Revamping your home’s exterior is just as important as tidying up the inside. It boosts the curb appeal of your home tremendously. If you want to improve the appearance of your fencing, driveway or doorsteps, a pressure washer can help. Pressure washers are power tools that scrub away years worth of dirt and grime off outdoor surfaces like concrete or cobblestone, by pressurizing water from a hose using electric motors or gas engines.
Pressure washers offer many benefits, such as “faster cleaning and keeping your property looking fresh,” says George Schultz, a merchant at The Home Depot. To find the best pressure washers to buy, we spoke with Schultz and other home cleaning experts for their guidance and recommendations.
Any inclusion of products by The Home Depot in this story were made independently of Schultz, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Schultz for product recommendations.
SKIP AHEAD What’s the benefit of a pressure washer? | How we picked the best pressure washers | The best pressure washers in 2024 | How to shop for a pressure washer | Why trust NBC Select?
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What’s the benefit of a pressure washer?
A pressure washer’s specific features can determine its strength and reliability when cleaning different types of outdoor surfaces. Depending on the pressure washer’s adjustability, you can clean several spots: fences, decks, cars, windows, boats, patio furniture and more.
How we picked the best pressure washers
When shopping for a pressure washer, experts recommend considering the following features:
- Type: Pressure washers are typically either electric or gas-powered. Our experts recommend using electric pressure washers for most home cleanings or renovations, such as cleaning a patio, car, driveway or sidewalk, especially if you haven’t used the appliance before. “The most versatile pressure washers are the corded electric pressure washers ranging from 1,800 PSI all the way up to 3,000 PSI,” says Schultz. While gas pressure washers are somewhat more thorough than electric, they’re more commonly used by professionals.
- Pounds per square inch (PSI): Used to measure the water pressure and a water stream’s ability to strip away debris, the PSI varies by type of pressure washer. The higher a pressure washer’s PSI, the more powerful the water pressure is, according to Schultz. There are three levels of pressure washer PSI: light-, medium- and heavy-duty pressure washers, with light-duty starting around 1,300 PSI and heavy duty going as high as 3,000 PSI. Medium-duty would fall in the middle of this range.
- Gallons per minute (GPM): This refers to the water flow from the machine’s unit to the nozzle and has to do with the rinsing power that washes dirt away. The higher the GPM, the faster the pressure washer will rinse away debris. “The higher the flow, the more efficient a pressure washer is resulting in faster cleaning,” says Schultz.
- Nozzle size: The size of the nozzle attached to the wand determines the pressure and spread of the water. You can buy nozzles individually, which range in size and are usually labeled as a degree. The narrower the nozzle and smaller the degree, the more powerful the water stream, according to the United States General Services Administration (GSA). And while a wider nozzle uses less pressure, the spread is wider, which can make the job faster if the stains aren’t too tough. For cleaning masonry material, such as brick or stone walls, the GSA recommends using a nozzle that is between 15 and 40 degrees, but no lower, as it could cause damage.
- Adjustable wands: This accessory lets you adjust the spray width or the water pressure of your machine without changing the nozzle each time.
- Portability: Electric pressure washers typically weigh between 15 and more than 60 pounds, while many gas-powered pressure washers weigh well over 100 pounds, so wheels will make transporting the machine onto cars and boats easier.
- Detergent tanks: Pressure washers can feature an on-board detergent tank, which holds a cleaning solution that’s pressurized with the water and released through the spray gun with the touch of a switch. If the pressure washer doesn’t come with a detergent tank, you can use a siphoning hose to mix the detergent in with the water.
Best pressure washers in 2024
All of the pressure washers below are either direct recommendations from our experts or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon or at least 100 reviews on their brand sites.
Best electric pressure washers:
RYOBI High Performance Electric Pressure Washer
- Powerful
- Portable
- Heavy
This electric pressure washer from Ryobi, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 6,368 reviews at Home Depot, is a medium-duty machine with a built-in detergent tank for powerful and routine cleaning. It includes a brushless induction motor, which is typically quieter and lasts longer than the universal motors on pressure washers. However, it does weigh 49 pounds, making it heavier than other typical electric pressure washers. If you do hope to move it around, its large wheels and 25-foot high-pressure hose make it easy to transport to different areas of your outdoor space. Ryobi also offers a 3-year limited warranty to repair and replace damaged parts.
GPM: 1.2 | Nozzles: 3 | Detergent tank? yes | Adjustable wands? Yes
Ryobi 1,800 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Nothing to note at this time
This one from Ryobi is a more affordable option — priced at under $100 — and it’s also lightweight, weighing a little over 16 pounds. The handle at the top of the machine makes it a portable option for using inside a car or a boat. With a 4.3-star average rating from 847 reviews at Home Depot, it includes three nozzles: a 15-degree nozzle, a soap nozzle and a one-fourth-inch turbo nozzle that, according to the brand, makes cleaning up to 50 percent faster.
