Best Jump Starters

One of the worst things that can happen to your vehicle is turning the key and nothing happening. After a few more goes, you realize your vehicle is just not going to start. The battery is dead and you’re completely out of luck.

There is never a good time for you to be stranded and you never want to call a tow truck. You want to get out of that predicament as fast as you can without having to spend too much money or waste part of your day.

Jumper cables are always a solid option, but they require another vehicle to be present. What if you’re in the middle of nowhere and you don’t have anyone around?

That’s why you need to make sure you have a jump starter in your car. You won’t need anyone else and you’re protected from these kinds of issues. They’re easy to use and can fit just about anywhere.

It’s better to be safe than sorry so you should do the right thing and make sure you purchase a jump starter.

We know there are tons of options out there on the market, so we went ahead and did the research to find the 10 best jump starters for you. In this review, we wanted to cover everything possible from regular jump starters to professional-grade ones.

Keep reading below in order to find the one that is best for you!

Jump-N-Carry Jump Starter

This jump starter is going to get the job done, but the one thing we have to admit we’re discouraged about is the price. This device is going to set you back a bit.

But with the hefty price tag, you’re going to be getting one amazing product. It’s incredibly compact with an incredibly strong 12V-3400 peak amperes and 850 cranking amperes. For 24V batteries, it has 1700 peak amperes and 425 cranking amperes.

It can be used for trucks, cars, and even big machinery. This product toes the line between apt for commercial use to be a top industrial-grade jumper. It might be overkill if you’re driving a compact car, but you know it’s going to get the job done.

When put through tests, we’ve found it could jump multiple heavy-duty trucks without the need to be recharged. Despite its compact size, it is pretty heavy. This beast weighs about 40 pounds.

But even with the weight and the price, this jump starter is an excellent option for those who are looking for a device to cover multiple vehicles.

XenonPro JS1003 Portable Jump Starter

Taking one look at this device, it doesn’t look like your typical jump starter. It comes with air compressor options and has proven to be a hot market item since its release.

The first thing you’ll notice about this jump starter is how small it is. It’s also incredibly affordable, starting out at around $150. In the package, you’ll get high-quality jumper cables and even a full lifetime warranty. That is a rare thing to see with jump starters so you know that XenonPro is doing all they can to make a great product.

It comes fitted with a lithium-ion battery and provides 800 amp of peak current and 400 amps of cranking power. This is more than enough to start small to medium-sized cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even watercraft.

We were able to get about 10 uses out of the device before it had to recharge, so you know the battery is incredible.

The high-quality cables are more than just solid cables, but they are intelligent jumper cables that will actually drive your car as well. Just kidding, but they make giving that extra boost to your engine much easier and safer than regular cables.

That’s not all though, as you’ll also get the portable air compressor, an LED flashlight, an LCD display, and even two electronics to charge your mobile devices on the go.

We can’t sing the praises high enough for this device and it’s the perfect addition to just about any vehicle out there.

Jump-N-Carry JNCAIR Jump Starter

While the previous Jump-N-Carry option was a bit pricey, we’ve found the JNCAIR to be a bit more affordable and versatile. It was made for the car market and doesn’t have the heavy-duty jump-starting abilities as some of the other devices.

It is smaller and lighter, with 1700 peak amps and 425 crank amps. This means it’s plenty for any car or SUV you’re driving around. We really liked that it comes with extra-long cables, making jump-starting easier and more convenient in just about any circumstance.

It also comes fitted with an integrated air compressor and 12’ coiled air hose that has a screw-on chuck. That’s a lot of words, but what does it mean?

This means that not only can you jump-start your vehicle, but you can also blow up your tires or any other inflatable object. This makes it great for any watercraft as you can easily blow up tubes and other items to keep the fun going.

This product isn’t a bargain deal by any stretch of the imagination, but as with many items you’re going to get what you pay for. This Jump-N-Carry is made from high-quality materials that will work in just about any situation.

NOCO Genius Boost Pro Jump Starter

Another jump-starter that doesn’t exactly have the physical qualities you might expect, this NOCO device has plenty to get the job done. We liked this product’s versatility and size.

It is incredibly compact and can fit in a shoe box. It’s ideal for any compact cars and can easily fit in your trunk or in tight spaces. Just make sure you remember where you put it.

