Best Pressure Washers for 2023, Tested

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If the garden hose isn't cutting it, here are the best power washers for car washing—and some that can do far more around the house.

With apologies to the Masters, washing your own vehicle is also a tradition unlike any other. There are multiple ways to clean your car, but one of the fastest and most efficient options is bringing out the old pressure washer. It's a nice tool to have anyway, with plenty of satisfying cleaning options around the house.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you go power-washing your ride. A good rule of thumb is to decide which jobs you want your pressure washer to accomplish before buying one. Tough household tasks, like stripping the varnish off a deck, will require a more powerful pressure washer than those listed here, and you wouldn't want to use one of those on your vehicle, anyway. For car, boat, and RV cleaning, a smaller, less powerful—and less expensive—pressure washer is plenty of tool for the job.

To help you choose which pressure washer is right for washing your car, we put nine of them through some serious Gear Team testing. Here's what we found.

We tested pressure washers with an automotive angle, but our parameters covered the data you want for bigger jobs like driveway and siding cleaning. To achieve this, we tested the following:

We combined our notes and data based on these parameters to decide which tools worked best for different situations and which ones didn't make the cut. Here are our results for the best pressure washers.

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If you're here to buy a pressure washer for washing your vehicle, this Craftsman CMEPW2100 power washer is the best one we tested. It takes the cake thanks to a psi range that covers all but the most challenging jobs. We liked how the sprayer felt, and all additional parts are stored easily on the unit itself.

The CMEPW2100 is also one of the quietest pressure washers we tested, which is nice for extended use. This didn't affect the pressures though, as we recorded respectable psi readings for an electric option.

Because of its car-friendly pressures, portability, and ease of use, this Craftsman is our pick for the Best Pressure Washer for Vehicles.

For folks looking for a pressure washer that'll fit just about anywhere, this Ryobi entry is our pick. It's light, small, and easy to pull around. It packs a punch for its size too, with a decent 1500 max psi reading.

With this handy portability comes a few drawbacks. It lacks some pressure washer tip options commonly featured on other washers, and it's a bit tricky to organize all the hoses and cords.

So while it lacks some versatility and ability for other jobs around the house, it's the best option for power-washing DIYers short on space.

Typically, high-power pressure washers are fueled by our good friend gasoline. However, this pressure washer from Greenworks throws that notion away—and still produce a max psi of 2600. That's impressive, considering it's fully electric.

However, use this pressure washer on your vehicle at your own risk—the pressures are too high, and we don't recommend it. Aside from that, we were impressed at the power, tip options, and overall quality of the tool.

Choosing between this and a gas-powered pressure washer is totally up to personal preference. It's great for jobs around the yard—just make sure to have some long extension cords available.

On the super-compact spectrum comes this little guy from Craftsman. Weighing just 16 pounds, it's a simple lift-and-carry to wherever the power cord will allow you to go. The size does limit pressure, but not as much as you might think. We achieved 1500 psi with the 40-degree tip—not too shabby.

However, the tip options are slim, down to either a Turbo or 40-degree choice. We liked its compact size and solid power, but there aren't any easy options to store the sprayer and power cord without it looking like a big stack of flapjacks.

Regardless, we think the Craftsman CMEPW1700 is a solid choice for a portable pressure washer.

This is another pressure washer you won't want to use on your vehicle—it's too powerful. However, if you have a few year's worth of mildew on your home's north side, or some grubby concrete that needs cleaning, this Simpson gas-powered pressure washer is the best choice.

It's your classic loud, wicked-powerful pressure washer. Featuring a Honda GC190 four-stroke engine that—with proper upkeep—is bound to last a long time, air-filled tires, and all the sprayer tips you could dream of, it's a brute.

So if you're in the market for a true cleaning machine, consider this one—it's our pick. Just don't use it on your car, the paint won't like it.

Our second gas-powered pressure washer in this test performed admirably, producing the highest psi readings out of them all: 3000 psi. Definitely not something to use on your vehicle. For concrete jobs, it's an excellent option.

It falls just short of the Simpson simply because of the lack of that trusty Honda engine. We also prefer air-filled tires over the Westinghouse's solid ones—but that's up to you.

All in all, it's a great gas-powered pressure washer when you need some extra oomph.

One of the stranger-looking pressure washers in our test, the Chemical Guys ProFlow aims to be the ultimate car-washing tool. With a multitude of tips and great mobility, it sure looked like a worthy contender.

However, while all of these pressure washers leaked some water during use, this Chemical Guys unit leaked more than others, shedding much of its water—and therefore, its water pressure—before the wet stuff ever got to the nozzle, let alone the vehicle. This really hampered its psi readings; what came out of the nozzle was about half the 2030 psi claimed on the box.

If you're a Chemical Guys acolyte—and we know there are plenty of you out there—perhaps you'll have better luck with your ProFlow. But compared to the rest of the power washers here, the ProFlow was more like AmateurFlow.

The Sun Joe SPX3000 is one of the top-selling pressure washers on Amazon, so we had our hopes up to try it out. Overall, it doesn't perform poorly, but there aren't any good qualities that stand out either.

The Sun Joe has a nice bunch of tips to use, but the pressures aren't powerful enough to complete most power-washing tasks. It is quiet and easy to use, though—but not good enough overall to back up its "#1 Best Seller" badge. It's not a bad buy, but there are better power-washing options out there.

