---
title: "BR2032 equivalent: BR2032/BN, BR-2032"
description: "The BR2032 is a 3 V lithium (primary) cell, also sold as BR2032/BN, BR-2032. Full equivalents, what does not substitute, and where it is used."
url: https://atoneplace.net/battery/br2032/
site: "At One Place"
---

# BR2032 battery

**What replaces a BR2032: BR2032/BN, BR-2032**

3 V lithium (primary), 20 × 3.2 mm (diameter × height)

The BR2032 is a single-use 3 V lithium (primary) coin cell. The codes below are the same physical cell sold under different manufacturer names, and any of them will fit.

## Specification

- **IEC designation:** BR2032
- **Nominal voltage:** 3 V
- **Chemistry:** Lithium (primary)
- **Size:** 20 × 3.2 mm (diameter × height)
- **Typical capacity:** 190 mAh
- **Rechargeable:** No — never charge it

## Codes that mean the same battery

*Different manufacturers, one physical battery. Voltage, chemistry and dimensions all match.*

| Code | Fits? |
| --- | --- |
| BR2032/BN | Yes — same cell |
| BR-2032 | Yes — same cell |

## Codes that look close but are not

| Code | Why it is not a substitute |
| --- | --- |
| CR2032 | Identical case and 3 V, but a different lithium chemistry. The BR is carbon monofluoride: a little less capacity, a much lower peak current, far lower self-discharge and a −30 to +80 °C range. Substituting a CR where a BR is specified — industrial controls, car electronics, anything hot — shortens life; substituting a BR into a key fob can brown out on the transmit pulse. |

> The BR2032 is a primary cell and must never be put in a charger. Charging a sealed primary battery builds gas pressure inside a can with no vent designed for it, which is how they rupture or catch fire. Rechargeable look-alikes exist for several sizes and carry different codes — check the code, not the shape.

## Where it turns up

- PLC and CNC controller memory backup
- Automotive body-control modules
- Industrial instruments running hot or cold
- Long-life utility metering

> Rated at 190–200 mAh by Panasonic, the main producer. The B prefix in IEC 60086 is lithium/carbon monofluoride; C is lithium/manganese dioxide.

## Common questions

### What is equivalent to a BR2032?

BR2032/BN, BR-2032 — all the same 3 V cell under different manufacturer codes.

### Can I use a CR2032 instead of a BR2032?

Identical case and 3 V, but a different lithium chemistry. The BR is carbon monofluoride: a little less capacity, a much lower peak current, far lower self-discharge and a −30 to +80 °C range. Substituting a CR where a BR is specified — industrial controls, car electronics, anything hot — shortens life; substituting a BR into a key fob can brown out on the transmit pulse.

### Is the BR2032 rechargeable?

No. It is a primary cell — charging one risks rupture or fire. Rechargeable look-alikes exist in the same size under different codes.

## Related pages

- [CR2032 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2032/)
- [CR2025 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2025/)
- [CR2016 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2016/)
- [CR2450 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2450/)
- [CR1220 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr1220/)
- [CR1620 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr1620/)
- [CR1632 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr1632/)
- [CR2430 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2430/)
- [CR2477 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr2477/)
- [CR1616 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr1616/)
- [CR1225 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/cr1225/)
- [LIR2032 battery](https://atoneplace.net/battery/lir2032/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)