With a portable jumpstarter, you can say goodbye to being stranded for hours with a dead car battery. The beauty of a portable jumpstarter is you no longer need traditional jumper cables and another vehicle to get your car battery up and running again.
With a portable jumpstarter, you can easily get your car running in a few easy steps. We think it is one of the most important things you should keep in your vehicle, along with your emergency kit. A pricier option like the GOOLOO GT3000 weighs only 2 pounds and can jumpstart a 10-liter gas engine. Otherwise, options like the Tacklife T8 Jumpstarter cost half as much — but they’re smaller and hold a smaller punch so they’ll kickstart a 7.5-liter engine.
Our experts scoured the shops to find the best portable car jumpstarters available and tested them in the field. To learn about the ins and outs of these disaster-averting devices, read the Buyer’s Guide or bump down to the Price & Value summary. Still finding the right pick? Consult our Comparison Chart for a side-by-side spec comparison. Otherwise, take a look at our selection.
Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on November 13, 2024, adding a price and value analysis for easier decision-making.
The Best Portable Car Jumpstarters of 2024
Portable Car Jumpstarter Comparison Chart
Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Capacity, Peak power, Starting power, Engine compatibility.
| Jumpstarter | Price | Capacity | Peak Power | Starting Power | Engine Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOOLOO GT3000 | $150 | 22,800mAh | 3,000A | 600A (3s) | 10.0L gas / 8.0L diesel |
| Tacklife T8 Pro | $70 | 18,000mAh | 1,200A | 500A (3s), 300A (5s) | up to 7.5L gas / 6.0L diesel |
| Audew Epower-155 | $160 | 20,000mAh | 2,000A | NA | 9.0L gas / 7L diesel |
| NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Portable Lithium Jumpstarter | $125 | 10,800mAh | 1,000A | 1,000A | 6.0L gas / 3.0L diesel |
| Teluxe TE01 Portable Jumpstarter/Tire Inflator | $110 | 18,000mAh | 2,500A | NA | 8.5L gas /6.0L diesel |
| IdeaPlay J8 Plus Portable Jumpstarter & Power Supply | $110 | 8,000mAh | 800A | 400A | 7.0L gas / 5.5L diesel |
| GOOLOO GP3000 Portable Car Jumpstarter | $100 | 16,000mAh | 3,000A | NA | 9.0L gas / 7.0L diesel |
| Schumacher DSR132 Ultracapacitor/Lithium Ion Hybrid Jumpstarter | $507 | 2,200mAh | 1,200A | 900A | 8.0L gas / 5.0L diesel |
| Clore Automotive JNC660 Portable Car Jumpstarter | $128 | 22,000mAh | 1,700A | 425A | all passenger vehicles, light commercial |
How We Tested Portable Car Jumpstarters
We get that people want the best value on gear before spending their hard-earned money. Our expert team carefully selects the products we cover and vigorously researches (and tests) our top choices.
Bottom line: the GearJunkie staff is dedicated to exhaustive analysis and helping our readers make informed choices.
Our Expert Testers
Our automotive specialist and lead tester of this buyer’s guide, Derek Mau, curated the collection. A regular workday for Mau involves testing almost anything on four wheels, obsessively researching and shopping for the best deal, and writing detailed and informative reviews of all things automotive for GearJunkie.
Contributor Nick Bruckbauer also tested and wrote about jumpstarters for this guide.
Our Testing Grounds
Mau is based in Boise, Idaho. Bruckbauer is based in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Our Testing Process
A variety of jumpstarters are featured in this guide for different vehicles and applications, from emergency kit staples to premium quality with extra tools. In between, there are several choices for folks who want safe, reliable jumpstarters for their car, truck, SUV, or any vehicle with a battery that needs a helping ramp to get started.
This guide was originally edited by Derek Mau in 2022, and while it’s thoroughly researched, we are actively testing these portable jumpstarters for their primary function: jumpstarting our vehicle engines when they lose power. We will continue to update this guide with our findings.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Portable Car Jumpstarters
First and foremost, having a portable car jumpstarter allows you to jumpstart your car without anyone else’s help. No need to flag down a car or call roadside assistance — just correctly hook up the portable jumpstarter to your car battery using the attached cables, and you’re golden. Carrying a portable jumpstarter with you will make you feel safer and more prepared at all times.
Besides the main benefit of effectively jumpstarting your car with no assistance, these modern units are useful for several other things. Most act as power supplies and will charge other devices. If you need to plug in a mobile device or power a laptop on the go, you can often plug it right into the portable car jumpstarter pack, offering a convenient way to charge mobile devices without running your vehicle.
When purchasing a portable car jumpstarter, consider other possible features. Some portable car jumpstarters also double as tire inflators, have integrated flashlights, and more.
Once your car emergency kit is equipped with a portable car jumpstarter, get ready to take on all kinds of adventures. Keep it secure in your glovebox or your trunk.
Looking for other items to build a car safety kit? Check out our guides on the top winter emergency car kits, tire chains, and first-aid kits.
Size: Portable Jumpstarters
The size range for portable car jumpstarters varies from small lithium-based jumpstarters that you can stow in your glove box to larger power stations that are about the size of a grocery bag. Depending on where you store the jumpstarter and how portable you want the device to be, you’ll want to consider the overall size and weight when making your purchase.
