Avoid flat batteries with the most powerful of battery chargers, the jump starter. Top-quality jump starters and portable power packs are shrinking in size and increasing in versatility. This is perfect for keeping you on the move.
But before we dive into that, familiarise yourself with the purpose of jump starters and power packs and think about what your needs are with help from our guide below.
A reliable portable jump starter should mean you're never left stranded. Obviously, if your battery is going flat regularly, then it's probably time for a replacement battery, but a jump starter is a great thing to keep in your car for when your battery needs a little persuasion. Although, getting a good trickle charger might be a great way to keep your car's battery in check while you're not using it.
The best jump starters tested 2025 at a glance:
We've recommended our favourite jump starters and portable power packs to you. They all differ slightly in order to cater for people's various requirements. This means there will certainly be one here for you. And if not, maybe a smart battery charger might be your thing.
How we test jump starters
The jump starters were tested on a few cars that had either flat batteries or had their batteries drained after leaving the lights on. The latter was done in order to recreate a situation where a consumer might accidently do the same after parking up.
Quite simply, we wanted to see how well the jump starters fired up car engines. We also tried out their extra features to see how practical they could be in other situations as well as feeding life back into dead batteries.
The cars in question consisted of three cheap second hand buys: a 2.4 litre Volvo V70, an MG TF Roadster, and an old Ford Puma. Each have different engines and slightly different batteries, which was great for our test.
What we look for in jump starters
Ideally, consumers will be looking for a jump starter primarily based on how well it can pump some life back into a battery. So, power is key in our test - our judgements are based off how effortlessly they can help fire up the cars.
We also like jump starters to be as easy as possible to keep and carry around. You don't necessarily expect when you might need one, so portability is the next thing we look out for. We like to be able to carry a jump starter around within our cars, so they're always around whenever we need them - i.e. on road trips, should the worst happen.
On that front, having extra features is a huge bonus. Things like USB ports for charging your mobile devices as well as integrated torches increases their versatility.
Lastly, while these sorts of products are retailed at prices reflective of their quality and features, a jump starter that represents value for money is a bonus that surely any buyer can enjoy.
The best jump starters 2025
Tested product
The best jump starter (winner)
Aaron Hussain: CARTo refer to that overused cliché, at the cutting edge, American brand NOCO is, in fact, the one that is sharpening the blade. Its new Boost X range rules supreme in the world of jump starters and power packs. The GBX45 promised to be the class act of our jump starter group test, and it proved nothing less than our deserved winner.
For starters, it's a compact device that packs a great deal of power. So, not only is it easy to carry around in the car, but when you need it, it's there to provide all the power you could possibly need to your dead battery. It covers vehicles with petrol engines up to 6.5 litres and diesel engines up to 4.0 litres.
Simply connect up the two leads to the terminals, and it fired up the car's engine like the battery itself was fully charged. There was no hesitation from the starter motor whatsoever, and we were impressed by the prowess and performance of the GBX45. Furthermore, the flashlights are greatly powerful with 100 lumens within.
It also has USB ports for charging your phone or tablet, and we can testify that it feeds battery charge into a smartphone remarkably quickly. This is useful, should you need to charge your phone on the go while on a long drive.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Premium-grade build quality and materials
- Flawless performance to restart a battery
- The torch and power bank functions are excellent
Cons
- Slightly overkill if you only own a supermini
| Weight: | 1.2kg |
| Dimensions: | 9.2 x 12.6 x 20.9cm |
| Max engine capacity: | 6.5-litre petrol/4.0-litre diesel |
| Amps: | 1250A |
| Extras | Flashlight, power bank |
Tested product
Editor's pick
Aaron Hussain: CARTo help you understand the difference, the GB40 is slightly different to the GBX45 because it falls into a slightly different product range from NOCO. This one is from the Boost Plus Range, which is a model range that sits below the Extreme range, where the GBX45 sits and bears the X in its name.
The GB40 caters for petrol engines up to 4.0 litres and diesel engines up to 3.0 litres. This comfortably covers most cars sold in the UK market, and is subsequently one of the brand's best sellers.
So, how did it perform on our test? Quite simply, like its more powerful sibling, it didn't feel like there was a flat battery at all upon start-up. A quick terminal connection followed by a push of a button, and I turned the key like the car's battery was at its healthiest.
