The 9 Best Pressure Washers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Ryobi 1900 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $185 $130 at Amazon $149 at Home Depot

The best overall pressure washer we tested is the Ryobi 1900 PSI 1.2 GPM Cold Water Wheeled Corded Electric Pressure Washer. During testing, this pressure washer impressed us with its ability to wash away all types of stains and grime from common surfaces around the home.

We started our tests by washing a concrete porch that hadn't been cleaned in years and had a hearty algae buildup, pollen stains, and general grime. We were amazed at how quickly and easily the concrete came clean using the high-power spray tip and an all-purpose pressure washer soap. 

Next, we turned to a set of dirty metal stair railings. We started with the same high-power spray tip but quickly realized it was using too much pressure and was actually removing the paint. Once we swapped the tip for a lower-power option, though, we had no further problems, and the railings were shiny-clean in just 10 minutes. Finally, we turned to stucco siding. Using the low-power spray tip and the all-purpose soap, we removed layers of dust and grime within 10 minutes to reveal the clean surface beneath.

This compact pressure washer is easy to wheel around, has a telescoping handle for comfortable maneuvering, and doesn't take up a lot of storage space. We love its onboard detergent tank and how nicely it's designed to store the 25-foot hose, spray wand, three spray nozzles (turbo, soap, and 15-degree), and 35-foot power cord right on the top and sides of the machine.

Compared to many other pressure washers, this unit is very quiet and starts right up at the press of a button. Swapping out the nozzles was very easy, and overall, it was a pretty straightforward unit to use. Additionally, the product is very reasonably priced, which further cements its position at the top of our recommendations for anyone who wants a pressure washer at home to take on common tasks.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 1,900 psi | Max. GPM: 1.2 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Three | Weight: 21 pounds | Hose Length: 35 feet}

Best Budget

Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $199 $169 at Amazon $199 at Walmart $199 at Lowe's

Pressure washers can be expensive, but we found the reasonably priced Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer to be a great option for anyone looking to keep costs down yet still get a pressure washer with enough power to carry out common around-the-property cleaning tasks. We tested the pressure washer on a wooden fence, a car, and a concrete walkway. In each case, it did a very good job of removing dirt, bird droppings, stains, decomposing yard waste, and other unpleasant grunge, and we experienced no damage to nearby surfaces. 

This compact, lightweight model even has a feature we didn't find on any of our other tested units; instead of just one onboard soap tank (some pressure washers don't even have one), this one has dual tanks, so you can have two different types of soap available for specialized cleaning tasks like washing cars, patio furniture, or windows.

The two large wheels and upright design made this pressure washer very easy to maneuver; we rolled it over grass and uneven ground with no difficulty or tipping. It comes with a 20-foot hose and 35-foot power cord, which gave us plenty of room to move about during our cleaning sessions. While we did find it a bit tricky to initially assemble, it was very easy to operate once it was up and running, and we appreciated its relatively quiet performance.

The pressure is not adjustable, but by choosing the appropriate tip out of the five included—0 degrees, 15 degrees, 25 degrees, 40 degrees, and soap—as well as adjusting the distance you stand from whatever you are cleaning, you can tailor the pressure to the surface being washed. Once you are done, the onboard storage for the nozzles and cord, as well as the compact design, make this pressure washer easy to store until the next time you need it.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 2,030 psi | Max. GPM: 1.2 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Five | Weight: 24 pounds | Hose Length: 20 feet}

Best Gas

Simpson CM61083 Clean Machine 3400 PSI Gas Pressure Washer

Orig. $400 $341 at Amazon Orig. $379 $359 at Home Depot Orig. $380 $359 at Lowe's

Gas pressure washers are generally far more powerful than electric types. If you’re looking for a top-rated gas model that packs a mean punch, the Simpson Gas Pressure Washer is the best choice we tested. We started our testing session with a concrete patio that had accumulated a lot of pollen and dust, but removing that was no match for a powerful machine like this one. 

