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LiFePO4 vs lead-acid: which battery should you buy?
AO
Amara Okafor
Lead Solar Engineer
9 May 20266 min read
Lead-acid is cheaper on day one. Lithium is cheaper by year three. The honest breakdown of cycles, depth and cost-per-kWh.
When investing in a solar system, the battery bank represents the largest ongoing cost. Historically, lead-acid batteries (deep cycle, AGM, or Gel) were the standard. Today, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries have become the gold standard. Here is why.
A typical lead-acid battery lasts between 500 to 1,000 cycles (about 2-3 years of daily usage before capacity drops significantly). In contrast, a high-quality LiFePO4 battery lasts between 4,000 to 6,000 cycles at 80% Depth of Discharge. This equates to over 10-12 years of reliable daily service.
Lead-acid batteries should never be discharged below 50% of their rated capacity if you want them to last. If you have a 100Ah lead-acid battery, you only get 50Ah of usable power. LiFePO4 batteries can safely be discharged up to 90% or even 100% without damage, meaning you get almost double the usable energy from the same rated capacity.
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