The list in brief ↴
1. Best overall: RYOBI RY14122
2. Best budget: Greenworks GPW1501 Pressure Washer
3. Best mobile: Karcher K 3 Follow Me
4. Best high pressure electric: AR Blue Clean AR383
5. Best for multi-purpose: Karcher K 3 Power Control
6. Best portable battery: WORX Hydroshot WG629
7. Best electric value: Harbor Freight Portland 1750 PSI
8. Best mixed supply: Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless
How we test
Buying advice
When it comes to enhancing the exterior of your property, one of the best pressure washers is an essential tool. Whether it's your decking, driveway, patio, or pathways, the right pressure washer can restore them to their former glory. Also, many models come with attachments specifically designed for cleaning cars and bikes, ensuring that all your outdoor possessions sparkle.
Selecting the right pressure washer for your needs depends on various factors such as the size of your outdoor space, the frequency of dirt buildup, and your budget. With a wide range of options available, most of which are electrically powered, it's important to make an informed decision.
To help you find the most suitable option, we've thoroughly reviewed a variety of pressure washers and you can read about our hands-on experience with each one. Our team of experts rigorously tested all eight featured pressure washers for a minimum of two weeks. We've evaluated every aspect, from the initial setup to the effectiveness of cleaning dirty patios and even considered maintenance requirements to ensure longevity.
When your ground spaces glisten, you might want to look at the best lawn mowers and hedge trimmers to frame that area with the best-looking greenery.
The quick list
If you want a quick view of all the best pressure washers right now, then you can check out our quick list below. You can also jump to more detailed reviews or use our price comparison chart for an at-a-glance overview of the best deals.
The best pressure washer overall
The RYOBI RY14122 is the king of pressure washers. It is from a reputable brand that builds quality units with lots of power, plenty of versatility, and customer support to back it all up.
The best budget pressure washer
For the lowest-priced pressure washer that is still very capable of a selection of jobs, this is the model to go for. It's easy to set up initially and will tackle patios and cars; just know it's not the most mobile.
The best mobile pressure washer
Thanks to a selection of wheels and an upright setup, this is a superb model for those who want to move about. This is made for movement thanks to long hoses, compact size, and four wheels. It's still a little awkward but is certainly built for a specific task
The best high pressure electric washer
This model is perfect if you want a lot of power while still using an electric connection. Thanks to a massive 1,900 PSI and multiple wand attachments, it should take on most tasks relatively easily.
The best multi-purpose pressure washer
This is the well-known Karcher model, but it has all the extra attachments you could need for multiple jobs, including deep cleaning patios and washing cars and bikes.
The best portable battery pressure washer
If you want all the grunts of a gas-powered pressure washer without paying what the professionals do, this is a top choice. Despite all that power, it's also surprisingly portable for its weight.
The best value electric pressure washer
This model offers an affordable way to get a capable electric pressure washer that won't break the bank but still packs enough power to break up dirt and grime.
The best mixed water supply pressure water
If you don't have access to a mains water hose or need to move to areas that don't, this model is ideal. This can work off pretty much any source, including a bucket or even a bottle of water. It uses battery power, allowing you to go beyond the hose and mains electricity.
The best pressure washers we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
We're on a mission here at Top Ten Reviews to review all the pressure washers that we feature in our buyers' guide. We tested them for a minimum of two weeks on our patios, drive and pathways while checking the spec to see if the performance matches up. To help you choose the right model for your outdoor space we've included short reviews and links to our full reviews below.
The best pressure washer overall
✅ You want it easy: This model is super simple to set up and use, making it ideal for most uses.
✅ You need warranty cover: This long warranty offers peace of mind for extended use.
✅ Performance matters: This offers a powerful cleaning performance with great results.
❌ You want attachments: Other models come with more heads to manage more tasks.
❌ You want to save money: This is one of the more expensive models out there.
❌ You want quiet: This model is noisy and won't perform quietly.
🔎 RYOBI 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is one of the best-performing pressure washers out there, capable of superb cleaning results from a unit that might cost more than most but offers simplicity and ability beyond many others. ★★★★½
The RYOBI 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer excelled in several areas, particularly ease of use and cleaning performance. While you'll pay a little more to use it, we think this RYOBI pressure washer is worth its high price tag; here's why.
Features: You can attach three different nozzles, each with a slot for efficient storage between uses. We found that it feels weighty at 34 pounds, but it feels solid. It lives on wheels for easy portability and allows nozzle switchouts to suit whatever task you need.
