Craftsman Rechargeable Battery: V20 Specs, Charge Times & Fit
Craftsman’s current rechargeable battery is the V20 system – 18V nominal cells marketed at 20V MAX, sold in five capacities from 2.0Ah to 9.0Ah, and compatible across 100+ Craftsman tools. Grab the wrong charger, or swap in a battery from the older 19.2V C3 line, and a tool simply will not run. This guide covers real V20 specs, charge times, what it fits, and how to tell V20 from C3 at a glance.
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Quick Answer
Craftsman’s V20 battery comes in 2.0Ah, 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 6.0Ah, and 9.0Ah packs, all interchangeable across V20 tools. A standard charger fills a 2.0Ah pack in about 60 minutes and a 4.0Ah pack in 60-75 minutes; the fast charger cuts the 2.0Ah time to about 30 minutes. V20 does not fit older Craftsman C3 19.2V tools, and it will not physically connect to DeWalt, Ryobi, or Milwaukee tools.
What Is the Craftsman V20 Rechargeable Battery?
Craftsman V20 is a lithium-ion battery platform that is the standard power source for Craftsman’s current cordless tool lineup. “V20” refers to peak (unloaded) voltage; the pack runs at 18V nominal once it is under load, the same convention DeWalt and Ryobi use for their own 20V MAX lines.
Craftsman builds V20 packs with a 3-LED state-of-charge indicator on the battery itself, so you can check remaining runtime without pulling it off the tool. The cells have no memory effect, meaning you can top off a partially drained battery at any time without shortening its lifespan – unlike the older NiCd packs Craftsman used to sell. Browse our full tools and battery guides hub for more Craftsman and cross-brand cordless coverage.
Craftsman V20 Battery Sizes and Specs Compared
Craftsman sells five V20 capacities. The number before “Ah” (amp-hours) tells you runtime, not power – a 9.0Ah pack runs roughly 4.5x longer than the base 2.0Ah pack on the same tool, but both deliver the same 20V MAX output.
| Model / Capacity | Charge Time (standard charger) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0Ah (CMCB202) | ~60 min (30 min on fast charger) | Drills, drivers, light trim work |
| 3.0Ah Advanced | ~60-75 min | Compact tools needing more sustained output |
| 4.0Ah (CMCB204) | ~60-75 min | Daily use, circular saws, impact drivers |
| 6.0Ah Advanced | ~90 min | Heavy-duty tools, extended job-site runtime |
| 9.0Ah | ~120 min | Outdoor equipment – mowers, blowers, chainsaws |
Data compiled from CRAFTSMAN’s own V20 battery and charger product pages (craftsman.com) – no retail listing currently puts all five capacities side by side.
How Long Does a Craftsman V20 Battery Take to Charge?
With the standard CMCB100/CMCB104 charger, a 2.0Ah battery is ready in about an hour and a 4.0Ah battery takes roughly 60-75 minutes. Craftsman’s CMCB201 fast charger cuts the 2.0Ah charge time to about 30 minutes. If a full charge is taking noticeably longer than these windows, the battery is likely nearing the end of its cycle life rather than the charger being at fault.
For step-by-step charging instructions, including what the LED indicator patterns mean, see our full guide to charging a Craftsman V20 battery.
Best Craftsman V20 Battery Pick
CRAFTSMAN V20 4Ah Lithium-Ion Battery, 2-Pack (CMCB204-2)
The genuine OEM 4.0Ah 2-pack, sized for daily use on drills, drivers, and saws without needing a mid-project swap.
- Best for: Replacing a dead or aging V20 pack — or keeping a charged spare on hand
- Why we picked it: OEM Craftsman battery pack, drops straight into any V20 tool with no adapter
- Main drawback: Sold without a charger – confirm you already own one before buying
Compare more Craftsman V20 battery options
 Option 1 CRAFTSMAN V20 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Kit (CMCB204-CK)
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 Option 2 CRAFTSMAN V20 4.0Ah Battery 2-Pack (CMCB204-2)
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 Option 3 CRAFTSMAN V20 Battery 2-Pack with Charger (CMCB204-2CK)
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What Tools Does the Craftsman V20 Battery Fit?
