The 9 Best Pressure Washers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer

$76 At Amazon $149 At Walmart View On Quill.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

The best overall pressure washer we tested is the Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer, which delivers 2,030 psi at 1.76 gpm. This affordable unit is equipped with dual detergent tanks and five quick-connect spray tips to help you tackle all sorts of cleaning tasks. We used this model to clean a wooden fence, a concrete walkway, and a car.

We appreciated not just the fact that the Sun Joe was relatively quiet for a pressure washer but also its supreme effectiveness. Its different nozzles allow for more or less pressure, depending on the surface being cleaned, making it easy to hit the perfect power for each specific job. After using this washer on our fence and walkway, we noticed a big improvement in their appearance.

The Sun Joe Pressure Washer features a 20-foot high-pressure hose, a garden hose adapter, a 34-inch extension wand, and a 35-foot power cord. It took us around 15 minutes to assemble the pressure washer, and while the task seemed daunting at first, the instruction manual simplified the procedure. Once put together, the pressure washer was very easy to use and maneuvered well on its oversized wheels, even across grass or uneven ground.

This versatile pressure washer can be used for a variety of easy and tough tasks all around the exterior of your home, including cleaning cars and other vehicles, sidewalks and driveways, decks and fences, patio furniture, garden tools, and backyard playsets. You can store two different types of detergent in the dual chambers, switching between them with the selection dial. That's an especially handy feature when washing a car.

Although this is a somewhat compact pressure washer, we were pleasantly surprised with its power and cleaning ability, which are comparable to those of higher-priced machines. Thanks to the long length of the power cord and hose, we never felt restricted. The Sun Joe is small but mighty, and it’s perfect for the average homeowner.

How It Performed Long-Term

After testing the Sun Joe SPX3000-MAX for three months, we've found that it is still worthy of our top spot, standing out for its ease of use and powerful yet compact design. It continues to come in handy, especially for keeping our house, car, and deck in tip-top shape. Although we wish it came with an attachment to clean large areas of concrete and wood flooring, we appreciate the attachments it does have, including those for suds and pressure changes.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 2,030 psi | GPM: 1.76 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 24.3 pounds}

Best Budget

Black+Decker 1850-PSI Electric Pressure Washer

$137 At Amazon $149 At Home Depot View On Cpooutlets.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

If you need a lightweight, fairly quiet pressure washer for washing your car, cleaning patio furniture, hosing down sidings and walkways, and similar common tasks, then you'll find that the BLACK+DECKER 1850-PSI Pressure Washer is more than up to the job. While testing, this reasonably priced pressure washer required only 10 minutes to assemble the tool before we began using it to wash a car, wooden fence, and deck.

With 1,850 psi and 1.2 gpm, this isn’t the most powerful pressure washer available, but it’s a fine choice for light-to-medium cleaning projects around the yard and garage. We weren't sure how powerful the device would be, but we were impressed once we started. It quickly removed all manner of grunge and grime from the fence and deck, and the cord was long enough for easy maneuvering.

We also found that it did a great job washing the car, efficiently blasting away dirt and bugs. The soap dispenser made the job even easier, and the car was shining by the time the test ended. As a bonus, we found this pressure washer to be quieter than most similar models.

The pressure washer has a 25-foot high-pressure hose, a 35-foot power cable, an onboard detergent tank, and includes three nozzles. We appreciated the light weight of this washer—it only weighs 22 pounds (the lightest on our list)—but the telescoping handle and large wheels make it extra portable. Best of all, when you are finished cleaning, this compact pressure washer has onboard storage for the nozzles, hose, and cord, and its shape and size make it easy to store; something that can’t be said about many similar pressure washers.

How It Performed Long-Term

After testing this pressure washer for four months, we have no complaints to report. We are still raving about its compact size and powerful performance, and we continue to find it really easy to store and carry anywhere. Plus, we love that it's not too loud, especially compared to the gas models we tested. We think it's an excellent value as well and have noticed no changes in its appearance or performance over time.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 1,850 psi | GPM: 1.2 | Included Nozzles: Three | Weight: 22 pounds}

Best Electric

Greenworks 3000-PSI Brushless Electric Pressure Washer

$380 At Amazon $450 At Walmart $349 At Lowe's

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5

Our top choice for best electric pressure washer is the Greenworks Pro 3,000-PSI Brushless Pressure Washer because it is powerful, intuitive, and has great features. This electric tool has a 14-amp brushless motor that propels water at 1.1 to 2 gpm on 3,000 psi. Its onboard detergent tank holds 1 gallon of soap. Even though it is not cordless, the cord is nice and long at 35 feet, which came in handy for our driveway cleaning project.

