C · Glossary
Cycle life
Battery endurance rating that links repeated charging and discharging to usable-capacity loss under stated test or warranty conditions.
Cycle life is an estimate of how many charge and discharge cycles a battery can complete before its usable capacity falls to a stated level. The number is meaningful only with the conditions behind the rating, such as depth of discharge, operating temperature, the rate of charge or discharge and the capacity level treated as end of life. Home battery warranties may also describe retained capacity, unlimited cycles or a throughput allowance, so the cycle-life figure should not be read as a fixed expiry date or a guarantee that every installation will age in the same way.
Category
Energy, power and storage terms
Applies to
Battery storage
Last reviewed
29 May 2026