Illuminated battery holder and dispenser

A battery holding and dispensing device (18) holds a plurality of batteries, in an assortment of battery sizes. The battery holding and dispensing device includes a frame (20) having a plurality of compartments sized and shaped to each receive a battery of a particular battery size and each having a detent (160) for releasably retaining the battery in the compartment. Each compartment has at least one opening (44) in the bottom and lower side to expose a corner of the battery to allow finger ejection of the battery from the compartment past the detent (160), and to allow the user to touch the batteries to ascertain battery size by feel. The assortment of batteries held in the frame (20) is preferably pre-selected to correspond to the batteries needed by a particular profession. An arrangement for illuminating the frame is provided.