It is definitely not fun to come back to a car that won’t start. And, numerous things cause a dead battery.
When you find yourself in need of a jump, having a set of jumper cables in your trunk can be a lifesaver. Therefore we are going to take a look at the top 10 best jumper cables currently available, letting you know the specifics of each and giving them an in-depth review.
So, let’s jump right in and find the perfect jumper cables for you…
Contents
- 1 Top 10 Best Jumper Cables For Your Consideration Reviews
- 1.1 1 Energizer Heavy Duty Booster Jump Start Cable – Best Long Jumper Cables
- 1.2 2 TOPDC Jumper Cables 0 Gauge 20 Feet Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (0AWG x 20Ft) – Best All Weather Jumper Cables
- 1.3 3 AmazonBasics Jumper Cable for Car Battery, 10 Gauge, 12 Foot – Best Lightweight Jumper Cables
- 1.4 4 AUTOGEN Jumper Cables Pro 1 Gauge x 25 Feet 900Amp Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (1AWG x 25Ft) – Best Durable Jumper Cables
- 1.5 5 Stalwart 75-CAR1009 8 Gauge Jumper Cable – Best Budget Jumper Cables
- 1.6 6 TWING Jumper Cables 2 Gauge 20 Feet 1000Amp Booster Cable – Best Safe Jumper Cables
- 1.7 7 Jumper Cables, Heavy Duty Booster Cables 0 Gauge 25Feet (0AWG x 25Ft) 1000Amp with Goggles Gloves Cleaning Brush in Carry Bag – Safest Jumper Cable Kit
- 1.8 8 Emgo 84-96306 6’ Cycle Jumper Cable Set – Best Short Jumper Cables
- 1.9 9 Toulpuer Battery Jumper Cable 6 Gauge 16 Feet Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (6 Gauge, 16-Feet) – Best Grip Jumper Cables
- 1.10 10 Nilight 2 Pcs 30A Alligator Clips Booster Jumper Cable for Car Battery Charging Charger, 6 mm Copper Terminal – Best Quick Charge Booster Cables
- 2 Best Jumper Cables Buying Guide
- 3 Got Everything Else You Need?
- 4 Which of These Best Jumper Cables Jumped Out on Top?
Top 10 Best Jumper Cables For Your Consideration Reviews
Products | Length | Gauge | Amps | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Length 25' | Gauge 1 | Amps 800 | Price $$$ | ![]() |
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Also Great TOPDC Heavy Duty Booster Cables ![]() View Price | Length 20' | Gauge 0 | Amps 900 | Price $$$ | ![]() |
Cheap Price Amazon Basics Jumper Cable ![]() View Price | Length 12' | Gauge 10 | Amps 110 | Price $ | ![]() |
Also Great AUTOGEN Heavy Duty Booster Cables ![]() View Price | Length 25' | Gauge 1 | Amps 900 | Price $$ | ![]() |
Cheap Price Stalwart Jumper Cable ![]() View Price | Length 12' | Gauge 8 | Amps 250 | Price $ | ![]() |
Also Great TWING Booster Cable ![]() View Price | Length 20' | Gauge 2 | Amps 1000 | Price $$ | ![]() |
Best Choice NoOne Store Jumper Cables ![]() View Price | Length 25' | Gauge 0 | Amps 1000 | Price $$$$ | ![]() |
Cheap Price Emgo Jumper Cable ![]() View Price | Length 6' | Gauge 10 | Amps 110 | Price $ | ![]() |
Length 16' | Gauge 6 | Amps 500 | Price $ | ![]() |
|
Cheap Price Nilight Booster Jumper Cable ![]() View Price | Length 3' | Gauge N/A | Amps 30 | Price $ | ![]() |
1
Energizer Heavy Duty Booster Jump Start Cable – Best Long Jumper Cables
Energizer and their Bunny mascot are well-recognized when it comes to batteries. You might not know that they also make some of the best jumper cables on the market as well.
These one-gauge jumper cables span twenty-five feet and are made from heavy-duty copper-clad aluminum. They are able to carry 800 amps of cranking power and are tested to withstand temperatures as low as negative forty Fahrenheit.
