Car battery size chart: how to read the codes on your battery

The easiest way to find the right battery size is to read the code on the battery already in your car. Most car batteries use one of three systems: Japanese JIS codes (such as 55D23L), European DIN or EN case sizes (such as LN3 or H6), or American BCI group sizes (such as 24F, 48 or 94R).

Each system describes the physical size of the battery and where its terminals sit. Some also tell you about capacity. This guide explains how to read each one.

Why the size has to match

A battery must do three things to fit properly:

• sit in the battery tray with the hold-down clamp secured,
• have its terminals on the side where the car’s cables reach,
• have enough capacity and starting power for the car.

A battery that is too small can move around and vibrate, which shortens its life. A battery that is too tall can touch the bonnet or a metal panel. A battery with the terminals on the wrong side may leave the cables stretched, or put the positive terminal close to metal.

JIS codes (Japanese and Korean cars)

Most Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Honda, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Kia models built for Asian and GCC markets use batteries with a JIS code. A typical code is 55D23L.

Part of the code	Example	What it means
First number	55	Performance rank. A combined rating of capacity and starting power. A higher number means a stronger battery.
Letter	D	Width and height class. Letters run from A (smallest) to H (largest). B and D are the most common in passenger cars and SUVs.
Second number	23	Approximate length in centimetres. 23 means about 23 cm long.
Last letter	L or R	Terminal layout. Shows which side the terminals sit on.

So 55D23L and 75D23L are the same physical size with the same terminal layout, but the 75 is the stronger battery. 55D23L and 55D23R are the same size and strength, but the terminals are on opposite sides.

Some JIS batteries also carry an older code, such as NS40 or NS70. These are older names for common sizes. A Z or S added to them usually refers to the terminal type or a variant, and the meaning can differ between makers, so compare the full code with the battery you have.

DIN and EN codes (European cars)

European cars and many newer cars from other makers use European case sizes. You will see them written in two common ways:

Name style	Examples	What it describes
LN sizes	LN1, LN2, LN3, LN4, LN5, LN6	Case length, from shorter to longer. All share a similar width and height.
H sizes	H5, H6, H7, H8	The same family of cases under another naming style. LN2 is usually sold as H5, LN3 as H6, LN4 as H7 and LN5 as H8.

So “LN3” and “H6” usually describe the same case. Both are common in European saloons and SUVs.

Some European batteries also carry a five-digit DIN number, for example 57412:

Part of the number	Example	What it means
First digit	5	A 12V battery, and its capacity band. 5 means under 100 Ah; 6 means 100 Ah or more.
Next two digits	74	Capacity in amp hours. 74 means 74 Ah. For a battery starting with 6, add 100.
Last two digits	12	The maker’s variant: terminal layout, hold-down style and other details.

Longer European numbers, such as nine-digit ETN codes, follow a similar idea with extra digits for the starting current. Always compare the case size, the capacity and the terminal layout, not just one number.

BCI group sizes (American cars)

American cars, including many Chevrolet, GMC, Ford and Jeep models, often use BCI group sizes. Examples include 24F, 34, 35, 48, 65 and 94R.

Part of the code	Example	What it means
Number	24, 48, 94	The group size: a set of case dimensions.
F or R suffix	24F, 94R	The terminal positions are reversed compared with the standard layout of that group.

Some group sizes match European cases. Group 48 is broadly the same as H6 (LN3), and group 94R is broadly the same as H7 (LN4). Check the terminal layout and hold-down before treating them as the same battery.

Terminal side: L and R

The L or R in a JIS code, and the R or F in a BCI code, tell you the terminal layout. Two batteries can be identical in size and strength but mirror images of each other.

Fitting the wrong layout is a common mistake. The cables may not reach, or the positive cable may have to be bent across the battery. In the worst case, the positive terminal ends up close to a metal part of the car, which risks a short circuit. When you buy a battery, compare the terminal positions with the old one side by side.

Ah and CCA: what the numbers mean

The label also shows ratings. The two that matter most are:

Rating	What it measures	Why it matters
Ah (amp hours)	How much energy the battery stores	More reserve when the car is parked with alarms, trackers or dashcams running
CCA (cold cranking amps)	How much current the battery can deliver to start the engine, measured at -18°C	More starting power, and more margin as the battery ages

CCA figures can be measured to different standards (such as SAE or EN), so compare numbers from the same standard.

People often search for a 60 Ah, 70 Ah or 80 Ah battery. Capacity is a rating, not a size. Two batteries with the same Ah can have different cases, and two batteries with the same case can have different Ah. Choose the case and terminal layout first, then match or exceed the original Ah and CCA.

Going up in capacity is usually fine if the battery fits. On cars with a battery management system, the new capacity may need to be coded to the car. See battery registration explained. Going down in capacity is not a good idea, especially in UAE heat.

Common batteries in popular UAE cars

The exact battery depends on the generation, the engine and the specification. We confirm the size from the label of the battery fitted to your car. This table shows what each model typically uses and where the battery sits.

Car	Typical technology	Battery location
Toyota Land Cruiser	Conventional flooded on most petrol versions; EFB on some newer variants	Under the bonnet
Nissan Patrol	Conventional flooded on most versions; EFB possible on some newer specifications	Under the bonnet
Toyota Corolla	Conventional flooded on petrol versions; a separate 12V auxiliary battery on hybrids	Under the bonnet on petrol versions; varies on hybrids
Toyota Camry	Conventional flooded on petrol versions; a separate 12V auxiliary battery on hybrids	Under the bonnet on petrol versions; depends on the generation on hybrids
Nissan Sunny	Conventional flooded on most versions	Under the bonnet

Japanese petrol cars like these usually take a JIS-sized battery. Some imported or diesel Land Cruisers have two batteries, so tell us if your car is an import. The 12V battery in a hybrid is different from the high-voltage hybrid battery; it powers the car’s electronics and starts the hybrid system.

European cars such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Range Rover usually take an AGM battery in a European case size, often in the boot or under the floor. You can find notes for your own car under car brands.

Which car battery do I need?

To find the right battery, use one of these:

1. Read the label on your current battery. Note the size code, the terminal layout, the technology (AGM, EFB or conventional) and the Ah and CCA.
2. Check the owner’s manual. It often lists the battery size or rating.
3. Use our battery finder to look up your car.
4. Ask us. Tell us the make, model and year, and whether the car has start-stop.

If the old battery has been replaced before, do not assume it was the correct one. Check that it matches what the car needs.

Getting the right size fitted

We bring the battery to your car anywhere in Dubai, check the size and terminal layout against the old one, and match AGM, EFB or conventional to what the car needs. We register or code the battery where required and take the old one away for recycling. See our car battery delivery and installation service.