We also like that the machine's cord storage swivels so we could remove the cord more easily (similar to a vacuum). All five of the nozzles can be stored on a panel on the handle, and they're neatly labeled on the panel with the degree of angle of the tip. The nozzles were easy to switch out, and there was no leakage or spraying when taking them on and off.

No slouch when it comes to performance. This is a great choice for cleaning decks or wooden fences. We cleaned a back section of a wooden deck that was dark from three years' worth of dirt and grime, and within just 18 minutes, we were able to get it looking much nicer. The turbo nozzle, in particular, really dazzled us: The grime started washing away immediately.

It's worth noting, however, that we started with one of the high-power nozzles and noticed that it was actually damaging the wood. However, once we switched to a lower-powered nozzle, we had no further problems. This was more user error than the machine's fault, but it's worth noting that this is a powerful machine that can damage surfaces if you're not careful. Still, that can be true of any pressure washer.

Overall, while it costs more than many other electric pressure washers, this one can’t be beaten for performance. It's as close as you are likely to get to a gas-like performance from an electric pressure washer, and it's reasonably quiet as well.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 3,000 psi | GPM: 1.1 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 47 pounds}

Best Gas

Simpson Cold Water Pressure Washer

$837 At Amazon View On Webstaurantstore.com View On Mscdirect.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Noise Level
  3/5

Gas pressure washers are typically considerably more powerful than electric models. And if you’re looking for a top-rated gas model that packs a mean punch, after testing the Simpson PowerShot Pro Gas Pressure Washer, we think this is the best choice. We used it to clean a stained concrete driveway, truck, and car. Within minutes, this beast of a machine got rid of stains that had been on the driveway for years. We didn't even have to use the most powerful setting to remove the stains.

This heavy-duty pressure washer delivers 4,400 psi (the highest on our list, along with our best for concrete) at 4 gpm to tackle even the toughest jobs. This unit gets its power from a 420 cc engine, and it’s made from solid steel for durability. The washer’s kink- and abrasion-resistant hose is 50 feet long, and the 13-inch tires make it easy to steer across various terrains, including pavement or grass.

The PowerShot Pressure Washer comes with five quick-connect nozzle tips that can be used for all sorts of applications, such as wood restoration and graffiti removal. It’s a fairly large tool, so you’ll need room to store it in between uses. And, of course, you’ll need to have access to gasoline to fill its fuel tank periodically. 

It took us around 30 minutes to unpack the machine and prepare it for use. We found it a bit tricky to assemble the handles, but once everything was in place, the pressure washer was intuitive and easy to use. However, like many gas-powered tools, it took several pulls of the starter before the pressure washer roared to life, and it did indeed roar. This machine is loud enough that you might want ear protection to use it.

We were admittedly a bit intimidated by this gas unit at first, but once we discovered how powerful and effective it was, we were nothing but impressed. While expensive, this pressure washer gets out even the toughest stains and grunges quickly and easily.

How It Performed Long-Term

After five months of testing, we believe that if you're looking for a strong gas pressure washer, this should be your first choice. It can tackle even the toughest stains quickly and easily and stands up well over time, and many uses. We are impressed by how well it cleaned a car and removed water stains on surfaces from garden planters.

We do want to note that this is not the best option for everyone—this is a loud product, and we wish it was easier to start (it almost requires two people to get it going). It also takes up quite a bit of space so it isn't the best option if you have limited storage space. In that case, we recommend choosing a lighter, smaller model. However, if you have the space and the need for a powerful pressure washer, this is a great choice.

_{Power Source: Gas | Pressure: 4,400 psi | GPM: 4.0 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 135 pounds}

Best for Cars

Karcher K5 Premium Electric Power Pressure Washer

$209 At Amazon $209 At Walmart $255 At Lowe's

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Want to wash your car without scrubbing it by hand? A pressure washer like the Karcher K5 will get the job done in no time. We used it to wash a riding lawnmower (it took us about 10 minutes), as well as to clean iron porch railings and rain gutters. While this pressure washer is ideal for cleaning vehicles, that’s certainly not its only function. In fact, we were impressed by how big of a cleaning punch this pressure washer has; it blasted away dirt and grime almost instantly. 