The NOCO comes with an extra-powerful lithium jump starter that is rated at 4,000 amps. We were unable to find the crank amps value and that number represents the peak power.

This jump-starter can be recharged just about anywhere as it comes with a 12-volt charging jack. Another neat feature is the LED light which comes in handy while trying to charge your vehicle in the dark.

Similar to the XenonPro, it has USB slots so you can recharge your mobile devices. It’s a great all-around device that will get the job done while offering a plethora of other options to keep you happy.

The downside to this product is the price. It is definitely at the steeper end price wise. We can’t stress it enough though: you get what you pay for.

Truck PAC Jump Starter

The cheapest device on our list so far, this device was built for trucks and heavy machinery. That means that it’s suited for 24-volts only and if you’re looking for a device for your car, then it’s best to go ahead and skip this item.

It comes with 1500 peak amps and 400 cranking amps which aren’t going to blow anybody away, but it is plenty to get the job done. If you’re working in an industrial workplace, you should double-check your equipment to make sure this device is enough.

The Truck PAC comes with extra-long cables which is perfect for ideal positioning while jump-starting and has industrial-grade alligator clamps made of copper to give the vehicle or machinery the maximum charge it needs.

It is a bit heavy, about 18 pounds because the battery was made for multiple charges. It also has a rugged exterior that’s durable and resistant to being dropped or hit.

The device features automatic charging and battery status LED lights to help make your operations and jump-starting as easy and convenient as humanly possible.

Jump-N-Carry JNC660 Jump Starter

Yes, yes another Jump-N-Carry but that’s only because their line of products is so versatile. We couldn’t just include one on here without mentioning the others.

This Jump-N-Carry has 1700 peak amps, 425 cranking amps, and a cool color design. It’s more than enough for cars, SUVS, and most trucks. It may not be ideal for heavy-duty trucks but should work quite well with a regular pickup.

In addition to its basic features, it comes equipped with a voltmeter that provides the charging status of the onboard battery and a DC outlet in order to power your mobile devices. While we would have preferred it comes with USB ports, the DC outlet is still a nice touch.

Compared to the rest of the items on this list, and especially the other Jump-N-Carry products, it’s much more affordable. It doesn’t come fitted with a reverse polarity alarm that will let you know if you connected the wrong cables to the part of the battery.

It is relatively compact and lightweight and doesn’t have any glaring issues. If you’re looking for a basic device that will get you back on the road without a lot of bells and whistles, then this is the way to go.

GOOLOO 1000A Peak 20800mAh Supersafe Car Jump Starter

While GOOLOO might sound like something your infant would say, we can assure you that they make solid products that are internationally certified.

Despite its small stature, this device is much more versatile than you would originally expect. We found it could easily charge all cars, RVs, trucks, and even some tractors. It’s fitted for 12-volt batteries so those looking for more heavy-duty options should head elsewhere.

One nice little touch is the charging time, in which we found it charged much faster than others. It has 1000 amps of peak current but we couldn’t find the cranking power.

It doesn’t come loaded with power, as you will have to space out your attempts to jump your car. The manufacturer recommends trying to jump your car only four times every two minutes with a long waiting period in between.

This product is so small it can even fit in your glove box, making it a top choice among those who have limited space or super-compact cars.

It also comes with 2 USB ports, meaning you can charge a few devices while you’re on the go. In addition, we really liked the built-in security feature which protects not only the device itself but also your vehicle when trying to jump-start it.

Lastly, it comes with an emergency flashlight, LED screen, and wall charger. For such a bargain price, it’s a great product overall.

NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter

Another compact device, the NOCO Genius Boost can also fit in your glove box. If you really want, it could probably fit in your pants if you have deep enough pockets.

If you’re thinking you won’t be able to get a lot of power from this compact design, then you’re right. It just has 1000 amps of peak power and 150-200 amps of crank power. This is great for small, compact cars but is not enough to get the job done for trucks, SUVS, or anything bigger than that.

It does come with safety and security measures that will keep sparks from flying. It also has reverse polarity protection just in case you hook up things the wrong way.

In addition to these great features, it comes equipped with an LED flashlight that includes seven different light modes. Even though you may not know Morse code, it comes equipped with an SOS light for any emergency situations.

It comes with a USB port so you can charge up your personal devices on the go, a bonus feature for an already solid device.