GPM: 1.2 | Nozzles: 3 | Detergent tank? No, detergent injection | Adjustable wands? Yes
Sun Joe Electric 2030 PSI High Pressure Washer
- Portable
- Powerful
- Nothing to note at this time
With a 4.5-star average rating from more than 29,000 reviews on Amazon, this bestselling machine from Sun Joe is both portable and powerful. It includes two removable on-board detergent tanks that hold 0.9 liters of cleaning solution, a 34-inch wand and a 20-foot-long high-pressure hose. This pressure washer also features a Total Stop System designed by the brand to automatically shut off the pump when the trigger isn’t being held to both save energy and help the pump last longer.
GPM: 1.2 | Nozzles: 4 | Detergent tank? yes | Adjustable wands? Yes
Best gas pressure washers:
Simpson PowerShot Professional 4,400 PSI Pressure Washer
- Powerful
- Pricey
This heavy-duty Simpson power washer, which has a 4.4-star average rating from 438 reviews at Home Depot, is a powerful and durable option for professional use, with a steel frame. It includes a flexible 50-foot-long hose and a 31-inch spray wand for tackling hard-to-reach places, and it comes with five different nozzles, from a zero-degree nozzle to a gentle soap nozzle. Simpson’s manufacturer warranty includes a five-year pump warranty, a three-year Simpson engine warranty and a 90-day accessory warranty.
GPM: 4.0 | Nozzles: 4 | Detergent tank? yes | Adjustable wands? Yes
Dewalt 4,000 PSI Gas Pressure Washer
- Powerful
- Pricey
Designed for professional use, the Dewalt gas-powered pressure washer features 13-inch premium tires that can withstand frequent use on difficult terrain and a tough steel frame that resists corrosion. According to the brand, its flexible 50-foot steel-braided hose resists abrasion three times more than rubber. The Dewalt pressure washer, which has a 4.3-star average rating from 1,043 reviews at Home Depot, also includes an adjustable unloader, which sends pressurized water flow through the bypass and fine-tunes the pressure of the machine to accommodate certain jobs.
GPM: 3.5 | Nozzles: 5 | Detergent tank? No, detergent injection | Adjustable wands? Yes
Westinghouse Epx 3500 2,500 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
- Powerful
- Good on patio furniture
- Affordable
- Nothing to note at this time
This pressure washer, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 8,192 reviews on Amazon, is ideal for cleaning multiple areas of your front lawn, including the driveway and walkways. It stands upright and has wheels on the bottom, making it easy to maneuver around your front lawn as you clean. Plus, it has an extendable wand so you can clean areas that are elevated or on the ground, without having to crouch down. It’s also safe to use on your fence, car and patio furniture, according to the brand.
GPM: 1.76 | Nozzles: 5 | Detergent tank? Yes | Adjustable wands? Yes
Types of pressure washers
Pressure washers come in either electric or gas options. Electric pressure washers are best for everyday home cleaning, while gas pressure washers are best for industrial jobs.
- Electric pressure washers use an electric motor or pump to boost the water pressure from your garden hose. According to Angie Hicks, the founder of home services company Angi, electric pressure washers are less noisy than gas ones, and they’re less likely to accidentally cause damage to different surfaces around the home, since they don’t have as much power.
- Gas pressure washers are commonly used by professional pressure washing services. They are often more expensive, heavier, noisier and bulkier than electric pressure washers. They’re also more powerful than electric machines, making them a more efficient option for large surfaces with tough stains and dirt like decks, concrete and siding, and they don’t require a power outlet.
How to shop for a pressure washer
There are many factors to prioritize when shopping for a pressure washer. Here are a few things to consider before purchasing and using the appliance:
Safety
While pressure washers have several uses, they can be extremely dangerous if used improperly. It’s important to make sure you’re wearing the right accessories when using a pressure washer and reading the user manual carefully. This means, using the machine responsibly and not pointing and using it on the body or skin.
Hire a professional to help
For initial pressure washing, consider hiring a professional pressure washer to learn more about using the appliance properly and to avoid accidentally damaging areas of your home. They can also provide tips for making sure it runs smoothly in the future.
Test a small area first
You should also test the pressure washer on a small area outside. This will prevent you from damaging something by accident but also let you test out the pressure of the water before you actually start using it.
UPDATE (April 9, 2021, 12:30 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article included the Greenworks 1500 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. After the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced April 9 that the same pressure washer had been recalled due to safety concerns, mention of it has been removed from the article.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- George Schultz is a merchant at The Home Depot.
- Angie Hicks is the founder of home services company Angi.
Why trust NBC Select?
- Mili Godio is the associate updates editor at NBC Select, where she covers topics such as home, cleaning and skincare. She spoke with multiple cleaning experts for this story.
- Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he covers cleaning, home and kitchen. He updated this article.
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