The Karcher K5 has up to 40 times as much pressure as a garden hose, and it includes two wands: the Vario for everyday cleaning and the DirtBlaster for tough jobs. This electric power washer delivers up to 2,000 psi at 1.4 gpm, and it has an onboard detergent tank for easy soap application.

The Karcher K5 has a water-cooled induction motor—a system that can help the motor last five times longer, and it comes with a 25-foot high-pressure hose and a 35-foot power cord. At 32 pounds, it’s reasonably lightweight and rolls easily on its two large wheels. We found it very easy to use the machine, thanks to the flexible hose, good cord length, and easily adjusted settings. It was also very simple to switch between nozzles.

Overall, we were impressed by how much power this little machine packs. It easily handled all of our cleaning tasks quickly and efficiently. We even found it fun to use.

How It Performed Long-Term

After testing the Karcher K5 for over four months, we haven't noticed any changes in its look or performance. We continue to appreciate how powerful it is for such a lightweight, easily maneuverable, and quiet pressure washer. We are curious how the plastic parts will hold up over time, but we have no problems to report so far.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 2,000 psi | GPM: 1.4 | Included Nozzles: Two | Weight: 32 pounds}

Best for Patios and Decks

Greenworks 2000-PSI Electric Pressure Washer

$186 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

After our testing, we think the Greenworks 2,000-PSI Pressure Washer is a great choice for just about any light-to-medium cleaning task around your home. Thanks to the included 11-inch rotating surface cleaner, it's even more helpful when you have a large stretch of flat surface to clean. We put this device to the test on three such surfaces: house siding, a driveway, and a fence.

We also used it to clean a car with excellent results in just 20 minutes. We started by cleaning the car's wheel wells and body using the 40-degree spray nozzle, which effectively removed soap and grime. Next, we used the 25-degree nozzle to swiftly remove stubborn stains and dried bugs from the car's body. 

Along with the ease of use and maneuverability of the pressure washer, it was its effectiveness that most impressed us. It easily and quickly handled all of the messes we tested it on, blasting away dirt, bird droppings, tree sap marks, mud, and general grunge with minimal effort. Everything looked better at the end of our tests; the fence practically looked brand new. We especially liked the surface cleaner, which quickly blasted an old rust stain off the driveway.

At 2,000 psi, the pressure washer delivers 1.1 gpm. Along with the 11-inch surface cleaner, it comes with three nozzles, a cleaning wand, a 20-foot heavy-duty hose, and a 35-foot power cord. Onboard storage makes it easy to keep everything in place, and the machine itself is fairly easy to set up and use. It took us only 24 minutes to open the box and have the machine ready to go.

Just note that the instructions weren't as clear as we'd hoped, and there were no specific instructions on how to use the soap dispenser, but we were able to figure it out pretty quickly. It’s reasonably quiet, as well, and we were able to talk over it with no problem.

Overall, we think this reasonably priced pressure washer is a great choice for any homeowner who likes to keep a patio, fence, deck, siding, or other large area clean. It has enough pressure to handle just about any kind of mess and uses water efficiently.

How It Performed Long-Term

The Greenworks 2000-PSI Electric Pressure Washer continues to impress us with its powerful water pressure and features—it's held up great during this time and still works like new. We also appreciate how the settings make it easy to transition between tasks.

If we could change anything, we wish that the soap-pick up line (detergent tank) was built into the unit and self-contained so it was easier to move the unit when using soap. But that aside, at this price point, we think it's an excellent choice for many different types of tasks, especially for cleaning flat surfaces.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 2,000 psi | GPM: 1.1 | Included Nozzles: Three | Weight: 35 pounds}

Best for First-Time Users

Sun Joe 2030-PSI Electric Pressure Washer With Hose Reel

$306 At Amazon $179 At Lowe's View On Snowjoe.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Pressure washers can be a bit intimidating to first-time users: They tend to be loud, large, and equipped with various nozzles and hoses that might be overwhelming if you’ve never used such a machine before. However, the Sun Joe SPX3001 is very user-friendly, compact in size, not exceptionally loud, and reasonably powered, making it an ideal choice if you are shopping for your first pressure washer. It took us only 13 minutes to have the machine up and running, and once it was ready, we used it to clean a car, a concrete driveway, and old stone pillars that were encrusted with mildew, dirt, and algae.

