You’re already running late to work when disaster strikes. The car’s battery has died, and there are no neighbors around with spare jump leads to help you get it started.
Not to fear – that’s where a handy jump starter comes in.
These helpful pieces of kit will spark your car back to life and get you back on the road in minutes.
But with so many different models available, how can you be sure that you’re looking at the best jump starters?
We’ve done all the hard work so that you don’t have to, and scoured the internet for the best jump starters that money can buy.
As long as you choose the jump starter most appropriate for your car’s engine, you’ll have nothing to worry about with one of these under your hood!
There’s also a helpful buyer’s guide included so as to show you all the factors you need to consider when buying the best jump starter for you.
We’ve even included some frequently asked questions to cover any burning queries you might have about jump starters!
In a hurry? Check out our top pick below!
OUR TOP PICK
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EDITORS CHOICE
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BEST VALUE
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DBPOWER Car Battery Jump Starter
OUR TOP PICK
NOCO Boost Plus GB40
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The reliable NOCO boost plus GB40 jump starter is just the thing you need in a pinch.
With this powerful 1000 amp jump starter, you can get back on the road in seconds. You can even get up to 20 jump starts from a single charge!
This particular jump starter is ideal for gasoline engines up to 6 liters and diesel engines up to 3 liters.
The NOCO boost plus comes with several safety features to give you peace of mind. These include reverse polarity protection and spark-proof technology so that you can safely connect your new jump starter to any 12-volt battery!
Looking for a little more from your jump starter? The NOCO boost plus also works as a portable power bank and has an LED flashlight!
So not only will it bring your dead battery back to life, it can keep your phone or other gadgets powered up for when you need them most.
The NOCO boost plus uses an advanced design to make sure that it’s a safe, durable unit.
It features a rubberized over-molded casing to prevent scratches; high discharge lithium technology so it can be used safely; and a water-resistant enclosure rated at IP65.
Pros:
- Can power up gasoline engines of up to 6 liters, and diesel engines of up to 3 liters.
- Can double as a power bank for your gadgets as well as a flashlight.
- Has several safety features to give you peace of mind.
- Has enough power for 20 jump starts off a single charge.
- Compact and lightweight for easy storage and transportation.
Cons:
- The device only has one USB port, so you can only charge one device at a time.
EDITORS CHOICE
TOPVISION Battery Starter
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The TOPVISION battery starter can be used to power up any dead 12V batteries in a 7 liter gasoline engine, or a 6.5 liter diesel engine.
The powerful lithium battery will be able to give you up to 50 jump starts from a single charge. Just the thing you need if you’re looking for a reliable jump starter!
This particular jump starter isn’t just ideal for cars. You can use it on a wide range of vehicles – from RVs, to trucks, and even boats!
You can use the TOPVISION jump starter for a variety of functions. Not only can you use it to jump start your car, but it can also be used as a portable charger and flashlight. The flashlight comes with three different settings; flashlight, strobe light, and SOS light.
The TOPVISION jump starter comes with a variety of safety features so as to give you peace of mind.
These include over-voltage protection, short circuit protection, over-current protection, and many more.
Pros:
- Jump start gasoline engines of up to 7 liters, and diesel engines of up to 6.5 liters.
- Can be used as a portable charger and flashlight, with three light functions.
- Ideal for use on a variety of vehicles.
- Can be used for up to 50 jump starts off a single charge.
- Includes several safety settings for safe use.
Cons:
- Some customers found the instructions that came with the jump starter to be rather limited.
BEST VALUE
DBPOWER Car Battery Jump Starter
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The DBPOWER car battery jump starter is ideal for larger engines. It will jump start any gasoline engine up to 8 liters, and any diesel engines up to 6.5 liters.
The powerful 2500 amp jump starter from DBPOWER can last for up to 30 uses from a single charge.
This particular jump starter includes an LCD screen, so that you can easily see the voltage of the connected battery. It even includes a built-in voltmeter!
The DBPOWER jump starter is also a multi function device. Not only can it be used to jump start your car when you need it most, you can also use its handy USB ports to charge your devices. It can even be used as a flashlight!