But that's not all; the integrated flashlight is also 100 lumens bright, so you can really help yourself out if things are a bit dark. It also performed profoundly well as a mobile phone power bank on a road trip, and managed to fully charge up my phone in just over an hour from around 26%.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Same premium feeling quality as the GBX45
- Effortless performance at starting up a dead battery
- Extra features are very useful for all sorts of tasks
Cons
- Doesn't quite cover as large engines as its sibling
| Weight | 1.1kg |
| Dimensions | 11.7 x 20.8 x 10.7cm |
| Max engine capacity | 4.0 litre petrol, 3.0 litre diesel |
| Amps | 1,000A |
| Extras | Power bank, flashlight |
Tested product
Most versatile jump starter
Aaron Hussain: CARwww.ebay.co.uk
Perhaps the quirkiest jump starter we had on test was this. The Worx WX852.1 Cordless Jump Starter is shaped like a torch. It also acts as one rather brilliantly as not only does it have a front-facing flashlight, but also an inspection light should you ever need to look underneath your vehicle.
The base is also magnetic, which is useful if you need to shine a constant light on your engine bay or other task. It also has USB ports which make it useful as a power bank. All of which work very well, but how did it perform at its primary task?
The answer is very well. Upon connecting the clamps to the battery, the test car fired right up - albeit with a bit of hesitation compared to the two NOCO units. The magnetic base also proved very useful in having somewhere to place the item before connecting the clamps.
The overall build quality of the Worx doesn't match that of the NOCO devices, but I still covet it as a trusty companion should you ever need a travel tool.
Pros
- Magnetic base is immensely useful
- Torch functions are impressive, especially the inspection light
- Great performance at jumping a flat battery
Cons
- A slight hesitation upon start-up was experienced on test
| Weight | 0.47kg |
| Dimensions | 31 x 10 x 12cm |
| Max engine capacity | 4.0 litre petrol, 2.0 litre diesel |
| Amps | 1200A |
| Extras | Power bank, flashlight, inspection light |
Tested product
Best heavy duty jump starter
Aaron Hussain: CARThis unit is hefty compared to the others above. Very hefty. But the trade-off is that the Draper is also immensely powerful and even doubles as a tyre inflator, thanks to its built-in compressor.
Not only does it jump-start vehicles (check your battery CCA to see if the Draper's 900A can jump-start it), charge devices via its USB ports and bears a flashlight. It's very heavy though, which is my ultimate con for the thing. It weighs seven kilos, which is monstrous compared to the others on test, so you ideally need a heavy duty task to justify the thing.
Its flashlight and charging capabilities are impressive as there's a lot of power reserved for those features. When it comes to jump starting a vehicle, it does so effortlessly. It has a peak amperage of 800V and easily fired up our test vehicle without any hesitation. It's just a shame that the dimensions and sheer weight of the thing let it down, slightly.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- True all-in-one heavy duty power pack
- The air compressor gives it one more feature than the others
- Effortless jump starting capabilities
Cons
- Very, very heavy to carry around
- The size and weight makes it difficult to place in an engine bay
| Weight: | 7kg |
| Dimensions: | 34 x 19 x 35cm |
| Max engine capacity: | Not listed |
| Amps: | 800A |
| Extras | Flashlight, power bank, air compressor |
Recommended
Best budget jump starter
Via GOOLOOCapable of jumping petrol engines up to 9L and 7L diesels, the GP3000 is a highly capable jump starter for the cash. It's our favourite unit on the budget end of the spectrum, and it boasts versatility, quality, and still has the ability to jump start a Dodge Viper.
You also get 18 months worth of warranty, a couple of USB cables, a built-in light, and the ability to charge other devices such as your phone and laptop.
Pros
- Very versatile for the money
- Can jump start big engines
- Good enough build quality
Cons
- The NOCOs have the edge on durability
- Battery doesn't last as long as others
| Weight | 1.2kg |
| Dimensions | 9.9 x 22.8 x 3.3kg |
| Max engine capacity | 9.0 litre petrol, 7.0 litre diesel |
| Amps | 3000A |
| Extra features | Power bank, flashlight |
Recommended
Best for large vehicles
Via NOCOTake the GBX45 above, pump it up a bit, and you have the GBX75. Double the amps to 2500; engine capacity increases to 8.5-litre petrol and 6.5-litre diesel; the flashlight upgrades from 100 to 400 lumens.
Therefore, if you have a larger vehicle, such as a campervan, or want a bigger unit that can jump-start smaller engines a great many times on a charge, this is the unit for you.Other than the extra power and larger physical size, the GBX75 has the same robust specs as the smaller GBX45.
Pros
- Very powerful at 2500A
- Very robust and durable build quality
- Capable of jumping very large engines
Cons
- Overkill for most engines out there
| Weight: | 1.7kg |
| Dimensions: | 21.3 x 13.7 x 6.5cm |
| Max engine capacity: | 8.5-litre petrol/6.5-litre diesel |
| Amps: | 2500A |
| Flashlight: | Yes |
Recommended
Best for huge engines
Via GOOLOOSuitable for (quote) all petrol engines and diesel engines up to 10L, the GT4000S is a behemoth of a jump starter with a battery capacity of 88.8 Watt Hours and is even safe to use in the pouring rain, thanks to its IP65 waterproof rating.
