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We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. If you just need a basic jump starter, our experts say you should just buy the NOCO Genius Boost HD GB70 2000A Jump Starter. Testers say not only will the NOCO Genius Boost get your car going, it can also jump dozens of others (or your own car over and over if you just like leaving the headlights on) before it needs recharging. The best portable jump starters can be literal lifesavers. They'll all jump-start your car when the battery is flat, of course, but many of them bring extras along with them that can just as useful. One of the biggest problems with needing a jump start using just cables is needing someone else (and their car) there with you. That's not always possible, so a portable jump starter puts you (back) in the driver's seat. When you do need to jump-start your car, here's a
step-by-step guide to how to jump-start your car safely.  Courtesy of Home Depot What We Like
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Our review of the 3000A model The NOCO Genius Boost HD GB70 2000A is a small (but not glove-compartment small) jump starter that actually comes in two sizes. The 3000A (see our review) is for bigger vehicles, but most folks will find the 2000A meets their needs. There is a USB port on the charger for items like your phone, but our reviewer found it charged a phone slowly. There’s also a built-in light to help you find something inside your car, but it won’t illuminate the side of the road, for instance. While this jump starter is on the more expensive side, we still think it’s the one most people should get. Peak Amps: 2000 | Dimensions: 6x2.5x8.6 inches | Weight: 5 lbs. Tested by Lifewire I tested the NOCO Genius Boost Pro GB150 on a 2011 Hyundai Elantra with a discharged battery. It's a hefty device with large clamps, which makes connecting it to a car battery a bit difficult. But, once everything was set up, the NOCO jumped the car immediately, even with the car’s battery drained down to 10 volts. The gray and black case contains the device's buttons and displays the charge level and voltage. You can charge it via the 12V power plug or USB, although the latter method can take anywhere from two to 11 hours depending on the wall charger you use. Weight and USB charging issues aside, this is one of the best jump starters on the market. — Tony Mitera, Product Tester Lifewire / Tony Mitera Amazon What We Like
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STANLEY J5C09 Review: Large but Capable At a bulky 18 pounds, you might ask yourself, “What kind of utility am I getting out of this?” If you want a portable jump starter and a built-in swivel light you’re in luck. The STANLEY J5C09 1000 is heavy because it’s also an air compressor, so if you find your tires are low on air, you can fill them right back up. Now, our testing did reveal the jumper cables are kind of short (they aren’t long enough to set the jump starter on the ground) and the air compressor hose is likewise short, but the unit did jump the test car each time we tried it. Cables aside, it wasn’t short on performance. Like the NOCO Genius Boost Pro GB150, this jump starter is a bit costly, but the price is reasonable if you need both a jump starter and a compressor and don't mind the extra bulk. Peak Amps: 1000 | Dimensions: 11.25x8x3.5 inches | Weight: 17.2 lbs. Tested by Lifewire The STANLEY J5C09 1000 provided a reliable jump every time I tried it. The terminal clamps were easy to place onto the battery, even in relatively tight spaces. The air compressor is a useful feature, but the pressure gauge is small and hard to read, and it's nearly illegible in the dark. An included USB port provides a snappy charge rate, although it's a little hard to plug a cable into it. Meanwhile, an included flashlight attaches to the case on a ball joint and lets you illuminate your work area, but it also has some flaws. The joint isn’t incredibly flexible but has just enough freedom of movement to make it a useful feature. Overall, if you think you'll need the STANLEY J5C09 1000's extras and you have the space in your vehicle for it, it's a reasonable buy. — Tony Mitera, Product Tester Lifewire / Tony Mitera Courtesy of eBay What We Like
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The Tacklife T8 can jump start your car, charge your phone, light up the interior of your car, and even point you in the right direction with its built-in compass (assuming you know which direction to go). A dedicated switch on the unit will allow it to keep a charge in place for up to one year. The compromise with this unit is if it falls below a 50 percent charge, it likely won’t jump start your car. Peak Amps: 800 | Dimensions: 9.45x4.53x3.94 inches | Weight: 1.21 lbs. Courtesy of BestBuy.com What We Like
