Hearing Aid Battery Sizes Explained: 10, 312, 13 and 675

Hearing aid batteries come in four standard sizes, each with a color-coded tab: size 10 (yellow), 312 (brown), 13 (orange) and 675 (blue). Smaller batteries last fewer days, from about 3 to 7 days for size 10 up to roughly 9 to 20 days for size 675. American Family Hearing Aid Center in Marietta, GA stocks hearing aid batteries and supplies and can explain whether rechargeable hearing aids suit you better.

What Are the Four Hearing Aid Battery Sizes?

Disposable hearing aid batteries use a universal system: the number is the size, and the color of the tab on the packaging matches it, whichever brand you buy. That makes it easy to buy the right one, as long as you know your size.

• Size 10, yellow tab: the smallest common size, used in very small in-canal and receiver-in-canal devices. Typically lasts about 3 to 7 days.
• Size 312, brown tab: the most widely used size, found in many receiver-in-canal and in-the-ear devices. Typically lasts about 3 to 10 days.
• Size 13, orange tab: a larger size for behind-the-ear and full-shell in-ear devices. Typically lasts about 6 to 14 days.
• Size 675, blue tab: the largest size, used in powerful behind-the-ear devices for severe hearing loss. Typically lasts about 9 to 20 days.

Your size is set by your hearing aid model, not by preference. It is printed on your battery packaging and in your device manual, and we can tell you at any visit.

Why Do Hearing Aid Batteries Last Different Lengths of Time?

The ranges above are wide because battery life depends on how you use your hearing aids as much as on the battery itself. The biggest factors are:

• How many hours a day you wear your hearing aids
• How much you stream phone calls, television or music over Bluetooth
• How much amplification your hearing loss requires
• The features your device runs, such as noise reduction and tinnitus sound therapy
• Humidity and temperature, which affect how zinc-air batteries perform

Georgia humidity is hard on batteries and devices alike. Our article on keeping hearing aids working through a Georgia summer explains a simple nightly routine that helps both.

How Do Zinc-Air Hearing Aid Batteries Work?

Nearly all disposable hearing aid batteries are zinc-air. They stay inactive until the colored tab is removed and air reaches the cells inside. That is why a battery can sit in its package for years and still work, but starts draining as soon as the tab comes off, whether or not it is in a hearing aid.

After peeling the tab, wait a minute or two before inserting the battery. This lets air activate it fully and can give you noticeably longer life. Putting the tab back on does not stop a battery from draining once it has been activated.

How Can You Make Hearing Aid Batteries Last Longer?

• Keep the tab on until the moment you need the battery.
• Store batteries at room temperature in their original packaging, not in the refrigerator.
• Open the battery door at night so the device fully powers down and moisture can escape.
• Wash and dry your hands before changing batteries, since oils and dirt on the contacts reduce performance.
• Remove the battery before using an electronic hearing aid dryer, unless your dryer says otherwise.
• Check the expiration date when you buy, and avoid batteries that have sat in a hot car or window.

How Do You Know When a Hearing Aid Battery Is Running Low?

Most hearing aids play a short tone or spoken alert when the battery is getting low, giving you time to swap it before the device stops. Other signs include weaker or distorted sound and a device that cuts in and out. Many people keep a spare battery in a wallet or purse so a warning tone is never a problem.

If new batteries drain unusually fast, or a device still cuts out with a fresh battery, the cause may be moisture, corroded contacts or a fault inside the device. Our guide on why a hearing aid stops working walks through the common causes, and our team can assess it for repair.

Are Hearing Aid Batteries Dangerous for Children and Pets?

Yes. Hearing aid batteries are small enough to swallow, and young children and dogs are both drawn to them. Store new and used batteries out of reach, dispose of used ones promptly, and never leave a battery loose on a table or nightstand.

If a child or pet swallows a battery, treat it as an emergency. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or seek emergency care, and contact a veterinarian immediately for pets.

How Do You Change a Hearing Aid Battery?

• Open the battery door fully with your fingernail and remove the old battery.
• Peel the colored tab off a new battery and wait a minute or two for it to activate.
• Insert the new battery with the flat, smooth side (marked with a plus sign) facing up, matching the plus sign on the door.
• Close the door gently. If it will not close, the battery is upside down, so never force it.
• Put the device in your ear and listen for the start-up tone.

If small batteries are hard to grip, a magnetic battery tool picks them up and holds them in place, and many people find it easier to change batteries over a soft towel at a table rather than standing up.

How Should You Carry Spare Batteries?

Keep spares in their original card, not loose in a pocket or purse. Loose batteries can touch coins or keys, which drains them and can make them warm. One or two spares in a wallet, car console or bag means a low-battery tone is never a problem, whether you are at church, at work or on the road.

Should You Switch to Rechargeable Hearing Aids?

Rechargeable hearing aids remove battery changes entirely: you place them in a charging case at night and wear them all day. They suit most people, especially anyone who finds small batteries fiddly. Disposable batteries remain a good option for the very smallest in-canal devices, for people who prefer a spare in their pocket, and for older devices you are happy with. Our rechargeable hearing aids page compares the two in detail.

Where Can You Buy Hearing Aid Batteries in Marietta?

American Family Hearing Aid Center stocks premium hearing aid batteries in every size, along with domes, wax filters and other hearing aid accessories. You do not need an appointment for supplies during opening hours. Call 770-590-8662 or schedule a consultation at our Marietta office, 145 N Marietta Pkwy NE, Suite E. Directions and parking are on our Marietta location page.