4.74$4.99(5% off)
Mobile coupons needed
5% Off - Target RedCard Savings
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.59 per battery
 

7. Buy Duracell Coppertop batteries from either Amazon or Costco.

Pay as low as $0.37 per battery

A person holding a pack of Duracell batteries.

When it comes to bigger brands like Duracell, you’ll have to accept a higher cost per battery than you would for lesser-known or store-brand batteries. But if you’re truly loyal to Duracell, there are plenty of ways to save. Duracell batteries are widely available at most retailers, so Duracell coupons and store-specific offers are easy to find.

Costco has the lowest regular prices for Duracell Coppertop AA and AAA batteries (both cost $0.52 per battery) and Duracell Coppertop D batteries ($1.21 per battery). They’ll also run promos for $2 – $3 off Duracell Coppertop packs, bringing your cost per battery down even more.

ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$17.99$20.99(14% off)
What to buy
$3 off Duracell Coppertop AA or AAA Battery Packs
Price Summary
Pay $0.45 per battery
Amazon has the lowest regular price for Duracell Coppertop C batteries ($1.28 per battery), but you won’t have to wait long for a sale. Plus, with the Subscribe & Save discount, you’ll save an extra 5% or 15%. Even better, Amazon throws out coupons for dollars off your Duracell purchase with Subscribe & Save orders. When you combine these three offers, you’ll pay as low as $0.37 per battery.

Duracell AA Batteries
ONLINE Deal
As low as$10.37$25.49(59% off)
What to buy
Mobile coupons needed
$2.10 Off Duracell with Subscribe & Save, Amazon Coupon, Limit 1
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.37 per battery
 

8. Buy Duracell Optimum batteries from Amazon or Home Depot.

Pay as low as $0.37 per battery

A person holding packages of Duracell Optimum batteries

Duracell Optimum batteries are even more expensive than their Coppertop counterpart, but you can buy them at Home Depot for just $0.94 per battery. So without a sale or coupon, Home Depot is the way to go.

ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$33.95
Price Summary
Pay $0.94 per battery
But with an Amazon sale on Duracell Optimum batteries combined with up to 15% off Subscribe & Save orders, you’ll pay as low as $0.56 per AA battery and $0.37 per AAA battery.

Duracell Optimum AA Batteries
ONLINE Deal
As low as$6.77$17.29(61% off)
What to buy
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.56 per battery
Duracell Optimum AAA Batteries
ONLINE Deal
As low as$6.63$24.79(73% off)
What to buy
Mobile coupons needed
40% Off - Duracell OPTIMUM Batteries with Subscribe & Save, Amazon Coupon, Limit 1
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.37 per battery
 

 

9. Shop for Energizer Max batteries at Sam’s Club or Amazon.

Pay as low as $0.25 per battery

A set of Energizer AAA batteries.

Sam’s Club has the lowest regular price for Energizer Max C and D batteries ($1.28 per battery). But you can also save on Energizer Max AAs and AAAs with Sam’s Club Instant Savings:

Energizer Max AA Batteries
ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$23.48$26.48(11% off)
What to buy
$3 off with Sam's Club Instant Savings
Price Summary
Pay $0.49 per battery
Energizer Max AAA Batteries
ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$18.98$21.98(14% off)
What to buy
$3 off with Sam's Club Instant Savings
Price Summary
Pay $0.47 per battery
Amazon has a sale or coupon (or both) for Energizer batteries at least once a month.

Energizer Max AAA Batteries
ONLINE Deal
As low as$5.94$19.98(70% off)
What to buy
Price Summary
Pay as low as $0.25 per battery

Related: We have you covered with Energizer coupons if you need ’em!

 

10. Shop for batteries when there’s a sale, coupon, or both.

stop-and-shop-duracell-batteries-112621-a

Yes, store-brand batteries regularly have low prices, but you’d miss out if you didn’t at least try to mix in extra savings. Because the key to getting the best battery prices is to wait for a sale and stack it with a battery coupon or store offer, knowing what to look for makes all the difference.

Save with store-specific offers.

Batteries go on sale literally all the time, but you’ll have better luck at some stores versus others. Between coupons, price drops, and loyalty discounts, there’s almost always a way to save more on your purchase. Here’s how to save at each of the major stores:


Batteries at Amazon:

Amazon gives you tons of opportunities to save, so it’s worth checking for deals there first. They have regular sales on Amazon Basics, Energizer, Duracell, and sometimes Rayovac batteries. In most cases, you’ll score an extra 5% off if you add the batteries to your Amazon Subscribe & Save order and 15% off if you have five or more items on Subscribe & Save. But the absolute best offer is when there’s an Amazon coupon available during a sale. I’ve seen coupons like $2.10 off Duracell batteries or 40% off Energizer batteries with Subscribe & Save.