This particular jump starter comes with an extra three year warranty, so as to give you peace of mind.
Pros:
- A multi function device that can be used as a flashlight and a portable charger.
- Can jump start gasoline engines up to 8 liters, and diesel engines up to 6.5 liters.
- Can be used for up to 30 jump starts from a single charge.
- Includes an LCD screen and built-in voltmeter for ease of use.
- Comes with an extra three year warranty.
Cons:
- A few customers found they needed to charge it more often than they did with competitor jump starters.
RUNNER UP
Arteck Car Jump Starter
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The Arteck car jump starter is ideal for those who have cars with a gasoline engine of up to 7 liters, and diesel engines of up to 6.5 liters.
You can get up to 20 jump starts from a single charge of this mighty 900 amp jump starter. Just the thing to help you when you’re in a pinch!
Not only can you use the Arteck jump starter to get your car back on the road, it can also be used as a portable charger for your electrical devices. You can charge phones, tablets, or other external devices with a speed of up to 4.2 amps.
This particular jump starter also comes with a handy flashlight accessory. The flashlight has three settings: strong, strobe, and SOS.
The Arteck jump starter includes a variety of safety features to ensure that you are able to use it safely when you need it most. It will also recharge to its full capacity within 4 hours!
Pros:
- Includes built-in safety features for safe operation.
- Will give you 20 jump starts from a single charge.
- Can be used as a portable charger to charge your devices.
- Includes a flashlight with three separate settings.
- Quick recharge time of 4 hours.
Cons:
- Not as powerful as some of the other products we found.
RUNNER UP
YABER Jump Starter
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The YABER jump starter is a powerful 2000 amp device, which can start all gasoline engines and diesel engines of up to 8 liters within seconds. Perfect for use on a variety of vehicles should you need to!
This jump starter quickly recharges so that you can use it when you need it most. It also has a 22,000 mAh capacity, with two USB connectors.
The YABER jump starter is lightweight and portable. Crucial for when you need to use it quickly, and it will be easy to store away in your car or your toolbox when not in use.
Similar to other jump starters available on the market, the YABER can be used as a power bank to charge any gadgets you have. It also has a built-in LED flashlight for you to use in an emergency!
This particular jump starter includes a variety of safety technologies so as to give you peace of mind. These include the use of lithium batteries, high quality circuit boards, circuit protection, smart chips, and many others.
Pros:
- Jump starts any gasoline engine and diesel engines of up to 8 liters.
- Includes a variety of safety features for peace of mind.
- Can be used as a powerful 22,000 mAh power bank to charge your gadgets.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Built-in flashlight for use in emergency situations.
Cons:
- Some customers found that the AC didn’t charge their devices as quickly as they would have hoped.
Also read – Ring battery charger is not working… What should I do?
Best Jump Starters Buying Guide
There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a dead car battery when you really need to be somewhere. A jump starter is the perfect piece of kit for you to invest in if you live alone, or if you don’t have anyone to hand with a set of jump leads for you to use.
Jump starters differ from jump leads because they cut out the middle man. While jump leads are handy to have around in case you need to use them, they require another vehicle in order for you to jump start your car with them.
A jump starter is a battery pack for you to use as and when you need to. Simply hook the connectors up to your battery, start your car, and off you go! They are quick and easy to use and are a worthwhile investment – especially if your car battery is unreliable.
We’ve put together a list of the things you need to consider when it comes to buying a jump starter. Some of these are very important to think about, such as the type of your engine, as the jump starter you need will differ from car to car.
Engine size
The most important factor you need to consider is your engine. The type of power you’ll require from a jump starter will be dependent on two factors in relation to your engine: the size of your engine, and whether it’s diesel or gasoline.
Most jump starters can handle a bigger gasoline engine, but you’ll need to check that you’re buying the right device for your specific car. That’s because you’ll want to invest in a jump starter that you can actually use.
There’s no point buying a jump starter that can start a 6 liter gasoline engine if your vehicle has an 8 liter engine.