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This jump starter is about as small as they come, so why not toss one into a portable emergency pack? It won't be able to jump start your car dozens of times before it needs to be recharged, but if all goes well, you should need it only to get the car going just the one time, right? Included are a couple of USB ports for charging kid-quieting devices and a flashlight to see who, exactly, is touching who. Peak Amps: 700 | Dimensions: 9.8x6.9x3.6 inches | Weight: 2.5 lbs. Courtesy of Walmart What We Like
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The Jump-N-Carry JNC660 really earns its name by being a compact jump starter with places to store everything and a nice design. The built-in handle and holders for the cables keep this jump starter neat and organized in your garage or trunk. There's a meter on the front to show how much power you're working with, and even a built-in plug for charging the battery with an AC cable. This is the only jump starter on the list that allows you to replace the battery when it starts to wear down. And if you're in charge of a fleet of vehicles, you may have to replace the battery somewhat frequently. When you need to recharge, the plug is built right in. But what's missing is the extras we typically see in a jump starter. There's no flashlight, no USB ports for your phone, and no air pump. Jump starters are great, but we really like versatile devices here, so the lack of extras is disappointing. Peak Amps: 1700 | Dimensions: 16.3x14.1x5.1inches | Weight: 18 lbs. Courtesy of Amazon What We Like
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When it comes to jump starters, you get various shapes and sizes. The Schumacher DSR ProSeries is another jump starter that earns its name. The Pro series can jump-start a car, truck, boat, big rig, and basically anything else that doesn't have wings. The device reports on the battery and alternator performance, and informs you if maintenance is needed. The cables themselves are over 5 feet long, so they can go anywhere on any size vehicle. All of that is great, but it comes at the cost of being exceptionally heavy at over 40 pounds. That's not unusual considering the power in this jump starter. As much as we don't want to see additional weight put onto this body, wheels would have been a nice addition. This is not the kind of starter you put in the trunk of your Toyota Camry. This is the kind of starter you use to jump-start the truck that will tow your Camry. Peak Amps: 4400 | Dimensions: 14x10x8 inches | Weight: 41.2 lbs. Courtesy of Audew What We Like
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The versatility of the Audew 2000A Upgraded Car Jump Starter comes at a big cost. You might find that cost to be worth it since it’s a handy device for charging your everyday devices as well as jump starting your car, and it's small enough to fit into your pocket, bag, or glove box. The cost we’re talking about is needing to recharge your jump starter every 30 days. And if you forget just one time, you might be stuck in a parking lot. At least if it can’t start your car, it’ll keep you company (and your phone charged) while you wait for help. See? Versatile. Peak Amps: 2000 | Dimensions: 8.7x3.5x1.1 inches | Weight: 1.3 lbs. Amazon What We Like
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We liked this one because it’s a jack of all trades. Like the STANLEY J5C09 1000 above, this one will jump start the car, fill up tires that are low on air, charge up portable devices, and let you see what you are doing with its built-in light. Neither device will do your taxes and, while we won’t take points off, we don’t feel it’s too much to ask. Peak Amps: 1000 | Dimensions: 11x11x7 inches | Weight: 10 lbs. In a hurry? Here's our verdictFinal Verdict Part of being a car owner is being a responsible car owner. And a responsible car owner will feel good about having the Noco Boost HD GB70 charger (view at Amazon) in case of emergency. It’s a great value, thanks to its versatility. If you either maintain a fleet of cars or charge a variety of (non-flying) vehicles, the Schumacher DSR 115 ProSeries (view at Amazon) is the one to get. FAQ
Lifewire / Tony Mitera What to Look For in a Portable Jump StarterThere are a few factors to think about when it comes to picking the right jump starter for you. Do you have a big truck or a smaller car? Do you have a fleet of vehicles to maintain? Do you have storage in the vehicle or in your garage? Where are you most likely to need the jump starter: At your home base or on the road? How much space do you have to dedicate to a device you hopefully will never need? Whatever your circumstances our experts have found a jump starter for you. Lifewire / Tony Mitera Jump starters come in both portable and plug-in varieties. Portable jump starters have a built-in battery, meaning they can be used on the go whenever you need them. The only downside is that after they’re used, they have to be charged, which can take a number of hours. Plug-in chargers, on the other hand, are much less
