Best Portable Car Battery Jump Starter
Get the WOLFBOX MegaVolt24 for most cars and the NOCO Boost X GBX155 for diesels and big V8s. Add a built-in compressor only if you want a tire inflator in the same box.
Find the line below that matches your car and click that pack.
- You drive an ordinary car, SUV or pickup and only need a jump: the WOLFBOX MegaVolt24, GearLab's best overall pick.
- You want a pack that carries a UL 2743 certification, a 0.0 V override for a fully dead battery and a rating up to 8 L gas and 6 L diesel: Clore JNC325.
- You want a tire inflator in the same pack, with a long air hose and a sensor that shuts the compressor off at the pressure you set: NOCO Boost Air AX65.
- You want a tire inflator in the same pack and a 160 PSI ceiling, plus a rating up to 8 L gas and 6 L diesel: WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air.
- You drive a diesel truck or a big V8: the NOCO Boost X GBX155, GearLab's top pick for big engines at 4,250 A.
Engine size is the one thing that can push you off the first line. Lectron's guideline, as quoted by Consumer Reports, puts engines over 3.0 L at 2,000 to 3,000 peak amps and diesels at 3,000 or more. NOCO and other makers rate engine size on a different basis, so brands don't share one scale. If you drive a diesel, take the bigger pack.
Skip the Stanley J5C09. GearLab ranks it last of 13 and found it delivered less current under load than its rivals. Skip the GOOLOO GP2000 for a large engine too: GearLab reports an 8 L gasoline rating, but found it lacked the power for larger engines.
Cold changes the plan. With the car and pack both at 0°F, none of the packs could start weak or dead batteries. In that cold, call for a jump or a tow.
Where you keep the pack matters as much. Keep it indoors in deep cold, because a unit stored at 20°F has less jump-starting power than one at 60°F. Keep it out of a hot car in summer, since the Seattle Fire Department says lithium-ion batteries don't belong in hot vehicles. Recharge it about every 3 months.
Before you connect anything, read the pack maker's instructions and your owner's manual, because jump points differ by vehicle.
If you add air with a combo pack, set tires to the proper cold tire pressure on the driver's doorjamb label. The number on the sidewall is only the tire's maximum. The best portable car jump starter with air compressor page is for drivers who want both jobs in one box. If you only need tire air and no jump, read about the best portable air compressor instead.
Questions
Which portable jump starter is best for a diesel truck or big V8?
The NOCO Boost X GBX155 is the pick for diesels and big V8s. GearLab names it the top pick for big engines at 4,250 A. Lectron's guideline, as quoted by Consumer Reports, puts engines over 3.0 L at 2,000 to 3,000 peak amps and diesels at 3,000 or more. Brands rate engine size on different bases, so there is no single scale. If you drive a diesel, take the bigger pack.
Can a portable jump starter start a car in extreme cold?
No, a portable jump starter is not reliable in extreme cold. With the car and pack both at 0°F, none of the packs Consumer Reports tested could start weak or dead batteries. In that kind of cold, call for a jump or a tow. Storage matters too: a unit stored at 20°F has less jump-starting power than one stored at 60°F, so keep the pack indoors in deep cold.
Where should I store a portable car battery jump starter?
Store a jump starter indoors in deep cold and out of a hot car in summer. A unit stored at 20°F has less jump-starting power than one at 60°F, according to Clore Automotive. The Seattle Fire Department says lithium-ion batteries do not belong in hot vehicles. Recharge the pack about every 3 months so it is ready when you need it.
Which portable jump starters should I skip?
Skip the Stanley J5C09 and, for a large engine, the GOOLOO GP2000. GearLab ranks the Stanley J5C09 last of 13 and found it delivered less current under load than its rivals. GearLab reports an 8 L gasoline rating for the GOOLOO GP2000 but found it lacked the power for larger engines, so it is a poor match if you drive a big-engine vehicle.