Once again, though, this device isn’t all that powerful and will only work with smaller engines and compact cars. But if that’s what you’re driving around, then you really can’t go wrong.

BASAF Car Jump Starter

Another fantastic budget option, the BASAF is a powerful unit that can be attached to various devices. It has 1200 amps of peak power and the manufacturer says it can charge up to 30 vehicles before needing to be recharged.

It comes equipped with tons of input and output slots for different purposes. You can recharge just about any mobile device and can charge the battery itself.

The BASAF only supports vehicles with 12-volt batteries, so it’s not a great option for heavy-duty trucks or machinery. It has six built-in protection systems that prevent issues like overheating or short circuits.

The biggest complaint we have about this device is that it is a bit confusing to use at times. The instructions aren’t very clear and sometimes we weren’t sure where to plug in where or how to use what.

It is fairly compact and while it may not fit in your glove compartment, it can fit in your car easily and stay out of the way.

One thing we have to applaud BASAF on is the money-back guarantee. If you’re not pleased with the product, they will refund your money within 30 days, no questions asked. It also comes with a 2-year warranty.

DBPOWER 600A 18000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter

With this DBPOWER unit, you’re going to be getting a super reliable portable car jump starter. It is quite versatile as well, being able to serve cars with capacity of up to 6.5L of gas or 5.2L of diesel.

It comes with USB ports so you can charge your devices easily and quickly. With a flashlight and LED screen, we really enjoyed the extra features that came with this product.

Our favorite thing, however, is how durable this product is. It was meant for heavy-duty situations and tough environments so don’t worry about this thing being dropped or slung around in the back of your trunk.

The instructions are very easy and straightforward, giving you a solid introduction to the new device.

Overall, this is a solid jump-starter that gets the job done plain and simple. It’s compatible with a wide range of vehicles and devices that make it ideal for almost any situation.

Honorable Mention: BEATIT B10PRo QDSP 12V Portable Car Jump Starter

Another device that looks nothing like a jump starter, this BEATIT model looks more like an external hard drive for your computer or battery pack for your phone.

That being said, this is an incredibly compact unit that can easily fit in your glove box and charge plenty of devices. It comes with a USB port and an all-important type C port, which is ideal for the newer phones on the market.

It works great with cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. This device does not charge quickly though, being equipped with only a five-volt charger. It does have a quick discharge power system which allows this unit to withstand extreme weather conditions. Combine this with a short circuit prevention system, and you won’t have to worry about the safety of this product.

There is also an LED flashlight, ideal for making any jumps in the middle of the night.

It comes at a moderate price, making it ideal for any bargain hunters out there.

So how come it didn’t make the top 10?

The battery life is the main issue. This device has the shortest battery life of any product on this list and takes forever to charge. That means you’re likely to only get a few jumps out of this before you’ll have to plug it back in to recharge.

Honorable Mention: Stanley J509 1000 Peak Power Amp Jump Starter

A tough cut from the list, this device from Stanley is durable and made for just about any environment. It connects to 12-volt batteries and has more than enough juice to get your truck, SUV, or car back to life.

As the title suggests, it comes with 1000 amps of peak power and 500 amps of cranking power. It also comes fitted with a pair of USB ports so you can charge your devices on the go. The LED flashlight can rotate 270 degrees and shines a bright light that will give you more than enough clarity.

It also comes fitted with a reverse polarity alarm to warn you in case you connect the cables incorrectly. It’s an affordable product that proves to be a solid option in many situations.

Why did it not make our top 10 though? Many users complained it did not have enough battery to charge their vehicles, mainly trucks and boats. More alarmingly, there were some users that said it wore out after just a few months of use.

Things to Consider When Shopping for a Jump Starter

OK, now that we’ve gone through a whole range of products we need to talk about the important considerations that you should have when making a purchase.

It’s important to know that jump starters are completely different from battery chargers. Battery chargers are devices that you can use in your garage to charge the battery of a stationary car. Jumpstarters, on the other hand, are a mobile kit that you use to jumpstart a car if the situation calls for it.

We mention this only because both products look quite similar and it can be easy to confuse them from time to time. They both look like high-powered products with cables coming out of the sides. So make sure you take an extra look at the package before you run off to the register.

