The best portable jump starter we tried was the Audew Upgraded Car Jump Starter. This high quality jump starter includes a high-speed polymer battery with a 2000A peak and 20000mAh capacity, which can easily start 12V vehicles up to 40 times. We also loved the additional features included, such as dual USB ports and a trio of lighting modes, including an SOS function. The best car accessories have a lot to offer, and the portable jump starters on our list are no exception.
To help you find the best portable jump starters for your automobile, we have tried out a multitude of top products, testing to ensure they include powerful batteries that can easily start a number of different vehicles, including most gas engines and some diesel engines. We also preferred highly portable items that were easy to carry or stowaway and those that included numerous additional features, including USB ports for the charging of smartphones and other gadgets. Keep reading to learn more about the Audew Upgraded Car Jump Starter and the other models on this list.
Top 7 Best Portable Jump Starters
#1 Audew Upgraded Car Jump Starter
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Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The best jump starter for diesel engines, thanks to a high-speed polymer battery that can handle diesel engines up to 8.5L, with a number of additional features, including dual USB ports and SOS lights.
- Multiple safety features, including over-charge protection
- Ultra-powerful 20000mAh battery
- Dual quick-charge USB ports
- Not as light as some products on the list
- LED display can struggle to show battery performance in bright sunlight
The Audew Upgraded Car Jump Starter is a fantastic choice for diesel engines, thanks to a high-speed polymer battery that excels with diesel engines up to 8.5L, while offering support for nearly any traditional gas engine. The 20000mAh capacity battery, with a 2000A peak, can also easily start boats, RVs, tractors and other assorted vehicles. We also loved the crisp LED display, which allows for a trio of lighting modes, the dual quick charge USB ports and the multiple safety features, including over-charge protection.
Related: Also check out our review of the best power steering fluid.
Though this jump starter does offer a compact form factor, it is heavier than some other picks on this list, clocking in at nearly four pounds. Additionally, we found that the LED display struggled to adequately illuminate the information in bright sunlight. Compare this with the best remote car starter to be sure the Audew is the best.
#2 TACKLIFE T8 Portable Jump Starter
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Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The best lithium-ion jump starter, thanks to a large 18,000mAh battery that can jump start 12V vehicles 30 times before needing a recharge and featuring a number of high quality extras, including USB ports and a built-in compass.
- Works 30 times before needing a recharge
- Extremely lightweight, at just over 1 lb
- Included extras include LED lights, USB ports and a compass
- Only supports diesel engines up to 5.5L
- No LED display
The TACKLIFE T8 Portable Jump Starter is a fantastic choice for most 12V vehicles, thanks to a large 18000mAh battery that can perform a jump start 30 times before needing a recharge. We also loved the light and portable form factor, as it weighs just over one pound, and all of the included accessories that are built-in to the model. These include a pair of quick charge USB ports, LED SOS lights and a compass.
On the diesel front, this only supports engines up to 5.5L, so we’d recommend our top pick over this one for diesel drivers. Also, there is no LED display, which can make it tricky to know just how much juice is left in the unit. If you have some work to do on your vehicle, the best OBED 2 car diagnostic scanner is a good place to start.
#3 Stanley Fatmax J7CS Powerstation Portable Jump Starter
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This budget-friendly model comes with a number of high end features, including a built-in alarm that announces improper connections and a 120 PSI air compressor for inflating tires.
- Alarm for improper connection & tire inflator
- 700 peak power and 350 instant amps
- Triple USB ports
- Must be charged every 30 days in order to function
- Battery not as powerful as top picks
- Heavy, at over 10 lb
The Stanley Fatmax J7CS Powerstation Portable Jump Starter is the best jump starter with an air compressor that we tried, thanks to the inclusion of a 120PSi air compressor, which is fantastic for inflating tires. We also loved the budget-friendly price tag, the built-in alarm for improper connections and the trio of high quality USB chargers, in addition to a number of other extras. Speaking of extras, the best natural car air freshener offers a lot of protection from bad odors. Check out our review.
The battery on offer, however, is not as powerful as our top picks, though should be able to handle most 12V gas engines. Additionally, it must be charged every 30 days or it will cease to function, so maintenance is a must. To make sure your car stays protected, you’ll want to take a look at the best car alarm too.
#4 DBPOWER Portable Car Jump Starter
Award: MOST COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This jump starter easily fits in a glovebox, thanks to a compact and lightweight design, with a powerful battery that is suitable for most gas engines, up to 7.2L, and a pair of intelligent clamps that provide a number of safety features.
- Clamps include a number of safety features
- Both USB and DC ports
- LED flashlight includes SOS and flashing modes
- Not great for diesel engines
- LCD display not very bright
This DBPOWER Car Jump Starter features a highly compact and lightweight design, weighing just over a pound and easily fitting into any standard-sized glovebox. The 18000mAh battery on offer is plenty powerful, excelling with most gas engines and some diesel engines. We also loved that this model includes two built-in USB ports, for charging gadgets, and a DC outlet, for charging laptops and larger items, in addition to an intelligent clamp design that contains a number of safety features, including short circuit protection and over-temperature protection.
Though this jump starter does technically service diesel engines, it only offers support for engines up to 5.5L, which is on the lower side. Also, the built-in LCD display is not especially bright, so it can be difficult to know just how much battery life is left in the unit. Speaking of battery, you might want to make sure you have the best car charger on hand.
#5 NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Portable Jump Starter
Award: BEST BUILT-IN FLASHLIGHT
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best jump starter for V8 engines, with a durable and water-resistant frame and a number of safety features, including spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection, in addition to featuring a best-in-class flashlight.
