Discover the best car battery warmers of the year, ensuring your vehicle stays operational and efficient even in the coldest conditions.
You know how it goes: It’s winter time, you’re all set to leave for work early in the morning, and bundled up like the Michelin Man you get in your frosted car. When you turn the ignition key, you are greeted by the dreaded “click-click” of a cold, depleted battery. The engine won’t start, it won’t even turn over…
All this can be avoided by installing simple preventive measures like a battery warmer to keep your car battery protected from the cold and always ready to start your car, even in the dead of winter.
However, there are many solutions on the market that do not work well, can damage your car battery or melt its casing. Some may even turn out to be potential fire hazards.
For your convenience, we researched the market for the best, safest ones out there, and selected the 3 best battery warmers you can buy.
Check out our selection of the Best Car Battery Warmers:
Different types of Battery Warmers
Battery warmers can be divided in 3 groups, with each type using a different approach:
Insulating Kits
These kits consist of special, usually self-adhesive insulating materials that can be cut to size and wrapped around the battery. They trap and retain the battery’s internal warmth, slowing down temperature loss and preventing the battery from freezing. They need no power source.
Heater Pads
This type of battery warmer is put underneath the battery. It uses AC power to slowly heat the car battery and keep it warm.
Thermal Wraps
These battery warmers use electrical AC power to generate heat and maintain the battery’s temperature. They heat the car battery gradually and keep it warm. They are available for various battery sizes.
Things to consider when buying a car battery warmer
There are a few things to consider when buying a car battery warmer:
Battery size
You want to make sure to select the right size of battery warmer for your type and size of car battery. Select the right size in the manufacturer’s size selector or check the size/compatibility chart.
Extreme cold
A car battery insulation kit will help preserve a car battery’s heat overnight when temperature drops in a moderate climate zone. However, it will be of little use if you live in a climate zone where winter temperatures often drop below 15°F for extended periods of time. In that case, for optimal battery performance, you’ll need an AC-powered battery warmer with a built-in heating element that warms the car battery and counters ambient temperature drops.
Mains power availability
Car battery insulating kits can be used regardless of where your car is parked. Thermal wraps and heater pads on the other hand need AC power to function. This needs to be taken into consideration.
Additional measures
Additional measures might be needed for temperatures below -20°F. In these extreme temperatures, engine oil thickens, making it much harder for your engine to turn over while trying to start. First thing to consider is to change your oil for a thinner 100% synthetic engine oil (e.g.: 10W30 > 5W30 or 0W30). This thinner oil will be less sticky when cold, resulting in less internal engine resistance and easier starting.
In the most extreme circumstances, even this might not be enough to facilitate an easy startup. If a warm battery and thin oil don’t really work, you can install an engine block warmer. If all these combined measures don’t solve the problem, you want to have your vehicle checked by a professional.
If you drive a diesel-powered vehicle, below 15°F you want to put a diesel additive in your diesel fuel to prevent it from clogging your fuel system.
It’s a great idea, by the way, to plug your AC battery warmer into a thermo cube. It automatically turns on as temperature falls to approximately 35°F, off as temperature rises above 45°F. This little device can make a big difference in your electricity bills!
How we did our review
Over the years we’ve tried and tested different types of car battery warmers for our cars: insulating kits, heater pads and thermal wraps. In our experience, these three solutions all work, but for extreme cold, we had best results using AC-powered pads and wraps.
Not all car battery warmers are created equally though… For this review we also dove deep in the manufacturer specifications and looked at numerous customer reviews to see what their experience was. In our research, there were lots of customer reports of mains-powered car battery warmers that melted or got too hot, which is a major fire hazard.
We only recommend car battery warmers that are safe to use and did an excellent job for us and the vast majority of other car enthusiasts. We’ve selected battery warmers for different temperature ranges, to make it easy for you to choose the right one for your car and the temperatures you’re going to use it in.
Check out our favorite car battery warmers:
Best Overall Car Battery Warmer
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Best Overall
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Specs:
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- Type: Thermal Wrap
- Size: Vehicle Specific
- Power Source: AC
- Material: Oil and acid resistant vinyl cover
- Installation: Easy
The reason why we chose this car battery warmer as our best car battery warmer is because it is a premium quality that is reliable and does an awesome job at an affordable price.
We like the fact that it is so efficient, yet easy to install: just remove the battery hold-down bracket (1 or 2 bolts), disconnect the battery terminals and wrap the warming cover around your battery with the power cord pointing in the most convenient direction. Then re-install the battery bracket and hold-down bracket. That’s all there is to it!
To protect your battery against extreme cold, you now just have to plug in the power cord and the battery warmer automatically keeps the battery warm without overheating. Don’t forget to unplug the cord before driving off, though!
