10 Best Pressure Washers in 2022
We may earn commission from our brand partners when purchasing products through our links. Learn more.
Pressure washers are one of the most convenient ways to clean a surface, whether it’s outdoor decking or the walls of your house itself. However, that doesn’t mean that you can just choose a random model and start cleaning – even the simplest difference between two different designs or brands can completely change the way you’re supposed to use them, and buying the wrong thing can lead to more annoyance and stress than you were expecting.
In some situations, you can even end up putting yourself or your home in danger if you buy a pressure washer that’s meant to be used in a very specific way. Below are ten of the best pressure washer models on the market at the moment, as well as the reasons they’re worth buying for yourself.
View the Best Pressure Washer, Below.
- Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Washer
- Generac SpeedWash 7122 3200 Pressure Washer
- Greenworks GPW1501 Pressure Washer
- SIMPSON Cleaning MSH3125 MegaShot
- Karcher K5 Premium Electric Power Washer
- CRAFTSMAN CMXGWAS021021 Pressure Washer
- Ryobi RY141612 Electric Pressure Washer
- WORX WG625 20V Hydroshot Cordless Cleaner
- Stanley SHP2150 Electric Pressure Washer
- DEWALT DH4240B Gas Powered Pressure Washer
1. Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Washer
The Sun Joe SPX3000 is a dual-tanked washer that offers a surprising amount of versatility, being able to carry up to 1.8L of detergent, or split between two different types for cleaning jobs that involve multiple different surfaces. The built-in Total Stop System stops the pump as soon as the trigger is released, giving the entire mechanism a longer lifespan and saving energy without needing any manual inputs.
Thanks to an 1800-watt motor, the washer can reach up to 2030 PSI, allowing for an incredibly strong spray of water that can strip even the most caked-on dirt away in moments.
This pressure washer's two tanks make cleaning more than one surface much easier, especially if they need entirely different detergents or cleaning solutions.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. Generac SpeedWash 7122 3200 Pressure Washer
The Generac SpeedWash is designed to maximize comfort and efficiency, cleaning surfaces up to 50% faster than most models without wasting extra water. The built-in 196cc OHV engine boosts its performance, creating 3200 PSI streams of water that can be controlled through its 30-foot flexible hose.
On top of that, the adjustable power dial means that you can easily switch between four different pressures, which are pre-adjusted for either washing cars, wood, and concrete or for spreading the soap around. This, along with its turbo nozzle for faster cleaning, makes it much easier to quickly strip away dirt for any surface.
This pressure washer avoids relying on gimmicks, and simply acts as a powerful, high-performance washer that can deal with most situations equally well.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. Greenworks GPW1501 Pressure Washer
The Greenworks GPW1501 uses a compact and portable design that's easy to move around, letting you clean broad areas and large surfaces without needing to drag around a bulky pressure washer. Its 1500 PSI spray comes out of a high-pressure twenty-foot hose, destroying dirt from a distance while still retaining a lot of cleaning power. Although it has no internal tank, the washer comes with a separate soap applicator that's equally as portable, and the thirty-five-foot power cord can plug directly into outdoor outlets without needing any third-party adaptors.
This tiny washer packs a lot of power into a small and lightweight frame, making it easy to store in cupboards, cars and even large backpacks.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. SIMPSON Cleaning MSH3125 MegaShot
This Honda GC190-powered pressure washer uses a strong pump and a range of different quick-connect nozzles to offer you extra versatility, even while you’re in the middle of cleaning something.
The 25-foot Morflex hose gives you an excellent amount of flexibility with how you aim it, making it viable to clean surfaces around corners without even having to move the washer’s main body.
However, if you do, its durable frame and shock-absorbing ten-inch pneumatic tires make rough or uneven ground much less of a problem, and you can rest it on the very front of the frame for added stability.
The high quality and durable body of this pressure washer make it ideal for outdoor use, especially in bad weather conditions.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Karcher K5 Premium Electric Power Washer
The Karcher K5 offers a powerful 2000 PSI spray that can be directed through a range of different tools – the standard 25-foot hose, the versatile Vario spray wand or the heavy-duty DirtBlaster wand. This gives you three ways to take on dirt without needing more than one washer, and the reliable N-COR pump ensures that all three will produce a constant stream of water that’s strong enough to wash off even the toughest stains.
The built-in detergent tank and water-cooled motor turn an efficient design into a full cleaning toolset, all of which can be easily rolled around on two sturdy wheels.
