Best Trickle Chargers: Keep Your Batteries Always Ready
Make dead batteries a thing of the past with these reliable and durable trickle chargers.

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There are few things that are more frustrating than coming out to your garage to take your car, ATV, snowmobile, dirt bike, or UTV out for a spin only to find out you’ve got a dead battery. This is when you wish you had just bit the bullet and bought that trickle charger you’ve been eyeing. Trust us, it's worth it as a trickle charger hooks up to your idle battery and keeps it properly juiced up even sitting for a long time. It's perfect for any sort of storage situation and to help you find the trickle charger to suit your needs, I sorted through the plethora of options. Take a gander below.

Deltran 12-Volt Junior Automatic Battery Charger
- Reverse-polarity protected
- Can be used on any automobile
- Backed by a five-year warranty
- Not suitable for AWG batteries
- Not wear resistant
- Not for fast charging
Beikalone Sealed Lead Acid Battery Charger
- Short-circuit protection
- Overcharge protection
- Super affordable
- Takes too long to charge larger batteries
- Not as durably constructed as some other options
- No warranty
Noco Genius10 10-Amp Fully Automatic Smart Charger
- Can detect and repair battery damage
- Extends battery life
- Can recharge batteries from as low as one volt
- Lengthy warranty process
- Expensive
- Not for use on lithium-ion batteries
Summary List
- Best Overall: Deltran 12-Volt Junior Automatic Battery Charger
- Best Value: Beikalone 12V Sealed Lead Acid Battery Charger
- Best Premium: Noco Genius10 10-Amp Fully Automatic Smart Charger
- Best For ATVs: Battery Tender Plus Charger and Maintainer
- Best Dual-Use: Noco Genius GENM2 Battery Charger
- Best Heavy Duty: CTek Battery Charger MUS 4.3 Polar
- Most User Friendly: Black and Decker 6V, 12V Battery Charger/Maintainer
Our Methodology
When it comes to choosing a reliable and high-quality trickle charger, the options are vast and varied. In order to narrow the playing field, I look at name brands that most people are already familiar with. These companies have a solid track record of providing reliable, comfortable, and high-quality products. I wanted to provide a variety of prices so that there would be a good option to suit any budget. I also tried to include only those options that are super straightforward and easy to use, thus minimizing your chance for error and damage to your battery or yourself. For more about our selection criteria and methodology, check out The Drive’s Gear About page.
Best Trickle Chargers: Reviews & Recommendations
Specs
- Brand: Battery Tender
- Model: 22-0351
- Weight: 1.8 pounds
Pros
Reversed polarity protection
Can be used on almost any vehicle
Backed by a five-year warranty
Cons
Not suitable for AWG batteries
Not wear-resistant
Not for fast charging
Specs
- Brand: Beikalone
- Model: QC18070501
- Weight: 5.6 ounces
Pros
Short-circuit protection
Overcharge protection
Super affordable
Cons
May interfere with your radio
Takes too long to charge large batteries
Specs
- Brand: Noco
- Model: Genius10
- Weight: 3.99 pounds
Pros
Can detect and repair battery damage
Extends battery life
Can recharge batteries from as low as one volt
Cons
Lengthy warranty process
Expensive
Doesn’t work on a fully discharged battery
Specs
- Brand: Battery Tender
- Model: Plus
- Weight: 2.29 pounds
Pros
Four charging modes keep your battery at peak power
Automatic float mode prevents overcharging
10-year warranty
Cons
Won’t charge batteries below three volts
Not suitable for all vehicles
Can take a long time to charge
Specs
- Brand: Noco
- Model: GEN5X2
- Weight: 5.26 pounds
Pros
IP68 Waterproof
Easy and straightforward to use
Use for lead-acid, gel, AGM, and deep-cycle batteries
Cons
Bulky
Requires hard-wire
Short cables
Specs
- Brand: CTek
- Model: 56-958
- Weight: 2 pounds
Pros
Heavy-duty waterproof housing
Can function in extreme temperatures
Backed by a five-year warranty
Cons
Somewhat pricey
Can’t charge batteries that are fully drained
Known to overheat occasionally
Specs
- Brand: Black and Decker
- Model: BM3B
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
Pros
Affordable
Fully automatic and ETL certified for safety
Easily switch between 6- or 12-volt mode
Cons
Not as durable as some other options
Not suitable for lithium-ion batteries
Our Verdict on the Best Trickle Chargers
If you’re looking for the ideal combination between reliability, durability, and price, consider the Battery Tender 12-Volt Junior Automatic Battery Charger. For a great budget-friendly pick, check out the Beikalone 12V Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Battery Charger.
