Batteries power our daily lives. From household devices like smoke detectors and remote controls to kids‘ toys and hobby gadgets, alkalines provide easy, convenient energy when we need it.
In the world of disposable household batteries, two major players emerge from the rest – Duracell and Energizer. They‘ve been slugging it out in the battery arena for decades.
But when it comes to choosing one, which alkaline battery brand should you rely on to keep your devices running? We‘re comparing these top battery competitors across key areas like price, performance and environmental impact to help you decide.
A Brief History of Duracell and Energizer
First, a quick overview of how these battery giants came to be:
Duracell dates back to the 1920s when scientists Samuel Ruben and Philip Rogers co-founded P.R. Mallory Company. The brand initially focused on mercury batteries but shifted to alkaline cells by the 1960s. After decades under Procter & Gamble ownership, Berkshire Hathaway acquired the company in 2016.[1]
Energizer began as American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company in the 1890s. Founded on the carbon-zinc "D" cell batteries that powered one of the first portable flashlights, the company eventually shortened its name to the snappier American Ever Ready in 1914 (later rebranded Energizer in 1980). Today it operates under Energizer Holdings, Inc.[2]
Now that we’ve covered some brief background, let’s compare the two brands across key categories including pricing, performance, market share, environmental issues and more.
Duracell vs Energizer: Key Specs and Battery Technology Compared
When you pop those AAs into your kid’s toys or household gadgets, what exactly is powering them inside? Here’s a rundown of common specs and underlying tech behind their operation:
Battery Capacity – Measured in milliamp hours (mAh), capacity indicates how much stored power is available to dispense. The higher the number, the longer it can continuously provide juice before dying out. Both brands offer similar capacities in their flagship AA alkaline cells – Duracell Coppertop lists 2000 mAh capacity while Energizer MAX claims 2200 mAh.
Voltage – Most household battery sizes output 1.5V of power when fresh and unused. Voltage then steadily declines as batteries deplete and die off.
Battery Chemistry – Alkaline batteries from both Duracell and Energizer rely on similar core chemistry. An electrolyte paste binds together their zinc anode (negative end) and manganese dioxide cathode (positive end). An electrochemical reaction between these components generates electricity when you place batteries in a device.
Now let’s compare the two brands across key consumer considerations:
Duracell vs Energizer Pricing – Which costs less per battery?
Pricing often drives buying decisions for household batteries destined for kids toys and short-term gadget use. Here’s how prices stack up between the two brands:
When measured in cost per battery on popular AA 8-packs and 48-packs sold on Amazon, Duracell Coppertops averaged $0.92 – $1.01 per AA cell compared to $0.75 – $0.80 per Energizer MAX. Duracell‘s premium 2032 lithium coin cells averaged $1.33 per battery over a $10 4-pack compared to $1.25 per battery from Energizer.
Across equivalent battery sizes, Energizer provides a moderately cheaper option than the Duracell brand. However, as we‘ll explore below, you may get longer total service life per battery with Duracell to offset the higher upfront cost over time.
Battery Shelf Life and Leakage – Which last longer before use?
Batteries inevitably lose charging capacity the longer you keep them in storage. Shelf life indicates their staying power over months or years of storage before placing them into use.
Thanks to improved inner seals and casing materials that help lock in charge, most alkaline batteries today have an approximate 10 year shelf life if stored under good conditions around room temperature.
However, Energizer suffered some leakage and fade issues with older batches several years back, providing an opportunity for its rival Duracell to tout superior shelf life retention in some comparisons.[3] Modern Energizer batteries tested recently demonstrate on par storage duration with the competition though.
If you change batteries annually or biannually, both Duracell and Energizer should serve you well. For a guaranteed 10 year leak-free shelf life, Duracell Coppertop batteries offer an advantage for infrequent battery changers.
Battery Run Time and Performance Testing
Ultimately, we care about how long batteries last while powering real world devices. Rather than relying solely on the rated milliamp hour (mAh) capacities claimed by brands, independent testers put batteries through temperature extremes and gadgets like flashlights to measure actual runtime.
In a head-to-head test by Business Insider, Duracell Coppertop AA alkalines powered a flashlight for 8 hours compared to 6.5 hours for Energizer MAX before dimming below 50% brightness. In an icy 35°F environment, the Duracell maintained a narrow edge as well.[4]
Review site BestReviews also found the Coppertop AA capable of powering sample devices approximately 8% longer per fill than the Energizer MAX also tested.[5]
Why does Duracell tend to edge out Energizer in runtime testing despite reporting lower mAh capacity on paper? Further analysis points to minute internal resistance differences allowing Duracell to extract most of its stored charge efficiently compared to higher internal resistance in Energizer lowering usable capacity.[5]
In summary – expect marginally longer runtime from Duracell per fill across various mixed usage testing. However, due to Energizer‘s cheaper per battery pricing, the value proposition remains strong from both brands.