Power
To determine the power output of a portable car jumpstarter, pay attention to the peak power and starter current measured in cold cranking amps (CCA). CCA measures how many amps a battery can successfully produce within 30 seconds at zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Generally speaking, 400 to 600 amps should be enough to jumpstart a battery on an average passenger car, truck, or SUV. If you have a larger battery or are operating a heavy-duty truck or commercial vehicle, you may need a more powerful jumpstarter.
Reverse Polarity Protection
Spark-proof and reverse polarity protection are safety features you should look for when purchasing a portable car jumpstarter. Reverse polarity protection will alert you if the jumpstarter isn’t hooked up properly to the battery terminals.
This crucial feature will alert you when incorrectly connecting the jump leads and temporarily disable the jumpstarter. That said, always double-check and verify that the positive and negative leads are connected to the right battery posts before beginning this process.
Additional Features
A number of portable car jumpstarters have USB ports for charging, LED flashlights, radios, compasses, and sometimes air compressors. If a portable car jumpstarter has numerous additional features, it’ll generally be larger and heavier. Whether or not you will benefit from these extra features largely depends on personal preference.
Price & Value
Our top portable jumpstarters cover a huge price spectrum from $70 to more than $500.
Budget
On the economic end, dependable jumpstarters cost less than $100. For instance, the Tacklife T8 Pro ($70) provides a start power of 500 amps, which is the lower end of the range. The majority of passenger cars need 400 to 600 amps to get kicked started. Nonetheless, this budget option packs a punch. If you have a vehicle that doesn’t need as much power to start, these options work just fine.
Mid-Tier
Most of our choice jumpstarters fall in the $100 to $200 range. The Audew Epower-155 ($160) has a peak power of 2,000 amps, and can start a larger engine compared to more basic kits. The Audew is powerful enough to start a 9L gas engine or 7L diesel engine. If you have rigs with bigger, more powerful engines, definitely consider a more powerful jumpstarter. Always double-check your vehicle’s engine compatibility.
Premium
The priciest option in our guide is the Schumacher DSR132 ProSeries ($507), which is a hybrid design that has an ultracapacitor — also known as a supercapacitor or electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) — has the ability to store and release electrical energy. One benefit is that they can rapidly charge, so even a weak car battery can pre-charge the ultracapacitor for a jumpstart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jumpstarting your car is quite simple. With that said, it is vital that you do it properly. Follow these steps to ensure a safe and easy experience.
- Set the portable car jumpstarter in a stable location in the engine compartment (or on the ground if the cords are long enough). Double-check that the device is charged.
- Connect the positive jumpstarter cable to the positive terminal on your car’s battery.
- Connect the negative jumpstarter cable to the negative terminal, the engine block, or another grounded location.
- Start the car.
- If the car starts, carefully disconnect the negative jumpstarter cable and secure it back to the portable jump box.
- Finally, carefully disconnect the positive jumpstarter cable.
Having a portable jumpstarter in your car is a valuable asset to any emergency car kit. They are small, relatively inexpensive, easy to use, have built-in safety features, and much easier to stow away than a set of jumper cables.
Usually, you’d have to rely on another vehicle if your vehicle’s battery is too weak to turn over the ignition. With a portable unit, you have everything you need. Simply attach the portable jumpstarter to your car’s battery, fire up the vehicle, and you are all set.
It generally takes a portable jumpstarter around 3-5 hours to recharge. In some rare cases, it can take up to 10 hours to fully charge a portable jumpstarter if the battery is totally drained.
The good news is that you don’t need a full charge to jumpstart a car. Recharging the lithium battery to at least 20% is usually sufficient to jumpstart most vehicles. With this in mind, it’s best to read your specific car jumpstarter’s user manual for the recommended charge times.
If you put your key in the ignition to start your car and it makes a low, whirring sound, but the car doesn’t turn on, your car battery is too weak to turn over the engine. No sound at all and/or no dash lights come on are also indications that you likely have a dead battery.
Warning signs of a failing battery include a weak or sluggish start and electrical components (like your dashboard) not lighting up.
No, portable car jumpstarters are not meant to recharge a car battery. They can provide the power to start a vehicle with a tired battery, but they are not designed to repower it. The vehicle’s alternator recharges the battery while the vehicle is running, or you can hook up a battery charger when stationary.
Yes, you can jumpstart a car in the rain.
Nonetheless, things can feel a lot more chaotic in a downpour. Don’t let that make you hasty. Be careful, take your time, and always pay attention to the order of the cable connection — rain or not!
A portable jumpstarter can only damage your car if it is attached incorrectly, just like with regular jumper cables. However, most portable car jumpstarters have intelligent safeguards to warn you if connected incorrectly and prevent potential damage.
Avoid damage by connecting your cables in the right order. First, connect the positive terminals. Then, connect the negative terminals. If you are concerned about user error, purchase a jumpstarter with reverse polarity protection and an audible alarm that will alert you to any potential issues.
When it comes to a universal CCA, a portable jumpstarter with a minimum starter current rating of 400-600 amps will likely jumpstart most cars, crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Vehicles with larger engines require more power and a higher starting current.
Overcharging a properly working portable jumpstarter is highly unlikely. Modern jumpstarters have several safety protections aimed at preventing accidents, including over-charge and over-current protection.
The lithium polymer batteries used in portable car jumpstarters have enough capacity to start a vehicle several times over without having to recharge.
For example, a portable jumpstarter with a battery capacity of 10,800mAh is good for up to 20 starts. A unit with a larger 22,000mAh capacity will start up to 50 cars.
Furthermore, the batteries do an excellent job holding a charge, as they can go 6 to 12 months without recharging.
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