It also doubles as a power bank, thanks to USB-C connection ports. It's said to last up to 60 jump starts on a full charge which is mightily impressive, considering just how many volts such a procedure requires.
Pros
- Great for large engines
- IP65 waterproof rating
- Doubles as power bank, too
Cons
- Quality not quite as good as the NOCO units
- Very overkill for smaller engines
| Weight | 2kg |
| Dimensions | 15 x 27 x 12cm |
| Max engine capacity | 12 litre petrol, 10 litre diesel |
| Amps | 4,000A |
| Extra features | Power bank |
Recommended
Best trickle charger jump starter
Via CTEKThis unit from Swedish firm CTEK is a little different to the other products recommended here because it is a charger rather than a boost jump starter. Yet, it's here because the CS FREE is very efficient.
Call it a hybrid if you wish, the CS FREE can be hooked up to a car battery and will maintain it using mains or solar. But then, if you suffer from a flat battery, the CS FREE will charge said battery to a point where it can start within 15 minutes. Naturally, it can act as a power bank too and is both USB-A and USB-C compatible.
Pros
- Clever dual-purpose
- Adaptive Boost works very well
- Tremendous build quality
Cons
- Bigger and heavier than the NOCO and Ring units
| Weight: | 1.4kg |
| Dimensions: | 24.8 x 9.8 x 7.8cm |
| Max engine capacity; | N/A |
| Amps: | N/A |
| Extra features | Power bank |
Recommended
Most versatile jump starter
Via Ring AutomotiveA new release (went on sale March 2024) from Ring Automotive consists of the ULTRABOOST jump starter. It's a close competitor to the GOOLOO units and is available in either 1000 or 1500 Amp form.
The 1500A is capable of jump starting petrol engines up to 6L and diesels up to 3L. This falls quite short of other units, but is more than suitable for most cars on the road. It also doubles as a power bank with two types of USB cables, has an LED light, and even recharges in just 90 minutes.
Pros
- Quick recharging time
- Suitable for most vehicles on the road
- Versatile with power bank and LED torch
Cons
- Not quite as capable as some GOOLOO offerings
- Not quite as powerful as competitors
| Weight | 1kg |
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 25.4 x 9.4cm |
| Max engine capacity | 6.0 litre petrol, 3.0 litre diesel |
| Amps | 1,500A |
| Extra features | Flashlight, power bank |
FAQs and what to consider with jump starters
Your biggest concern when looking for a portable battery charger is power. Particularly whether it's powerful enough to deal with your engine, a bigger engine will require more power to run. Thankfully our choices cover every new petrol or diesel car on sale today. So, you should be fine unless you run a Dodge Viper. If you don't run a Viper and are perhaps more environmentally conscious, then a solar battery charger might be your answer.
You should also note that some battery boosters don't pair well with Start-Stop systems, so check before buying, and perhaps consider one of the best batteries for stop/start systems. Another thing you should consider is the size of your car. While these are portable units, some are bigger than others and may eat valuable storage space if you run a car with a smaller boot.
Do jump starters have other functions?
One of the best features that most of these chargers offer is that they'll also act as power banks for other electronics. These will usually have USB slots that'll allow you to charge up your mobile phone if you're broken down. Some offer built-in air compressors, but these tend to be more expensive and take up more room than other options. And more often than not, you'll find flashlights integrated within jump starters. This is to aid you when connecting the terminals, but we can imagine a number of different uses, including for camping trips and more.
How to use a jump starter
Before you hook up a jump starter, you should ensure the power pack is charged enough to jump-start a vehicle. And remember, the bigger the engine, the more power is needed to start it. Connect the jump starter to the battery terminals, making sure both the vehicle and the jump starter are off beforehand.
You connect the red positive terminal first followed by the black negative terminal. Then you switch the jump starter on and, subsequently, start the vehicle, following the specific instructions of the jump starter. Turn off the jump starter, disconnect the black negative clamp first followed by the red positive clamp, and you're good to go.
It's always a good idea to leave your car running for several minutes. This is simply to generate enough charge back into the battery again, so you won't have to repeat the process.
Who tested the jump starters?
The jump starters that were tested were put through their paces by Aaron Hussain. Along with his role as a commercial content writer, he is also responsible for no less than dozen different product group tests for CAR and its sister site, Parkers. With a keen eye for product performance and whether its worthwhile, he was the ideal candidate to determine the rankings of these portable power packs.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.