Choosing the right battery for your RV is crucial to ensuring reliable power and a hassle-free experience on the road. In this comprehensive RV battery buying guide, we'll walk you through all the key factors to consider—from capacity and weight to charge time and more.
With so many options available, finding the perfect RV battery can feel overwhelming. But making the right choice is essential to getting the most out of your RV adventures.
The first and most important decision to make is between lithium and lead-acid batteries. In almost every respect, lithium holds the advantage over older lead-acid designs and we believe it represents the most sensible, cost-effective, and efficient means of powering RV electricals.
Lithium advantages include:
- Less than half the weight
- Much higher usable capacity at the same amp-hour
- Full charge achieved up to 6x faster
- Not affected by partial states of charge
- 10x longer life span.
Your RV is already carrying plenty of weight—why add more than necessary? Lithium batteries are typically half the weight and size of traditional lead-acid models, helping you reduce overall vehicle weight, boost fuel efficiency, and improve handling.
Whether you're piloting a large Class A motorhome or towing a compact teardrop trailer, weight is a critical factor. Every vehicle and trailer has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) you must stay within.
To put it in perspective: traditional lead-acid Group 24–31 batteries weigh between 60–70 pounds each, while most lithium batteries weigh under 35 pounds. If you're using a bank of eight batteries, switching to lithium could shave off an impressive 280 pounds—giving you more room for gear and better performance on the road.
Lithium batteries provide significantly higher usable capacity than lead-acid models—even when both have the same amp-hour rating. Thanks to their ability to maintain stable voltage levels, lithium RV batteries can safely deliver up to 99% of their rated capacity, allowing you to stay off-grid longer and enjoy your adventures without interruption.
In contrast, lead-acid batteries are typically limited to just 50% of their rated capacity to avoid premature degradation. For example, a bank of four 100Ah lead-acid batteries only gives you 200 usable amp-hours before needing to recharge. With lithium, you can safely access up to 80–99% of the battery's total capacity without risk of damage.
The result? You can achieve the same usable power with just half the number of lithium batteries—saving space, weight, and money in the long run.
Lead-acid batteries have much higher internal resistance, which increases rapidly during charging. This causes charging systems to slow down as voltage rises, resulting in longer recharge times.
Lithium batteries, on the other hand, have lower internal resistance and can accept charge more efficiently—even at higher states of charge. This means they recharge significantly faster, allowing you to spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the road.
In practical terms, faster charging means less reliance on noisy, fuel-hungry generators—making your RV experience quieter, cleaner, and more efficient.
Partial State of Charge (PSOC) is one of the leading causes of premature failure in lead-acid RV batteries. These batteries suffer when regularly discharged below 50% or not recharged to 100%—a challenge for RVers relying on inconsistent solar input or staying at campgrounds where generator use is restricted.
Lithium batteries, however, are unaffected by PSOC. They deliver consistent performance and maintain their full lifespan, even when not fully recharged after each use. This makes them ideal for solar-dependent systems and off-grid travel.
Additionally, lithium batteries can be safely stored at around 50% charge for extended periods without damage. In fact, they lose only about 3% of their amp-hour capacity per month during storage, making them a reliable, low-maintenance option when your RV is not in use.
When it comes to batteries, lifespan is key. Would you rather replace a lead-acid battery every 2–3 years, or invest once in a lithium battery that can last over a decade?
While lithium batteries come with a higher upfront cost, their longevity more than makes up for it. On average, lithium batteries last up to 10 times longer than their lead-acid counterparts. As a result, the total cost of ownership is often 50% lower or more over time—making lithium the smarter, more economical choice in the long run.
Even the best AGM RV batteries typically offer between 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge and 800 cycles at 50%, which pales in comparison to the thousands of cycles a quality lithium battery can deliver.
