Top 10 Best Portable Car Jump Starters

1. Editor's Pick: NOCO Genius UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter

This powerful lithium jump starter is rated at 4,000 amps and offers up to 80 jump starts on a single charge. Featuring spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection, this portable jump starter is safe and easy to use. A nice added feature of this jump starter is a 500-lumen built-in LED flashlight that boasts seven light modes: low, medium, high, flashing, strobe, and emergency SOS. This integrated light can run continuously for up to 6 hours.

Another reason why this is our Editor’s Pick is that you can get use out of this portable jump starter on a daily basis. It’s capable of recharging all your USB devices and can also power 12-volt devices such as a tire compressor, inverters, and more.

With the amount of power it has to offer, this jump starter can be used on gasoline and diesel engines up to 10 liters and more. That includes cars, boats, trucks, diesel pickups, and even tractors.

Each package includes the portable jump starter, HD battery clamps, a USB charging cable, XGC male plug, XGC female plug, XGC cable, microfiber storage bag, and a 1-year limited warranty.

2. Best Features: DBPOWER 600A Peak Portable Car Jump Starter

If you’re looking for something compact that will fit comfortably in your glove box, take a look at the DBPOWER Portable Car Jump Starter. Capable of jump starting vehicles with up to 6.5-liter gasoline engines or 5.2-liter diesel engines with 600 amps of peak current, this starter features dual USB outputs and a DC output. With 18000mAh battery capacity, this portable jump starter can also serve as a battery bank for all your portable devices.

Incorporated into this device is an LED flashlight that can be switched between lighting, strobe, and SOS modes. There is also a red emergency light if necessary. On the side with all the ports, there’s a small LCD display that will show the working status of the jumper. There’s even a built-in compass in case you ever need one.

When it comes to actually jump starting your car, this product comes with all-metal spray gold clamps that are more solid and durable than standard clamps. Safety features baked into this starter include short circuit protection, over-temperature protection, reverse-polarity protection, reverse-charge protection, over-charge protection, over-discharge protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, low-voltage protection, and a built-in protection circuit.

This product offers up to 20 jump starts on a single charge.

3. Most Premium Power Bank: TACKLIFE T8 800A Peak Car Jump Starter

Providing 800 amps peak current, this option from TACKLIFE is capable of jump starting 12V cars, SUVs, trucks, or vans up to 30 times on a full charge. It also serves as a compact battery bank with 18000mAh capacity, allowing you to charge your phone or any other devices. It has dual USB ports, one of which is a 5v/9v Quick Charge port, and can also be used to power other car accessories using a 12V 10A DC port.

One standout feature for this portable car jump starter is that you can manually turn it “off” to slow down its battery self-discharge. This allows the TACKLIFE T8 to hold its charge for up to 12 months when it’s not in use. It’s also equipped with super bright LEDs and a built-in compass, while the digital LCD screen clearly shows the remaining battery life. A specially designed indicator will notify you if the full metal clamps are incorrectly being used.

TACKLIFE provides a two-year warranty with this jump starter.

4. Best for Large Vehicles: STANLEY Jump Starter (J5C09)

While it’s not as portable as the other jump starters we’ve look at so far on the list, the STANLEY Power Station Jump Starter offers 1000 peak, 500 instant amps along with a built-in 120 PSI air compressor. This is more of a heavy-duty jump starter geared towards truck owners with larger engines under the hood. What it does share in common with the other portable jump starters is that it features a USB output and as 12-volt DC outlet so you can charge other devices with it. There is also a built-in LED light that swivels 270 degrees, allowing you to adjust it accordingly.

It can also serve as an emergency air compressor with a brass-tipped SureFit nozzle for secure connections. For additional safety, this jumper has a reverse-polarity alarm that will alert the user if there’s an improper connection. It’s extremely easy to use—simply attach the clamps to the battery, turn on the switch, and start your vehicle.

Just keep in mind this is a larger jump starter, tipping the scale at nearly 18 pounds while measuring 11.2″ by 8″ by 13.5″.

5. Rugged Geek RG1000 INTELLIBOOST Portable Jump Starter

Updated for 2019 is Rugged Geek’s second-generation RG1000 portable jump starter. Capable of starting most vehicles with gasoline engines up to 7.0L in size and diesel engines up to 3.5L, this is a powerful 39Wh battery that can boost an average vehicle over 20 times on a single charge. It features INTELLIBOOST technology, which takes the risk and fear out of jump starting your car by ensuring power only flows when it’s safe.