portable. Instead of having a decent-sized battery built-in, you have to connect them to a power outlet—meaning that if you’re in a parking lot with a dead battery, you’re largely out of luck. We generally recommend buying a portable jump starter over a plug-in one. The portability outweighs the downside of having to keep the device charged up. Other Features to look forCablesJumper cables are an important part of any jump starter. You might think that jumper cables are all the same, and to an extent that’s true—they’re copper wires that deliver power. Some cables, however, are better than others. Lifewire / Tony Mitera For instance, cables can have different lengths. Generally, they range from around 10 to 35 feet. Don't think you need to go for extra-long cables, though— for most people, 15 feet will be perfectly fine. Another differentiator is a cable’s wire gauge, which refers to the thickness of the wire inside. Thicker wire is better at delivering more power, which can be important if you’re trying to jump-start a vehicle with a bigger battery. For smaller vehicles, like most cars, a cable with at least an 8 gauge will be fine, though larger batteries might need a 6 or 4 gauge cable. Air CompressorAn air compressor is what you’d use to pump up a car’s flat tire if it's been deflated. A built-in compressor may not matter when you’re jump-starting your car, but that doesn’t mean they can’t come in handy. If you’re strapped for cash, a built-in compressor is something you can avoid, but if you have the money to spend on a device with an air compressor, we recommend doing so. Emergency LightsBeing stuck on the side of the road at night is never a preferable situation. With low visibility and distracted drivers, you could easily find yourself in a dangerous spot. That’s where emergency lights can come in. When a jump starter has emergency lights, you’ll be able to place it near your car to alert other drivers to the fact that you’re there. We definitely recommend buying a jump starter with emergency lights of some kind, especially considering the fact that they could end up saving your life. Radios Some jump starters have built-in emergency radios, which will help you keep up-to-date with local events in case of an emergency or a natural disaster like an
earthquake or hurricane. If you live in an area that's prone to these types of events, this feature might be incredibly helpful. Lifewire / Tony Mitera Brands to ConsiderGenerally, it's worth buying something from an established brand instead of a newer company without a track record—not only because the product will likely work better, but also because the company may offer a better warranty in case the device doesn’t work as expected. When it comes to jump starters, known brands include the likes of Noco, Stanley, Beatit, and Jump-n-Carry, all of which offer slightly different takes on the jump starter. About Our Trusted ExpertsTaylor Clemons has over three years of experience writing about games and consumer technology. Taylor has also previously worked with MTD Products, where she assembled and repaired robotic, riding, and push lawn mowers. Tony Mitera has a passion for helping people make informed decisions with his knowledge of how things work. Tony is both an IT and auto mechanics nerd, and enjoys tinkering with both computers and cars. When not writing, Tony is a Membership Director of the SCCA Nebraska Region, participating in autocross events. How much will it cost for a jump start?Answer provided by
If you call a local towing company or roadside assistance company, they might charge you anywhere from $50 to $100 for a jump start. At that price, you could almost buy a new battery.
Can Uber help jump start?“Uber, as a ridesharing company, does not offer to jump start cars as part of its official services. You may be able to contact a driver and negotiate with them on the side, but there's no guarantee they will perform this service for you.
How do you jumpstart a dead battery?Turn off the ignition on both cars. First, clamp one end of the positive cable to the dead battery's positive clamp. Now have a helper connect the other end of that cable to the other battery's positive clamp. Next, connect the negative cable to the negative terminal on the good battery.
How long can a car sit before the battery dies?Typically, your car can sit about four weeks to two months without driving before the battery dies. The reason your car can sit only for so long before it dies is the fact that your car battery is in use even when you're not behind the wheel.
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How much does a jump start cost
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