Bigger engines will need more power to turn over, so the first thing you should do before you hit buy is to double-check the jump starter has enough power for your particular car.
Amps
The more amps your jump starter has, the more powerful it is.
Though it may be tempting to opt for the most powerful jump starter you can find, it’s still important to check the product information to ensure it’s the right one for your engine.
Functionality
When you know the power of the jump starter you need to look for, next it’s important to think about the device functionality. A lot of the devices on the market will be able to offer you multiple restarts from a single charge. How many does your chosen device promise? 20? 30?
Similarly, you should look at how often your device will need to be charged so that you can use it at a moment’s notice. There’s little point in leaving it in your car trunk and just hoping it’ll be ready to go if you need it. By keeping it charged up, you can ensure it will be ready to use as needed.
Take a look at how long your jump starter will take to fully recharge, too.
Ease of use
You’ll want to buy a jump starter that’s easy for you to use at a moment’s notice. If you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, you’ll want a reliable device that will start within seconds. Take a look at how long the cables are. How easy is the jump starter to hook up to your battery, and how easy is it to turn on?
Take a look at the reviews from other customers. This is a fantastic indicator of how easy the jump starter is to use. You can gauge from other people’s experiences whether this particular product is a worthwhile investment!
Safety features
The vast majority of jump starters on the market will be able to offer a variety of safety features so as to give you peace of mind.
Take a look at what the manufacturer has put in place to make sure that this particular jump starter is safe to use and won’t cause you further hassle.
Many of them will use high quality lithium batteries, and a variety of circuit safety measures so make sure that it won’t be dangerous to use. Remember to check the state of the unit itself before you use it, too.
If the device appears to be visibly damaged, it might be worth investing in a new jump starter.
Portability
You won’t want to buy a device that’s too big to lug back and forth to your engine. The good news is that the majority of modern jump starters are wonderfully compact, making them easy to carry around with you.
Another thing to think about is the more portable your jump starter is, the easier it will be to store when not in use.
Does your chosen jump starter include a handy carry case? Or something that you can easily pack it away into when you’re not using it? Not only will this make it easier for you to carry around with you, but you’ll also know that it won’t get damaged if you store it in your trunk.
Price
It may be tempting to go for the cheap and cheerful option. But wait! Investing in a product just because it’s the cheapest option doesn’t necessarily mean you’re picking the best device for the job.
It’s better to shop around and make sure that you’re getting the best value for your money. A cheaper model may get you through the first through months without a hitch but is more likely to deteriorate over time.
If you purchase a quality product that has a ton of great reviews from other customers, it will be much easier to stomach that price tag. Remember – it’s better to buy a quality product once that will last you for years to come, rather than a cheap model which you’ll need to replace several times.
Additional features
Once you’ve got the most important factors figured out, you can then start thinking about how to get more for your money. The vast majority of jump starters on the market are also multi-functional devices.
Not only will they jump start your car at the touch of a button, but you can also use them as portable power banks. This feature will especially come in handy if your phone’s battery is running low, or you need to quickly charge your laptop while out and about.
Many devices also come with a built-in flashlight, which is always a handy thing to have in an emergency – especially in case you break down in the middle of nowhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are jump starters safe?
Jump starters are perfectly safe to use as long as they are used correctly.
Make sure that you’ve got the right cables hooked up to the right parts of your battery (positive to positive, negative to negative), and make sure that your jump starter is powerful enough to start the engine required.
Will a jump starter start a dead battery?
Providing that your jump starter is powerful enough for the size of your engine, you shouldn’t have any issues with trying to jump start a dead battery.
Once you’ve got the engine running again, it’ll be important to run your vehicle for long enough to allow the battery to recharge afterward.
If the battery drains quickly or a dead battery becomes a more persistent everyday problem, you may need to take your car to your local garage to get a new battery.
How long do portable jump starters last?
On average, the battery of a jump starter will last for at least 6 years, and sometimes even longer depending on the make and model.
Cheaper units might not last this long.