Once you have made the decision to save money and use rechargeable batteries, you will need to pick and efficient and reliable charger, if the batteries do not come with one already. Choosing the batteries is often about saving money and about the convenience, so the charger should fit the same bill too.
Choosing a good 18650 battery charger can be difficult when you need to consider the smallest details to be sure you are getting a charger that will be worth your money. Follow this guide to help you buy the best 18650 battery charger and you will enjoy perfectly effective batteries without issue for longer.
What to Look for in 18650 Battery Chargers
One of the biggest factors in determining which charger would be best is to consider the amount of time it takes for the battery to be fully charged. There are chargers on the market that can recharge a battery in less than an hour. While this seems like a good feature to have, these more powerful chargers need to be carefully watched as the battery cannot be left to charge for any longer or there will be damage done. A faster charging time is certainly convenient but it can wear the battery and reduce the number of charges that it will take overall and thus reduce its life.
It is not uncommon for even the best 18650 battery charger to take several hours to completely recharge the battery from dead. These slower options will not damage the battery and are often less expensive. Determining whether value or convenience is more important will determine the charge time that best suits your needs.
Top Six 18650 Battery Chargers Chart
| Picture | Name | Best Feature | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Nitecore i2 Intellicharge Charger for 18650 AAA AA Li-Ion/NiMH Battery | Charging progress display. | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 2. Ultrafire Charger Wf-139 14500 17670 18650 Battery | LED lights turn green when fully charged. | $$$ | 4.0 |
 | 3. Protected 18650 Rechargeable Batteries Plus Charger | Only 18650 batteries fit. | $$$$ | 3.8 |
 | 4. Generic 110v~240v Battery Charger for 18650 Rechargeable | LED charging indication lights. | $ | 3.8 |
 | 5. Wall Li-on Charger for 18650 Rechargeable Battery USA | Automatic constant current control. | $$ | 3.7 |
 | 6. Generic 18650 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Charger | Wall outlet plug in. | $ | 3.6 |
Deciding Between the 18650 Battery Charger Options
- Charging Slots. The number of batteries that you can charge at once depends on how you use the batteries. If you simply rotate a few pairs through constant use then you only need enough space to charge a few, but if you have multiple uses then one with 4 or 6 spaces would be best.
- Universal. There are universal battery chargers and ones that have been specifically made to only suit the 18650 batteries. If you have more than one kind of rechargeable battery than a universal option would be better but the more specific charger is healthier for the battery that it has been made for.
- Smart or Simple. A simple charger completes the charging of the battery and will only be turned off or adjusted when you manipulate the systems. A smart charger will monitor the battery itself and will often have a screen to indicate the state of the battery being charged. The simple chargers are less expensive and get the job done while the smart ones cost more but may help you get the most out of the batteries.
Top 3 Best 18650 Battery Charger Reviews
1. Nitecore i2
This Nitecore 12 Intellicharge is great if you want a charger that gets the job done well. This is an all-in-one charger that will determine the kind of rechargeable battery that you have put into it and then provide the appropriate amount of charge accordingly. There are slots for 4 batteries but 3 of them get charged at a time. They are each in their own individual slots so the charger charges each one individually. When each battery has finished charging there is a separate light that will turn green to let you know too, which is especially convenient if the batteries were at different stages of use.
2. Crazy Cart U-CHGR-WF139
For such an affordable price, you would be surprised by how well the Ultrafire Wf-139 performs. This charger works really well to charge the batteries without overheating or overcharging. This is a simple model that doesn’t have any unnecessary bells and whistles. It has the spaces to charge the batteries and the lights to indicate when the have finished charging. With a solid build and a solid cord, you really cannot go wrong when you buy this product.
3. Protected 18650
One of the best features of the Protected Plus Charger is that it is able to charge batteries that range from 2400 mAh-4000mAh, but the most impressive is its smaller size. While most chargers are bulky, this one is hardly noticeable in the wall and certainly perfect to bring into an office or professional setting. To fully charge a battery, it will take around 3 hours when you use this charger, which is seriously convenient considering most chargers can take up to double that time.