Teeth…
On either end, you will have red and black PVC insulated clamps. The teeth on these clamps are relatively small and might be challenging to connect to larger battery terminals.
The spring-loaded clamps are also fairly stiff, but they do hold well once they are attached.
Every eventuality…
With the exceptional length of these jumper cables, you can jump cars from behind, which covers all possible eventualities. They are also quite flexible and not known to tangle.
Energizer even includes a handy carry case you can use to stow your cables when not in use.
Pros
- 25’ Cable length.
- Provide up to 800 amps.
- Carry case included.
Cons
- The teeth on the clamps are relatively small.
2
TOPDC Jumper Cables 0 Gauge 20 Feet Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (0AWG x 20Ft) – Best All Weather Jumper Cables
This next set of cables comes from TOPDC. They are heavy duty and made from zero-gauge copper-coated aluminum.
Once you pick them up, you will notice just how heavy they are, weighing in at 10 pounds. Since these are zero-gauge cables, you can expect them to provide up to 900 amps of cranking power.
Each cable and clamp is covered in red or black PVC. They are twenty feet long and have a tangle-free design.
All weather…
These cables are truly made for any type of weather. TOPDC has tested them to withstand temperatures from minus forty to over one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit.
The clamps are very well insulated and are resistant to corrosion and rust over time. They grip tightly, and the cables are quite flexible and can be easily manipulated.
Instructions…
If you have never jump-started a vehicle before, these cables might just be perfect for you. Attached to the wires, you will find step by step instructions! These instructions are pretty detailed, letting you know what each cable should be connected to and the order to secure them in.
Even if you have jumped a vehicle before, these are still a great safety feature to have.
Pros
- Instructions for each cable included.
- O-gauge cable provides up to 900 amps.
- Can be used on very large vehicles.
Cons
- The included carrying case could be sturdier.
3
AmazonBasics Jumper Cable for Car Battery, 10 Gauge, 12 Foot – Best Lightweight Jumper Cables
Not all jumper cables are thick and heavy. This AmazonBasics set of cables is a prime example.
These cables are twelve feet long and made of ten-gauge wire. The wiring can provide up to one hundred and ten amps of power to get your engine to turn over.
Lightweight…
Right off the bat, you will notice how light these cables are. They are also extremely flexible while still being enclosed entirely in PVC. At the end of each red and black cable, you will find alligator type clamps. They are spring-loaded and provide an adequate amount of grip, but they could be more extensive.
AmazonBasics includes a small carrying case for these cables, and even with them in the case, you will still have room to spare to add other accessories.
But there is a catch…
Since these ten-gauge cables only provide at most one hundred and ten amps of cranking power, you are limited to what kind of vehicle with which they can be used. These are definitely meant for compact cars. The length of them will also restrict you to either head to head or side by side jumps.
On the plus side, they do come with a one-year warranty and are relatively inexpensive.
Pros
- Simple, lightweight design.
- Easily bend into any position needed.
- AmazonBasics warranty.
Cons
- Only provide enough amperage to jump-start compact vehicles.
4
AUTOGEN Jumper Cables Pro 1 Gauge x 25 Feet 900Amp Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (1AWG x 25Ft) – Best Durable Jumper Cables
If you need nine hundred amps of cranking power on hand, these jumper cables from AUTOGEN have you covered.
These AUTOGEN cables are made from twenty-five feet of heavy-duty one-gauge copper wire. They feature an evenly wound core covered in PVC to make them more durable and increase their lifespan. You also won’t need to worry about these getting tangled up easily. If anything, they could be much more flexible in our opinion. Still, they’re super durable!
Parrot grip…
On each cable, you will have what we like to call a parrot grip type clamp. The mouths of these clamps are insulated on both sides and have a rounded nose on them. Once these clamps are in place, they won’t budge. This is due to their very sharp teeth and the strong spring-loaded handle.
When you take these out of the included carrying case, you will also notice a small set of instructions attached to the black cable.