Power: At 1,700 PSI and 1.2 GPM flow rate, this isn't the most powerful, yet it could offer very effective cleaning when combined with the heads specifically designed for each task.
Efficiency: This model features a 25-foot hose, a 35-foot power cord, and a 1-gallon detergent tank, making it a long-range model that can go for a long time before needing to be topped up.
Value: This isn't very expensive but is also not one of the more affordable options – yet the performance helps to explain this. It's also worth noting that an impressive three-year warranty offers peace of mind and great value when you spread that cost.
Read more: RYOBI 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | A good selection of heads | ★★★★★ |
| Power | Not the strongest but effective | ★★★★ |
| Efficiency | Very portable and capable | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Decent with long warranty | ★★★★ |
The best budget pressure washer
✅ You want to save money: This is a very affordable model ideal on a budget.
✅ You want an all-rounder: This works from cars to patios with multiple uses.
✅ You want ease: This is super simple to set up and get running.
❌ Noise matters: This is a loud model, especially for an electric unit.
❌ Portability is needed: This is not easy to move about, making portability awkward.
❌ Power is a must: This tops out at less than most in power, so it isn't for tougher tasks.
🔎 Greenworks GPW1501 is a very affordable way to get a pressure washer that works for multiple tasks from patios to driveways, although you will have to put up with loud running and lack of portability. ★★★★
The Greenworks GPW1501 is more affordable than any other electric pressure washer we tested alongside and is good enough for most homeowners to use a couple of times a year. Although less powerful than others, it performs well for light-to-medium-duty household tasks such as cleaning cars, patio furnishings, and fences.
Features: The Greenworks GPW1501 comes with only the essential accessories: a 20-foot pressure hose, a 25-degree spray nozzle, and a 40-degree spray nozzle. These nozzles are good for most cleaning. A detergent tank also snaps onto the handle and stores on the back of the machine when not in use.
Power: With its 13-amp motor and a PSI of 1500, it is ideal for light-to-medium-duty residential cleaning jobs. It comes with 25- and 40-degree quick-connect nozzles for various surfaces and a high-pressure hose reaching 20 feet.
Efficiency: This pressure washer doesn't have wheels but only weighs 19 pounds. As such, it’s easy enough to move around your project site. Without wheels, it's also easy to connect hoses to the machine.
Value for money: This is one of the most affordable pressure washers, yet it still delivers decent performance with various uses.
Readmore: Greenworks GPW1501 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
| Features | Lots of uses covered | ★★★★ |
| Power | Average performance | ★★★★ |
| Efficiency | Comfortable to use | ★★★★ |
| Value | Amazing value | ★★★★★ |
The best mobile pressure washer
✅ You want mobility: Those four wheels help make this lighter to move about.
✅ You want quiet: This is one of the quieter performers for a pressure washer.
✅ Range is needed: This has a long hose that makes long-range use an easy process.
❌ Fiddly is frustrating: This is smaller than most, so it can be fiddly for some tasks.
❌ Long-distance movements are needed: Those small wheels are fine for little movements but not far.
❌ Setup ease is needed: This isn't the toughest or easiest to set up.
🔎 Karcher K 3 Follow Me is all about mobility with those four wheels, but it's small, which is good for the lightweight but bad for fiddliness. Those little wheels aren't ideal for longer-distance movements. ★★★★
The Karcher K 3 Follow Me delivered great cleaning performance in our tests, but it wasn't quite as easy to use as we'd expected a pressure washer designed in this way would be; while it is smaller than some units, this small size did present some frustrating issues during usage.
Features: This pressure washer comes with an adjustable nozzle, which we found was great for different cleaning tasks but more trouble than swapping out nozzles, especially if you're a novice.
Power: It was one of the quieter machines we tested, producing only 84 dB of noise. Yet it produces an impressively powerful 1,800 PSI of pure cleaning grunt.
Efficiency: This is one of the smallest electric pressure washers we tested, making it a good option if you don't have much space in your garage to store it. Additionally, it's the second-lightest model we tested, weighing only 12.8 pounds, so it’s easy to carry.
Value for money: This model is relatively affordable when it offers power in a portable, quiet form factor. Plus, it has adjustable head options, which can be used for various tasks, from patios to cars.
