The best campervan leisure battery will allow you to enjoy one of the joys of van life – being able to pitch up without electric hook-up. This means you can stay at some of the standout locations across the UK and Continental Europe without being tied to a campsite.
That’s because a leisure battery for a campervan allows you to use 12-volt powered accessories, such as lighting, your water pump, your fridge and a television no matter where you are on the road. As a result, your milk will be kept cool while you’re driving, so you can enjoy a cup of tea when you’ve stopped in a picturesque layby on a long journey, whether you’re heading to one of the best campervan sites UK or are going off-grid.
Campervan leisure batteries are usually recharged via your vehicle’s alternator when you’re driving, so it’s easy to top up their power. It should also charge when you’re using electric hook-up, or via a trickle charger, solar panel or other add-on system – so it’s easy to keep the battery topped up when the vehicle is parked up for the winter.
Because of their importance in your campervan’s electrical systems, it’s crucial that you choose the correct type for your needs.
They may cost more as an initial outlay, but lithium batteries are ideal for those who want additional power for a longer duration. If you’re on a budget and happy with less power, a lead-acid battery is likely to be sufficient. You should always make sure that a battery you’re considering fits into its dedicated, secure space in your campervan.
Don’t forget too, if you’re after more power when you’re on the road, picking one of the best portable power stations for van life could make a big difference.
In this guide to the best campervan leisure batteries, we’re sharing our favourite picks on the market, three of which are lead-acid, and three of which are lithium examples.
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The best campervan leisure batteries:
Standard campervan leisure batteries
Yuasa L36 AGM
Halfords HLB700
Numax XV31MF
Lithium leisure batteries for campervans
Renogy 200Ah Lithium Leisure Battery
MOSEWORTH LiFePO4 Leisure Battery
Amerrly 100Ah LiFePO4
The best leisure battery for a campervan:
Yuasa L36 AGM
- Output: 95Ah
- Size (LxWxH): 335 x 175 x 190mm
- NCC rating: A
Reason to buy:
- Designed to be spill-proof, in-built handles for easier portability
Reason to avoid:
- Output is relatively low compared to other options in our guide
Fibreglass mats absorb the lead acid in this battery from well-known brand Yuasa; it features an AGM (absorbed glass mat) design, which means that it’s well protected against damage and spillage during hard use because the acid isn’t free to move around within the unit.
It’s ideal for those who have high-consumption systems in their campervan, such as auto-levelling, because it is a deep-cycle unit offering up to 1140 watt/hours. Regular charging and discharging will allow for optimal output.
The best campervan leisure batteries can be heavy (this one weighs 25.6kg), so the in-built carry handles will make moving it more easy. It also has a two-year warranty for additional peace of mind.
Halfords HLB700
- Output: 100Ah
- Size (LxWxH): 353 x 175 x 190mm
- NCC rating: B
Reason to buy:
- Can be used straight away
Reason to avoid:
- At 24kg, relatively heavy
As with the Yuasa L36 AGM, this Halfords own-brand battery – which offers up to 1200 Watt/house and 100Ah – has a two-year warranty. Its output means that it’s a good option for those campervanners who require more power when they’re out and about on the road, perhaps for auto-levelling or other high-powered accessories.
It also features a carry handle, as well as an integrated flame arrestor, which is a useful safety feature for additional peace of mind. In addition, you’ll find it already charged after you’ve purchased it, so you’ll be ready to hit the road straight away.
As with all lead-acid batteries, this one is fairly heavy – it weighs in at 24kg – so you’ll need to ensure that you have plenty of payload available before fitting it.
Numax XV31MF
- Output: 105Ah
- Size (LxWxH): 330 x 172 x 242mm
- NCC rating: B
Reason to buy:
- Good for those who store their campervans over winter, useful state-of-charge indicator
Reason to avoid:
- Class A rating would be better for those who frequently tour without electric hook-up
If you’re on a tighter budget, then this lead-acid, sealed battery from well-known brand Numax could be the right one for you and your campervan.
It offers 500 recharge cycles, which should be more than enough for most campervanners, and will give 105Ah thanks to its deep-cycle, wet/flooded technology.
One aspect that we really appreciate is the state-of-charge indicator, which is built into the unit for easy-to-read information when you’re out on the road.
We also like the smaller dimensions of this unit, which will help save space in your campervan. It also has a three-year warranty, and the in-built carry handle makes it easy to transport.
The Numax battery’s low discharge rates means that it’s also a good option for campervanners who lay their vehicle up during the colder months.
