Battery group size chart

Published by Dingwei Battery · Last reviewed 2026-09-09 · Sources: BCI Battery Replacement Data Book, EN 50342, JIS D 5301, Dingwei model database

"Group size" is the industry’s shorthand for a battery’s physical footprint. Three naming systems describe largely the same boxes — BCI group numbers in North America, JIS D/B codes in Japan/Asia, and DIN/EN H and L codes in Europe. This chart maps them to dimensions and vehicle types so a buyer can speak one factory’s language from any market.

The master cross-reference

Dimensions are the standard nominal footprints; individual manufacturers may vary by a few millimetres. Confirm exact L × W × H and terminal position against the specific model before ordering. The dimensions guide explains why a few millimetres matter.

Reading the three naming systems

• JIS D/B codes — the number after D or B relates to the case size: B24 is the narrow compact box (129 mm wide), D23 the short sedan box, D26 the standard pickup/SUV box, D31 the long 4WD/diesel box. The two-digit prefix (55D23, 65D26, 80D26, 105D31) is a performance/capacity grade, not a size.
• DIN/EN H and L codes — H5–H8 (equivalently LN2–LN5) are the modern European boxes, 175 mm wide and 190 mm tall, distinguished by length (242→354 mm). L3–L5 are the older DIN numbering for the same lengths. H6/LN3 and L3 are the same 278 mm box.
• BCI group numbers — arbitrary integers assigned by Battery Council International; the group maps to a fixed footprint and terminal layout. Group 48 and Group 94R are the most common European-vehicle footprints in North America.

The overlap is the useful part: H6/LN3/L3 = Group 48 at 278 mm; H7/LN4/L4 = Group 94R at 315 mm. One mould, several markets, three labels. See the standards comparison for the terminal and test-method differences that still separate the families.

Why the group number is also a logistics decision

Group size sets the packaging footprint, which sets how many units fit on a pallet and in a container. A 20 ft container typically carries 600–800 automotive batteries once pallets, cartons, separators and stacking limits are counted. For lead-acid the interesting point is that weight is not the binding constraint at that count — 800 units at an average 15 kg is about 12,000 kg, well under a 20 ft container’s roughly 25,000 kg payload. Palletisation, carton dimensions and safe stacking height (batteries are heavy and acid-filled, so they are not stacked high) cap the count first. This is why MOQ is quoted per container, not per pallet.

More BCI groups worth knowing

Beyond the European-mapped groups, several North American groups appear constantly in replacement and export work:

Dimensions are nominal from the BCI group chart; confirm the exact figure and terminal layout for the specific model.

Heavy-duty N-series at a glance

The JIS N-series is the truck-and-bus case family, and it is worth reading separately because the numbers scale with vehicle size:

These are single 12 V units; a 24 V truck takes two in series. See the 6 V vs 12 V guide for the series logic.

Vehicle-to-group examples

Mapping a few well-known vehicles to their group makes the chart concrete:

• Toyota Hilux / Fortuner (Asia) — JIS D26 (80D26, ~72 Ah) or D31 for diesels.
• Toyota Camry / Honda Accord (Asia) — JIS D23 (55D23/65D23, ~60 Ah).
• Small Asian compact / hybrid auxiliary — JIS B24.
• VW Golf / Audi A3 (Europe) — DIN H5/LN2 or H6/LN3, EFB or AGM.
• BMW / Mercedes (Europe) — DIN H7/LN4 or H8/LN5, AGM.
• Ford F-150 (North America) — BCI Group 65.
• Honda Civic / Toyota Corolla (North America) — BCI Group 35 or 51R.

These are common OEM conventions and can vary by year, engine and trim — always confirm against the vehicle’s actual label or tray.

Bigger group is not automatically bigger capacity

It is tempting to read the chart left-to-right and assume a larger footprint means more amp-hours, but the two are correlated, not identical. A Group 24 (260 mm) and a Group 34 (260 mm) share a length but differ in height, and each is offered in a range of Ah ratings. The group fixes the shape; the Ah rating fixes the lead content within that shape. This is why a buyer should quote both — the group for fit, and the Ah for performance — rather than assuming one implies the other.

How to pick the right group

1. Read the OE battery’s label or measure the tray (L × W × H, including hold-down and hood clearance).
2. Map the footprint to the group number in the table above.
3. Confirm terminal position (L/R) and type — two batteries in the same group can still differ here.
4. Confirm electrical ratings (Ah at C20, CCA with its test basis) after the physical fit is locked.

Dingwei Battery provides OEM and private-label battery programs manufactured by Chengguang Power Tech Co., Ltd. (founded 2002). Every model in the model database carries its case size and dimensions. Filter by case code to see the full range within each group.

Browse models by group size → · Compare two models → · Confirm fitment →

Frequently asked questions