Jump Starters
The best jump starters for a Chevy Silverado 1500
One truck, four engines, and a 6.2-liter V8 that quietly disqualifies half the category. The published liter ratings settle it in about a minute.
Disclosure: we earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Commission never decides a verdict or a ranking position — read our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.
How we assessed these: picks are selected from manufacturer specifications, current retailer listings and published owner feedback — not from hands-on testing of every pack on every engine. We publish no measured crank times, because we do not measure them.
Short answer
For a Chevrolet Silverado 1500, buy the NOCO Boost HD GB70. Its 2,000 peak amps and published 8.0-liter gas and 6.0-liter diesel ratings cover every engine the truck is sold with — the 2.7-liter turbo four, the 5.3 and 6.2 V8s and the 3.0-liter Duramax — with headroom left for a cold morning. A gas-only 2.7 or 5.3 can drop to the GB50 and save a pound and a half.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. Scoring criteria are published in full on our methodology page.
| # | Product | Best for | Our read | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  NOCO Boost HD GB70 Best overall for a Silverado 1500 | Diesel pickups and big V8s | 2,000 A, 8.0 L gas and 6.0 L diesel — margin on every engine in the truck | $194.99View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026 |
| 2 |  NOCO Boost Plus GB50 Best for the 2.7 and 5.3 gas trucks | V6 and small V8 gas engines | 1,500 A and a 7.0 L gas rating at 2.71 lb | $149.95View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026 |
| 3 |  NOCO Boost X GBX155 Most reserve that still flies | Doubling as a serious power bank | 99 Wh and 4,250 A, with USB-C Power Delivery both ways | $369.95View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026 |
| 4 |  DEWALT DXAEJ14 Power Station Best one box for amps and air | One box that jumps and inflates | 1,600 A plus a 120 PSI compressor in the same case | $169.00View on Amazon #ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026 |
The Silverado 1500 is a single badge over a wide spread of engines. Current and recent trucks run a 2.7-liter turbocharged four, a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter V8 and a 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six diesel; older half-tons also carried a 4.3-liter V6. Jump starters are rated in engine liters rather than in badges, so the only honest way to pick one is to read your own engine off the label under the hood and check it against the pack's published rating.
Match the pack to the engine, not to the truck
| Pack | Peak amps | Gas rating | Diesel rating | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOCO GB40 | 1,000 A | Up to 6.0 L | Up to 3.0 L | The 2.7 L four and the 5.3 L V8, with little margin |
| NOCO GB50 | 1,500 A | Up to 7.0 L | Up to 4.5 L | Every Silverado gas engine, including the 6.2 L V8 |
| NOCO GB70 | 2,000 A | Up to 8.0 L | Up to 6.0 L | Every engine in the truck, Duramax included, with margin |
| NOCO GBX155 | 4,250 A | 99 Wh reserve | Published as a 10 L / 8.0 L class pack | Everything, and it charges a laptop |
Ratings are NOCO's own published figures for each model, linked in Sources. The "covers" column is our reading of those ratings against the Silverado's engine sizes, not a General Motors figure.
The row that matters is the GB40's. On paper a 1,000-amp pack with a 6.0-liter gas rating clears a 5.3-liter V8, and we still would not buy it for a full-size truck, because a published rating is a ceiling measured under favorable conditions and the morning you reach for the pack will not be favorable. What size jump starter do I need lays out the rule we apply everywhere on this site: buy one rung above the engine you actually own.
The 6.2 is the engine that reshapes the decision
This is where a Silverado page has to differ from the equivalent Ford F-150 page. The biggest gas engine Ford puts in a half-ton is 5.0 liters; Chevrolet will sell you 6.2. That one number pushes the truck past the GB40's published gas rating entirely, so the entry-level pack is not a judgment call on a 6.2 — it is simply outside the spec.
The GB50 is the first pack in the range that covers it, at a 7.0-liter gas rating, 1,500 peak amps and 2.71 lb. If your truck is gas and always will be, that is a legitimate buy and it is the lightest thing in this article that does the job. The reason we still lead with the GB70 is the resale and the second-owner problem: half-tons change hands, a Duramax may be the next truck in the driveway, and a 6.0-liter diesel rating means you are not buying a pack twice. GB40 versus GB70 is the same trade-off argued on its own terms, and GB40 versus GB50 covers the narrower step.
Why the GB70 is the default answer here
The GB70 is the smallest pack NOCO publishes with a 6.0-liter diesel rating, and on a truck that single figure does most of the work. It carries 56 watt-hours of lithium, which is the reserve that decides whether you get one starting attempt or four on a cold morning, and it runs a 400-lumen light that is genuinely usable when you are crouched at a front bumper in the dark.
Two secondary features earn their keep on a pickup specifically. The 12-volt accessory output will run a socket-powered inflator straight off the pack, which matters because a truck that would not start on a cold morning very often has a soft tire as well. And at 56 Wh the pack sits well under the 100 watt-hour airline threshold, so it goes in a carry-on when you fly to pick up a truck — flying with a jump starter has the thresholds that actually apply.
