10 Best Shop Air Compressors in 2022
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Air compressors can be used for a whole variety of things, for instance, they can help your some of your tools work, like a nail gun or they are able to fix things, for instance, if you have a flat tire, then they can easily pump it back up for you with no hassle. They can be used in DIY projects in your home or on a shop floor.
If you do want to use an air compressor in your shop then there are some features that you are going to want it to have before you purchase one, for instance, you will want it to be quiet. This is because you really don’t want a loud air compressor when there are customers in your shop, as it may make them want to leave.
We’ve put together a list of air compressors that are very suitable for shops, so you don’t have to worry about trying to hunt down any yourself.
View the Best Shop Air Compressor, Below.
- California Air Tools 10020C Ultra Quiet
- ROLAIR 7722HK28 9 HP
- California Air Tools CAT-4610AC
- Campbell Hausfeld Portable Air Compressor
- Industrial Air 30-Gallon Air Compressor
- DEWALT DXCM271.COM Air Compressor
- Industrial Air IL1682066.MN Air Compressor
- Ingersoll Rand 2340L5 Two-Stage Air Compressor
- Ford Silent Series Air Compressor
- Husky 20 Gallon Portable Air Compressor
1. California Air Tools 10020C Ultra Quiet
This air compressor is a lot less maintenance compared to some of the others that you may find online or in the shops. This is because it is oil-free, so you don’t have to worry about buying oil for it, refilling it or even disposing of the oil. Making it very handy if you’re busy in your shop and you don’t have time to change the oil.
Not only this, but it is also very quiet as it only generates 70 decibels of sound. It has a 10-gallon air tank that also has wheels, so you can easily transport it around if it needs to be moved.
We liked this product because it has a lot of useful factors and it is very powerful so it should be able to work with anything you want it to.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. ROLAIR 7722HK28 9 HP
If you need an air compressor that has a big tank, then this will be very ideal for you as it has one that is 9 gallons. Meaning it won't be stopping and starting as much like the air compressors that have the smaller tanks. It as a PSI of 90 and actually has a 9HP Honda engine that also has an automatic idle-down, this is able to actually increase your fuel efficiency as well as prevent too much oil consumption, meaning it’s more economical for you.
It also has tire wheels as well as two handles making it easy to move around or even transport to a new location.
We liked this product because it has some very useful features like that it is able to prevent a lot of oil consumption, meaning you won’t have to refill it as much.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. California Air Tools CAT-4610AC
If you want an air compressor that is going to last you a long time, then this will be perfect. It actually has a twin tank meaning it is able to hold more air compared to some other air compressors. It has a very powerful motor that can begin running at 1 horsepower, but it can exceed the horsepower of 2 when it is at its peak.
It is also very quiet as it only generates up to 60 decibels of noise, meaning that it won’t be disturbing any of your customers when they’re in your shop.
We liked this air compressor because it is very quiet, doesn’t take up much space and it easy to transport around, as it has a handle with extra grip.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. Campbell Hausfeld Portable Air Compressor
This air compressor is very reliable to use as it has a maximum PSI of 125; therefore, you're able to use it for a whole variety of projects and tools from hobby painting to nailing. It is also guaranteed to have a longer life by four times, meaning it is able to last a lot longer than most other air compressors.
It is also extremely quiet because it only generates up to 68 decibels of sound. Plus, it is also oil-free which makes it very convenient to use, because you don’t have to buy oil and dispose of it, meaning it’s more economical.
We liked this product because it is very economical to use and the fact that it is oil-free makes it a lot easier and a lot less hassle.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Industrial Air 30-Gallon Air Compressor
If you want an air compressor that is going to look more than modern and give your shop that ultimate sophisticated look then this is certainly the air compressor for you. It also has tires attached to the front of it, plus, a handle as well that it has an extra grip, making it really easy to transport around with you.
