Best Portable Jump Starters of 2024

After extensive research, we found the best portable jump starters to get your car up and running.
Best overall
Imazing
  • pro
    2500 Amp
  • pro
    20000 mAh
  • pro
    Low price
Best rated
NOCO Boost HD GB70
  • pro
    2000 Amp
  • con
    15000 mAh
  • pro
    Best customer rating
Budget pick
NEXPOW
  • con
    1500 Amp
  • pro
    21800 mAh
  • pro
    Low price
Best display
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LOKITHOR JA301
  • pro
    2000 Amp
  • pro
    20000 mAh
  • pro
    Colorful digital display
Best combo
Stanley J5C09D
  • con
    1200 Amp
  • con
    12000 mAh
  • pro
    Air compressor

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

Portable jump starters can charge your electronics during a power outage, much like a portable home generator. But their main purpose is charging your car battery when it’s dead.

During our research, we found that the best portable jump starter is the Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter for its affordability and great features. Don’t miss our other top picks, though. They all have something special to offer.


The best jump starters


Compare best jump starters

Product
Best for
Price
AMPs
How long it stays charged
Battery capacity
Engine size
Learn more
Best overall2500A12 months20000mAhGas engines up to 8L, diesel engines up to 8L
Best Rated2000A12 months15000 mAhGas engines up to 8L, diesel engines up to 6L
Budget pick1500A2 to 3 months21800mAhGas engines up to 6.5L, diesel engines up to 4L
Best display2000A30 months20000mAhGas engines up to 8L, diesel engines up to 6L
Best combo1200A30 days12000mAhNot specified

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

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Best portable jump starter reviews

1. Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter: Best overall

Best overall

 *Walmart.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter is budget-friendly but still has the power and features you need, which makes it our pick for best jump starter. We love that this portable jump starter packs a lot of power into a small device that can fit in a back pocket.

pro
Pros
pro Best amp rating
pro Loads of safety features
pro Works on 8L gas and diesel engines
con
Cons
con LED flashlight has only 3 modes

This portable jump starter has the best amp rating and the widest range of engine compatibly out of any device on our list. It also has a whopping list of safety features to prevent you from hurting yourself or ruining your car’s battery. Here’s what Imazing lists as its safety features:

  • Reverse polarity protection
  • Overheat protection
  • Short circuit protection
  • Over voltage protection (17.5V ±0.5V)
  • Reverse charging protection
  • Input high/low voltage protection
  • Relay adhesion failure alarm
  • Reverse connection protection
  • Number of starts protection
  • High/low-temperature protection (60℃/140℉ to -20℃/-4℉)

These features address all the worries you might have when trying to jump your car battery. You’re not going to shock yourself or destroy your car’s engine.

Need other types of boosts? You can use this car battery jump starter as a power bank to charge your phone or other devices that use USB cords.

2. NOCO Boost HD GB70: Best alternative

Best alternative

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

People love the NOCO Boost HD GB70. On Amazon, it is the top-rated best portable jump starter with 4.7 stars and around 18,000 reviews. We researched the GB70 and found out why it’s so loved. We agree with the hype.

pro
Pros
pro Bright 400 lumens light with 7 modes
pro Weather resistant
pro Charges a range of devices
con
Cons
con Battery capacity is a little less than competitors

Beyond a large battery capacity and rating for most vehicles, the GB70 is full of features. It has a bright 400-lumen LED flashlight with seven light modes. You can adjust the light's brightness and set it to strobe and SOS mode. This car battery jump starter is also weather resistant with an IP65 rating and is rubberized to prevent it from scratching your vehicle.

Of course, we love safety, so the GB70’s spark-proof design and reverse polarity protection make us happy. Unfortunately, that’s the only safety features this jump starter offers.

The GB70 jumper also works as a power bank. The 12-volt, 15-amp outport can be used to charge 12VDC devices like inverters and tire inflators. This portable charger can also be used to charge your cell phone or other small electronics thanks to its USB port.

3. NEXPOW: Budget pick

Budget pick
NEXPOW
$99.99

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The NEXPOW Car Jump Starter is a great price for what it offers.

pro
Pros
pro Highest battery capacity
pro Low price
pro Multiple safety features
con
Cons
con 1500A
con Doesn’t work on larger engines

Like our top pick, the NEXPOW has eight different safety features. It also has an LED light with three modes, USB charging, and the highest battery capacity on our list.

It maxes out at 1,500 AMPs, though, and only works on vehicles with gas engines up to 6.5L and diesel engines up to 4L.

4. LOKITHOR JA301 Jump Starter: Best display

Best display
""
LOKITHOR JA301
$189.99

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The LOKITHOR JA301 Jump Starter has a large battery capacity and is rated for most vehicles. What really sets it apart, though, is its colorful, informative display.

pro
Pros
pro Air compressor
pro Digital display
pro LED flashlight
con
Cons
con No 12-volt charging ports

The LOKITHOR JA301’s stats match up to most of the other top picks on this list, but the display takes the prize. Instead of just showing the battery level, it also shows you if there is an error, if it’s charging, output, input, and if it’s ready to use.

This car battery jump starter features a 300-lumen LED that works as a flashlight, strobe, and SOS light. It also has an air compressor, so you’re never stuck on the side of the road with a low tire.

5. Stanley J5C09D: Best combo

Best combo
Stanley J5C09D
$140.99

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Stanley J5C09D is the only jump starter on our list that also doubles as an air compressor. With this device, you’ll be covered, whether you have a dead battery or a flat tire.

pro
Pros
pro Pivoting light
pro 120 PSI air compressor
pro 3 USB charging ports
con
Cons
con Only 1200 AMPs

Other than the ability to air up your tires, the best feature of this portable jump starter is the adjustable light. It swivels around so you can point it at whatever, hands-free.

You can also power smaller household appliances thanks to the 12-volt charging capabilities (or use it as a phone battery charger).

Things to consider before you buy

Okay, so there are a few abbreviations and terms that can be confusing when buying a portable jump starter. Here’s what you need to know:

  • mAh: This is short for milliampere hour. The higher the mAh, the bigger the charge the jump starter’s battery can hold. So, the bigger the number, the longer the battery can run before you need to charge the jump starter.
  • AMP: An AMP is the strength of the electrical current that the jump starter puts out. The higher the number, the better in this case. More AMPs mean faster charging for your car’s battery.
  • 12-volt charging: This type of charging port on a portable battery jump starter can be used to power small appliances like air compressors and fans.

Final word

We chose the Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter as our top pick because it packs a lot of punch into a tiny device that you’ll be able to store in even the smallest of vehicles. It’s also very well-rounded. It can be used on the widest selection of vehicles, comes with a handy LED light, and boasts an impressive amount of safety features.

FAQ

For sure. They can jumpstart a dead battery without the need to call others. It’s much faster than calling roadside assistance for help. Many jump starters can also charge small appliances or devices like your phone or tablet.

They sure do. In fact, many can get your car up and running in just minutes.

Yep, just make sure that the jumpstarter is charged. Some need at least a 20% charge to jumpstart a car battery, while others need a higher charge.

How we reviewed portable jump starters

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Image: SafeWise. 

To complete our portable jump starter review, we compared around a dozen popular brands side by side. We looked at their usefulness in real-world situations and how well they would perform.

For more information on how we review products and services, take a look at our methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

Amazon: *Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina Bradford
Alina is a safety and security expert that has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. Her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Her activities aren’t nearly as dangerous today. Her hobbies include fixing up her 100-year-old house, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.

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