Your Complete Guide To The Best ATV Batteries for 2021 and Beyond

Hunting for an ATV battery can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Most of your buying decisions will be influenced by the type of ATV you have, where you use it, how often you ride, and even the weather you’re in.

A little homework and research are therefore necessary. But don’t worry, all that effort will pay off, and you'll be rewarded with a great ATV riding experience each and every time.
 
So here are some questions you need to consider before buying:

It might seem obvious, but you’ve no idea how many people fail this crucial step and end up with a battery that's a horrible fit. So do check your ATV's make, model and year to see which batteries are compatible.

Also, check your ATV battery mount itself. Measure the dimensions of your stock battery (the one included with your ATV) and check where the connection terminals are.

When in doubt, favor a slightly smaller battery. You might be able to get away with that versus an oversized one. Just make sure to wedge it in place with things like thick cardboard. A loose battery rattles around while riding and will lead to damage.

You might be thinking, how does weather play a part in my battery buying decisions? Well, it has something to do with your battery’s Cold Cranking Amps or CCA rating. CCA tells you how much burst of power the battery can supply to fire up your ATV.

Fun Fact: Wonder why it’s called cold cranking amps? Well, CCA refers to how many amps a 12-volt battery can supply for 30 seconds at a chilling 0 F temperature.

Lower temperatures generally require higher starting power, so CCA becomes an important consideration. So if you plan to do a lot of winter riding, you might need a more powerful ATV battery.

On the other hand, people living in warmer climates might just need the bare minimum CCA rating, or if you choose not to ride out during the winter months.

Unlike motorcycle batteries or car batteries, ATV batteries are used less often. Unless you come to work everyday riding a quad (if you do ride to work on an ATV, send us a video! We'd love to see that!)

So considerations for an ATV battery are different. If you plan on using it only occasionally, then you need a battery that can last longer between recharge cycles. Batteries that can’t do this risk emptying out, and you’ll be left with an ATV that won’t start.

If you don't plan on using your quad during the winter months, you also need to get a battery that can hold a charge long enough to survive that time. By the way, this is a great workaround if you’d rather not invest in a high CCA rated ATV battery.

Many different ATVs need varying amounts of starting power, so know your model’s CCA needs.
 
The battery should meet your ATV’s CCA requirement at the minimum, but we recommend exceeding it as much as your budget will allow.

This is because as batteries age, their starting power starts to decline. An ATV battery with a higher CCA rating can compensate for this, so you can use it for far longer.

In addition, having extra accessories can add up to your CCA requirement. I mean, getting extra bright lights or a radio looks cool and all, but consider the drain they’re making on your battery.

If you plan on pimping out your ATV with all the bells and whistles, consider a stronger battery, you need an ATV battery with higher CCA and amp ratings. And if you plan to take your pimped out ATV out in the winter, then buy an even more powerful battery.

ATVs are built for off-road driving, but how rugged of a ride are you looking at? If you’re an aspiring daredevil or even have the slightest plan of doing lots of rough road riding in the future, go with a heavy-duty battery.

A cheaper and less durable battery might not survive such punishment, and you’ll end up with battery leaks that you’d not rather handle on the road.

Different kinds of ATV batteries have their own pros, cons and price points. Knowing the basics of each can better inform you on which one to pick.

Batteries generally come in two forms – lead acids and lithiums. Lead acids are the “traditional” batteries. Thanks to decades of experience developing and making them, they’re generally durable, reliable, economical and overall great at their jobs. For most owners, lead acid ATV batteries are a solid choice.

Lithium batteries are the newer kids on the block – they charge faster, have more capacity, weigh lighter and are generally longer lasting. They’re also more expensive. If you have lots of dough to spare, they’re a good investment.

Within the lead acid ATV battery family, there are more choices that we feel you deserve to know. The conventional lead acids require a constant topping up of water and has the risk of leaks, so we don’t really recommend them that much.

Instead, go for maintenance free ones. These are in the form of either gels or absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries. AGMS have more starting power over gels, but the latter discharges more slowly. But in practice, you can’t go wrong with either.

You might be thinking, “is this a trick question?” – of course the answer is “as long as possible”!

Unfortunately, ATV batteries don’t last forever, so you need to be realistic about it. How long your batteries last depend on the very factors we’ve discussed above. On average, most batteries should have a useful life of anywhere from 3-6 years.

Warranties are another thing to consider. They’re your insurance policy should anything go wrong. And trust us, even the best batteries from the best brands suffer from this once in a while.

Most reputable battery manufacturers offer a 12-month warranty, so that’s a good benchmark when you’re out comparing warranties.

One of the best value ATV batteries you can buy, the Expert Power ETX9-BS is an excellent combination of affordability and performance.

Don’t let its small size fool you – this is a powerful, hardworking piece of electrical equipment. In fact, it uses its compactness as an advantage, as you can fit this battery in a host of other equipment – from solar panels, generators, and motorcycles.

As an ATV battery, this one covers all of the basics. We hooked it up as a replacement battery for our aging Honda 300EX, and it fired up as if it was brand new, with a constant voltage exceeding the 12-volt minimum. Note that we’ve replaced it countless of times with stock batteries over the years, and it lasted us a few years at best. We reckon the ETX9-BS will best that record!

Self-discharge rate during periods of non-use is impressive at only a 3% loss. Expect your ATV to start right up even when left unused during the cold winter months or for very long periods, for example.

Construction is definitely durable, and AGM technology ensures there would be no hazardous leaks, even when the battery itself is damaged.

The only minor drawback is the “just enough” CCA rating of 105. Well, it’s a drawback depending on where you live and how overpowered your ATV is. Colder temperatures or lots of extra add-ons might give this one a hard time, but folks living in warmer weather need not worry about it too much.