A cordless pressure washer sounds fantastic in theory, and of course, DeWalt manufactures one. The tool has unmatched mobility, but there are a few glaring flaws.

First, the 20V MAX battery—the same one that powers most of DeWalt's power tools—is just a typical plastic clamshell box, with no apparent waterproofing. Some users report they've gotten it wet with no issues; call us worry-warts, but we're leery of mixing water and electricity without more obvious waterproofing. Second, the water pressure isn't enough to do any real "power" washing. While it seems like a good idea, the cordless DeWalt simply fell short in our test.

While the vast majority of our testing consists of strictly automotive products, we know that pressure washers can do far more. Because of this, our testing parameters included data points that are useful for a wide range of power-washing jobs.

For our objective numbers-driven parameters (who doesn't love those?), we tested maximum water pressure with a psi gauge, water flow rate with a water flow meter, and noise level with a decibel meter. For our water flow rate reading, we took note of the rate prior to using the pressure washer itself—to account for leaks. We then subtracted this static water flow rate reading from the 'powered on' reading.

We weighed each pressure washer on one of our scales, with hoses and attachments included. Taking note of the power source was easy, as they're either 120 volts, a 20-volt battery, or gas-powered. We also listed all of the tips and spray patterns included with each pressure washer.

Because portability is quite important when using a pressure washer, we noted which ones were easy or difficult to move around. And finally, we tested the assembly and ease of storage. The readings and notes on all of these parameters helped us decide on the best pressure washers.

Aside from purpose and overall usability, you'll want to keep a few key specifications and features in mind when shopping for a pressure washer. Below are the key elements you'll want to consider:

Power output (psi): For cleaning your car, look for something between 1200 and 2200 psi. That's strong enough to clean cars and trucks well without damaging their surfaces. That should also be more than enough pressure to use with foam cannons and spray nozzles designed specifically for cars.

For bigger jobs like washing a driveway or cleaning your home's siding, you'll want between 2500 and 3500 psi. Anything more powerful than that is for things like stripping paint and graffiti removal.

It's also important to keep your fingers and toes away from the water stream at all times. These high water pressures can cause serious damage to skin and limb, so please use caution.

Water flow (gpm): A gallon per minute (gpm) of 1.2 to 2.5 is enough for most home and automotive tasks.

Nozzle options: Make sure you have different spray patterns and angles. Wider angles are better for delicate surfaces, while narrower ones pinpoint the stream to tackle tougher jobs.

Hose length: A longer hose gives you more reach and flexibility, so you won't need to move the unit around as much.

Soap system: While built-in tanks are often designed for "soap," we don't recommend putting car wash soap in the reservoir because it can gum up the nozzle. The best option is to buy a foam cannon and apply the soap through that. Check instruction manuals on which kind of soaps or detergents you can put in your pressure washer's soap tanks.

Portability: Make sure the pressure washer you use for car washing is easy to move. Wheels are a must; four work fine but a two-wheeled, tilting power washer is even easier to push around the driveway.

Electric vs. Gas: Electric models are lighter and quieter, while gas-powered pressure washers usually offer more power and mobility.

Pressure washers can be safe for cars when used with wider nozzles and lower pressures. Choose a pressure washer with a suitable psi (pounds per square inch) rating, typically between 1200 and 2200, and use a wide spray nozzle (25 to 40 degrees) to minimize the risk of damaging the vehicle's paint and other surfaces.

For most cars, a psi between 1200 and 2200 is recommended. This range provides enough cleaning power to remove dirt and grime without damaging the car's paint or delicate surfaces.

Yes, you can use soap with a pressure washer. You'll want to make sure the soap is specifically designed for pressure washers and safe for use on vehicles. These detergents are formulated to be safe for your car's surfaces and can enhance the cleaning process.

Some pressure washers even include a dedicated soap tank that automatically pulls soap into the high-pressure stream without needing a separate foam canon.

To avoid damaging the paint, use a pressure washer with a suitable psi rating (1200–2200), a wide spray nozzle (25 to 40 degrees), and maintain a safe distance from the car (at least 12 inches). Move the nozzle consistently and avoid focusing on one area for too long. Using the right detergent or soap designed for power-washing cars is also important. Ensure the soap you use won't interact with the finish on your vehicle.

Yes—just be extra careful to avoid damaging electrical components and sensitive parts. It's a good idea to cover sensitive parts before pressure washing. Use a lower psi setting (under 1800, ideally), a wider spray angle (40 degrees or more), and avoid directly spraying water on electronic components, connectors, and the air intake.

Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world. The Gear Team has tested a wide variety of automotive products, parts, accessories, and gear, such as GPS trackers for cars, OBD2 scanners, and electric car chargers. We get our hands on each and every product we test. Most are purchased; some are supplied by manufacturers.

Hearst Autos doesn't need to game algorithms for traffic or promote lousy products to earn a buck. Instead, we're more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track to deliver honest opinions and expert evaluations.

Visit our Tested & Trusted page to see the very best in automotive gear. Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here.

Remember, keep the pressure washer stream away from any exposed skin or appendages. Ending the day looking like this kielbasa is not a good time.

Collin Morgan is an Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where the former Rust Belt mechanic and gadget enthusiast presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors.

Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and more.

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