Market Share – Does one dominate alkaline sales?
Both brands stand toe-to-toe in the alkaline household battery arena regarding sales market share. Figures fluctuate year over year, but they’ve essentially split the US alkaline market down the middle for over a decade now.
According to Statista surveys of US battery sales through retail, convenience and online stores, Energizer and Duracell reliably traded narrow first place spots between 2008 to 2020.[6] At the close of 2020, Duracell commanded 29.8% dollar share of alkaline sales compared to Energizer at 27%. Private label brands from retailers like Amazon and Walmart combined took close to 25%.
So in the United States at least, neither brand dominates the other in alkaline battery sales. Consumers flock reliably to both Duracell Coppertop and Energizer MAX cells in similar numbers when plucking batteries off store shelves.
Environmental Impact and Recycling Programs Compared
Alkaline batteries rely on disposable cells made of steel, zinc and manganese. While these common metals don‘t pose significant environmental hazard during regular use, batteries eventually die and get tossed in the trash, begging the recycling question.
Duracell edges out Energizer slightly when it comes to responsible battery disposal programs and environmental stewardship.
Duracell partners with Terracycle to operate a recycling program letting consumers mail in used batteries for responsible processing rather than sending them to landfills. The company claims fully sustainable packaging made from recycled materials.[7]
While Energizer does not run its own recycling initiative, the company points consumers to some state and national programs accepting used batteries. However, Energizer does not publish corporate sustainability initiatives or goals.
For eco-conscious shoppers, Duracell checks more boxes around battery recycling and transparent environmental programs.
Additional Considerations in the Duracell vs Energizer Debate
Let‘s quickly recap a few more items that may sway your buying decision:
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Both brands perform well across temperature extremes from summer heat to winter cold – giving the edge to Duracell in extended testing.
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Prefer rechargeable batteries? Duracell offers more options including proprietary rechargeable technologies though third party brands dominate this niche.
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Duracell manufactures batteries destined for mission-critical military and aerospace applications – speaking to extreme reliability and testing standards.
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In specialty sizes like hearing aid batteries, Duracell typically costs more but often draws recommendations from audiologists for reliability.
So with all factors weighed – is one battery brand clearly better than the other?
The Verdict: Duracell or Energizer Batteries?
When all areas are factored in – performance, price, environmental impact and more – neither brand emerges as a decisive winner.
Duracell batteries cost more upfront but tend to deliver slightly longer runtimes across real-world temperature and usage testing. Energizer cells offer the value advantage for budget shoppers at a few cents less per battery. Both enjoy huge market share on retail shelves.
Rather than declare one alkaline battery king, different uses and shopper priorities may make one brand a better fit:
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If you value maximizing continuous runtime for important devices from remote controls to weather stations, Duracell makes the most of its marginally higher capacities.
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For general household and kids toys that burn through batteries every few weeks, take advantage of Energizer cost savings.
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Concerned about long term storage for emergency kits or rarely used gadgets? Duracell guarantees 10 years leak free.
At the end of the day, both Duracell and Energizer produce quality alkaline cells that power tons of daily devices with years of improvements behind the technologies. While Duracell takes the edge in select applications, bargain hunter can still rely on Energizer for penny-pinched spending.
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Procter & Gamble Completes Duracell Split Merger. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/procter-gamble-completes-duracell-spin-merge-1423591227
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Company History. Energizer Holdings, Inc. https://www.energizerholdings.com/about/company-history
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FTC Charges Energizer with Making False and Unsubstantiated Claims About Battery Life and Mercury Leakage. Federal Trade Commission. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2000/05/ftc-charges-energizer-making-false-and-unsubstantiated-claims-about-battery-life-and-mercury
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We tested batteries from Energizer and Duracell to see which lasted longest in high-drain devices. Here‘s what we found. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/gadgets/energizer-vs-duracell
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Best Alkaline Batteries. BestReviews. https://bestreviews.com/alkaline-batteries
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Battery sales share in the United States in 2020, by brand. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/728100/battery-sales-share-in-the-us-by-brand/
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Product Responsibility. Duracell. https://www.duracell.com/en-us/technology/product-responsibility/