The four special cases on this truck
- The 3.0 L Duramax. Compression ignition asks more of a starter for longer, which is exactly why NOCO's diesel ratings sit below its gas ratings for the same pack. The GB70 is a 6.0-liter diesel pack and an 8.0-liter gas pack, and that gap is the whole argument. Jump starters for diesel trucks is the long version.
- Two batteries. Some half-ton configurations and most upfitted trucks carry a second battery. A jump pack still only ever clamps to one of them, but a two-battery truck is a strong hint you want a charger on the fleet as well — see battery chargers for diesel trucks.
- Cold. A cold battery delivers less current at the same moment a cold engine demands more of it. If the truck lives outside through a northern winter, that is the single best reason in this article to buy up rather than down. Jump starters for cold weather covers what the cold actually costs.
- Auto start-stop. Trucks with start-stop cycle the battery far harder than an older truck did, and they are usually fitted with AGM batteries that do not tolerate being run flat. If yours has been jumped more than once this year, the pack is treating a symptom — how to tell if a car battery is bad is the five-minute test.
The combo box, honestly
The DEWALT DXAEJ14 puts 1,600 peak amps, a 120 PSI digital compressor with auto-stop and USB-A plus USB-C power in one case. On a work truck that is a genuinely good package, because the two roadside problems a pickup actually has are a flat battery and a soft tire, and this covers both without a second purchase. It is also lead-acid, which means it is heavy, it self-discharges on a shelf, and it needs topping up on a schedule or it is flat the day you need it. DEWALT's licensee publishes no weight, cable gauge or compressor duty cycle for the unit, which is worth knowing before you make it your only plan. Jump starters with an air compressor is the wider field.
The picks
1. Best overall for a Silverado 1500
NOCO Boost HD GB70
NOCO · Best for diesel pickups and big v8s
The one to buy if you drive a diesel: 2,000 peak amps, a 6.0-liter diesel rating and 56 watt-hours, which is the smallest pack with real margin on a cold diesel.
Published specifications
What works
- The 6.0 L diesel rating covers the common 3.0 L and 6.7 L light-truck diesels with margin
- 56 Wh is still comfortably under the 100 Wh carry-on threshold, so it flies as hand luggage
- 12 V 15 A accessory output, and a 400-lumen light that is genuinely usable roadside
- 12 V / 3 A fast charge brings it back in about three hours
What does not
- 4.18 lb — noticeably heavier than the compact packs, and it wants a dedicated spot
- Overkill for a commuter four-cylinder; you are paying for headroom you will not use
Skip it if
Not the one to buy if you only ever start a four-cylinder commuter. Buy diesel headroom when you have a diesel.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026
Raw specifications: NOCO’s own page for the NOCO Boost HD GB70.
2. Best for the 2.7 and 5.3 gas trucks
NOCO Boost Plus GB50
NOCO · Best for v6 and small v8 gas engines
The middle rung: 1,500 peak amps and 35 watt-hours for a quarter-pound more than the GB40, which is the cheapest headroom in the range.
Published specifications
What works
- A full liter more gas headroom than the GB40 for 0.26 lb more weight
- 35 Wh still clears the 100 Wh carry-on limit with room to spare
- Doubles the flashlight output over the GB40 at 200 lumens
What does not
- Overlaps awkwardly with the GBX45, which is lighter and charges over USB-C
- Still short of the 6.0 L diesel rating a modern diesel pickup wants
Skip it if
Skip it if convenience matters more than amps — the GBX45 is lighter and takes USB-C Power Delivery, and the GB50's edge is raw current.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026
Raw specifications: NOCO’s own page for the NOCO Boost Plus GB50.
3. Most reserve that still flies
NOCO Boost X GBX155
NOCO · Best for doubling as a serious power bank
99 watt-hours with USB-C Power Delivery in and out — the largest pack in the range that still clears the 100 Wh carry-on limit, and the one that genuinely works as a power bank.
Published specifications
What works
- 99 Wh is deliberately just under the 100 Wh airline threshold — the most capacity you can carry on without asking anyone
- USB-C Power Delivery at up to 20 V / 3 A charges laptops, not just phones
- 4,250 peak amps with an 8.0 L diesel rating covers almost any light vehicle
- 500-lumen light, which is a genuinely usable work light
What does not
- 5.82 lb — heavier than most people expect from something sold partly as a power bank
- Priced as a premium jump starter, so it is an expensive way to buy 99 Wh of USB power alone
- A dedicated power bank of the same capacity is smaller, lighter and cheaper
Skip it if
Skip it if you mainly want to charge devices. A purpose-built power bank does that better for less, and this pack's premium is in the cranking hardware you would not be using.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026
Raw specifications: NOCO’s own page for the NOCO Boost X GBX155.
