CellChart
Photo lithium

CR123A battery: equivalents & specs

The CR123A is a stout 3 volt lithium cylinder, 17 mm across and 34.5 mm long, rated about 1500 mAh. Born as a film camera battery, it now dominates tactical flashlights, alarm sensors and smart locks thanks to high power delivery and a ten-year shelf life.

CR123A battery drawing: 17 mm across, 34.5 mm tall CR123A 34.5 mm ⌀ 17 mm
CR123A, side view, drawn to scale: 17 mm across, 34.5 mm tall.
Voltage
3 V
Size (D×H)
17 × 34.5 mm
Chemistry
Lithium manganese dioxide (Li/MnO2)
Capacity
1500 mAh

Same battery, other names

Every code below is the exact same cell as CR123A. Any of them will fit and work identically.

CR123123DL123AEL123APK123LACR173455018LC

Compatible replacements

  • CR2: Shorter, slimmer 3 V photo cell; similar chemistry but a completely different size, never interchangeable.

⚠️ Use quality brands and never mix cells in multi-battery lights; mismatched CR123As can vent violently. The 16340/RCR123 rechargeable runs at 3.7 V and is not a universal substitute.

Buying and replacement notes

Buy CR123As from reputable brands only: Panasonic, Energizer, Duracell, Surefire or Streamlight. Counterfeit and grey-market cells are rampant in this size and have caused venting incidents in multi-cell flashlights, where a weak counterfeit gets reverse-charged by its stronger partner. For the same reason, never mix old and new cells or different brands in one device.

A rechargeable lookalike exists, variously sold as 16340 or RCR123, at 3.6 to 3.7 volts. Some devices accept it, many do not; check your device's manual before substituting, and never put li-ion rechargeables in smoke detectors or alarm sensors designed for primary cells.

Commonly used in

tactical flashlightsfilm camerassecurity system sensorssmoke detectors (some)smart locksnight vision gear

Need a replacement?

Shop CR123A batteries on Amazon →

Comparisons

CR123A vs CR2

⚠️ Keep away from children. Swallowed button batteries, especially 20 mm lithium coins, cause severe injury within hours. If a child swallows one, call the 24/7 National Battery Ingestion Hotline (US) at 800-498-8666 or poison control at 800-222-1222 immediately. What every parent should know.

Frequently asked questions

Are CR123 and CR123A the same battery?
Yes in practice. Nearly everything sold today is the CR123A specification; the A merely distinguishes it from an early variant that vanished decades ago. DL123A, EL123AP, K123LA and CR17345 are brand and IEC codes for the same 17 x 34.5 mm, 3 V lithium cell.
Can I use a rechargeable 16340 instead of a CR123A?
Only if your device explicitly supports it. The 16340 (RCR123) is the same size but delivers 3.6 to 3.7 V, which overdrives single-voltage devices, and its capacity is roughly half. Many modern flashlights accept both; alarm sensors and cameras generally do not.
How long do CR123A batteries last?
Shelf life is ten years or more. In service: months to years in alarm sensors, one to two years of occasional use in a flashlight, and about an hour of maximum-brightness runtime in a high-output tactical light. Cold weather barely bothers them, a key advantage.
Why do security sensors use the CR123A?
It combines high energy, a decade of shelf life, wide temperature tolerance and the ability to deliver radio transmit pulses without sagging. That lets a door sensor or motion detector run three to five years on one cell with minimal false low-battery alerts.

More Photo lithium cells

CR2CR-P22CR5CR-V32CR1/3N