What to Consider When Buying a Trickle Charger
Not all trickle chargers are created equally as they come in a wide variety of sizes, capacities, and price points. The best one for you will have several key features that ensure proper function, reliability, and limited safety issues. The following buying guide will have you making your choice with confidence.
Types of Trickle Chargers
Traditional Charger
Dumb chargers are traditional chargers that come with more cables that are plugged into a wall socket. They are powerful, cheap, and can charge any battery size. Dumb refers to the fact that these chargers can’t monitor the charging status and often lead to overcharging of the battery if left unsupervised.
Smart Charger
Smart battery chargers sport a modern design and can track the progress of the charging system to prevent overcharging. They are priced high due to their advanced safety features that prevent any battery damage. The chargers can be left unsupervised and can automatically adjust the settings to suit the charging needs of the battery. However, they can’t charge all battery sizes like a traditional charger.
Trickle Charger Key Features
Capacity
The capacity of the battery and chargers is marked in amp-hours. You need to ensure that your trickle charger has a higher amp-hour value than your vehicle’s battery. Most chargers have adjustable ampere rates, but ideally, a maintenance charger needs to be under 5 amps while a fast charger should be at least 10.
Charging Monitoring
If you are going to maintain your battery throughout the winter season, go for a charger with an automatic battery-charge monitoring feature. This will ensure that your battery isn’t overcharged and that it’s topped off every time the battery level goes down. It will buy you time by keeping your battery in good condition before you get to use your car.
Safety
The trickle charger needs to have some safety features that prevent damage to the battery. That might include reverse polarity connection safety, which ensures that you don’t damage your car’s electrical system in case you connect the charger to the wrong terminals. Other safety features include spark-proof technology, short-circuit protection, overload, and overheating protection.
Pricing
Many good-quality trickle chargers will be offered for sale at or less than $50. At this price point, you should be able to find reliable options that feature smart auto charging technology that can safely charge your battery for prolonged periods with minimal supervision. Once you get above $50, that’s where warranties and safety ratings are more common. You’ll also find chargers suitable for charging larger batteries in this price range as well.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: Is a trickle charger the same as a battery charger?
A: No, they are different. A battery charger delivers a high-amp electrical current to the battery by converting AC power to DC at a low voltage. Also, battery chargers can neither be left connected for a long time nor left unsupervised. Trickle chargers, on the other hand, can be left unsupervised and connected for days as they deliver power safely at low amps.
Q: After how long should I hook up the trickle charger?
A: Generally, a car’s battery discharges 20 hours after a full charge. It can take longer if you have a larger battery. You should hook up the trickle charger 10 to 15 hours after a full charge. However, if you plan to leave your car idle for weeks or months unsupervised, you can leave the trickle charger on. It will safely charge the battery whenever the battery level drops.
Q: Could I damage my battery if I leave the trickle charger on for too long?
A: It depends on the type of charger you have. Some trickle chargers have an automatic control system that stops charging the battery when it’s at capacity. Others might not have that feature and might end up overcharging and damaging your battery. The trickle charger may take half a day to a full day to fully charge a dead battery.
Q: How do I connect the trickle charger to the car battery?
A: Trickle chargers typically come with red and black clamps. Locate the positive terminal of the battery (often red) and connect the red clamp on the terminal. Then connect the black clamp to the negative terminal (often black) of the battery. Then adjust the setting of the charger to your liking: charging or maintenance mode.

Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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