4. Best one box for amps and air
DEWALT DXAEJ14 Power Station
DEWALT · Best for one box that jumps and inflates
A lead-acid jump station with a built-in 120 PSI digital compressor and USB-A plus USB-C power — the combo box for people who would rather carry one heavy thing than two light ones.
Published specifications
- Jump starting
- 1,600 peak amps, rated to start most 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines source
- Air compressor
- 120 PSI digital, with AUTOSTOP source
- USB output
- USB-A 15 W and USB-C 25 W source
- Battery types
- 12 V lead-acid: wet, gel and AGM source
- Diagnostics
- Alternator Check, plus reverse-polarity protection source
- In the box
- Clamps and cables, sports needle adapter source
What works
- Jump starter, 120 PSI compressor and USB-A/USB-C power in a single case
- 1,600 peak amps is rated for 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines
- Lead-acid chemistry is untroubled by living in a hot trunk
- Alternator Check tells you whether the jump was the problem or the symptom
What does not
- Heavy and bulky next to any lithium pack — the usual reason combo boxes end up in the garage
- Lead-acid self-discharges, so it needs topping up on a schedule or it is flat when you need it
- The built-in compressor is a convenience feature, not a match for a dedicated inflator's duty cycle
- DEWALT's licensee publishes no weight, cable gauge, battery capacity or compressor duty cycle for this unit
Skip it if
Not for anyone whose priority is packed size or carry-on travel. If the tool has to fit a door pocket or a suitcase, buy a lithium pack and a separate inflator.
#ad Affiliate link · Price as of October 17, 2026
Key takeaways
- The GB70 is the pick: 8.0-liter gas and 6.0-liter diesel ratings cover every Silverado 1500 engine with margin.
- The 6.2-liter V8 is past the GB40's published 6.0-liter gas rating — that pack is out on a 6.2, not merely tight.
- A gas-only 2.7 or 5.3 can run the GB50 and save about a pound and a half.
- Diesel ratings are lower than gas ratings on the same pack because a diesel draws peak current for longer.
- In a cold climate, buy one rung above whatever your engine strictly requires.
- The DXAEJ14 covers amps and air in one case, at the cost of weight and a lead-acid charging habit.
- If the truck needs jumping more than once a year, buy a charger or a battery, not a bigger pack.
How we sourced this
Every figure on this page came from one of the following. Where a manufacturer or regulator does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate it.
Common questions
- What size jump starter do I need for a Silverado 1500?
- A pack rated to at least your engine's displacement, with a rung of margin. The GB50's 7.0-liter gas rating covers the 2.7, 5.3 and 6.2 gas engines; the GB70's 6.0-liter diesel rating is what you want for the 3.0-liter Duramax, and it is our pick across the whole lineup.
- Will a NOCO GB40 start a 5.3 Silverado?
- On paper yes — NOCO rates the GB40 to 6.0 liters of gas. We would not buy it for the truck anyway. You would be close to the published ceiling on exactly the cold morning you need the pack, and the GB50 removes that problem for about a quarter of a pound.
- Can a portable jump starter start a 6.2 V8?
- Yes, but not every pack. A 6.2-liter engine is past the GB40's published 6.0-liter gas rating, so the smallest pack that covers it in NOCO's range is the GB50 at 7.0 liters. The GB70 covers it with real margin.
- Do I need a bigger jump starter for the 3.0 Duramax?
- Yes. Diesel ratings run below gas ratings on the same pack because a diesel starter pulls hard for longer. The GB70 publishes a 6.0-liter diesel rating, which is comfortable margin over a 3.0-liter Duramax, and it is the pack we would put in the truck.
- Where do I clamp a jump starter on a Silverado?
- To the battery terminals, or to the truck's designated remote jump posts if it has them under an engine-bay cover. Red to positive first, black to the negative terminal or a clean unpainted engine ground. Never clamp the negative to a fuel line, a bracket you cannot see the other end of, or painted sheet metal.
More in Jump Starters
A jump pack is the one trunk tool that turns a tow truck into a five-minute inconvenience. This is how to size one, and which ones are worth the space.
Read next
Best for an F-150
Best for an F-150
Matched to the F-150's engine lineup using NOCO's published liter ratings — plus the one-box option if you want air as well as amps.
Best for Diesel Trucks
For Diesel Trucks
Packs with a published diesel rating that actually covers a 3.0 L to 6.7 L light-truck engine, with margin for a cold morning.
Guide
What Size Do I Need?
The sizing table by engine displacement and fuel type, using ratings manufacturers publish and warrant rather than peak-amp marketing.
Best for a van
Best for Vans
Picked for the two things that actually decide it on a van — a diesel rating that covers a Sprinter, and enough cable to reach a battery under the floor.
Found something out of date, or a figure you can source better than we did? Tell us — corrections get read first. Our methodology explains how picks are made, and contact is one click away.