Every V20 battery – 2.0Ah through 9.0Ah – physically fits and electrically powers every current Craftsman V20 tool, from drills and impact drivers to circular saws, oscillating tools, string trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws. Higher-Ah packs simply run longer and add a bit of weight; they do not run the tool faster or with more torque. Craftsman’s V20 lineup covers roughly 100 tools at this point, which is the main reason the platform has stayed the standard rather than being replaced.
See our cordless battery compatibility chart for how V20 compares to other brands’ platforms across the wider tool market.
Is My Craftsman Battery V20 or the Older C3 19.2V?
Before V20, Craftsman’s cordless line ran on the C3 platform at 19.2V, first with NiCd cells and later with lithium-ion “XCP” packs. C3 batteries only work with C3-labeled tools – they will not fit a V20 tool, and a V20 battery will not fit a C3 tool. If your tool or battery is printed with “19.2V” or “C3,” it is the older platform; “V20” or “20V MAX” on the label means the current system. C3 tools are no longer produced, but replacement C3 batteries are still sold for owners keeping older tools running rather than replacing the whole kit.
Can You Use a DeWalt, Ryobi, or Milwaukee Battery on a Craftsman Tool?
No. Even though Craftsman V20, DeWalt 20V MAX, and similar lines share a nominal voltage, each brand uses a different physical connector and battery management system, so the packs are not interchangeable across brands without a third-party adapter (and Craftsman does not endorse using one). If you are comparing platforms before buying into a system, our Dewalt vs Craftsman drill comparison and Ryobi battery compatibility guide cover the practical differences in more depth.
Common Mistakes That Shorten Battery Life
- Leaving a battery on the charger long after it is full. The charger stops actively charging once full, but pulling the pack off within a few hours of completion still helps long-term cell health.
- Storing a battery fully drained. Lithium-ion cells degrade faster when left at 0% for weeks; store packs at roughly 40-80% charge if a tool will sit unused.
- Charging immediately after heavy use. Let a hot battery cool to room temperature first – charging a hot pack is one of the few things that can trigger the charger’s safety cutoff and stall the charge.
- Mixing a C3 battery onto a V20 tool “just to check.” The connectors are different enough that this should not physically seat, but forcing it risks damaging the tool’s contacts.
How long does a Craftsman V20 battery last on a single charge?
Runtime depends on the tool and the task, not a fixed number of hours. A 4.0Ah pack running an impact driver for intermittent trim work can last most of a workday, while the same pack running a chainsaw continuously will drain in well under an hour. Match a higher-Ah battery (6.0Ah or 9.0Ah) to high-draw tools like saws and outdoor equipment.
Is the Craftsman V20 battery compatible with older Craftsman drills?
Only if that drill is itself a V20 tool. If the drill predates V20 and is labeled C3 or 19.2V, it needs a C3 battery instead – V20 packs will not physically connect to it.
What is the difference between V20 and V20 Advanced batteries?
V20 Advanced batteries (3.0Ah and 6.0Ah) use higher-output cells that deliver more sustained power to demanding tools, while standard V20 batteries (2.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 9.0Ah) cover everyday drilling, driving, and outdoor-equipment use. Both share the same physical connector and fit any V20 tool.
Why is my Craftsman V20 battery not charging?
Check that the charger’s LED is lit at all – a dead outlet or bad cord is the most common cause. If the LED lights but flashes rapidly or shows a fault pattern, let the battery cool for 30 minutes and retry; a pack that still will not take a charge after that has likely reached the end of its cycle life and needs replacing.
Craftsman’s V20 battery covers the vast majority of the brand’s current cordless lineup with one interchangeable platform – the only real decision is which capacity matches your tools, and whether an older Craftsman tool in your shop is actually running the discontinued C3 19.2V system instead.
