The CR2016 is a 3 volt lithium coin cell, 20 mm across and 1.6 mm thick, rated 85 to 90 mAh. It is one of the three standard 20 mm lithium sizes alongside the CR2025 and CR2032, and it is the thinnest and lowest-capacity of the trio.
CR2016, face and side profile, drawn to scale: 20 mm across, 1.6 mm thick.
Voltage
3 V
Size (D×H)
20 × 1.6 mm
Chemistry
Lithium manganese dioxide (Li/MnO2)
Capacity
85-90 mAh
Same battery, other names
Every code below is the exact same cell as CR2016. Any of them will fit and work identically.
DL2016ECR2016BR2016 (wide-temp variant)5000LC
Compatible replacements
CR2025: Same diameter, 2.5 mm tall; often physically interchangeable but check the compartment depth.
CR2032: Same diameter, double the thickness and capacity; only fits compartments built for 3.2 mm.
⚠️ If your device held two stacked CR2016 cells, it needs 6 V. One CR2032 fits the same space but supplies only 3 V and will not work properly.
Buying and replacement notes
Plenty of devices, especially LED novelties and some fobs, stack two CR2016s to get 6 volts in the space of one CR2032. That design choice matters when replacing: two stacked CR2016s deliver 6 V, so a single CR2032, despite fitting the space, would halve the voltage and the device will be dim or dead. Replace like with like, and check how many cells came out.
Commonly used in
car key fobspocket calculatorsdigital watchesLED novelties (often two stacked)
⚠️ 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
Can I use a CR2032 instead of a CR2016?
Only if the compartment is deep enough and the device took a single cell. Both are 20 mm, 3 V cells, but the CR2032 is twice as thick. It will not close inside a slot molded for 1.6 mm, and it cannot replace a stacked pair of CR2016s, which supply 6 V.
Why does my gadget take two CR2016 batteries?
Stacking two cells doubles the voltage to 6 V while occupying about the same space as one CR2032. LED lights and some remotes use this to drive brighter output or simpler circuits. Always replace both cells at once, with the same brand and date if possible.
How long does a CR2016 last?
Around 85 mAh translates to one to two years in a key fob and up to several years in a watch or calculator. In continuously lit LED novelties, expect hours to days. Lithium coin cells store extremely well, losing about 1 percent per year unused.