What size jump starter do I need for winter?

One rated above your engine size for your fuel type, with margin in cold climates. The NOCO GB40 covers gasoline engines up to 6.0 L; the GB70 adds diesels up to 6.0 L.

Can a lithium jump starter work in freezing weather?

NOCO's data sheets for the GB20 and GB150 list operation down to -4°F. Charge it indoors, between 32 and 104°F.

Why does tire pressure drop in winter?

Air contracts as it cools, so pressure falls on cold mornings. Check against the pressure on the sticker inside the driver's door.

Best of · Jump Starters

Winter Car Emergency Kit: Jump Starters and Tire Inflators

Cold mornings are when weak batteries fail and tire pressure drops. Six picks for a winter car kit, matched to engine size.

By Watt Versus Editorial· Updated October 15, 2026 · 6 picks

This page was drafted with AI assistance from manufacturers' specs and manuals, and is checked by our editor.

The short list

#	Product	Key feature	Pros / Cons	Buy
1	NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump StarterBest for Most CarsEditorial score:8.2/10	A 1,000-amp lithium jump starter rated for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L and diesel engines up to 3.0 L.	Covers most cars, crossovers and half-ton trucks with gasoline engines up to 6.0 L Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection Diesel rating stops at 3.0 L, too small for most diesel pickups	View on Amazon (paid link)
2	NOCO Boost HD GB70 Jump StarterBest for V8s and Diesels up to 6.0 LEditorial score:8.5/10	A 2,000-amp lithium jump starter rated for gasoline engines up to 8.0 L and diesel engines up to 6.0 L, with a 12 V output.	Rated for diesel engines up to 6.0 L, which covers many diesel pickups Up to 40 jump starts per charge from a 56 Wh battery Heavier than the GB40: 4 lb against 2.4 lb	View on Amazon (paid link)
3	NOCO Boost Pro GB150 Jump StarterBest for Heavy-Duty DieselsEditorial score:8.6/10	A 3,000-amp lithium jump starter rated for gasoline engines up to 9.0 L and diesel engines up to 7.0 L, with a built-in voltmeter.	Covers diesel engines up to 7.0 L, enough for most full-size diesel pickups Up to 80 jump starts per charge, by NOCO's figures 6 lb, about two and a half times the weight of the GB40: not a glovebox starter	View on Amazon (paid link)
4	Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire InflatorBest Cordless Inflator for the GloveboxEditorial score:8.0/10	A 2.3 lb, 150 PSI inflator with its own 28.86 Wh battery, five presets, a blower and deflate port, and a USB power-bank output.	No battery system to buy into: the battery is built in Fanttik says it fills a 25-inch tire from 30 to 35 PSI in 42 seconds One battery: when it is flat you wait for it to recharge	View on Amazon (paid link)
5	AstroAI AIRUN H 12V Tire InflatorBest Plug-In InflatorEditorial score:7.4/10	A 100 PSI inflator that plugs into a car's 12 V socket, with a preset auto shut-off, digital gauge and LED light.	Plugs into the car's 12 V socket: no battery to keep charged Stops automatically at the pressure you preset 100 PSI and a 15-minute run limit suit car tires, not large truck tires	View on Amazon (paid link)
6	NOCO Boost Sport GB20 Jump StarterBest for Small Cars and MotorcyclesEditorial score:7.6/10	A 500-amp, 1.65 lb lithium jump starter for gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, motorcycles, ATVs and lawn equipment.	1.65 lb: fits a glovebox, a motorcycle bag or a mower shed shelf Covers gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, which includes most four-cylinder cars Not rated for diesel engines at all	View on Amazon (paid link)

Why winter needs a jump starter

Batteries deliver less current in the cold, and a cold engine is harder to crank. A lithium jump starter in the car means you are not waiting for a second vehicle. Pick one rated above your engine size, with margin to spare if your winters are hard: the NOCO GB40 (paid link) covers gasoline engines up to 6.0 L, the GB70 (paid link) adds diesels up to 6.0 L. Our engine-size guide explains the ratings.

NOCO's data sheets for the GB20 and GB150 list operation down to -4°F and charging between 32 and 104°F, so bring the starter indoors to recharge it.

Check the tires when it turns cold

Tire pressure falls as the air cools, so the first cold mornings are a good time to check all four tires against the sticker inside the driver's door. A cordless inflator lives in the glovebox; a 12 V plug-in never needs charging.

Our picks in detail

Image: NOCO NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter

NNOCO

1Best for Most Cars8.2/10

NOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter

NOCO · GB40

1,000 A for gasoline engines up to 6.0 L, in a 2.4 lb unit that fits the glovebox.

Peak current: 1,000 A
Gas engines: Up to 6.0 L
Diesel engines: Up to 3.0 L
Jump starts per charge: Up to 20
USB output: 5 V, 2.1 A
Recharge time: 3 hours at 2 A, 6 hours at 1 A

Pros

Covers most cars, crossovers and half-ton trucks with gasoline engines up to 6.0 L
Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection
IP65 housing and a compact 2.4 lb body
Up to 20 jump starts per charge, by NOCO's figures

Cons

Diesel rating stops at 3.0 L, too small for most diesel pickups
A 1-year warranty is short for this category
Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Image: NOCO NOCO Boost HD GB70 Jump Starter

NNOCO

2Best for V8s and Diesels up to 6.0 L8.5/10

NOCO Boost HD GB70 Jump Starter

NOCO · GB70

2,000 A and up to 40 starts per charge.