Next, we turned to a very dirty and stained concrete driveway. It took us only 20 minutes to restore the entire driveway to its former glory using just water and the high-pressure nozzle. Finally, we used the siphon tube to draw soap from its container—there is no onboard soap dispenser on this pressure washer—and blasted the side of the house free from mold, dirt, and general grime. Throughout our tests, the pressure washer maintained a steady high pressure, yet it never damaged any surfaces, such as paint or coatings.

Another feature that scored this pressure washer high marks is the maintenance-free pump, meaning you'll never have to add or change oil to the pump, as you do with many other gas pressure washers. You do still need to carry out periodic oil changes on the engine, however, and of course you'll need to occasionally top off the tank with unleaded gasoline.

Unlike many other gas pressure washers we tested, we found this one to be very straightforward to assemble and get up and running. It took us only 10 minutes to get it out of the box and ready to go. To our great pleasure, that user-friendliness continued throughout our tests, as it was very easy to adjust settings and swap out the four hose nozzles, which include a 0-degree, 15-degree, 40-degree, and soap nozzle.

^{Power Source: Gas | Max. Pressure: 3,400 psi | Max. GPM: 2.5 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Four | Weight: 63 pounds | Hose Length: 25 feet}

Best Electric

Greenworks 3000-PSI Brushless Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $450 $350 at Amazon Orig. $450 $438 at Walmart $419 at Lowe's

For those who prefer not to handle the heaviness and upkeep associated with a gas-pressure washer, we recommend this electric model from Greenworks. For one of our testing sessions, we used this pressure washer to tackle a wooden deck that hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned in three years; we’re talking thick dirt, grime, and fallen leaves and garden debris. Less than 20 minutes later, our deck looked great—we were highly impressed with how quickly and easily this pressure washer blasted away the grunge.

However, it’s worth noting that we first used the highest-pressure nozzle, which was so powerful that it actually slightly damaged the wood. Once we switched to a lower-pressure nozzle, it was all smooth sailing. Electric pressure washers like this one are ideal for the typical around-the-house cleaning projects undertaken by the average DIYer, such as hosing down a grungy driveway, cleaning outdoor furniture, or even getting the exterior of your home ready to paint.

We also tested the pressure washer on our driveway. We liked the 35-foot power cord and 25-foot water hose, which together gave us plenty of room to maneuver. This pressure washer comes with five nozzles—soap dispensing, 15-degree, 25-degree, 40-degree, and turbo. While all of them performed well, we found that the extra cleaning power of the turbo nozzle made the biggest difference in removing grunge and stains from the pavement.

There’s an onboard soap tank, which comes in handy for projects like washing cars or boats. With a maximum of 3,000 psi of water pressure at a top flow of 2.0 gpm, this is a powerful tool that’s able to handle even tough cleaning projects around your property or business. Thanks to its two back wheels, it's also easy to move around, and once you finish cleaning, it stores vertically for less foot space.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 3,000 psi | Max. GPM: 2.0 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Five | Weight: 53 pounds | Hose Length: 25 feet}

Best Portable

DEWALT 2100 PSI Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $350 $287 at Amazon $299 at Home Depot View on Acmetools.com

We chose the DEWALT Electric Pressure Washer as our best compact pressure washer for two reasons: the small wheels make it easy to move around, and at only 24 pounds (the second lightest on our list), we could quickly pick it up and carry it to where we intended to use it. For our first testing session, we cleaned a concrete patio that hadn't been washed in several years. The pressure washer did an excellent job of removing all grunge and stains, even without using soap. 

We also washed an SUV that had a heavy layer of pollen and dust. This time, we added soap to the onboard dispenser and switched to a lower-power nozzle. In just 20 minutes, we had a clean and shiny car. Finally, we used the pressure washer to clean off the stucco siding of a house, and again, we were very impressed with how easily the machine blasted away all manner of grunge. 

Switching nozzles when necessary was easy: Simply pause the water flow, remove the current nozzle, and replace it with the preferred one. The pressure washer includes four nozzles: turbo, soap, 15 degrees, and 40 degrees. Plus, with a 25-foot hose and 35-foot power cord, it allows plenty of room to maneuver. Even better, assembling the device took us just 5 minutes, and we found it very easy to operate.

