What Should A 12 Volt Battery Read. For a 12 volt leadacid battery the voltage measured between these two points should be between 11 and 13 volts. BatteryStuff Knowledge Base Article answering the common question why a 12 volt battery can read 13 volts.

For a 12 volt leadacid battery the voltage measured between these two points should be between 11 and 13 volts. It should be somewhere between 128 volts fully charged and 121 volts 50 percent charged. To get a true voltage reading of the cars battery it is important to measure the voltage after the car has been sat for a period with the engine off preferably overnight this provides you with the car battery open circuit voltage or also know as the resting voltage.
What should a 12 volt battery read on a multimeter.
The ideal car battery voltage with the engine running is between 137 and 147V. If your voltmeter is showing a voltage anywhere between 124 and 128 that means your battery is in good shape. A voltage value of 127 volts and above indicates a 100 percent charged battery. If the reading comes in below 10 volts you need to let your battery recharge.