Find One that Matches Your Car

No, we’re not talking about buying a red device for your red car (although you could if you want), but finding one that matches up with your car’s battery.

The biggest difference to be aware of is 12 and 24-volt batteries. The majority of modern cars use the 12-volt system but some still rely on the 24-volt system.

If you’re using machinery or some heavy-duty trucks, then you might need one that works with the 24-volt system as well.

Another important aspect to consider is the wattage index because that will show how strong your jump starter is. There is a big difference between cranking and peak amps. Peaks amps is the highest amount of power that your jump starter can produce, but this is usually only for a short period of time. Crank power, on the contrary, is the amount of power your jump-start can have for a longer period of time.

When looking at jump starters, you want to get more excited about the crank power than the peak power.

Engine Size

The bigger the engine, the bigger the car battery. Diesel-power engines are going to have larger batteries while gasoline cars have smaller batteries. Therefore, diesel engines will require more power to be jumped.

You will want to check your car manual to see the recommended amps for what your engine may need. Starting a bigger engine with a small jump starter is possible, but you shouldn’t rely on that in a pinch.

The Overall Practicality

If you’re someone who can’t lift heavy weights or has a smaller car, then you probably shouldn’t be going for a jump starter that is 20+ pounds. It could be a workout, but you’re probably not going to be using it enough to see any real muscle results.

That being said, there are tons of smaller jump starters that get the job done. Despite their small stature, you can still get a solid charge out of them and enough juice to jump your car. These are more for smaller cars and probably won’t work for big trucks though.

The plus side is that you can store them just about anywhere. Many of them are small enough to fit in your glove box, making it easy to get out of the way but also easy enough to grab when you need it.

Safety Features

Jumping a car is not something that you’re going to do every day, so it makes sense that you might forget the exact steps when going about it.

Many of the products come with short circuit protection or polar reverse alarm. If you connect the cables to the wrong part of the battery, the system will alert you of your mistake. This will help make sure you don’t cause any handle melting or sparks that fly around.

Many come with flashlights that will make setting up the jumpstarter in the dark a breeze.

How to Use a Jump Starter

This wouldn’t be a very handy set of reviews if we at least didn’t even go over the basics about how to jump a car now, would it?

Below, we’re going to go over the steps you need in order to jump your vehicle. As a special note, jumping heavy machinery or a heavy-duty truck may have extra steps that we’re not going to cover here.

Ensure Proper Connection

The first thing you need to do is make sure that the jump starter is properly connected to the car battery itself. The red cable will go to the positive terminal (+) while the black cable will go to the negative terminal (–).

If you do the opposite, your jump starter isn’t going to transmit enough power to jump your car. In this case, you may even cause a short circuit or break your jump starter.

Keep in mind that while going through this process, your jump starter should be off.

Start the Jump Starter

Now that you have the cables connected, it’s time to turn the starter on. For those units that are more high-powered, you’re going to want to make sure you do the proper adjustments to your car’s vehicle.

It some cases, it will do so automatically if it’s equipped with auto-current protection.

Crank the Car

Now that everything is ready to go, it’s time to get back in your car and give it a crank. If everything has gone to plan, your car engine will start up after a few seconds.

If this isn’t the case, then you should wait 5-10 seconds before trying again. You should repeat this process a few times and if nothing is happening, that could point to a different issue with your vehicle.

Try not to crank your vehicle for too long, because that’s going to put a lot of pressure on your vehicle while also draining the jump starter itself.

If you’re going to try multiple times, make sure you let the jump starter rest for a few moments before giving it another go.

Recharge It

Unfortunately, jump starters are not like the Energizer Bunny and won’t keep going and going again. After you used it, it’s imperative that you recharge it before your next trip.

You never know when an emergency can happen again and you want to make sure you’re prepared.

Check the Battery

After you’re finished with everything, you should check your battery to make sure it’s running normally. If you struggled to start your car or notice any leaking fluids or sparks, then it’s time to get your vehicle checked out.

Closing Thoughts

Your battery isn’t going to let you know when it’s about to die, so you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Having a portable jump starter is one of the best things you can do for you and your vehicle.

Finding the best one can be tricky and largely depends on what type of vehicle you have and its engine. Make sure you are doing plenty of research as well as reading customer reviews for the best outcome.

Good luck and happy shopping!