It actually has a twin cylinder and an oil lubricated pump, which will actually make it quieter. It has a maximum PSI of 155, making it a very powerful air compressor, plus, a 30-gallon tank, which will allow it to perform at a steady rate.
We liked this air compressor because it is extremely powerful and reliable, plus, it has a very modern design.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. DEWALT DXCM271.COM Air Compressor
This air compressor is very useful because not only does is it very reliable it also has additional protection because the handle that it comes with is able to provide this, as it is placed in a way that protects the compressor itself. Not only this but it has two very sturdy tires on the front, making it easily transportable.
It has a high flow regulator as well as couplers that enable you to have a max airflow when it is in use. Plus, it only generates 78 decibels of sound, making it very quiet in your working environment.
We liked this air compressor because of the number of additional features it has in order to protect the compressor, making it a very sturdy and reliable product.
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. Industrial Air IL1682066.MN Air Compressor
This is an oil lubricated air compressor that is very quiet when you use it so it won't disturb you at all or any of your customers that may be in your shop. It has a dual voltage motor that can be used in a 120 power socket and it can also be converted to a 240 power socket. The tank size is 20 gallon, and it also has tires on the front of it, meaning you can easily move it around or even transport it to a new location if you desire to. The maximum air pressure that it has is 135, making it very powerful.
We liked this air compressor because it has a lot of awesome features and it has been CSA certified, meaning it is also very safe to use.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. Ingersoll Rand 2340L5 Two-Stage Air Compressor
If you need an air compressor that is very lasting, then this is perfect, because it is guaranteed to have a long life and can work for up to 15,000 hours with no trouble whatsoever. It is also very powerful because it has a PSI of 175, which will work with the majority of tools.
There is also a two-year warranty that comes with this product when you purchase it so you can have peace of mind just in case it ever goes wrong. However, it is made from very sturdy and reliable materials, so it shouldn't go wrong.
We liked this air compressor because it has a lot of great features and it’s also easy to service and shouldn’t need service until it has at least done 2,000 hours of work.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. Ford Silent Series Air Compressor
This air compressor is from a very reliable brand that it very well known for making cars, and their air compressors are just as good. They are made from sturdy and reliable materials that will last a lifetime. There are also additional accessories that are included with this air compressor, as it comes with two pressure gauges and a coupler.
It can reach a maximum PSI of 125, making it suitable to operate most tools. It also has a 15-gallon tank, meaning it will produce air in a very steadily and won’t stop and start at all.
We liked this air compressor because it is very sturdy and reliable to use, it also comes with additional products to help you use it to its maximum.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. Husky 20 Gallon Portable Air Compressor
If you want an air compressor that is able to have a longer running time by 80% then this really is the one for you. It also has a maximum PSI of 150, not only this, but it is very quiet, because it only generates 83 decibels of sound, meaning that it won’t annoy you or anyone else around you.
You can also easily transport it around because it has seven-inch tires at the bottom of the air compressor that allows it to be easily transported. It also has a handle on the top of it with extra grip, which makes it easier to transport too.
We liked this product because it is very powerful to use, plus, it is very reliable and is able to perform for any job.
Check Price on Amazon ➞Buyer’s Guide
When you’re looking to buy an air compressor, it can be quite confusing as there are so many to choose from. Not only this, but they all come with a whole range of different features. You may find that one might be more powerful than the other, but then the other one actually comes with a two-year warranty. This can make it quite difficult to balance up and figure out what one will actually be better for you. Plus, it all depends on whether you want to use it for multiple things or if you just want to use it for one certain type of tool.
In our buyers guide we’ve discussed all of the things that you need to look out for before you buy an air compressor to assist you with purchasing one.
Oil-Free
You would have noticed that some of the air compressors above are oil-free and some of them are oil lubricated. It really depends what type of thing you want the compressor to be used for and how often you are going to be using it. If you buy an oil-free air compressor, then it can have many benefits, because you won’t have the hassle of having to buy oil and dispose of it. Not only this, but it also creates less maintenance for you, and it is better for the environment.