Renogy 200Ah Lithium Leisure battery
- Output: 200Ah (expect up to 212Ah)
- Size (LxWxH): 522 x 240 x 219mm
- NCC rating: N/A
Reason to buy:
- Good output and good lifespan of 5,000 deep-charging cycles
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly expensive, at 21.45kg it’s fairly weighty too
This is the most expensive unit in our best leisure battery for a campervan round-up, but – as you’d expect – it also offers a tremendous amount of power. Like the MOSEWORTH LiFePO4, it’s also large in size, so you’ll need to make sure that you have plenty of space to safely secure it in your campervan.
Thanks to its offer of 5000 deep-charging cycles, this mighty, smart leisure battery should provide you with at least a decade of use. Most importantly, it should deliver a whopping 212Ah, and – if that’s not enough – you can fit a series of these batteries, to create a massive power bank in your campervan.
If you enjoy touring in the colder seasons, you’ll appreciate the cut-off facility which activates during winter temperatures. It features a sturdy design that should protect it during everyday use, and a five-year warranty means it’s protected from wear and tear, too. The inbuilt handles will also help you transport its 21.45kg weight.
Check the latest price on Amazon now.
MOSEWORTH LiFePO4 Leisure Battery
- Output: 200Ah
- Size (LxWxH): 522 x 240 x 219mm
- NCC rating: N/A
Reason to buy:
- Godo for off-grid adventures and touring all year
Reason to avoid:
- Will have to ensure it fits your ‘van’s battery locker
As with the Renogy 200Ah, this is another large-dimension campervan leisure battery – so you’ll need to make sure it fits in your campervan’s battery locker – that offers a large amount of power, making it useful for those who enjoy going off-grid on their tours.
Neat features that you’ll appreciate on this leisure battery include a charger unit, and the two-year warranty means that you can buy with peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered if something goes wrong.
This is a good choice for those campervanners who tour all year, because the manufacturer states that 90% efficiency is possible, even when temperatures outside are low. You can connect up to five of these batteries in series, to create an even larger power bank for off-grid travel.
Amerrly 100Ah LiFePO4
- Output: 100Ah
- Size (LxWxH): 330 x 173 x 236mm
- NCC rating: N/A
Reason to buy:
- Lightweight at only 10.2kg, straightforward to fit
Reason to avoid:
- Output is lower than other lithium options
Unlike the two other lithium examples featured in this guide to the best campervan leisure batteries, the 100Ah Amerrly LiFePO4 has standard dimensions, so there should be fewer issues with ensuring that it fits in your campervan’s battery locker. What’s more, it comes in at only 10.2kg, freeing up more of your precious payload.
The manufacturer states that you should get 3000 charging cycles from this lithium battery, and it also says that the Amerrly LiFePO4 should lose just 20% of its charge during the course of around two-thirds of a year. That means it should retain most of its charge if you choose to leave your campervan in storage for any reason.
Its built-in battery management system should help protect the unit from overheating, overcharge and more.
What do NCC ratings mean when I’m choosing a leisure battery for a campervan?
The National Caravan Council (NCC) publishes its own ratings on leisure batteries, to help ‘van owners decide which is the best campervan leisure battery for their needs. Here’s what they mean:
- Class A – Motorhomes/caravans frequently used without electrical hook-ups
- Class B – Motorhomes/caravans with higher power consumption (for example with a motor mover) but still generally used with electrical hook-up
- Class C – Motorhomes/caravans with low power consumption used with an electrical hook-up
How long does a campervan leisure battery last?
It depends on how much you’re planning to use it! Other things to consider when it comes to how long a campervan leisure battery lasts is how you recharge it, as well as the battery’s quality.
Ideally, we would recommend not discharging a lead acid campervan leisure battery below 12.2V. Despite the ‘12V’ name, this is actually around 60% of a full charge – when it’s completely charged, a leisure battery should hold around 12.6V or more.
If you use your campervan leisure battery regularly, and maintain it well, you might expect it to last around five years. A lithium battery, meanwhile, could last significantly longer – perhaps even in excess of a decade.
What size leisure battery do I need for my campervan?
The simple answer is, the best campervan leisure battery is likely to be the one that offers enough power for your needs – and preferably more. This should allow you to power all of your campervan kit, even the more high-powered items, with ease.
Having said that, lithium batteries are the most powerful, but cost also comes into play. If you’re on a tight budget, a lead-acid battery could be a better option, especially if you can pair it up with additional charging in the form of (say) solar panels.
As well as power, you should also take a look at the weight of the battery. No matter which you choose, it will consume some of your payload – if the latter is limited, then this factor will also become even more important to you.
Warranties or guarantees are also useful to have, in case something goes wrong with your campervan leisure battery.
If you’re looking for some extra space for keeping your food chilled when in your ‘van, our guide to the best cool box for a campervan is certain to help you find the product for you.
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