If you’re looking for versatility, the Karcher K5 may end up being the best pressure washer in the company’s entire catalog.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. CRAFTSMAN CMXGWAS021021 Pressure Washer
This pressure washer’s 163cc engine is designed for convenience and reliability, starting regardless of the situation as long as it has fuel. The 25-foot hose and high-pressure water flow make it ideal for taking on larger surfaces, including the walls or rooves of entire buildings.
The design offers two ways to add detergent: either a direct application system or a siphon hose. Regardless of which you use, you can mix it in directly to create high-pressure jets of soapy water for dealing with extremely tough stains and types of dirt. Thanks to its compact fold-down shape, storing it is incredibly convenient.
This pressure washer is small yet powerful, folding down into a handy box shape yet still being strong enough to blast soapy water onto all kinds of dirt and stains.
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. Ryobi RY141612 Electric Pressure Washer
This electric pressure washer is incredibly portable, with its longest side measuring under thirteen inches across. However, the powerful high-pressure wand-style hose is able to blast away dirt with extremely accurate and easy-to-control jets of water. The three different nozzles giving you multiple ways to handle a cleaning job: a standard 15-degree spray, a soap nozzle for quickly spreading cleaning products, and a turbo nozzle that fires out water 50% faster than normal. On top of that, the tiny size makes it ideal for storing almost anywhere, even inside vehicles or outdoor furniture.
The excellent mixture of a compact body and a powerful electric motor makes this pressure washer amazing for short-notice cleaning jobs.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. WORX WG625 20V Hydroshot Cordless Cleaner
This extremely portable pressure washer compacts all the main features of a standard electric pressure washer into a small, portable wand-style spray tool that can draw water from almost any source, either directly or from filled-up containers and buckets.
Its 5-in-1 nozzle lets you easily swap between different spray widths, allowing for both targeted jets of water and wider sprays on more significant areas, while the internal motor can reach up to 320 PSI for most standard cleaning jobs and situations.
Due to its cordless design, it doesn't need to be hooked up to any power sources, allowing for remote and on-the-go cleaning.
This washer can be used almost anywhere without needing a permanent power source or a specific type of socket, making it ideal for cleaning practically anywhere, even out on the road.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. Stanley SHP2150 Electric Pressure Washer
The Stanley SHP2150 boasts a leak-proof design that not only saves water but massively improves its durability and long-term performance. The included foam cannon makes applying soaps and other detergents incredibly easy, while the 25-foot high-pressure hose allows for flexible and controllable cleaning on both bare and soapy surfaces.
The washer also comes with a range of attachments for dealing with typical cleaning jobs and problems, including quick-connect nozzles and an adaptor for standard brass garden hoses, letting it easily mix in with your existing equipment rather than being a self-contained set that you can't use alongside anything else.
This washer is relatively compact, easy to use, and compatible with many other standard accessories, making it surprisingly versatile if you’ve got other gear that you can use alongside it.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. DEWALT DH4240B Gas Powered Pressure Washer
This gas-powered washer uses a powerful Honda OHV engine that generates up to 4500 PSI, letting it easily blast dirt and stains off most solid surfaces in a matter of seconds. The Triplex pump allows for higher pressure than most other designs, ensuring that you’ll have a constant stream of water that doesn’t come out in hard-to-control bursts.
The sturdy steel frame and sub-frame keep the entire unit protected from physical damage, with the extended front and back making it easy to prop up without the risk of it falling back down and damaging the engine or other important components.
The strong engine of this pressure washer is only matched by its equally strong frame, making it a great heavy-duty tool for tough cleaning jobs.
Pressure Washer Buyer’s Guide
Buying a pressure washer isn’t as simple as choosing the model with the biggest hose or largest cable – there are a lot of different factors that can go into your purchase, some of which you might not even be aware of when you buy your first pressure washer.
Pressure
The pressure and PSI that your washer generates isn’t a sliding scale of “higher is better.” In many cases, a pressure that’s too high can damage a surface you’re trying to clean, and might even strip off dirt in a way that takes some of the original surfaces with it.
This is especially important on mixed-materials surfaces – an outdoor brick wall can endure a lot of pressure, but a glass window or wooden fence won’t necessarily be able to hold together under the same conditions, and it’s easy to accidentally break something even if you aren’t aiming the spray directly at it.
The opposite can also be true sometimes. Lower pressures might not be enough to clean off certain types of dirt or stains, and you might end up making it wetter without actually cleaning anything.