Nice and tight…
Be careful when you go to store them back in the case. You will want to get them as neatly wound as possible. If you don’t, you will have a tough time closing the zipper. This zipper is also rather weakly attached and can come off too easily from our experience.
Pros
- Parrot grip clamps have a firm grip.
- Can jump vehicles from behind.
Cons
- The carry case could be more robust.
- Flexibility is limited.
5
Stalwart 75-CAR1009 8 Gauge Jumper Cable – Best Budget Jumper Cables
You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get some of the best jumper cables available. Stalwarts 75-CAR1009 are eight-gauge cables that come at an attractive price.
They measure twelve feet in length from tip to tip and are color coated in PVC. With these attached to your battery, you will have two hundred and fifty amps on hand. This should be sufficient for jumping your average family sedan or even a small, lightweight truck.
Clamps…
Since these are relatively inexpensive, you will notice a few shortcuts they have taken to keep the price down. This is most noticeable in the clamps, where each spring-loaded clamp features metal handles. It could possibly lead to you getting shocked if misused, so take care!
On the clamps, you also notice that the teeth are exposed past the end of the handle. When you connect these, you need to be very careful that they do not touch each other.
If they do cross, expect to see some sparks!
To be safe, make sure to follow the included instruction in the carrying pouch step by step.
While these might not be the most full-featured jumper cable option out there, they are still well made and get the job done on a budget.
Pros
- Made from 8-gauge copper.
- Can output 250 amps.
Cons
- The clamps are not insulated well.
- The cables heat up quickly.
6
TWING Jumper Cables 2 Gauge 20 Feet 1000Amp Booster Cable – Best Safe Jumper Cables
Moving on to even more powerful jumper cables, we have this set from TWING. If you need to jump a big rig, you will be able to with these thousand-amp cables.
Plenty of room…
These coated copper aluminum two-gauge cables are covered in black and red PVC and measure twenty feet long. They are reasonably flexible and should give you plenty of room to reach the vehicle next to you.
To attach these cables to your battery terminals, you will have plastic coated alligator type clamps on hand, and you will notice the numerous amounts of teeth each clamp has available to it. With so many teeth, you can easily connect these clamps to side post batteries as well as top post batteries.
Alarm!
TWING has incorporated a safety alarm into their model. So, if you were wondering what that small black box is attached to the cables, wonder no more.
Located on this alarm is an LED indicator. It will change color depending on if you connect the cables correctly or not. It will also make a small sound if misconnected. This makes these jumper cables exceptionally safe.
Take care…
Unfortunately, the alarm box is not exactly durable, in our opinion. When placing these cables on the ground, you might end up cracking the plastic alarm enclosure, so take care.
Pros
- 2-Gauge cable.
- Supplies up to 1000 amps of power.
- Integrated alarm for added safety.
- Large clamps for multiple battery types.
Cons
- The plastic alarm case is rather flimsy.
7
Jumper Cables, Heavy Duty Booster Cables 0 Gauge 25Feet (0AWG x 25Ft) 1000Amp with Goggles Gloves Cleaning Brush in Carry Bag – Safest Jumper Cable Kit
Some of the best jumper cable options come in a multi-piece package aimed at safety. These NoOne Store cables are another to supply one thousand amps of power through the zero-gauge wire.
Versatile and practical…
They measure twenty-five feet long from tip to tip, allowing you to jump a car in multiple positions. They are reasonably flexible and have an integrated alarm, just like the last set of cables we looked at. With this alarm, you will notice both a red and green indicator. Once the cables are ready for use and the light turns green, you can safely use them.
They also come with a very durable carrying case that uses a drawstring type closure mechanism.
The best part?
Besides the jumper cables, you will find a few extra items in the bag!
First off, you will find a metal bristle cleaning brush. PVC protects the metal clamps and teeth, but if they do get any corrosion, this brush will get rid of it in a flash. Next, you will notice a pair of gloves and some safety glasses. While these jumper cables do have an alarm letting you know whether they are connected correctly or not, you still can’t be too safe.