TIP: Text AMAZON to 57299 and be the first to know about the hottest Amazon deals each day.


Batteries at Sam’s Club & Costco:

Sam’s Club and Costco run weeklong or monthlong promos for dollars off battery packs. The most recent offers I saw were for $3 Instant Savings on all batteries from Sam’s Club and $3 off Duracell Coppertop AAA or AA batteries from Costco.


Batteries at Target:

The best way to score battery savings at Target is to stack a Target Circle offer, a manufacturer coupon, and your Target RedCard savings (5%) on a single purchase. These are the two most recent Target deals I’ve seen on batteries:

  • Target Circle Offer — 10% off Duracell Optimum AA and AAA Batteries
  • Target Digital Coupons ($1/1 Energizer Max AA or AAA 10-Packs)

 

Combine store offers with manufacturer (MFR) coupons.

Manufacturer coupons are great because you can use them at any store, and they usually offer discounts on the most widely available battery packs (like Energizer and Duracell). Check out our full list of coupons for batteries, most of which can be used at any store.

Expect coupon values to save you $1.00-$1.50 off a package of name-brand batteries.

Related: Looking for coupons online? Use these top tips for finding and printing the best free printable coupons.

 

11. Which brand of batteries tends to be the cheapest?

Home Depot HDX batteries

If you’re in a hurry and can’t hunt for bigger savings, these five battery brands are the cheapest at their regular prices:

  1. HDX – Home Depot ($0.25 average cost per AA battery)
  2. ACDelco ($0.30 average cost per AA battery)
  3. Great Value – Walmart ($0.32 average cost per AA battery)
  4. Up & Up – Target ($0.32 average cost per AA battery)
  5. Amazon Basics ($0.32 average cost per AA battery)

I only found one independently owned brand with prices that compete with the store brands, and that’s ACDelco.

You can buy ACDelco batteries at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Amazon. Their AA batteries tend to be the cheapest at Home Depot ($0.27 per AA battery). But if you’re looking for ACDelco AAAs, buy them on Amazon ($0.25 per battery).

 

12. Overall, Amazon is the best and cheapest place to buy batteries of all sizes.

A person holding Energizer batteries with an amazon package.

Just when you thought Amazon couldn’t get any better, it does. If you’ve been buying batteries on Amazon without really knowing whether you’re getting a good deal, you can rest easy. Amazon has low regular prices on their Amazon Basics batteries. But they go on sale literally all the time, so you have plenty of chances to get an even better deal.

Plus, Amazon’s Subscribe & Save discount will save you an extra 5% or 15% on your battery purchases, and you’ll often find an Amazon coupon for extra savings on Subscribe & Save orders.

Beyond that, Amazon frequently drops prices on other types of batteries, like Energizer, Duracell, and Rayovac. If you wait for these sales, you’ll pay far below the average cost per battery for these brands.

Let me show you what I mean:

Amazon also has the lowest regular prices for the following batteries:

So yeah. When it comes to saving on batteries, Amazon is all around a great option. But you should still do the math to make sure you’re getting a good deal. As I said, waiting for a sale can pay off big time, so keep your smarts on every time you shop.

TIP: There’s a way to make sure you never miss a great Amazon deal on batteries. Head to CamelCamelCamel.com, paste the Amazon URL for your go-to battery packs in the search bar, then enter your email address to set up price alerts.

 

13. Avoid buying batteries from drugstores — even if you have a coupon.

A person taking batteries off a shelf

Walgreens and CVS have some of the highest battery prices out there, which leads me to this next rule: a drugstore is never the cheapest place to buy batteries. Their store-brand batteries are two to three times more expensive than other store-brand batteries. Even when you stack multiple savings elements on your battery purchase, you’ll still end up paying more than you would at other retailers. Here’s an example:

Energizer Max AAA Batteries
ONLINE or In-Store Deal
$43.49$59.98(27% off)
Mobile coupons needed
$1.50/2 Energizer Battery Packs (MFR Coupon)
Price Summary
So even with the Walgreens offer AND a MFR coupon on your Energizer Max AA battery purchase from Walgreens, you’ll still pay more than three times as much per battery compared to Home Depot’s prices.

CVS battery prices are slightly lower than Walgreens but not nearly as low as Amazon Basics or Home Depot’s HDX batteries.

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