# Why do batteries cost so much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294 "2003-01-17T20:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justthefacts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@justthefacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justthefacts)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/1 "2003-01-17T20:33:07Z")
Do batteries really cost that much to make or is the cost simply “what the market will bear”. I have herd all batteries are about the same, that is Duracell Alkaline vs. Energizer Alkaline. $3.50 for a 9 volt seems a bit much. ---
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/2 "2003-01-17T20:41:05Z")
Because it takes effort to hold and capture the little gnomes running the turbines inside. ---
**Author:** ![justthefacts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@justthefacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justthefacts)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/3 "2003-01-17T20:48:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TigoleBitties \* > \*\*Because it takes effort to hold and capture the little gnomes running the turbines inside. \*\* Thanks! I knew there had to be a logical explanation.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/4 "2003-01-17T21:44:37Z")
Battery power is, indeed, incredibly expensive but the energy is the least of it and what you are buying is a whole bunch of chemicals plus distribution etc. It is just a very inefficient way to buy energy. Just think that people are paying more for bottled water than for gas. ---
**Author:** ![Nils](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Nils](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nils)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/5 "2003-01-18T01:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*people are paying more for bottled water than for gas. \*\* \Only where you live ☹ \ ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/6 "2003-01-18T02:45:32Z")
If you are asking “are all alkaline batteries equal, estentially in performance” then the answer is yes. I just looked at our local Walgreen’s ad and I can get 2(two)-9-volt alkaline batteries of their brand for a total of $2.29. Either you don’t have good sales down your way, or you just don’t shop around. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/7 "2003-01-18T04:31:56Z")
It’s because of the Energizer Bunny’s taste in expensive callgirls. Your average street hooker just doesn’t have the stamina to keep up with his awesome staying power. He just keeps going and going and going… Plus, he’s insatiable. Always going at it like he was some kind of rabbit or something. Oh wait, he is. ---
**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/8 "2003-01-18T04:57:11Z")
I think some may have to do with govermental taxes, or whatever you want to call them, for producing environmentally damaging products. Same reason cigarettes cost over $4 a pack, the companies are trying to make up for the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/9 "2003-01-18T05:06:06Z")
$4? Where do you live? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Donovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@Donovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donovan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/10 "2003-01-18T05:10:31Z")
slight nitpick: the high cost of cigarettes have little to do with the price manufacturers set - from what I understand, the price bumps are purely tax. Where I’m from, more than half of the cost of a pack of cigarrettes comes directly from the (state) tax attached to them - the money goes directly to the state. So I guess what I’m saying is the companies don’t ‘make up the cost’ with their pricing, they have no control over how much the state charges over and above the price the manufacturer/distributor sets. I have no idea if the cost of batteries works the same way. ---
**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/11 "2003-01-18T05:24:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SC\_Wolf \* > \*\*It’s because of the Energizer Bunny’s taste in expensive callgirls. Your average street hooker just doesn’t have the stamina to keep up with his awesome staying power. He just keeps going and going and going… > > Plus, he’s insatiable. Always going at it like he was some kind of rabbit or something. Oh wait, he is. \*\* I heard about his recent death- someone put the Energizers in backwards, and he just kept coming, and coming, and coming… ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/12 "2003-01-18T05:31:38Z")
I don’t believe that it has anything to do with taxes - there’s not too many “sin” taxes on batteries (although it would depend on what you’re doing with them 😉 ) I believe that batteries are just one of those items that are sold at a tremendous markup, much like many other electronic accessories (printer cartridges, cables, etc). I know that at places like Costco and Sam’s Club, you can get 6 packs or so of brand name alkaline 9-volts for 8 or 9 dollars (about 1.50 apiece) and you know that they aren’t selling them at a loss. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/13 "2003-01-19T22:11:13Z")
I believe (sorry, no cite) that Consumer Reports’ battery tests have generally found the big names (Energizer and Duracell) to be longer lasting (but only just barely) than the second-tier brands like Rayovac and Diehard, and the store brands. The extra money you spend on the big names goes mostly into ads. The chemicals inside are far more alike than different, and the cheapies are the better deal by far, in terms of life-per-dollar. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/14 "2003-01-19T23:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe (sorry, no cite) that Consumer Reports’ battery tests have generally found the big names (Energizer and Duracell) to be longer lasting (but only just barely) than the second-tier brands like Rayovac and Diehard, and the store brands No cite either but I remember this too. CR said that though the big name brands do last longer, the difference is really miniscule and you should go with the cheapest alkaline battery. To give you an idea, I have used different alks in a gps w/ a battery timer and noticed the following: Duracell - 19h (about $0.25 each at the Costco) duracell ultra - 17h (yes less time - ultra will last longer in high drain devices though) (about $0.33 each at Costco) energizer - 19h energizer lithium - 30h kirkland - 17h (about $0.12 each at Costco) ray-o-vac - 16h (Odd Lot Special - most likely old) 1600 mAh Nimh - 12h ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/15 "2003-01-19T23:50:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > \*\*No cite either but I remember this too. CR said that though the big name brands do last longer, the difference is really miniscule and you should go with the cheapest alkaline battery. > > To give you an idea, I have used different alks in a gps w/ a battery timer and noticed the following: > Duracell - 19h (about $0.25 each at the Costco) > duracell ultra - 17h (yes less time - ultra will last longer in high drain devices though) (about $0.33 each at Costco) > energizer - 19h > energizer lithium - 30h > kirkland - 17h (about $0.12 each at Costco) > ray-o-vac - 16h (Odd Lot Special - most likely old) > > 1600 mAh Nimh - 12h \*\* Using the above info I found that… Battery…hours… cost…hours per penny Duracell - alkaline?..19…25…0.76 Duracell Ultra - ??..17…33…0.52 Energizer - alkaline ?..19…?..? energizer lithium…30…?..? Kirkland - alkaline?..17…12…1.42 Ray-o-vac - ?..16…?..? The Kirkland alkaline is the cheapest. It would be interesting to see the price fo the lithium batteries. Also, the hours per penny would be half if you used two batteries at a time. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-batteries-cost-so-much/149294/16 "2003-01-20T00:15:40Z")
Very interesting, never though of it that was Actually it uses 4 at a time. I believe the energizer lithium was $3.99 for 2 so maybe $2 each. Lithium batts have a advantage in the cold (weather) that I didn’t want to go into. The hours per penny would be 0.15 in this case. I really don’t buy that many batteries other then from Costco (and the guy selling them on the subway when I’m in a pinch) so I didn’t list them. The Nimh cost about $3 each and maybe $0.03 to rechage (from what I’ve heard) the charger cost $32 and is spread over 8 batteries ( equals $4/battery) . Manu. claims 250 charges, I expect 150. Prices are from about 2 yrs ago and how I remember them) Using the manu # of charges cost of battery = $3+$4+(0.03x250)= $14.50 life of battery = 250x12= 3000 hrs hours per penny = 2.07 Using what I expect out of them cost of battery = $3+$4+(0.03x150)= $11.50 life of battery = 150x12= 1800 hrs hours per penny = 1.57