The pressure washer was fairly effective at its highest pressure, though some stains, like dried-on paint and oil stains on the driveway, were too tough to remove. Additionally, it did take a few passes to remove heavy mildew. However, it effectively removed lighter mildew and algae growth from a wide range of surfaces without much effort. We felt the pressure washer was easy to use, observing that the nozzles were very simple to change, the washer was light enough to move without effort, the trigger required little pressure to squeeze, and the overall performance was smooth and reasonably powerful.

The Sun Joe SPX3001 delivers 2,030 psi and 1.76 gpm, making it a good choice for light-to-medium cleaning tasks. Its compact design, along with two sturdy wheels, makes it fairly easy to maneuver. One nice feature of this pressure washer is the built-in hose reel, which makes storing the 20-foot high-pressure hose a breeze. You get five nozzles for various cleaning pressures, a 34-inch extension wand, and 35-foot power cord.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 2,030 psi | GPM: 1.76 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 38 pounds}

Best for Around the Home

Greenworks Pro Electric Pressure Washer

$363 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

The best pressure washer for use around your home has enough power and gallons per minute to blast away grime from walkways, cars, siding, and patio furniture but not so much power that it damages surfaces. It should also be easy to use and store. Luckily, the Greenworks Pro 2300-PSI Pressure Washer fits the bill. While testing, it took us only 10 minutes to set the machine up and get it running.

We then used it to wash a car and a stained concrete driveway, both with great results. While powerful, the device washed the car beautifully without any damage, knocking off bugs at the first spray and leaving the car clean and shiny with the second pass. A discolored spot on the driveway came clean immediately after we put the sprayer close enough to the cement.

The Pro 2300-PSI has a brushless motor that delivers 1.2 gpm on the 2,300-psi setting but can deliver as much as 2.3 gpm on a low setting of 100 psi. That, along with the five included nozzles, gives you maximum versatility to tailor your cleaning to the surface being washed. Go lower pressure on patio furniture, cars, and siding, and turn up the pressure for tough stains on pavement and concrete. 

Along with the nozzles, the pressure washer comes with a 25-foot kink-resistant hose, 35-foot power cord, wand, and onboard detergent tank. It’s easy to use; we especially appreciated the startup procedures indicated right on the machine, as well as its maneuverability, compact size, and easy-to-attach-and-detach nozzles. On the downside, the hoses tended to get tangled during use. However, that can be an issue with any electric pressure washer. The noise level was average, as well—although it seems loud, it's about the same as many others we tested.

_{Power Source: Electric | Pressure: 2,300 psi | GPM: 1.2 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 41.1 pounds}

Best for Concrete

DEWALT Gas Pressure Washer Powered by Honda

$1,379 At Home Depot $1,330 At pressurewashersdirect.com

If you need a commercial-level machine for removing graffiti, washing stained concrete, or other heavy-duty tasks, then you need a model like the DEWALT 4,400-PSI Gas Pressure Washer. We tried the machine on house siding, a concrete patio, and plastic patio furniture. All came clean almost immediately.

This tough piece of machinery is designed for professionals. With the help of its premium Honda GX390 engine, it can blast away dirt, grime, mold, paint, and more with ease. With this kind of power, few common around-the-house messes can withstand the pressure, but this might be more pressure washer than the average user requires.

It took us around 30 minutes to assemble and prepare the pressure washer for use, and we felt the process was somewhat complicated, with online videos for assembly and for adding oil to be more helpful than the written instructions included with the machine. Once assembled, however, we noted that it was fairly easy to maneuver the pressure washer to where it was needed, the hose was very sturdy, and it was easy to swap out the attachments. Like all pressure washers, and especially gas models, the noise was significant but not worse than any other gas pressure washer.

This DEWALT Pressure Washer delivers 4,400 psi at 4 gpm. And it boasts a durable, 50-foot, steel-braided hose that’s more abrasion-resistant than rubber hoses. It has a AAA industrial triplex plunger pump that drives pressure to the nozzle, and it’s easy to direct the ergonomic spray gun and switch out the five quick-connect nozzle tips. At 140 pounds, this pressure washer is the heaviest on our list. Luckily, the wheels make it easy to move the unit from one spot to another.

How It Performed Long-Term

This power washer continues to stand out for its powerful performance, especially for tough jobs like cleaning a cement patio. We found it also came in handy for cleaning off outdoor furniture before putting it into storage and cleaning around the house. While it's not an everyday item, we think this power washer is an excellent one to have on hand and is worth the splurge if you have the space and need for it.

_{Power Source: Gas | Pressure: 4,400 psi | GPM: 4.0 | Included Nozzles: Five | Weight: 140 pounds}