Read more: Karcher K 3 Follow Me review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Plenty for the size | ★★★★ |
| Power | Impressive for a small unit | ★★★ |
| Efficiency | Quiet and moveable | ★★★★ |
| Value | Decent value | ★★★★ |
The best high pressure electric washer
✅ You want power: Despite being electric this is one of the most powerful pressure washers.
✅ Host length matters: This offers a long hose that can be helpfully wound up.
✅ Soap helps: This includes a soap nozzle, a rare addition and ideal for deep cleaning.
❌ You want ease: The hose connection could be easier for quicker changes.
❌ You want portability: This is light, but the wheel doesn't work as well as you might hope.
❌ Auto coil up helps: This has a wind-up hose, but that won't auto retract, unfortunately.
🔎 AR Blue Clean AR383 is a decent electric model with a helpful soap nozzle attachment for deep cleaning and a long wind-up hose. But fiddly connectors and less impressive wheels make it less portable than you might want. ★★★★½
The AR Blue Clean AR383 is a clear example of what you get when you buy a solid—if a bit average—pressure washer. It does a fine job on the cleaning front and comes with good accessories. That being said, it's also more difficult to use compared to some of the other models we tested and has a shorter warranty than we'd prefer.
Features: The AR Blue Clean AR383 is one of two pressure washers we tested with a built-in hose reel. While this is a useful way to store your pressure hose, it was difficult to use because the hose didn't coil smoothly as we reeled it in.
Power: The AR Blue Clean AR383’s water pressure is good—at 1,900 PSI, it’s the second highest in our comparison. This means it did well removing dirt and oil in our cleaning tests, though it didn't match the two top-performing models.
Efficiency: At 28 lbs, this machine is relatively lightweight, but its wheels don't work nearly as well as those on the heavier RYOBI models we tested. This means you might have trouble moving it around your project site, though it's still one of the more portable units we reviewed.
Value for money: This model may be sold at a wide variety of prices online, so it's worth shopping to find the best deal. This can mean you get a lot for your money.
Read more: AR Blue Clean AR383 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Enough to be helpful | ★★★★ |
| Power | One of the most powerful | ★★★★★ |
| Efficiency | Portability could improve | ★★★★ |
| Value | Decent on deal prices | ★★★★ |
The best multi-purpose pressure washer
✅ You need variation: This covers many surface types, making it adaptable.
✅ Trigger ease helps: This has a very lightweight trigger, making it comfortable to use.
✅ Power is needed: This has lots of power to eliminate even the more stubborn stains and marks.
❌ Head changing is an effort: This has many uses but requires head changing to work.
❌ Electric is limiting: You will be limited by your extension cable length for power.
❌ You want lots of power: This is fine for domestic jobs, but the power tops out there.
🔎 Karcher K 3 Power Control is a real all-around wonder that can do most jobs while staying easy to use, comfortable, portable, and height adjustable for easy storage. ★★★★½
The Karcher K 3 Power Control pressure washer is a well-designed product that’s easy to use and extremely effective for removing all levels of dirt, from low-level dirt, such as when washing the car, to staining, moss, and weathering that has accumulated on the patio, paved, and decked garden areas.
Features: This model comes with great adjustable heads. Featuring an easy-to-see display of pressure levels on the trigger gun, a large, easy-to-use on/off switch, and a high-pressure gun lock that locks the lever of the high-pressure gun to prevent it starting by accident, the washer is safe and easy to use.
Power: At 1600W and up to 120 bar of pressure with a flow rate of 380L/h max, this is more than enough power for most jobs. That can mean stubborn patio stains or lighter jobs like cleaning the car are all possible.
Efficiency: This is lightweight, height adjustable for easy storage, wheels about effectively, and uses a very light trigger even when used for long periods. Plus, there is enough hose length to go quite far (275 inches) before moving the unit.
Value for money: This can often be found in great deals but is well-priced even at full price. You get a lot for your money from a well-known brand with a decent warranty. In fact, it comes with an impressive 24-month guarantee.
Read more: Karcher K 3 Power Control review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Very rich with features | ★★★★★ |
| Power | Decent power for electric | ★★★★ |
| Efficiency | Light and comfortable | ★★★★ |
| Value | Super value with top guarantee | ★★★★★ |
The best portable battery pressure washer
✅ You need portable: This is super portable, making it ideal for use over larger areas.
✅ Warranty matters: With three years of coverage, this offers top peace of mind.