Our only issue with the pressure washer during multiple uses was that four separate times during three hours of testing, the pressure weakened while using the turbo nozzle. However, it soon returned to its previous level, and we didn't find the performance to be much affected.

We do wish that there was an onboard storage spot for the hose; it does have onboard storage for the power cord, nozzles, and wand. But that wasn't a major issue, as overall, this pressure washer is quite easy to store, thanks to its compact design. The telescoping handle and sturdy frame make it very easy to handle when moving it from place to place.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 2,100 psi | Max. GPM: 1.2 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Four | Weight: 24 pounds | Hose Length: 25 feet}

Best for Patios and Decks

Greenworks 2000-PSI Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $220 $186 at Amazon $173 at Walmart $219 at Lowe's

The Greenworks 2000 stood out among the other pressure washers we tested for its 11-inch surface cleaner, making short work of stubborn stains on wide, flat surfaces like driveways, patios, and fences. With the attachment, we were able to blast away all manner of dirt and grime from our driveway, house siding, and wooden fence. By the time we were finished, the fence looked like new, and we had even removed an old, stubborn rust stain from the driveway.

We also used the pressure washer to clean an exceptionally dirty car, and in just 20 minutes, we had a shiny automobile with no more bugs, bird droppings, dust, dirt, or tree sap marring its appearance. However, we do wish that this model had a built-in soap dispenser instead of a small hose to drop into a separate bottle of detergent.

This electric pressure washer has a 35-foot power cord and a 20-foot hose, along with two back wheels and a light but sturdy frame that makes it easy to get the machine wherever you want to clean. At a maximum pressure of 2,000 psi and a top flow rate of 1.1 gpm, it’s not the most powerful pressure washer out there, but it’s more than sufficient for typical cleaning tasks, and we were very impressed with its performance.

On the downside, the included instructions weren’t as clear as we would have liked, especially regarding the use of the soap pick-up hose. Still, it wasn’t too tough to figure out, and we had the machine up and running very quickly. It’s easy to switch the settings when transitioning between projects, and for a pressure washer, it is fairly quiet as well.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 2,000 psi | Max. GPM: 1.1 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Four | Weight: 35 pounds | Hose Length: 20 feet}

Best for Concrete

DEWALT Gas Pressure Washer Powered by Honda

$1,380 at Home Depot View on Maxtool.com $1,330 at Pressurewashersdirect.com

Not every task calls for the power of this commercial-level gas-powered pressure washer from DEWALT, but if you need to blast away graffiti from concrete or brick or clean stains away from concrete driveways or walkways, then you’ll appreciate this beast as much as we did. The maximum pressure is a whopping 4,000 psi with a maximum flow rate of 4.0 gpm (the most on our list), but you can dial the pressure way down when desired.

Along with cleaning a concrete patio and the sidings of a house, we also used the pressure washer to hose down some dirty outdoor furniture. In each case, dirt, grime, and other grunge blasted away almost immediately.

There are five included nozzles—0, 15, 25, and 40 degrees, along with a soap nozzle—and they are easy to swap out as needed. The spray head is comfortable to hold and didn’t wear out our hands. Like all gas pressure washers, this one is loud but not significantly noisier than similar models. We do wish it had an onboard soap dispenser rather than a tube that draws detergent out of the separate container.

We did find it somewhat time-consuming and difficult to assemble the pressure washer initially; we found the online videos to be more helpful than the included written instructions for clarifying how to assemble the machine and add oil. However, once it was all put together, we liked how easy it was to maneuver on its 13-inch pneumatic tires, and with the included 50-foot high-pressure hose, just about anything was within reach.

You’ll need to have a supply of unleaded gasoline on hand to fuel up the pressure washer, along with oil for the engine and the pump. Since this pressure washer has a 4-stroke engine, you won’t need to mix oil with the gas, but you will need to carry out periodic oil changes.