Peak current: 2,000 A
Gas engines: Up to 8.0 L
Diesel engines: Up to 6.0 L
Battery capacity: 56 Wh
Jump starts per charge: Up to 40
USB output: 5 V, 2.1 A, plus a 12 V, 15 A output

Pros

Rated for diesel engines up to 6.0 L, which covers many diesel pickups
Up to 40 jump starts per charge from a 56 Wh battery
12 V, 15 A output for tire pumps and other 12-volt accessories
Brighter 400-lumen flashlight and the same IP65 housing as the GB40

Cons

Heavier than the GB40: 4 lb against 2.4 lb
A 1-year warranty is short for this category
Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Image: NOCO NOCO Boost Pro GB150 Jump Starter

NNOCO

3Best for Heavy-Duty Diesels8.6/10

NOCO Boost Pro GB150 Jump Starter

NOCO · GB150

3,000 A, rated for diesels up to 7.0 L, with a built-in voltmeter.

Peak current: 3,000 A
Gas engines: Up to 9.0 L
Diesel engines: Up to 7.0 L
Battery capacity: 88 Wh
Jump starts per charge: Up to 80
USB output: 5 V, 2.1 A, plus a 12 V, 15 A output

Pros

Covers diesel engines up to 7.0 L, enough for most full-size diesel pickups
Up to 80 jump starts per charge, by NOCO's figures
Built-in voltmeter shows the vehicle battery's voltage
12 V, 15 A output can run 12 V accessories

Cons

6 lb, about two and a half times the weight of the GB40: not a glovebox starter
A full recharge over USB takes about 11 hours
Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Image: Fanttik Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire Inflator

FFanttik

4Best Cordless Inflator for the Glovebox8.0/10

Fanttik X10 Cross Cordless Tire Inflator

Fanttik · X10 Cross

150 PSI with a built-in battery, five presets and auto shut-off.

Max pressure: 150 PSI
Power source: Built-in battery (28.86 Wh)
Battery: Built in; 18 W charging input
Auto shutoff: Yes, at the set pressure; accuracy of ±1 PSI
Modes: Tire inflation with 5 presets; blower; deflate for storage bags (not tires)
Display: Digital

Pros

No battery system to buy into: the battery is built in
Fanttik says it fills a 25-inch tire from 30 to 35 PSI in 42 seconds
Blower and deflate ports for air mattresses and vacuum storage bags
27 W power-bank output and an 80-lumen light

Cons

One battery: when it is flat you wait for it to recharge
Fanttik rates a full charge at about four tires from 0 to 35 PSI
12-month warranty, the shortest here alongside VIAIR's one year

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Image: AstroAI AstroAI AIRUN H 12V Tire Inflator

AAstroAI

5Best Plug-In Inflator7.4/10

AstroAI AIRUN H 12V Tire Inflator

AstroAI · AIRUN H

Runs from the car's 12 V socket and stops at the pressure you preset.

Max pressure: 100 PSI
Power source: 12 V car socket (120 W, about 10 A)
Battery: Not needed (runs from the car's 12 V socket)
Auto shutoff: Yes, at the preset pressure
Duty cycle: Up to 15 minutes, then rest for at least as long
Display: Digital, backlit; LED flashlight

Pros

Plugs into the car's 12 V socket: no battery to keep charged
Stops automatically at the pressure you preset
2.2 lb and small enough to live in the trunk
LED flashlight for roadside use at night

Cons

100 PSI and a 15-minute run limit suit car tires, not large truck tires
Needs the car running or the socket live, so it is no help away from the car
AstroAI's page gives no warranty term

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Image: NOCO NOCO Boost Sport GB20 Jump Starter

NNOCO

6Best for Small Cars and Motorcycles7.6/10

NOCO Boost Sport GB20 Jump Starter

NOCO · GB20

500 A for gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, at 1.65 lb.

Peak current: 500 A
Gas engines: Up to 4.0 L
Diesel engines: Not rated for diesel
Battery capacity: 24 Wh
Jump starts per charge: Up to 20
USB output: 5 V, 2.1 A

Pros

1.65 lb: fits a glovebox, a motorcycle bag or a mower shed shelf
Covers gasoline engines up to 4.0 L, which includes most four-cylinder cars
Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection
Recharges in about 3 hours from a 2 A USB charger

Cons

Not rated for diesel engines at all
500 A leaves little margin for a large engine on a cold morning
Works with 12-volt lead-acid batteries only

Check Latest Price on Amazon (paid link)Read full review

Frequently asked questions

What size jump starter do I need for winter?: One rated above your engine size for your fuel type, with margin in cold climates. The NOCO GB40 covers gasoline engines up to 6.0 L; the GB70 adds diesels up to 6.0 L.
Can a lithium jump starter work in freezing weather?: NOCO's data sheets for the GB20 and GB150 list operation down to -4°F. Charge it indoors, between 32 and 104°F.
Why does tire pressure drop in winter?: Air contracts as it cools, so pressure falls on cold mornings. Check against the pressure on the sticker inside the driver's door.