The Rugged Geek RG1000 can also serve as a portable battery pack for your mobile devices with 2 USB ports and a variable output laptop charging port. Measuring 6.3″ long by 2.9″ and 1.3″ thick, the RG1000 tips the scales at under 1 pound, making it extremely lightweight and portable.

Other features on this portable charger include an LED flashlight with over 100 lumens of brightness, easy-to-read LCD display, and tire tread design. It’s available in three variants, one that includes a carrying case and another that includes a portable air compressor. The standard model includes a micro USB cable, INTELLIBOOST cables, soft carrying pouch, and an instruction manual.

6. Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry Jump Starter (JNC660)

Another more traditional portable jumper is the Clore Automotive Jump-N-Carry Starter. Offering 425 cranking amps and 1,700 peak amps, this portable starter features PROFORMER battery technology, which is designed to provide extremely high power output, extended cranking power, and a long service life. Included with this charger are 46-inch, heavy-duty #2 AWG copper insulated cables with industrial grade Hot Jaw clamps.

While it’s not as modern as other jump starters on this list with no USB outlets, this product does have a 12-volt power output to power a variety of accessories. There is also a voltmeter on the front so you can check the status of the battery inside the starter.

This jump starter is ideal for vehicle owners who need something more durable. It’s housed in a heavy duty case that is impervious to shop fluids and is designed to withstand the rigors of everyday professional use. There is also a nice handle, making it easy to carry around.

7. POTEK Jump Starter with Tire Inflator/Air Compressor

This recommendation from POTEK delivers 900 peak amps and includes a 150 PSI air compressor, capable of inflating a regular car tire to 30 PSI in six to eight minutes. It’s equipped with a 9AH sealed lead acid battery and features a DC outlet socket and a 5V 2.4A USB port to charge other devices. An onboard storage compartment comes in handy, allowing you to store charging cables and other accessories, like the included nozzles for the inflator.

Safety features on this jump starter include an integrated LED light on the front, and a reverse polarity LED indicator, which warns you if the polarity is reversed. POTEK offers more powerful variants, with one charger offering 1000 peak amps and a 12AH battery, while the range-topping variant has an 18AH battery and churns out 1500 peak amps. Grab the more powerful options if you have a larger engine under the hood of your car.

8. GOOLOO 20800mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter

Another power bank-style jump starter comes from GOOLOO, offering 800 amps of peak power, which is good enough to start gasoline engines up to 7.0 liters and diesel engines up to 5.5 liters. This product is designed to work on cars, motorcycles, watercrafts, ATVs, UTVs, lawnmowers, snowbiles, and even yachts. Two USB ports are integrated into this product, including one quick charge USB 3.0 port.

Using intelligent jumper clamps, this device is safe to use thanks to features like over-current protection, overload protection, over-voltage protection, over-charge protection, and high temperature protection. Like other similar jump starters, GOOLOO’s offering also has an integrated LED light with three modes: flashlight, strobe light, and SOS light.

This product has an 18000mAh battery capacity and comes with an 18-month warranty.

9. DEWALT Jump Starter (DXAEJ14)

You’ve likely heard of the brand DEWALT for its plethora of quality tools, so it’s little surprise the company also offers a portable jump starter. This product offers 700 instant starting amps and 1400 peak amps, along with a patented alternator check function. Integrated into this starter is a 120 PSI digital compressor with auto shutoff and a surefit nozzle.

There are also built-in USB ports to charge your portable devices, offering plenty of versatility. For safety, this product has an audible warning if the clamps are hooked up incorrectly to your car’s battery. Speaking of the clamps, they are heavy duty powdercoated clamps with 3′ of 4 AWG cables.

This charger works with a variety of batteries, including AGM, GEL, and WET 12-volt batteries.

10. JACO BoostPro Car Jump Starter

Boasting 300 amps of start current and 600 amps of peak current is the JACO BoostPro Car Battery Jump Starter. This product is capable of starting gasoline engines up to 6.5 liters and diesel engines up to 5.2 liters and uses a 16500mAh battery. Dual USB ports allow you to keep your portable devices charged when you don’t necessarily need to use this product as a car jump starter. It even includes a 12-volt DC adapter so you can power any number of products that normally use your car’s outlet.

A super bright LED flashlight can be used, while the entire starter is enclosed with a rugged fireproof outer casing. This device also has a sharp LCD display so you know its remaining battery life.

JACO ships its portable jump starter with a 12-month warranty and lifetime customer support.