Hence the extras…
The gloves will give you some added grip when handling the clamps. And, if for some reason these jumper cables were to spark, the glasses will protect your eyes.
This jump cable kit is relatively expensive, though. But, thanks to the additional items focused on safety, if you’re looking for the safest possible all in one option, we think the price of these cables is more than worth it.
Pros
- Gloves, glasses, and metal brush included.
- Durable, easy to read integrated alarm.
- 3-Year warranty.
Cons
- Rather expensive.
8
Emgo 84-96306 6’ Cycle Jumper Cable Set – Best Short Jumper Cables
If you only need a short set of jumper cables, this Emgo set is a great choice. They are six feet long, allowing you to jump vehicles that are facing each other quickly.
You will want to make sure you are only trying to jump small compact type vehicles, though. These ten-gauge cables will only provide up to 110 amps at most, unfortunately.
Take note…
These Emgo jumper cables are some of the most flexible cables that we have come across. The clamps they use are also some of the smallest we have tested. The teeth on the clamps are, therefore, also small. And, the grip they provide is a little underwhelming, in our opinion.
You will want to take up any slack in the cables. They are lightweight, but they could potentially cause the clamps to lose grip if not supported.
Great for ATV’s and bikes…
We find that while these can jump a vehicle, they are better suited for use on ATVs or motorcycles. You could easily coil these up and store them under the seat of your motorbike without a problem.
Pros
- Very flexible.
- Ideal for ATVs and motorcycles.
- Cables are six feet long.
Cons
- The clamps could grip much better.
9
Toulpuer Battery Jumper Cable 6 Gauge 16 Feet Heavy Duty Booster Cables with Carry Bag (6 Gauge, 16-Feet) – Best Grip Jumper Cables
Six-gauge jumper cables sit in the middle of the pack, as they can provide up to five hundred amps of cranking power. This makes them suitable at jumping anything from a compact sedan to a medium-sized SUV. You should check how much cranking power your engine requires when dealing with larger vehicles, nonetheless.
These Toulpuer jumper cables measure sixteen feet long. While they might not be quite long enough to jump a car from behind, they still allow you to jump a car from multiple positions.
Unique grip design…
The PVC covered clamps these come with are unique. The way the teeth are positioned reminds us of a mix between an alligator and a parrot style clamp.
They are some of the best gripping clamps we have tested. You can easily attach them to side posts or top post batteries, and they will not budge.
Carrying case…
Toulpuer includes a drawstring type bag for storing these cables. This bag is very robust and has plenty of spare room to carry additional items. You might have a bit of a hard time getting the cables into this bag, though, since they feature a copper aluminum core that isn’t that flexible.
After doing further research, some customers have complained about not receiving a storage bag with these cables. Either we were one of the lucky ones who did, or maybe it was just a random shipping error, we do not know, but be aware.
Pros
- Clamps have an incredible amount of bite.
- Can jump-start a broad range of vehicles.
- Durable large carry bag included.
Cons
- Reports of some purchases not coming with a carry bag.
10
Nilight 2 Pcs 30A Alligator Clips Booster Jumper Cable for Car Battery Charging Charger, 6 mm Copper Terminal – Best Quick Charge Booster Cables
The last set of jumper cables we are looking at are a little different. These Nilight cables are made for charging different things using your car battery as a power source.
To begin with, these cables measure just over three feet long. They have PVC covered handles and alligator type clamps.
Charging…
You would connect these jumper cables clamps up to your battery and use the supplied copper terminals to power a device like a stereo amp. They are not meant to be used for jumping another vehicle.
Both the red and black terminals measure 0.245” in diameter. This will allow you to connect them to an inverter and power other electronic devices like an air compressor, for example.
More for a quick emergency charge…
They can provide up to thirty amps of power. But, we would advise caution no matter what you connect these to, as they tend to get warm after only ten minutes of use. Since the terminals are bare, you would definitely not want these to get wet when connected to your battery, either.
At the end of the day, they are easy to connect up to and provide a quick charge.
Pros
- Can power devices in an emergency.
- Connects to 12V or 24V batteries.