Finding a good balance of pressure (or, if possible, finding a washer that allows you to adjust the pressure) can alleviate these problems, especially if you’ve got more precise nozzles that make it easier to aim the spray.
Compatibility
Most washers will use standard nozzle and attachment mounts that can work with most optional equipment, but others might be designed to use certain tools exclusively. This can be a problem if you need to attach a different nozzle or connect the washer up to a different type of power source, and there might even be some situations where you can’t use the washer properly because it’s not compatible with any electrical outlets or water tanks you have available.
Soap can also be an issue – not all washers are designed to use soap, and there are different ways of adding detergents that not all designs will support. For example, a design that allows you to add it straight into the tank might not support a second water tank, and vice versa.
Adding detergents in the wrong way (or simply adding the wrong detergents in the right way) can damage the internal workings of the pressure washer, and might even completely break it.
You can sometimes get around these limitations by using a separate tool, such as a standalone spray gun or soap nozzle, but these won’t always be freely accessible and can take up more space than the pressure washer by itself.
Versatility
Some people will only need a pressure washer for one or two different purposes, but others will need a general-purpose tool that can clean anything at a moment’s notice. Not all pressure washers are built with versatility in mind, so you’ll need to try and decide based on whatever information you have available from the manufacturers.
Pressure washers with multiple nozzles are almost always more adaptable than those without them, and some will even have an extra hose or water tank for spraying detergents or detergent-mixed water.
However, the more features they add, the more complex a pressure washer can get, so it’s good to try and focus on choosing something that’s versatile while still being within your skill level. The more complicated something it, the less convenient it can be for quick cleaning work.
How do I use a pressure washer?
When you’re actually using a pressure washer for cleaning, there are certain things you’ll need to keep in mind about how you need to use it. Never point a pressure washer at a living thing, especially not something that’s near you – the high pressures can actually cause cuts and might even outright kill smaller creatures at close ranges.
You should also make sure you don’t use it when you’re balanced on a ladder or uneven step since the recoil can be enough to knock you over. Power lines and cables can also be dangerous, so make sure you’re at least six feet away if you’re spraying towards them.
This includes situations where the mist from the water is being blown towards them – this can sometimes be enough to catch an exposed wire or cable and might shock you if you’re too close. When it’s time to turn off the washer, make sure you’ve cut off its water supply before turning off the engine – once they’re both off, hold down the trigger or button to empty out all the water still in the system, just in case.
Once done, you should always turn on any locks or safety modes if you have them to prevent the trigger from turning on the engine again.
How Does a Pressure Washer Work?
Pressure washers simply work by using a motor to accelerate the water inside them, building up pressure until it can fire the water back out at a faster speed. This creates a much stronger jet of water that’s meant to deal with dirt and stains in a much quicker, more convenient manner – however, they can also sometimes fire out detergents and soap, either separately or mixed with the water, to add some extra cleaning power to each spray.
How do I Clean a Concrete Patio Without a Pressure Washer?
Concrete is one of the safest and easiest materials to clean since very few pressure washers will cause damage to it, especially commercial-grade pressure washers that don’t reach the extremely high pressures required to crack it.
However, there are some more efficient ways you can clean them – for example, one of the most common is mixing in some baking soda and detergent to create a custom cleaning solution that can be scrubbed off later, taking any stains and dirt with it.
What kind of Soap can I use in My Pressure Washer?
When choosing a soap to use in your pressure washer, you should always make sure you know whether it’s a soap or a detergent – despite seeming like they’re similar, they’re meant to be used in different situations and won’t always react to certain surfaces or water types in the same way.
Soaps are generally seen as the “softer” option, acting as a general-purpose and biodegradable chemical that you can add into basically any situation for extra cleaning power. Detergents are more specific, often being designed to deal with a particular kind of dirt or stain, or work on a specific surface – they’re also rarely biodegradable and can harm plants or animals nearby if not used carefully.
There aren’t any hard-set rules on which can be used, but different models and manufacturers will often explain their suggested types in the instruction manuals. Some pressure washers might also come with alternate hoses or a separate spray gun that’s designed to apply these extra solutions, whereas others will let you mix it into the water tank directly. Always check the instruction or safety manuals before you try to use them, just in case.
Expert Tip
Electric-powered motors are generally quieter than gas-powered pressure washers, so they could be preferable in crowded neighborhoods or for late-night/early-morning cleaning.
Did you know?
Black-colored nozzles are often 65-degree nozzles, which produce a light spray that won’t clean very efficiently – however, they’re great at making surfaces wet in preparation for other cleaning methods.