Battery groups › 42
BCI battery group
Group 42 battery size
A BCI group 42 battery is at most 242 mm long, 175 mm wide and 175 mm tall (9.53 × 6.89 × 6.89 in), according to the Battery Council International group chart.
| Maximum size | 242 × 175 × 175 mm |
|---|---|
| In inches | 9.53 × 6.89 × 6.89 |
| Terminal types | A and A1 |
| Polarity | Standard layout for this group |
| Cold cranking amps (OE range) | 210–500 A |
| DIN / EN equivalent | T5 / LBN2 (BCI best fit) |
Cars whose manuals point to group 42
None of the owner's manuals this site has read so far print group 42. Most Japanese and Korean makers print a case size or capacity instead of a BCI group, so the battery label on the car is the better guide.
Measuring for a group 42
To take a group 42, the tray needs at least 242 mm (9.53 in) of length and 175 mm (6.89 in) of width inside the hold-down, and 175 mm (6.89 in) of height below the hood or any bracket, with room left for the cable ends. These are BCI maximums: a real group 42 battery can be a few millimetres smaller, never larger. Original-equipment batteries in this group were rated from 210 to 500 cold cranking amps, so the right rating depends on the car; match or exceed the rating on the battery you are replacing.
Nearby sizes
| Group | L × W × H (mm) | Difference from 42 |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 242 × 175 × 175 | 0 mm length, 0 mm width, 0 mm height |
| 96R | 242 × 175 × 175 | 0 mm length, 0 mm width, 0 mm height |
| 67R | 231 × 175 × 176 | -11 mm length, 0 mm width, +1 mm height |
| 47 | 242 × 175 × 190 | 0 mm length, 0 mm width, +15 mm height |
| 58 | 255 × 183 × 177 | +13 mm length, +8 mm width, +2 mm height |
Positive numbers mean the other group is bigger than group 42. A bigger case only fits if your tray and hold-down have that much spare room; measure inside the hold-down frame, not the old battery.
Fitting a group 42
The group sets the case size, terminal position and hold-down. A battery from another group can only replace it when the length, width and height all fit the tray and the terminals land on the same sides. Groups with exactly the same case size and polarity: 90. Use the tray fit checker to list every group that fits a measured space.
Source: Battery Council International, BCI Group Sizes (Oct 2023 PDF), page 6. Checked 2026-10-20.