✅ Easy setup helps: This offers a very simple setup with lots of pre-built.
❌ You want power: This isn't the most powerful, so you may struggle with tougher stains.
❌ You use detergent: This doesn't have a standard detergent container.
❌ You want all-day use: Battery-powered means you need to charge up or buy more to keep going.
🔎 WORX Hydroshot WG629 offers great mobility thanks to that battery power supply, but you must sacrifice a lot of pressure. The multi-purpose head and easy setup help make this more appealing. ★★★★
The WORX Hydroshot WG629's battery makes it portable, so you can take it wherever you need. However, this pressure washer isn't powerful enough for heavy-duty cleaning.
Features: The WORX Hydroshot WG629's five-in-one nozzle sets it apart from the competition. The five settings include 0-degree, 15-degree, 25-degree, and 40-degree spray patterns and a shower setting.
Power: The WORX Hydroshot WG629 has a maximum pressure of 320 PSI and a flow rate of 0.5 GPM, the lowest in our comparison. This limits the machine’s cleaning power but was an intentional choice on WORX's part to prevent it from damaging surfaces.
Efficiency: Using a battery has numerous advantages, but the biggest is you're not tethered to a power outlet, though you need one for charging. The battery also makes the WORX Hydroshot WG629 extremely lightweight, only 3.7 pounds. We like the battery’s convenience because It works with other WORX 20V Power Share tools, so you can swap it between tools as you go through various project phases. If you don't have access to a water faucet, the manual shows how to use a 5-gallon bucket instead.
Value for money: The upfront pricing isn't bad, but you may need to factor in buying extra batteries at $50 each, and if you want a detergent container, that'll set you back more in the Starter Kit version of this setup.
Read more: WORX Hydroshot WG629 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Useful heads | ★★★ |
| Power | Very lacking | ★★ |
| Efficiency | Excellent portability | ★★★★ |
| Value | Lots of extras needed | ★★★ |
The best electric value
✅ You want to go far: This long battery life will keep up even in larger spaces.
✅ Use comfort matters: This is easy to move and use, even in awkward positions.
✅ You want to save money: This offers great value for money upfront and ongoing.
❌ You want the battery and charger: These aren't included in the price upfront.
❌ Lightweight matters: This is one of the more weighty models out there.
❌ Long blades are a must: This offers 22 inches, which isn't the longest you can get.
🔎 Harbor Freight Portland 1750 offers a decent amount of power and performs well at cleaning even tougher stains, but you can't add more attachments, which run loud with a short warranty. ★★★★
The Harbor Freight Portland 1750 PSI pressure washer is an affordable tool that can handle most cleaning jobs, though its short warranty makes it difficult to recommend to serious users. Overall, we found the Harbor Freight Portland 1750 PSI pressure washer capable — if perhaps a bit average — and decided it's best suited to budget-conscious homeowners. Though the cleaning performance impressed us, we felt the Portland 1750 PSI was more difficult to use than some competitors, and the warranty was incredibly short.
Features: The Portland 1750 PSI pressure washer has two nozzles: an adjustable and a soap nozzle. Harbor Freight doesn't make or sell any other accessories or nozzles for this machine. We also don’t recommend buying third-party nozzles since the wand appears to use a proprietary connection.
Power: We were impressed by the Harbor Freight Portland 1750 PSI pressure washer's cleaning power and found its performance satisfactory. This pressure washer did well enough in our tests, blasting mud and oil off our test surfaces without much trouble.
Efficiency: This model is powerful, but that can be heard with the 91 dB it kicks out, making it one of the nosiest of all we've tested – yup, including gas-powered models. The wheels work well for portability, though.
Value for money: The pricing is less than average, but deals on this model are often available, so it's worth watching for these if you want to save.
Read more: Harbor Freight Portland 1750
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Features | A decent amount for some jobs | ★★★ |
| Power | Enough grunt to tackle stains | ★★★★ |
| Efficiency | Very loud but portable | ★★★ |
| Value | Under average with deals | ★★★★ |
The best mixed water supply pressure washer
✅ You want freedom: This is battery-powered, allowing you to go anywhere.
✅ You want varied water: This uses all sorts of water supplies beyond the hose alone.
✅ Battery life matters: This lasts long periods on a single charge.
❌ You need power: This isn't the most powerful unit.
❌ Comfort matters: The trigger can be heavy when held for long periods of use.
