AEG Battery / LiPo Runtime Calculator for Airsoft

Battery runtime estimator

mAh
A
rps
Continuous trigger time: —
Approx. rounds per charge: —

Estimates assume a healthy battery and roughly 80% usable capacity (you should not fully drain a LiPo). Real games mix bursts and idle time, so a charge usually lasts far longer than the continuous trigger time shown. Typical AEGs draw about 10–25 A under load — raise the current for high-speed builds.

A 1200 mAh LiPo drawing about 15 A at 18 RPS gives roughly 4 minutes of continuous trigger time and around 4,000 rounds per charge — and far longer in real play, since you never hold the trigger down the whole game. Use the calculator above for your own battery and build.

How Long Does an Airsoft Battery Last?

Battery life in an AEG comes down to four things: how much charge the battery holds, how much of that you can safely use, how hard the motor pulls, and how fast the gun fires. The calculator combines them into two useful numbers — continuous trigger time (worst case, holding full-auto) and approximate rounds per charge.

What Determines Runtime

  • Capacity (mAh) — the fuel tank. Double the mAh, roughly double the runtime.
  • Usable capacity — you should not fully drain a LiPo, so only about 80% is usable (NiMH tolerates ~90%).
  • Current draw (A) — a stock AEG pulls ~10–15 A; high-speed and high-torque builds pull more, draining faster.
  • Rate of fire (RPS) — more rounds per second means more rounds per charge in the same trigger time.

Runtime by Battery Capacity

Estimated continuous trigger time and rounds per charge for a LiPo at a typical 15 A draw and 18 RPS:

Capacity Continuous time Rounds / charge
1000 mAh 3 min 12 s ~3,450
1200 mAh 3 min 50 s ~4,150
1500 mAh 4 min 48 s ~5,180
2000 mAh 6 min 24 s ~6,900
2500 mAh 8 min 0 s ~8,640

“Continuous time” is the absolute worst case of holding full-auto non-stop. In a real game you fire in bursts, so a single charge typically lasts a whole skirmish or longer.

LiPo vs Li-Ion vs NiMH

The battery chemistry changes how much capacity you can safely use and how the voltage holds up under load:

  • LiPo — light, high discharge, strong trigger response. Never drain below ~3.3 V per cell, so plan on ~80% usable.
  • Li-Ion — higher capacity, slightly softer punch; also ~80% usable.
  • NiMH — cheap and forgiving, tolerates deeper discharge (~90% usable) but heavier and self-drains faster.

Why Real Games Last Longer

The continuous-time figure assumes the trigger is held down the entire time, which never happens. Most players spend far more time moving, reloading and aiming than firing. A mid-cap user might put 400–800 rounds through a game, so even a small 1200 mAh stick usually covers several games per charge. Bring a spare anyway — cold weather and high-drain builds cut runtime.

How to Use This Battery Calculator

  1. Enter your battery capacity in mAh.
  2. Pick the chemistry (LiPo, Li-Ion or NiMH).
  3. Set the current draw — 10–15 A for most stock AEGs, more for upgraded builds.
  4. Enter your rate of fire in RPS to see rounds per charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a 1200 mAh LiPo last in airsoft?
About 4 minutes of continuous full-auto at a typical 15 A draw, which usually translates to a full skirmish or more of normal bursty play.
How many rounds can I get per charge?
A 1200 mAh LiPo gives roughly 4,000 rounds of trigger time; a 2500 mAh stick around 8,600. Real round counts are limited by your mag changes, not the battery.
Why can’t I use the full battery capacity?
Draining a LiPo too low damages it. You should stop around 3.3 V per cell, leaving roughly 80% of the rated capacity usable.
Does a bigger battery increase rate of fire?
No. Capacity sets runtime, not speed. Voltage, motor and gearing set rate of fire — use the ROF calculator for that.
Is LiPo or NiMH better for airsoft?
LiPo is lighter, punchier and now the standard. NiMH is cheaper and more forgiving but heavier and self-discharges faster.

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