Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[Oaktree]

what I do is go to a place here in Tampa Florida area that rebuild or sells Blem Batteries I pay $$38 buck s for a battery that is guaranteed for 2 yrs. they test the charging & starting system and install the battery. or you can bring your core and pick up a battery. this is all they do. I used to work for a Battery company that does this, I was the auto Electrician there,rebuilt starters and alternators. they dump the acid out in plastic barrels,wash the battery, add new acid to the barrel until it reads 12.75 on the hydrometer. then pours it back into the battery and puts it on a trickle charge with a special industrial charger for 3 days, this breaks any Sulfation loose. they load test the batteries then put them on the shelf. when I get one it usually last me 2.5 to 3 yrs. they also sell brand new batterys for $60 bucks,these last about 4 yrs. theres only like 3 batterie company's in the USA,one of them is interstate. . these companys make the batteries for all distributors and their put their labels on them.

Sounds like kind of a half-@ssed refurb to me. Maybe if I was just getting by I might be tempted but at this point in my life I'm not going to cheap out just to save a couple bucks. Maybe you can get away with it in Fla. where it never gets cold, but I wouldn't trust one of those for a New England winter.
As others have noted, I've also had good luck with Walmart batteries. The one Interstate I had lasted maybe 2 years. Not even sure who sells them anymore, haven't seen them in any of the parts stores around here.

He told me he was shutting down and retiring as it was no longer possible to keep the doors open and comply with all the new safety regs… same for the plating shops I use to patronize.

Neighbor of mine used to do custom autobody work, and he was always complaining about the difficulty of finding anyone who'd do a decent chrome plating job. The few left did jobs that were either full of flaws, or was so thin rust came thru within a couple years.

Speaking of inflated prices, has anyone checked out antifreeze lately? Had to pick up a couple gallons yesterday, right around $20/gal, and that was for the store brand stuff!! About double what it was 2-3 years ago.

 

[walnutman]

Is it a common size, or is it rare size today?

If item was $105 year 2000 it's about same as $200 in today's money.

Inflation calculator is here...

Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value From 1913-2025

Easily calculate how the buying power of the U.S. dollar has changed from 1913 to 2025. Get inflation rates and U.S. inflation news.

www.usinflationcalculator.com

Gasoline for $3 - 3.50 a gallon today is actually a bargain!


If in doubt, ask Europeans or Canadians

A lot of people don't realize that.
Gas here in East Texas... one station last night was $2.05
Others are ni the lower $2 range as well.

So gas is around 35c a gallon now.

 

[arto98607]

A little bit of it is "inflation" but the vast majority is just pure freekin' GREED.

..........snip.............

Today's $200 battery is equal cost to $105 battery in year 2000 due to inflation.

Time to readjust thinking.

 

[DarkBlack]

Cheap doesn't mean poorly made. Walmart EverStart are better than most in testing.

I’ve had consistently good luck with Walmart batteries

 

[DarkBlack]

theres only like 3 batterie company's in the USA,one of them is interstate. . these companys make the batteries for all distributors and their put their labels on them.

You sure about that?

From what I gleaned from the net:

“Interstate Batteries is a privately owned marketing and distribution company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and does not manufacture batteries itself. Instead, it sources batteries from various third-party manufacturers under private-label agreements. The primary manufacturers include Johnson Controls (now known as Clarios), Exide Technologies, and Brookfield Business Partners.
As of 2025, some Interstate products, including those sold at Costco, are being made by East Penn Manufacturing”

 

[Reapoman]

What part of the trouble is the space given for the physical size of the battery limits our buying possibilities. For instance, at work we get sale flyers for semi's and heavy equip. The most recent flyer has semi batteries, 950cca, for $95. I'd love to squeeze a battery that size into my vehicles or bobcat for a Minnesota winter, but noooo!

 

[arto98607]

I have gotten very good very good service & life from batteries sold by Costco and Walmart, zero complaints so far.

Key to success is to keep them always plugged into small "smart charger" like Battery Minder, NOCO, AXtra etc., when batteries are not used regularly.

I know it's a bit of a hassle, but well worth it.

 

[Alan46]

You sure about that?

From what I gleaned from the net:

“Interstate Batteries is a privately owned marketing and distribution company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and does not manufacture batteries itself. Instead, it sources batteries from various third-party manufacturers under private-label agreements. The primary manufacturers include Johnson Controls (now known as Clarios), Exide Technologies, and Brookfield Business Partners.
As of 2025, some Interstate products, including those sold at Costco, are being made by East Penn Manufacturing”

I’m a Costco battery buyer, have been for 35 years. I’m going on 7 years on my duel Interstate batteries in my F-350, except for some growth on the positive posts, which I will clean today, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!!!

