Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question “What kind of battery does my hearing aid need?” because hearing aid models and the batteries that power them common in many varieties. The simplest scenario to deal with is if you currently own a hearing aid; if that’s the case, read the owner’s manual that was included with the device or get in touch with the professionals who fit it for you to verify the correct battery type. In the event that you don’t use a hearing aid yet and are looking to decide which type and model is best for you, do a little research to help you decide. Hearing aid batteries vary greatly in price, and in battery life, so your selection of hearing aid can affect the amount of money you spend over time to use it.

To make things easier for consumers, hearing aid producers and those who make the batteries for them have developed a standardized color coding system to make them easier to find. No matter who the maker is, hearing aid batteries of a specific type and size will always have the identical color code on their packages.

The primary battery sizes and types to be aware of are:

Size 13 / Orange – Hearing aid batteries with a color code of orange are Size 13, and fit Behind-the-Ear (BTE) and In-the-Ear (ITE) types of hearing aids; their battery life is normally around 240 hours.

Size 312 / Brown – A brown color code indicates a Size 312 battery, generally used in In-The-Ear (ITE) and In-The-Canal (ITC) styles of hearing aids; because of their smaller size they generally have battery life of 175 hours.

Size 10 / Yellow – Yellow indicates Size 10 batteries. Size 10 are the smallest and most abundant type of hearing aid battery with a typical battery life of 80 hours. This size of battery is commonplace in Completely-In-Canal (CIC) and In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids.

Size 675 / Blue – The blue color code always identifies Size 675 batteries, which are often used in cochlear implants and larger Behind-The-Ear (BTE) style hearing aids; the 675 batteries have an average life of 300 hours.

These are the most popular types and sizes of hearing aid batteries, but there are hearing aids that call for alternative ones. If yours need one of these alternate types, most merchants that sell batteries can order them for you.

Be sure to read your owner’s manual carefully before purchasing bulk quantities of hearing aid batteries. If your unit uses rechargeable batteries, you will only need disposable batteries for emergencies. Furthermore, remember to always store your hearing aid batteries at room temperature in their sealed packages to make sure that they keep their full charge.