Free checker
Is my MacBook battery health normal?
Enter your maximum capacity, the Mac’s age, and (if you have it) the cycle count. We’ll tell you whether that’s healthy for its age, what it means, and what to do — using the same benchmark as our battery-health-by-age guide.
Tip: find these in Apple menu → System Settings → Battery → Battery Health (capacity), and System Information → Power (cycle count).
What’s normal, by age
| Age | Typical cycles | Healthy capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Brand new | 0 | 100% |
| 6 months | ~75–150 | 96–99% |
| 1 year | ~150–300 | 92–97% |
| 2 years | ~300–500 | 88–93% |
| 3 years | ~450–700 | 85–90% |
| 4–5 years | ~700–1000 | 80–87% |
The 80% rating and per-model cycle limits are Apple’s official figures. The by-age ranges are our own typical estimates derived from them and real-world use — treat them as typical, not guarantees. Heat and sitting at 100% push you to the low end; health follows cycles and heat far more than calendar age.
Sources: Apple — battery health management in Mac notebooks, battery cycle counts by Mac model, “Service Recommended”, battery basics.
Common questions
Is 90% battery health normal?
Yes. ~90% is healthy for a MacBook in its first couple of years. macOS shows “Service Recommended” when the battery can no longer hold charge like it used to or isn’t working normally — not at a fixed percentage.
At what battery health should I replace my MacBook battery?
Apple rates current MacBooks to keep ~80% capacity at their maximum cycle count (about 1000 cycles for recent models — older models vary). Below 80%, or with a “Service Recommended” warning, swelling, or poor runtime, it’s reasonable to replace it.
Does battery health depend on age or cycles?
Cycles and heat far more than calendar age. A lightly used 3-year-old Mac can still read 90%+, while a hard-charged 1-year-old can be in the 80s.
Related: how to check battery health, the 80% rule, when to replace your battery.
See your real battery, live
Mac 4 Breakfast reads your exact capacity, cycles and temperature from the menu bar — with history, a forecast and a shareable report card.