Watch Almanac

CR1220 battery equivalents

The CR1220 is a 12.5 × 2 mm 3-volt lithium cell, used in digital watches and small electronics. It's sold under several names: DL1220, ECR1220, BR1220.

+US dime12.5 mm2 mm thick
CR1220 (12.5 × 2 mm) from the top and the side, to scale with a US dime (17.9 mm).

Equivalents

Sold asTypeIn a watch
CR1220, DL1220, ECR1220Lithium manganese dioxide, 3 VSame battery under brand prefixes
BR1220Lithium carbon monofluoride, 3 VFits; lower current, so it can struggle with a backlight or alarm

Look-alikes that won't fit

These are also 12.5 mm across, so they look right in the pack, but the thickness is different. They aren't substitutes.

Getting a CR1220 changed

Watch shops in our directory list battery changes from $4.99 to $115, with a median of $15, usually done while you wait. A shop has the tools to open a screw-down caseback without marking it, and can replace the gasket and pressure-test a water-resistant watch. 455 shops in the directory list battery replacement. To do it yourself, follow how to change a watch battery.

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Questions

Is CR1220 the same as DL1220?
Yes. DL1220 is Duracell's name for the CR1220 and ECR1220 is Energizer's. All three are 12.5 × 2 mm lithium cells at 3 volts. A BR1220 is the same size with a different lithium chemistry and delivers less current.
Can I use a CR1216 instead of a CR1220?
No. Both are 12.5 mm across, but the CR1216 is 1.6 mm thick and the CR1220 is 2 mm. A thinner cell won't press against the contacts, so the watch won't run reliably.
How long does a CR1220 battery last?
It holds about 35–40 mAh. In a digital watch that's usually two to five years, less with heavy use of the light or alarm. Lithium coin cells keep for up to ten years unused.