 

[Nagsheadlocal]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

Had to purchase a battery for my '72 Triumph this past summer and even the Walmart Everstart was $240. Quite a shock, I didn't have the nerve to look up the cost of a premium DieHard. I did immediately go out and get a battery maintainer since I only drive that car about once a month.

The replacement battery for my New Holland TC-29D was also $200 from Tractor Supply. I guess that's just what batteries cost unless they are something extremely common.

 

[areid]

I just purchased a 2023 power booster F-150. Talk about electronics, almost drives itself, fairly annoying actually. With all that extra technology comes a high battery draw. The oem battery is around $360 Canadian.
(LITTLE SIDE NOTE) I was inspecting a home in a small town in Sk. Where the buyer was trying to buy the whole town. There were only a few houses left standing and the one I was inspecting was the only liveable one left of 42.
Anyway it was -36°C and windy. I shut the truck off and a few hours later went to start it. Red light of death shows on the dashboard and truck would not start. Very nerve wrecking out on the bald ass prairie. Something shut all systems down. I tried tge key about 20 times until she reset something and started. My guess it's the oem battery must have fallen below a minimum threshold. The absolute best battery I can get is 460 plus tax. Thinking I better get it. My truck only has 15,000km on it.
Never thought I'd consider paying $500 for a battery!

 

[jyoutz]

I’m a Costco battery buyer, have been for 35 years. I’m going on 7 years on my duel Interstate batteries in my F-350, except for some growth on the positive posts, which I will clean today, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!!!

I’ve noticed that dual battery setups like those on my Dodge/Cummins last much longer than single battery systems.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for that answer! I asked the question - and as usual - I didn't think to simply check on google first!! Sorry about that !

Been here a long time.... still learnin' most days.... It's a good place to hang-out

Blemished, Scratch n Dent, Seconds.... terms will vary, but the hope is the main functionality is still there.

Hard to find in Automotive batteries, but if you can find a trusted-source, deals can be had - often needs to be something other than a regular retail store.

Had a good example, about 20 years ago - talking with an old timer who lived off-grid (we'd just had a monster ice storm; he never noticed a difference), he told me about large 2 volt batteries (think power-substation banks) he scored a great deal on. A local industrial house received a shipment that the Power Utility rejected upon inspection (something was out of spec with the battery case dimension). With no other option than scrap, olde tymer got these monster 2v batteries for cents/$.

Deals like that ^ can be rare to find, and if you need it for a vehicle to commute to work in, most of us don't have Time to waste....

Rgds, D.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Technically my bike battery is a LiFepo4

 

[mjonesnh]

Speaking of inflated prices, has anyone checked out antifreeze lately? Had to pick up a couple gallons yesterday, right around $20/gal, and that was for the store brand stuff!! About double what it was 2-3 years ago.

Bought 3 gallon of Prestone concentrate at Walmart last week for 12.97/gallon. Had 50/50 mix for 9.97/gallon. Local part stores are 18-20.00 range

 

[Bobrown14]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

Its called capitalism... they charge what people are willing to pay for the item you're interested in... So for example a battery manufactured in China costs $200 and a battery manufactured in the USA would normally cost $120. Since people are buying that $200 battery made in China why not sell our USA made battery for that same $200. Could be that difference in price is due to tariffs?? And USA companies can raise their prices because the consumer is willing to pay that extra tax. thanks

 

[walnutman]

I’ve noticed that dual battery setups like those on my Dodge/Cummins last much longer than single battery systems.

Had my 2004 Dodge Cummins since new.... 21 years. I think I'm on my 3rd set.

 

[walnutman]

Actually if you do an inflation calculation it's not as bad as you think.

 

[grsthegreat]

If you are keeping the car, do yourself a favor and purchase an Interstate Battery, white base, green top model. It will last for many years and worth every penny.

And maybe it’s time you raise the prices on whatever service you provide, to keep up?

Nonesence. I purchased 2 of these for my 2004 F350, and got a little over 2 years on them.

 

[walnutman]

Nonesence. I purchased 2 of these for my 2004 F350, and got a little over 2 years on them.

I try to go NAPA. Many are made in Pennsylvania.

East Penn Manufacturing â The world's largest single site, family-owned lead-acid battery manufacturer

East Penn Manufacturing is a private company and the worldâs largest single-site, lead-acid battery facility. Serving the transportation, motive power, reserve power, and wire and cable markets.

www.eastpennmanufacturing.com

 

[grsthegreat]

No John Deere mowers are made by MTD.

Home depot used to sell a line of john deere labeled equipment that was made in mexico under license from john deere, but not made by jd.

I fell for it 1 time on a string trimmer that never worked. Had to fight hd and jd to get it replaced. Jd said they never made it.