Customers agree that this battery warmer works very well and doesn’t overheat, no matter how long you leave it on. They say that it makes a huge difference compared to trying to start your vehicle with a freezing cold battery.
PROS:
- Works great, even in the most extreme temperatures
- Only takes 10 minutes to install
CONS:
- AC wall outlet required
- Does not automatically switch off when ambient temperature rises (but you can add a thermo cube)
- Power cable needs to be manually plugged in- and out with each use
- Bad things happen if you forget to unplug the power cord before driving off
Best Car Battery Warmer Pad
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Best Car Battery Warmer Pad
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Specs:
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- Type: Heater Pad
- Size: Universal fit
- Power Source: 120V
- Material: Silicone acid-resistant material
- Installation: Easy
The reason why we chose this neat accessory as our “Best Car Battery Warmer Pad” is because it is a simple, easy-to-install solution to a problem many drivers face on a daily basis in winter time: starting problems caused by an ice-cold car battery.
A heater pad is the easiest type of battery warmer to install. All you need to do is to remove the battery hold-down bracket (1 or 2 bolts), lift your battery and slide the pad underneath with the power cord facing the most convenient direction. Re-install the battery hold-down bracket and you’re done!
When plugged in, it will warm your car battery from the bottom up (heat rises) and temperature is controlled by a built-in thermostat (unlike other pads). It’s protected against overheating and completely safe. It’s resistant to battery acid too.
We like the fact that this type of battery warmer is so easy to install, anyone can do it. It’s nice that if you tuck the power cord away discreetly, nobody will even notice it’s there. In our opinion, for safety reasons, all battery heater pads should be controlled by a thermostat like this one is.
Customers say that even in temperatures as low as -40°F, this heater pad performs superbly. They say it’s the perfect solution for batteries in tight compartments where a battery wrap doesn’t fit.
PROS:
- Easiest to install
- Fits under all battery sizes
- Works great, even in the most extreme temperatures
- Built-in thermostat protects against overheating
- Can be installed almost invisibly, retains original appearance
CONS:
- AC wall outlet required
- Does not automatically switch off when ambient temperature rises (but you can add a thermo cube)
- Power cable needs to be manually plugged in- and out with each use
- Bad things happen if you forget to unplug the power cord before driving off
Best Insulating Car Battery Warmer
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Best Insulating Car Battery Warmer
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Specs:
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- Type: Insulation kit
- Size: Universal
- Power Source: None
- Material: Heat- and acid resistant
- Installation: Easy
The reason why we chose this kit as our “Best Insulating Car Battery Warmer” is because it does what it says on the box: it insulates your car battery. When temperatures drop at night, this thermal insulation kit will encapsulate your battery, so it retains its stored warmth much longer. It also functions as a heat shield to protect your car battery against excessive engine heat.
We love the simplicity of this battery warmer and that it needs no power source. Customers say that it fits snugly around their battery, allowing this thin insulating material to fit most car batteries, even the ones with a tight squeeze.
PROS:
- Needs no power source
- Affordable solution for cold starting problems
- Also protects against engine heat, which can shorten battery life
- Simple to install
CONS:
- Protects against moderate freezing temperatures, less effective against extreme cold
Final Thoughts
Which car battery warmer works best? Well, that depends…
It depends on how cold it gets in winter where you live, and whether you have an AC outlet next to your parking spot.
If it doesn’t get below 15°F in wintertime and your battery is healthy, an Insulation Kit for Car Batteries is sufficient to get you on your way on those cold mornings.
However, a Heater Pad or a Thermal Wrap will do a much better job when temperatures drop way below 15°F. For these to work, you will have to plug them into a wall outlet, which somewhat limits usability, of course.
You want to plug your AC battery warmer into a thermo cube that automatically turns on below 35°F and off as temperature rises above 45°F, which keeps your electricity bills down.
When things turn arctic big-time, you might want to consider adding an engine block warmer to facilitate starting by warming your engine oil. If you drive a diesel-powered vehicle, you want to put a diesel additive in your diesel fuel too, to prevent it from clogging your fuel system.
Well, if this article doesn’t get you started, nothing will, I guess…
Happy (winter-) cruisin’!
FAQ’s
How do I keep my car battery from dying in cold weather?
The most important thing to keep your car battery from dying in cold weather is to keep it fully charged. A healthy, completely charged battery won’t freeze and will have sufficient power to start your engine. To keep it topped up, you might want to consider connecting it to a smart battery charger whenever you can. Explore the ins-and-outs in our article “Cold Weather Car Battery Maintenance: Keeping Your Vehicle Charged in Winter”.
Another great solution is to keep your battery warm using a car battery warmer. These simple, affordable insulating/heating devices keep your battery temperature well above the ambient temperature, ensuring way better starting capacity.
Lastly, test your car battery’s health and consider replacing it if needed.
