Updated: · Technical data from the manufacturers' datasheets (how we write our datasheets)
European car batteries are 175 mm wide: L cases are 190 mm high and LB (low) cases 175 mm, and the number gives the length, from 175 mm for the L0 to 394 mm for the L6. Asian B and D case batteries are taller (around 225 mm) and narrower: 127-129 mm for B cases and 173 mm for D cases.
Dimensions by case size
Dimensions from our product datasheets; DIN equivalent and hold-down code from VARTA's technical datasheets. The hold-down code identifies the ledge at the base that secures the battery: it must match your current battery.
L and LB cases: the European sizes
- L (H in the DIN standard): 175 mm wide and 190 mm high. The most common in European cars: the Varta E11 and Varta E44 are L3 (H6), the Varta D24 is L2 (H5) and the Varta C22 is L1 (H4).
- LB (T in the DIN standard): the same width and length as the L with the same number, but 15 mm lower (175 mm). For example, the Varta E38 and Varta E43 are LB3, the Varta D59 is LB2 and the Varta B18 is LB1.
- An R after the case (L3R, H6R) means reversed polarity: the positive on the left, as on the Varta E12.
B and D cases: the Asian sizes
Many Japanese and Korean cars use JIS-standard cases: B cases (B19, B24) are narrow and tall, and D cases (D23, D26, D31) are 173 mm wide. The number roughly gives the length in centimetres. They usually have a different hold-down from European batteries (code B00 or B01 on the manufacturer's datasheet) and sometimes thinner terminals, so it is not a good idea to replace them with an L case even if the capacity matches.
How to find out which case your car uses
- Look for the reference (E11, D24…) or the 9-digit ETN code on the battery label and find it in Varta, Bosch, Exide and Tudor car battery equivalents table.
- If you cannot read it, measure the length, width and height (including the terminals) and compare them with the table.
- Check which side the positive terminal is on, with the terminals facing you.
- Check how it is held in place: with a clamp on the base ledge or with a frame over the top.
You can also browse all car batteries or filter by case: L3 car batteries, L2 car batteries, L4 car batteries, LB3 car batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of an L3 battery?
278 × 175 × 190 mm (length × width × height). It is the size of the Varta E11, E44, N70 and A7, and corresponds to the H6 case in the DIN standard.
What is the difference between an L3 and an LB3 case?
The height: the L3 is 190 mm and the LB3 175 mm. Length and width are the same. Only choose an LB if your original battery is LB or if there is no room for extra height.
Can I fit an L4 instead of an L3?
Only if there is room: the L4 is 315 mm long, 37 mm more than the L3. Before buying, measure the space and check that the hold-down clamp still reaches.
Can Asian D23 or D26 batteries replace an L2 or L3?
Not as a general rule. D cases are taller (225 mm) and slightly narrower (173 mm), and they have a different hold-down. Always look for a battery with the same case as the original.
What does the R in L3R or H6R mean?
That the polarity is reversed compared with the standard layout: the positive is on the left. The Varta E12 is an L3R; the E11, with the positive on the right, is an L3.