^{Power Source: Gas | Max. Pressure: 4,000 psi | Max. GPM: 4.0 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Five | Weight: 140 pounds | Hose Length: 50 feet}

Best for Cars

Ryobi 2700 PSI 1.1 GPM Electric Pressure Washer

Orig. $525 $462 at Walmart $349 at Home Depot

There's no need to go to the car wash when you have an electric pressure washer as effective as this one from Ryobi. We used it to clean an SUV that hadn't been washed in months and was heavily coated with multiple layers of dust. Thanks to this easy-to-use pressure washer, the entire car, including the wheels and windows, was shining like new in just 20 minutes. 

Unlike many other pressure washers, this one has a 5-in-1 spray nozzle that can be turned to settings of 15 degrees, 25 degrees, 40 degrees, fan soap, or jet soap. (It also comes with a turbo nozzle for high-pressure cleaning.) That made car washing even easier as we adjusted the settings and worked to rinse, soap, and rinse again without swapping out nozzles. We also liked the onboard soap tank, a particularly great feature when washing cars or outdoor furniture.

You can use this pressure washer for more than just cleaning your car. We also used it to clean a very dirty flagstone patio. On the highest pressure setting, grime and debris were soon gone, although we found that it was important not to stay focused on one spot for too long, as otherwise, the pressure was high enough to damage the flagstone. 

We then turned to a cement slab that hadn't been cleaned in a year, but again, it quickly looked nearly as good as new. During all of these tests, we were thrilled with how easy it was to use the pressure washer, but most of all, we loved its hand-cart design, which made it so easy to wheel wherever we wanted it; we even maneuvered it up and down stairs without a struggle.

The hose and the power cord are 35 feet long, so you can reach quite a ways around your property without using an extension cord. Once the cleaning is done, there's onboard storage for all accessories, making it easier and tidier to store the pressure washer.

^{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 2,700 psi | Max. GPM: 1.1 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Two | Weight: 50 pounds | Hose Length: 35 feet}

Best for Beginners

Sun Joe SPX3500 Brushless Induction Electric Pressure Washer

$391 at Amazon $359 at Home Depot $249 at Lowe's

If you've never used a pressure washer before, these machines can be somewhat intimidating. However, we found this electric model from Sun Joe to be fairly easy to assemble and even easier to operate. It has an On/Off button and a dial to adjust the amount of soap dispensed if you use the onboard soap container. We also found it well-designed for maneuvering around the yard; we rolled it over brick, grass, dirt, and wood without any difficulties.

Even a beginner-friendly pressure washer isn't useful without sufficient pressure to clean thoroughly. And we found this machine to be no slouch in the cleaning department. We used it first to wash away winter grunge from a brick patio. We had the patio clean in just 5 minutes using a bit of soap. Next up was the algae-tinged siding of the house. We were thrilled to see dirt and algae disappear with each pass of the water stream. Finally, we turned to a muddy wooden deck. That also came completely clean within minutes. 

To change the pressure, you can swap out the quick-connect nozzles, which include 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 25 degrees, 40 degrees, and soap. We occasionally wished for a pressure-adjustment control other than swapping out nozzles. Still, the maximum pressure of 2,000 psi and top flow of 1.09 gpm, while not especially high, were definitely more than sufficient for our needs, and should be similarly suited to the needs of most homeowners carrying out common cleaning projects.

Everything stores neatly on the machine when not in use, so it doesn't take up too much space in the garage or shed. While we were a little concerned about the durability of this pressure washer, as most of the components are lightweight plastic, we had no problems with it at all during our tests, and it maintained even pressure throughout our cleaning sessions. This isn't the best choice for very heavy-duty tasks like removing paint or extreme stains, but it's a great option for use around the home that would benefit from a good rinse.

_{Power Source: Electric | Max. Pressure: 2,000 psi | Max. GPM: 1.09 | Included Nozzles/Brushes: Five | Weight: 43 pounds | Hose Length: 20 feet}