However, oil-lubricated air compressors are meant to last a little bit longer compared to oil-free ones, and they are also meant to be quieter. Therefore it’s really down to personal preference over which one you would prefer.
Tank size
Tank sizes don’t usually matter a great deal when it comes down to deciding what air compressor you should buy. This is because the air is constantly being used and being generated, so it’s really just somewhere where the air is stored. The only benefit to buying an air compressor that has a bigger tank is the fact that it shouldn’t cut out on you as much compared to a smaller air compressor, and it will make the air that comes out very steady.
This is because smaller tanks are able to get hotter a lot quicker; therefore, they need to keep stopping in order to be able to cool down.
PSI
You may have noticed that each air compressor has a different PSI. PSI is actually the amount of air pressure that is released, so if you have one that has a larger number, it means that more air can be released, which will make it more powerful compared to an air compressor that releases less air. When you buy an air compressor, you should always check the PSI of the tool that you want to use.
This is because if the air compressor generates air with a lower PSI than what the tool requires then it won’t work as well as it should do.
Decibels
This is a very important factor to look out for, because if you want an air compressor that is very quiet, then you will need to look out for the number of decibels that it generates. This is because if it does have a higher number compared to others, then it will be a bit louder, which means it’s always best to compare because you don’t want anything that’s too loud in your shop, as it could drive away customers if there is a loud noise coming from it.
Plus, it can also make it quite difficult to talk to customers too. There are ways that you can make an air compressor quieter if you have got one that is already quite loud.
How to Plumb Shop Air Compressors?
If you need to plumb your air compressor into your shop, there are some materials that you should stay away from, and that’s PVC. If you want to plumb it in, then you should use either L scheduled copper, black iron and aluminum tubing. Before you do anything, you will need to select a place that is suitable for the air compressor. You will also need hose lengths that will be long enough, as well as some fittings so you can attach them.
You should have isolator pads for the air compressor that will then need to be set, as these stabilize and also prevent vibrations. It should say how to do this in the manual that comes with the air compressor. You will then need to use a power socket that is nearby to power the compressor, and you should be ready to go.
When you select the hoses that you want to use you need to remember that it is very critical that you select the correct ones.
How to make Shop Air Compressors Quiet?
Some air compressors are a lot quieter compared to some others, this is because they generate a different amount of decibels. You can usually tell how loud they are because the larger the number of decibels the louder they will be. If you have purchased an air compressor that it a little bit louder than you want then there are ways that you can make it a bit quieter. For instance, you can connect a muffler to the intake, you can even install rubber grommets around the motor, or you can wrap the compressor.
How Many Amps for a Shop Air Compressor?
If your air compressor is heavy duty and it can operate on a 220-volt current, then it should use 15 amps when it is running, but it will require special wiring. It also depends how much horsepower the air compressor has, because if it has 1HP then it is likely to draw about 12 amps and anything larger will usually require 15 amps to run properly.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to buy a new air compressor for your shop, then there is a whole range of decent ones that we highly recommend in the list above. It can be quite confusing if you’re trying to decide which one to buy, but you need to look at each of the descriptions, because some of them are more powerful compared to others, while others may have additional features. For instance, some may come with accessories, while others may be a little quieter.
Therefore it really does depend on what it is you exactly need it for, and this should help you with the decision over what air compressor will suit you the very best. One thing you should do though is always to make sure that you always look after it and keep it maintained, because if you don’t then it is not guaranteed to last you quite as long, and you don’t want to end up having to buy a new one.
Expert Tip
If your air compressor doesn’t have to be on the shop floor, then it may be best if you can put it in a room outside of the shop, because this way it may shut off some of the noise so your customers can’t hear it.
Did you know?
It’s always important to make sure you maintain the air compressor because this can affect how it runs. Therefore it’s important to release the moisture, check the components and replace anything that’s damaged.