CR2032 vs CR1620
Both are 3V lithium coins, which is why they get compared. CR2032 is 20 × 3.2 mm; CR1620 is 16 × 2.0 mm. Neither dimension matches.
Last verified Aug 25, 2026
Not interchangeable. Read the first two digits as diameter and the last two as height.
A CR1620 vs CR2032 swap fails on diameter, thickness, capacity. If the door only closes when you force it, or the device works only while you press the cover, you have the wrong cell — not a weak spring you should ignore.
They share 3 V and LiMnO2, which is why CR2032 vs CR1620 looks interchangeable on a store shelf. Highlighted rows are the ones that change the purchase: diameter, thickness, capacity.
Read physical fit before capacity. Extra milliamp-hours only help when the holder is built for that cell. A “better” spec in the wrong tray is a mechanical or voltage mismatch, not an upgrade.
| Spec | CR2032 | CR1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | LiMnO2 | LiMnO2 |
| Nominal voltage | 3 V | 3 V |
| Diameter | 20 mm | 16 mm |
| Thickness | 3.2 mm | 2 mm |
| Outline | 20 × 3.2 mm | 16 × 2 mm |
| Typical capacity | 220–240 mAh | 70–80 mAh |
| Typical energy | 0.66–0.72 Wh | — |
| Typical weight | 3.1 g | — |
| Fresh open-circuit voltage | 3.2–3.4 V | — |
| Unused shelf life | ~10 years | — |
| Category | lithium-coin | lithium-coin |
| Common aliases | DL2032, ECR2032 | DL1620 |
If you searched CR1620 vs CR2032, you are on the same comparison with the names reversed. The difference between CR2032 and CR1620 batteries is not the word “vs” — it is the specs that do not match after you ignore the similar photos.
CR2032 is 20 mm across; CR1620 is 16 mm. That gap is enough for one cell to miss the clip entirely or rattle in the other tray. IEC codes put diameter in the first digits for a reason: you cannot sand a coin cell down to fit.
CR2032 is 3.2 mm thick; CR1620 is 2 mm. Holders are built for one stack height. The thinner cell loses spring pressure (“works only when I press the cover”). The thicker cell jams the door or bends the clip.
Typical CR2032 capacity is 220–240 mAh. CR1620 is 70–80 mAh. Runtime only follows that gap inside the correct holder. Extra capacity in the wrong tray does not last longer — it often does not run at all.
Height 3.2 mm vs 2.0 mm
A CR2032 will not enter a 16 mm fob tray
Coin and button codes are rulers, not brand slogans. The letters mark chemistry class. The digits encode size. CR2032 measures 20 × 3.2 mm; CR1620 measures 16 × 2 mm. Once you read the code that way, CR1620 vs CR2032 stops looking like a preference and starts looking like a fit check.
Usually no. CR2032 is 20 × 3.2 mm at 3 V (LiMnO2). CR1620 is 16 × 2 mm at 3 V (LiMnO2). Those are not the same part.
If the spent cell or tray said CR1620, specify that code. Forcing CR2032 can crack a cover, lose contact, or apply the wrong voltage.
Usually no. Going the other way does not fix a diameter, thickness, or voltage miss. CR1620 in a CR2032 holder has the same problem with the names flipped.
If you arrived from a CR1620 vs CR2032 search, stay on this page. The answer does not change.
Retail packs hide the IEC size behind house codes. CR2032 also appears as DL2032, ECR2032. CR1620 also appears as DL1620. Those prefixes do not change the outline unless the chemistry letters change (BR, LIR, ML, PR).
You do not need a full datasheet to settle CR2032 vs CR1620. You need the stamp, the tray, or a cheap pair of calipers. A store bin labeled only “button cell” or “3V lithium” will not do that work for you.
Do not confuse CR1620 with CR1632 (same 16 mm family, 3.2 mm thick) or with CR2025 (20 mm, 2.5 mm).
Do not stack cells, grind a can, or use foil as a permanent spacer to fake CR1620 with CR2032. Read the stamp, then the spec table. If the door will not close without force, you have the wrong height or diameter.
No. It is 4 mm too wide and 1.2 mm too thick.
Yes. CR2032 vs CR1620 and CR1620 vs CR2032 are the same pair. Fit, voltage, and chemistry do not change when you flip the order.
Use this guide as a starting point, then confirm voltage, chemistry, and physical size with your device manual or the marking on the old cell.
Reviewed by PlainBattery Technical Review Desk on 2026-08-25. Checked: both model identities and dimensions, voltage and chemistry differences, physical fit, interchangeability conclusion and safety warnings.
Revision record: source citations and field-level review scope added September 11, 2026. See our sources and methodology and corrections policy.
