can you sit car batteries on concrete

[MacPresley]

No, storing a modern car battery directly on a concrete floor is perfectly safe and will not cause it to discharge. This is a common myth that originated decades ago with older battery technology. The belief was that the concrete would act as a conductor, creating a path for the battery to lose its charge. However, this is not a concern with today's batteries.

Modern automotive batteries feature durable, non-conductive hard rubber or polypropylene casings. These casings are designed to effectively insulate the internal plates and electrolyte from any external electrical path, including a concrete floor. The real culprits of battery discharge are internal chemical reactions and parasitic draws from the vehicle's electrical system, not the surface it sits on.

The more critical factors for proper battery storage are temperature and maintaining a charge. A battery will self-discharge over time, and this process accelerates in high temperatures. Storing a battery in a cool, dry place is far more important than worrying about the floor material.

Battery Storage Factor	Impact on Battery Health	Recommended Practice
Storage Surface	Negligible for modern batteries	Concrete, wood, or a shelf are all acceptable.
Temperature	High impact; heat accelerates self-discharge	Store in a cool, dry place, ideally between 32°F and 80°F (0°C and 27°C).
State of Charge	Critical; a fully discharged battery can sulfate and be ruined.	Store at a full charge (12.6+ volts) and use a battery maintainer (trickle charger) for long-term storage.
Storage Duration	A fully charged battery can typically hold its charge for 6-12 months in cool conditions.	For storage beyond a month, a maintainer is highly recommended.

For long-term storage, the best practice is to place the battery on a wooden shelf or a non-conductive mat if it gives you peace of mind, but connect it to a quality battery maintainer. This device provides a small, steady charge that counteracts natural self-discharge, ensuring the battery is ready to go when you need it.

[Edgar]

That's an old-school worry. My dad always told me to put a piece of wood under a battery. But the guys at the auto shop I use laughed when I asked. They said the plastic cases on batteries today are great insulators. The concrete can't "suck" the power out. You're better off just making sure the battery terminals are clean and it's fully charged before you store it anywhere.

[MacJulianna]

As an engineer, I can confirm the concrete floor myth is technically obsolete. The concern was valid for early-20th-century batteries that had porous, unsealed wooden cases, which could potentially create a conductive path to a damp concrete floor. Modern battery casings are engineered from high-resistance polymers. The discharge rate is determined almost entirely by internal chemistry and ambient temperature, not the storage surface. Focus on voltage maintenance, not the floor.

[DeDante]

I store my classic car battery on a concrete garage floor every winter. I just make sure it's fully charged first and I hook it up to a little battery tender. I've been doing this for ten years, and that same battery fires up the car every spring without a hitch. The concrete has never been a problem. The key is that maintainer—it keeps the charge topped off, which is what really matters.

[LeEmmanuel]

Think of it like this: your battery is already sitting in a big metal box (your car) that's touching the concrete driveway. If concrete drained batteries, every car parked in a garage would have a dead battery. It just doesn't work that way. The plastic case is like a lunchbox; it keeps what's inside safe. Just don't leave the battery in the hot sun, and check the charge every couple of months if you're not using it.