How many amps do I need to jump start my car?

As you can tell, portable jump starters have a variety of specifications that could make it tricky to determine the right one for your vehicle. What you need to know is that jump starter power is typically noted in cold cranking amps (CCA) or peak amps (PA). To measure CCA, a fully charged battery is put in a cold environment—0°F—and determining how many amps it discharges for 30 seconds. This value explains what to expect from a battery in the worst starting conditions.

It’s true that the more amps a jump starter offers, the more powerful it is. But does that mean you should just purchase the most powerful product? Not necessarily.

What’s important is determining just how much power you need for your vehicle. Compact cars or even small sedans can be jump started with as little as 150 CCA, while full-size trucks and SUVs need around 450 CCA. But there are other things to consider, such as engine size and how old the vehicle is. Larger engines and older vehicles will require more amps to jump start, which is why you will typically see powerful jump starters advertised as being capable of starting engines as large as 8.0L. Generally however, 400-500 CCA is adequate to start most vehicles.

Keep in mind there may be times you have to help jump start someone else’s vehicle. Most of the products on this list will cover any passenger vehicle on the road today, but it never hurts to have something more powerful at your disposal, if you’re willing to spend the extra money.

How to Use a Portable Jump Starter to Restart Your Car

Photo Credit: oyls/Shutterstock

Every person should know how to jump-start a dead car battery — it’s just a useful life skill to have. Knowing how to jump a car will save you time and money so you don’t have to call a tow truck. While most people will wave down a passerby or call a friend to help with the jump, drivers can save even more time and do it themselves if they have a portable jump starter in their trunk at all times.

But if that’s not an option, here is a step-by-step illustrated and easy-to-follow guide on safely jump starting your car the traditional way. Bookmark this page on your phone so you have it handy in case of an emergency.

How to Tell If the Car Battery is Dead

Before you equip yourself with jump-starting skills, it’s critical to establish that the battery is the actual reason the automobile won’t start. If you turn on the ignition and the engine makes a cranking noise, a dead battery is not the problem and jump-starting it will be a futile exercise. Conversely, if the car is totally dead upon turning the key and there’s no noise, then it’s highly likely that you have a dead battery in your vehicle and jump-starting it is perhaps the only option.

How to Jump a Car Battery

1. First, park the functioning vehicle in a way that both the cars are facing each other, preferably only 1.5 feet apart, but never touching one another. More importantly, park the automatic transmission cars, while putting the manual transmission ones in neutral.  
2. Make sure to put parking brakes on both the cars, so neither of them moves unexpectedly.
3. Both vehicles must be turned off, with keys out of the ignition.
4. Place the jumper cables on the road/ground, while ensuring that the clamps do not touch/collide with each other.
5. Open the hood/bonnet of both the cars, and find the batteries (consult the owner’s manual for exact location), and battery terminals. Typically, the two terminals on respective batteries shall be color coded red or black, signifying negative “-” and positive “+” charge. 
6. It’s crucial to correctly identify both the charges to successfully jump-start the car. Also, if the battery terminals are grimy, wipe them off with a wire brush or rag.
7. Attach the red (positive) cable clamp to the (+) terminal of the dead battery. You must firmly connect the clamp to the battery terminal, which may well necessitate some wiggling of the clamps. 
8. Now affix the red (positive) cable clamp on the other end of the jumper cables to the operative vehicle’s (+) battery terminal.
9. After that connect the black (negative) cable clamp to the functional battery’s (-) battery terminal.
10. Now go over to the automobile with the lifeless Remember, do not attach the black (negative) clamp to the dead battery, instead affix that cable clamp to a metal, unpainted part of the vehicle such as a bright, clean screw on the car engine block. It will help ensure a safe car jump. 
11. Start the working car.
12. Wait for a minute or two. Depending on your battery’s age, and how long since it stopped working, you are required to let the car run for a few minutes to allow the jump to work.
13. Now try starting the inoperative car. If the vehicle does not start, allow the functional automobile to charge the battery for a few more minutes before attempting again. On a few occasions, moderately revving the engine of the operative car while charging the lifeless battery may help.
14. Once the defunct car is running, you can start disconnecting the jumper cables, beginning with the black (negative) cable clamps. However, don’t let the clamps touch one another while any part of the jumper cables is still connected to a car.
15. Now, go for a drive. It will enable the battery to build up a charge. Also, the drive will allow the car’s alternator to charge off the battery and assure that your battery won’t die again once you switch off the engine.