Battery groups › 86
BCI battery group
Group 86 battery size
A BCI group 86 battery is at most 230 mm long, 173 mm wide and 203 mm tall (9.06 × 6.81 × 7.99 in), according to the Battery Council International group chart.
| Maximum size | 230 × 173 × 203 mm |
|---|---|
| In inches | 9.06 × 6.81 × 7.99 |
| Terminal types | A |
| Polarity | Standard layout for this group |
| Cold cranking amps (OE range) | 430–640 A |
Cars whose manuals point to group 86
None of the owner's manuals this site has read so far print group 86. 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 86
To take a group 86, the tray needs at least 230 mm (9.06 in) of length and 173 mm (6.81 in) of width inside the hold-down, and 203 mm (7.99 in) of height below the hood or any bracket, with room left for the cable ends. These are BCI maximums: a real group 86 battery can be a few millimetres smaller, never larger. Original-equipment batteries in this group were rated from 430 to 640 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 86 |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | 230 × 173 × 203 | 0 mm length, 0 mm width, 0 mm height |
| 72 | 230 × 179 × 210 | 0 mm length, +6 mm width, +7 mm height |
| 73 | 230 × 179 × 216 | 0 mm length, +6 mm width, +13 mm height |
| 22F | 241 × 175 × 211 | +11 mm length, +2 mm width, +8 mm height |
| 25 | 230 × 175 × 225 | 0 mm length, +2 mm width, +22 mm height |
Positive numbers mean the other group is bigger than group 86. 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 86
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: 85. 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 7. Checked 2026-10-20.