Also, a thing to note is that since it’s compact, it can be a bit smaller than some stock batteries. If this is the case for you, simply wedge in some fillers for a snug fit. At its worst, it’s just a very minor inconvenience.

Overall, the ETX9-BS is an excellent pick if you want a basic ATV battery that performs exceedingly well. With a price that is hard to beat in its class, it’s a great return on your money.

In terms of having a bargain price combined with decent performance, few can beat the Upstart Battery UB-YTX12-BS.

At its core, the UB-YTX12-BS is a simple ATV battery that covers all the minimum requirements. Given its low price point, we’re pleasantly surprised it uses maintenance-free gel technology that fulfills the needed 12V and 10 Ah for most ATV applications. No need to mess around with topping up or anything, which is convenient.

Its most significant advantage is most definitely its price. This is a very affordable ATV battery, probably one of the lowest priced you’ll ever find. It even beats out our local WalMart the last time we checked. We won’t be surprised if folks stocked up on these – they make great backup batteries.

This alone makes the UB-YTX12-BS worth trying out. The potential reward of getting a battery that works while saving lots of $$$ down the road is hard to pass up. And they’re even throwing in a 12-month warranty to sweeten the deal.

With that, though, you do get what you pay for. While the overall construction is durable enough to withstand some wear and tear, the packaging, unfortunately, is not. It's very flimsy and thin, which has the potential to damage the battery if your shipper is not careful enough. Ours luckily came through intact, but some people we've talked to aren't so fortunate. 

Still, being very inexpensive, it’s still well worth the risk. You get a hardy and performance ready ATV battery at rock bottom prices with a 12-month warranty for added insurance. For the cost conscious ATV owner who wants a no frills battery, the UB-YTX12-BS might be the perfect match.

For the enthusiast who owns an ATV beast with all the add-ons, you need all the extra raw power you ATV battery can muster. Enter the Yuasa YTZ10S

ATV and motorcycle owners would probably recognize Yuasa. They’re one of the most trusted names in automobile batteries, so you’d know their reputation backs up their products pretty well. The YTZ10S is no exception.

This battery churns out a massive burst of 190 CCA. This is way, way more than enough to power the ATV itself, plus any aftermarket accessories it happens to have installed. The high CCA also ensures you reliably start your ATV even in the coldest of weather (snow driving, anyone?)

The battery itself fits nicely in our unit. It’s easy to install too, thanks to the nut holders that secure them in place while you're screwing the wires in. The entire battery is built exceptionally well and can likely last for years.

Fortunately, the same can be said of the battery’s life cycle. Yuasa batteries are known for longevity, with some lasting past a decade. Expect a properly maintained YTZ10S to last just as long.

The price, though, is a bit on the steep side. But for the power and longevity you get, it’s well worth the investment.

Overall, if you're looking for a reliable, high-powered battery backed by years of industry experience, go for the Yuasa YTZ10S. A thousand other satisfied battery users over the years couldn’t be wrong!

Ever wanted to reap the benefits of a lithium battery but have been put off by the high price tag? The MMG YTZ14S Lithium Battery is here to finally change your mind.

Take the YTZ14S out of the box, and you’ll notice one thing right away – how freaking light it is! Really, it feels like a hollow case instead of a full-fledged ATV battery. But trust us – it’s the real deal. This battery weighs 1/3 less than comparable lead acids. This alone sheds a lot of pounds off your ATV and can lead to speed and performance gains.

Performance wise, the MMG is leagues away from what lead acid batteries are capable of. This battery boasts a cycle life that is easily 10 times longer, and it charges incredibly fast. This ultimately means this battery is designed to last for years.

The 290 CCA it provides is no joke either. This is perfect for starting up a fully decked out ATV in sub-zero temperatures (if ever you find yourself in that situation!)

And the best part? This battery is relatively affordable. A bit expensive yes, but given its fantastic specs and the potential benefits you can reap, it’s still a good steal

We highly recommend the MMG4 YTZ145 Lithium Battery if you can afford it. It has all the performance features and reliability you’d want in an ATV battery, plus it lasts longer and weighs lighter. Checks out in our book!

Our personal pick for the best ATV battery comes in the form of the ThrottleX ADX14AH-BS. This AGM battery aims not just to meet your battery needs, but to exceed them. But can it really?

First off, we checked the CCA rating. At 220 CCA and 12 Ah, this is certainly more than enough to start up your ATV. You’ll have so much excess power, in fact, that you can power up your quad in sub-zero temperatures or load it up with all the accessories you can think of.

This battery is highly resistant of the #1 battery killer – sulfation. This build up occurs over time in all lead acid batteries and can lead to loss of starting power and reduced battery life. The ADX14AH-BS delays this thanks to the advanced lead-calcium technology used in this ATV battery. Having a high CCA rating leads to better life and performance as well.

Installation went smoothly without a hitch for us. Battery fit snugly in our Polaris Trailboss 330. Your mileage may vary, though. Some people have reported having slight difficulty fitting the battery in. Best to check your ATV battery’s dimensions just to make sure. We personally didn’t use the included nuts and bolts, but it’s a nice bonus and might be useful for some folks.

Longevity wise, we’ve seen people use this for years at a time. On average, you can expect this battery to last for around 3-5 years. Not bad for an ATV battery that costs a little over $50!

And as icing on the cake, it includes a 30-day money back guarantee with a full 12 months warranty. Hard to say no to that!

If you value above average performance and power with a price point that won’t require you to take out a small loan, go for the ThrottleX ADX14AH-BS. Overall, it definitely exceeded our expectations!