- Very durable and water-resistant
- Spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection
- Pair of quick charge USB ports
- Coms with storage bag, but it is on the flimsy side
- Only supports diesel engines up to 3L
- 20 starts before needing a recharge
This NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Portable Jump Starter is a fantastic choice for V8 engines, thanks to featuring a powerful 12V battery with a max amperage of 1000A, that is suitable for V8 gas engines up to 6L. We also loved the durable and water-resistant design on offer here and the number of built-in safety features, including spark-proof clamps and reverse polarity protection.
This isn’t the best choice for diesel engines, however, as it only offers support for diesel engines up to 3L. Additionally, this jump starter does not come with a storage case, rather it comes with a somewhat flimsy storage bag. While you’re looking at a jump start, take a look at the best car battery so you don’t have to worry about your car dying on the road.
#6 Beatit QDSP Portable Jump Starter
Award: BEST FOR EXTREME WEATHER
WHY WE LIKE IT: A jump starter that contains a number of innovations that make it excel during extreme weather, including an advanced lithium-ion battery chip, with an extremely light form factor and extendable jumper cables that are great for reach.
- Very lightweight and bag friendly
- Extendable jumper cables are great for reach
- Pair of USB ports
- Comes with durable storage case, though it is large
- Built-in flashlight on the weaker side
The Beatit QDSP Portable Jump Starter is the best product on this list for jumping vehicles during extreme weather conditions, such as below freezing temperatures, thanks to an advanced QDSP (quick discharge start power) chip that is included in the lithium ion battery. We also loved the light form factor, weighing just one pound, and the extendable jumper cables, which excel at reaching out-of-the-way car batteries.
The 16500mAh lithium ion battery is on the powerful side, with a max amperage of 1200A, though the included flashlight is dimmer than the ones found with other products on this list. Also, we appreciated the durable storage case that is included, but it is on the larger side so it may struggle to fit in some gloveboxes. You might also want to look at the best tire inflators.
#7 DeWalt DXAEJ14 Digital Power Station Portable Jump Starter
Award: BEST TIRE INFLATOR
WHY WE LIKE IT: Durably made jump starter with a number of useful additional features, including an alternator check function, a built-in air compressor and a pair of high intensity LED work lights, in addition to featuring dual USB ports.
- Alternator check function
- Built-in air compressor
- High intensity LED work lights
- Heavy, at nearly 20 lb
- Too big to fit in glove box
- Does not function with 6V batteries
The DeWalt DXAEJ14 Digital Power Station Portable Jump Starter is a fantastic product with a peak amperage of 1400A, which is on the higher end, and featuring a durably made lead acid battery. We also loved all of the additional features on offer, including a built-in air compressor and a pair of high intensity LED work lights, which we found to be perfect for nighttime adjustments. The alternator check function also came in handy, as it lets you know the health of your alternator.
Though we loved the durable components on offer here, we did notice that it was a heavy jump starter, at nearly 20 pounds, and would not fit into a conventional glove box, needing to be stored in the trunk or backseat.
How We Decided
In order to narrow down to the above list, we focused on reliability, running the jump starters through a myriad of tests, ensuring their ability to jump start a wide variety of vehicles, favoring products that are rated for use with both gas and diesel engines with support for gas engines up to 8.5 liters and diesel engines up to 6 liters.
We didn’t just rely on stats, though a high peak amp and cranking amp volume are nice, choosing, instead, to actually run them through their paces, checking to see how long they took to reach a maximum charge and how much standby time they offered once they achieved that charge. We also made sure each product on the above list boasted the ability to jump start a vehicle numerous times on a single charge, up to 40 times in some cases.
We also took a look at each product’s additional features, choosing packs that were easy to use, with reverse polarity alarms and other safety forward technologies that helped take the guesswork out of jump starting a car’s battery. We were also impressed by the number of products we tested that could double as external batteries for smartphones and gadgets, with many featuring USB ports, wireless charging capabilities and laptop adapters.
Finally, we liked portable and compact models that were easy to stowaway in a glove box or the back seat when not in use and those that were made from durable and long-lasting components. And if they couldn’t do that, they included other extras, such as a built-in air compressor.
Best Portable Jump Starter Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Engine Size Limitations
Most of the above products have some type of limitations as to what size engines they can adequately jump start. Make sure your engine size is supported before making a purchase, though our list does feature a couple of “catch-all” battery packs, like our top pick, which are certified to work with just about any engine out there. These limitations typically only come into play, however, with unusual vehicles, such as large trucks. - Size and Weight
These are portable jump starters, so you are going to want to make sure they aren’t overly heavy and that they can fit somewhere in the car when not in use. To that end, we placed a spotlight on products as light as a pound or so and several that easily fit into a standard-sized glove box. Even the biggest model on our list, however, can fit in the backseat or in the passenger side floor. - Safety Features
You are going to want to make sure that the jump starter you choose has a number of built-in safety features to reduce the risk of accidental damage. To that end, most of the above products feature overcharge protection and many have built-in alarms that will alert you if you have attached the clamps incorrectly. - Additional Features and Accessories
Modern portable jump starters come with an array of additional features and accessories. These include quick charge USB ports, for juicing up smartphones and related gadgets, and DC outlets for the charging of larger items, such as laptops. Most items on our list also come with powerful LED flashlights, often with SOS modes when you are in trouble, and feature built-in compasses and an array of other useful gadgets.
