In a game of Airsoft, your Battery is like your lifeline. If it runs out—you're left high and dry, without a way to fire back while others are easily getting their shots off at you.

Especially if you're new to the game or just purchased a new airsoft gun, you might not know the optimal Charging time to get the most life out of your battery.

Since every battery is different just as every marker is different, there’s not exactly a concrete answer or set of rules. Instead, there are a few guidelines and tricks for every type of charger. This isn't rocket science—applying a charging time to the battery and how many shots you'll be able to fire off before it dies (and before you have to start adjusting the firing rate, trying to get out the last bit of power), can be easily organized by types of chargers. 

Different Types Of Batteries

To easily check which type of battery your airsoft gun has, you can find that sort of information on the box, on online features, and sometimes even on the gun, itself.

Most likely, you'll find one of these, which are the most common types of batteries:

Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh): The most common airsoft battery, these batteries are the safest, can still perform even in extreme temperatures, and are relatively small. However, they usually discharge much faster—but are extremely reliable.

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cad): These ones are different than the the Ni-Mh because of their weight—they are bulkier, heavier, and usually cannot take the heat—or cold! However, they do give you a quick charge, making it perfect for guns that usually take up a fair amount of energy and have a high fps. If you're a beginner, you should stray away from these kinds (unless your gun specifically calls for them)—because if overcharged, they can get ruined—their battery cells will split, leak, and possibly even cause a fire, so take EXTREME CAUTION if you're using these batteries to NOT overcharge.

Lithium Polymer (Li-Po): The most advanced and expensive batteries on the market, these ones are usually just compatible with 7.2v and 11.2v, (usually for upgraded AEGs). They work great under extreme temperatures and can last much longer than the other two types. However, with every positive comes a negative—they can be extremely dangerous if left too long charging and need to have special charges that can cost you a pretty penny.

Alkaline: Even though most airsoft guns are upgraded much farther than the Alkaline capacity allows, you can still use them. They'll last much, much longer than the typical type—years even and can survive and thrive in extremely cold temperatures. They are also light on your wallet, too. However, you will definitely see a decline in performance!

Proper Charging Time

When you're charging your battery, try to avoid using extension cords or a powerstrip, these things can decrease the direct power running into the source.

Here is where a bit of variation comes in:

The amount of time that you should leave your battery charging depends on the “milliamps” or mA that the battery has. The lower the number, the faster it will charge. You can find that number on the battery, on its box, etc. Remember that number.

Next, look at the “output” rating on the charger itself. You should also be looking for the “milliamps/mA”. Remember that number.

Here’s where the math comes in:

Let’s say your battery reads 1500mA and your charger reads 300mA.

All you should do now is divide the battery number by the charger number.

The solution you will get—in this instance, five—is the number of hours that that completely dead battery has reloaded.

Following this simple equation can help cut out a bunch of complicated guidelines, directions or suggestions.

When done correctly, charging your airsoft gun battery should be really simple! However, never just charge your battery and forget about it—this can damage it and decrease its lifespan, costing your money and performance level in the long run!