Best For Variety of Jobs: Sun Joe SPX3000 

Yes, air compressors can be a life changing experience.

Once you have one of these gizmos, you start looking at all the things around your house you can power wash: furniture, decks, kids toys, high chairs and more. And, of course, you can wash a car, truck, boat or camper.

Some air compressors are best for certain types of jobs (car washing), but others excel at a multitude of jobs. Case in point: this model by Sun Joe.

When we asked our readers for their favorite air compressors, this model came up time and time again. And when we poured over third-party testing, Sun Joe often outdid its competitors in performance. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Large variety of nozzles= great for variety of jobs. 

• Detergent take can be removed and stored.

• Multiple spray tips and angles.

• Great for decks.

• Easy way to clean garage floors, driveways, sidewalks.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Wand could be longer.

• Not enough pressure for some larger jobs, report our readers.

Best Tried & True Brand: Ryobi 1,600-PSI 1.2-GPM Electric Pressure Washer

Yes, there are a lot of air compressors out there from brands you may not have heard of—and it is true that some of these lesser known brands have less-than-stellar records of reliability, given our research from third-party tests. And given how much a compressor costs, it is understandable if you’d prefer a name-brand. In that case, we suggest this one by Ryobi. It combines the best features and overall quality.

What We Liked

• Strong pressure.

• Lightweight—easy to move around.

• Affordable.

• Great for power washing.

• Also good for vehicle washing.

• Auto-off when you let go of trigger.

• 25 foot hose is longer than others we tried.

What Needs Work

• Hose can kink, restricting flow.

Best For Vehicle Washing: CRAFTSMAN Electric Pressure Washer

Perhaps the most popular use for electric air compressors is to wash a car or truck . . . but not all compressors do the job well. This model by Craftsman would be our pick if that is your main goal. At 1700 psi, this washer has the power you need and the accessories (note the soap applicator bottle that is included) to get the job done.

What We Liked

• Compact.

• Lightweight.

• Quiet.

• Cord and hose are longer than others we compared for this article—note the 35′ long power cord!

• Easy to use attachments.

• Affordable.

• Also good for cleaning siding.

What Needs Work

• Must keep it out of water, but it sits rather low to the ground—put it on a lawn chair to raise it higher.

Best Longer Hose: Rock&Rocker Powerful Electric Pressure Washer

As an electric air compressor/power-washer enthusiastic, I can attest that one of the most frustrating aspects of these units is short cords/hoses. And while we like the features of some units like the Sun Joe, that 20 foot long hose is going to cause some grumblings.

That’s because when you are washing a tall SUV or other similarly large vehicle, a longer hose is going to make you happier. That’s why we liked this model by Rock & Rocker—yes, it has a 26 foot long hose and a 35-foot power cord. And overall, the quality here is decent.

What We Liked

• Portable with a standing design

• Lightweight. 

• Longer power cord and hose compared to other competitors we researched for this article.

• Quiet.

• Switch is covered by waterproof shield.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!