Cons
- Only provide 30 amps of power.
- Terminals are bare and not protected from the elements.
Best Jumper Cables Buying Guide
Gauge
Suppose you were to have two sets of jumper cables in front of you. You might notice that one set of cables is thicker than the other. When we talk about cable thickness, we refer to that in terms of gauge. And, the gauge of a cable determines how much electricity can pass through it.
If you have a set of jumper cables that are one-gauge, you will be able to jump-start larger vehicles like an RV, for example.
As the gauge number grows, the diameter of the cable gets smaller. So, a six-gauge cable would be able to jump a small passenger vehicle but possibly not a large SUV.
We are not saying that six-gauge jumper cables will not start large vehicles, though. What you will probably encounter is that the engine just won’t crank on the first try.
Amps
Amperage is another determining factor when it comes to your engine turning over. Thin jumper cables may only provide 150 amps, and thicker ones might provide 1000 amps.
If you have cables that only provide 150 amps, you won’t start a semi-truck engine, for instance. You would need thicker gauge cables that carry more amps.
You might still be able to use slightly less powerful cables if you let the battery charge a bit, though. This can be helpful when you are in a tight spot, but we would not recommend it.
More tips?
To be on the safe side, you should get jumper cables that are equipped to jump your particular vehicle or even a bit bigger one.
Not all jumper cables are meant to jump cars, though! There are also jumper cables that specifically supply power from your battery to an appliance, for example. These types of cables are skinny and deliver very little amperage. They could power an inverter or small air compressor, but that is about all.
Clamps
The handles on the end of your jumper cables are called clamps, and you connect these to the posts on your battery.
Clamps are usually spring-loaded and will all have teeth on them to grip the battery terminals. These might look like parrot teeth or alligator teeth, for example.
You will notice that the handles will typically be insulated to protect you from potentially getting shocked. They will almost always be color coated as well. The Red clamp is meant for the positive battery terminal, and the black clamp is intended for the negative or ground terminal on your battery.
So… parrot or alligator?
If your vehicle’s battery has side posts, parrot style clamps might not be able to grip it, but alligator style clamps will. But, whichever set of jumper cables you go with, you want to make sure that they are well insulated and provide a strong, secure connection to your particular battery.
Cable Length
Jumper cable length can vary greatly. You can find cables as short as a foot or as long as twenty-five feet or more if you want.
Longer cables typically tend to be thicker than shorter ones from our experience. No matter how long they are, power will travel through them with basically no resistance.
There’s another reason to consider the length…
The length of jumper cables will effectively decide the location of the other vehicle you are jumping off of. Short cables will be fine when both cars are bumper to bumper. But, if you need to get jumped from behind, you will need longer cables.
If you have the storage space, you really cannot go wrong with having longer rather than shorter cables in your trunk.
A lot of jumper cable manufacturers will even include a carrying case for their cables. This makes it so even longer cables will not take up too much room.
Got Everything Else You Need?
There are several other useful items worth having stored in or near your vehicle for emergencies. We recommend you also check out our reviews for the Best Car Fire Extinguishers, the Best Car Battery Chargers, and the Best Tire Pressure Gauges.
If you like to stay on top of what’s happening in your neighborhood, you may also be interested in our reviews for the Best Police Scanners?
In terms of your vehicle’s security, check out reviews for the Best Car Alarm Systems, the Best Portable Garages, the Best Garage Door Openers, and the Best Remote Start Systems you can buy, 2022.
Back to jumper cables…
Which of These Best Jumper Cables Jumped Out on Top?
You really cannot go wrong with purchasing the…
They provide enough amps to jump-start a small sedan or even a heavy-duty truck.
Since they measure twenty-five feet in length, you can quickly jump a car from behind or to the side with room to spare. Moreover, the heavy-duty color coated PVC clamps provide a firm grip. And, even better, with the aid of the integrated alarm, every jump you do will be completed safely.
You also have a pair of gloves on hand to protect you further, and the metal brush comes in handy at cleaning the teeth of the clamps.
Happy jumping!