Not all batteries have the shelf life on the label.<br><br>You don't mention the construction of the battery. That's the governing factor. Rules of thumb:<br><br>Carbon 6 months<br>Alkaline 1 year<br>Mercury 1.5 years<br>Lithium 6 years<br>Nickel-Cadmium 2 weeks<br>Nickel-Hydride 2-4 days<br>Lithium Ion Ah...I don't know, they're too new.<br><br>Of course, we're assuming storage in ideal conditions. Cold helps some of these and hurts others for instance. <br><br>The shelf life is the time it takes to lose half the available power. The batteries will begin to degrade as soon as it's built. It also is non-linear. Some batteries lose a lot of power quickly then flaten out, and some hold for a long time and then just die. <br><br>If you want anything more specific than this, you have to check the manufacturers specifications for particular types.