❌ You want to stand it: This won't stand up without falling over, so it must be left on its side.
🔎 Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Power Cleaner is a super compact pressure washer that sucks water from any source and uses battery power, meaning you can use it virtually anywhere you need, although it could be more powerful. ★★★★
The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Power Cleaner is ideal for light to moderate cleaning on the go. It works with any freshwater supply—a hose, a bucket of water, a bottle for when you’re out and about, or even a lake. The battery life is long and easy to assemble, use, and store.
Features: This battery-powered pressure washer uses any water source, making it the most portable pressure washer you can get. We found that you can use it with a bucket of water if needed, and the battery will keep going for far longer than you might expect, at a good half an hour on a job.
Power: With a maximum of 22 bar pressure, this isn't the most powerful pressure washer by a long shot. But for jobs like washing the car, fences, bikes, and light patio cleaning, it will be more effective than a standard hose by a long shot.
Efficiency: This is the most portable pressure washer you can get, all built into the handle. That does mean it can feel heavy after a while, making it less comfortable than some to use. But with a long 70-inch nozzle, it does let you clean the ground level without bending over, so your back won't suffer.
Value for money: This is a unique offering and, as such, has a relatively impressive price point, which gets you a lot. That includes a very decent two-year warranty for peace of mind.
Read more: Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Power Cleaner review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
| Features | Basic but helpful | ★★★ |
| Power | Not a great deal | ★★★ |
| Efficiency | Super portable | ★★★★ |
| Value | Good for uniqueness | ★★★★ |
How we tested the best pressure washers
How we test pressure washers
To evaluate how easy a pressure washer is to use, we considered the following:
Pressure wand and hose: The most impressive pressure washers have built-in wand storage and comfortable handles, making it easy to swap nozzles and store hoses.
Portability: Although a pressure washer's weight affects portability, portable pressure washers need high-quality wheels like those on the RYOBI RY14122, Craftsman CM1800, and Sun Joe SPX3000.
Battery-powered units, like the WORX Hydroshot WG629, which we chose as the most portable unit in our comparison, can provide extra portability far from the nearest power outlet.
Assembly: Generally speaking, units come mostly assembled, snap together without tools, and can be used within minutes of opening the box. One pressure washer, the Craftsman CM1800, came fully assembled in the box. Although some units, such as the Sun Joe SPX3000, require more work to assemble, the process takes 30 minutes or less.
Power cord: Except for the battery-powered WORX Hydroshot WG629, every pressure washer we tested comes with a 35-foot power cord, which can be tedious to store if the machine doesn't have hooks to secure it. We paid attention to this and scored accordingly.
We ran each machine and placed a decibel meter one foot away to measure its loudness. The quietest pressure washer we tested was the WORX Hydroshot WG629 at 79 dB. Two units tied for the loudest at 91 dB, the Greenworks GPW1501 and the Harbor Freight Portland 63254. Regardless of the machine, these results suggest using hearing protection every time you run a pressure washer.
How to choose the best pressure washer
Pressure washer safety
Before buying a pressure washer, you should know it can cause serious injuries if used improperly. For this reason, you shouldn't use the machine until you read the manual and are using proper safety equipment. Anderson says that Mi-T-M asks users to "follow all safety instructions on decals located on the washer and always wear safety goggles and closed-toe shoes to protect yourself from the possibility of direct spray." Regardless of safety equipment, keep the spray away from people and animals.
With electric pressure washers, check your power cord has a working ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) by hitting the "test" button before every use. While a GFCI can help prevent electrocution, you should keep water away from electrical cords and outlets as much as possible. Lastly, always turn the machine off and pull the trigger a few times to release any remaining pressure when you're not actively using it when switching nozzles or performing maintenance.
Pressure and flow rate of pressure washers
When buying a pressure washer, pay attention to the pressure rating, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI,) and the water flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM.) In fact, you can get a quick idea of the cleaning power by multiplying PSI and GPM together to get what pressure washer manufacturers call cleaning units (CU.) While higher pressure and flow rate lead to more cleaning power, Anderson says, "In most cases, a 2,000 PSI pressure washer will be sufficient for most homeowner cleaning tasks."
Likewise, our testing revealed that pressure washers with ratings as low as 1,500 PSI are good for most homeowners, though they can take longer to match the results of more powerful units. As such, you can use most electric pressure washers to clean cars, wood decks, plastic patio furniture, and concrete.
