Top 4 compared
The best pressure washers
Green-stained concrete, a grimy car and mildew on the siding, blasted clean without an afternoon of scrubbing.
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The top 4 at a glance
A pressure washer takes water from a garden hose and forces it out through a narrow nozzle at high pressure, so the spray does the scrubbing. Electric models plug into a regular outlet and are light enough to carry or wheel around, which suits cars, decks and patio furniture; gas models have their own engine and more water behind them, for long driveways and siding.
Makers quote pressure in psi and flow in gallons a minute (GPM), often as a maximum and a lower rated figure; the rated one is closer to what you get on the job. Whatever the machine, start with the widest tip, try a hidden patch first on wood and painted surfaces, and never point the narrow tips at people, pets or tires.
What matters
- A long hose and power cord, so the machine moves less.
- An onboard soap tank or a foam cannon, for washing the car.
- Wheels or a carry handle, depending on how far it travels.
- On a gas model in California, a CARB-compliant engine.
#1Westinghouse ePX3500 Electric Pressure Washer (2,500 psi)
$150–$200
A compact 19 lb machine on four swiveling wheels with a low center of gravity, so it follows you along the driveway without tipping over. It gives up to 2,500 psi (2,000 rated), with five quick-connect tips, a turbo nozzle among them, and a 20 oz soap tank on board.
What owners say: Owners are struck by how much power comes out of such a small machine, and they like that it goes together quickly, steers easily on its four wheels and has a spray gun light enough to hold in one hand.
A closer look: The pump stops whenever the trigger is let go, so it isn’t running flat out between bursts. Use the 25-degree tip for the car and siding and save the 0-degree and turbo tips for concrete. At 16.5 inches tall it slides onto a garage shelf afterward.
- Four swivel wheels, anti-tip
- 20 oz onboard soap tank
- Pump stops when trigger’s released
- 35 ft power cord
- 3-year limited warranty
Best for: Washing the car and the driveway
- Power
- Electric (corded)
- Max pressure
- 2,500 psi
- Max flow
- 1.76 GPM
- Hose
- 25 ft
- Weight
- 19 lb
- Nozzle tips
- 5, with turbo
#2Westinghouse ePX3100v Handheld Electric Pressure Washer (2,100 psi)
$100–$150
Small enough to carry by its built-in handle and keep on a shelf, at 17.6 lb, yet it gives up to 2,100 psi, and a detachable foam cannon comes with it for soaping the car before the rinse.
What owners say: Owners say it works straight out of the box and cleans cars, patios, driveways and siding without marking the finish, and they like being able to pick it up by the handle and put it away on a shelf.
A closer look: With no wheels it’s carried rather than pulled, which suits a car, a deck or patio furniture better than a long driveway. Foam the car with the cannon, let it sit for a minute, then rinse from the roof down with the 25-degree tip.
- Built-in carry handle
- Fits on a shelf
- 3-year limited warranty
Best for: Cars, decks and small spaces
- Power
- Electric (corded)
- Max pressure
- 2,100 psi
- Max flow
- 1.76 GPM
- Hose
- 20 ft
- Weight
- 17.6 lb
- Nozzle tips
- 3, plus foam cannon
#3Westinghouse WPX3400 Gas Pressure Washer (3,400 psi)
Over $300
For a whole driveway, a deck or the house siding, a 212cc gas engine drives 3,400 psi and 2.6 gallons a minute, more water than any electric here, with no cord to drag. The fuel tank, half-gallon soap tank and pump ride on a steel frame with 12-inch never-flat wheels.
What owners say: Owners say it goes together easily and has plenty of power for driveways, mildew and dirty siding, with one blasting away years of grime. It usually starts on the second pull, though a few find it hard to restart once it has been running for half an hour.
Heads up: Westinghouse lists it as not CARB compliant, so buyers in California should look at a compliant model.
A closer look: Engine oil and a funnel come in the box, so fill the oil before the first start. At 63 lb it’s built for big jobs like driveways, decks and siding rather than a quick car rinse, and the 40-degree tip gives a wide, gentler spray for wood.
- Engine oil and funnel included
- 12 in never-flat wheels
- Half-gallon soap tank
- Steel frame
- Pull-cord start
Best for: Big driveways and siding
- Power
- Gas, 212cc
- Max pressure
- 3,400 psi
- Max flow
- 2.6 GPM
- Hose
- 25 ft
- Weight
- 63 lb
- Nozzle tips
- 5, with 40°
#4Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer (2,500 psi)
$150–$200
Two detergent tanks sit on board with a dial to switch between them, so car shampoo and a patio cleaner can both be loaded and ready. It gives up to 2,500 psi (2,030 rated) through a 34-inch stainless steel wand, with five quick-connect tips from a pinpoint jet to a wide 40° fan.
What owners say: It goes together quickly, owners say, and it’s strong enough for jobs around the house, from garage floors to a badly stained sidewalk, though they’re divided on how hard it hits and how long it lasts.
A closer look: Fill one tank with car shampoo and the other with a deck or concrete cleaner, then turn the dial to whichever the job needs and fit the soap tip. The 40-degree tip is the gentle one for cars, windows and wood; save the 0-degree jet for oil marks on concrete.
- Two onboard detergent tanks
- 34 in stainless steel wand
- Brass fittings
- 2-year warranty
Best for: Switching between cleaners
- Power
- Electric (corded)
- Max pressure
- 2,500 psi
- Max flow
- 1.76 GPM
- Hose
- 20 ft
- Weight
- 24.3 lb
- Nozzle tips
- 5, with 40°
How they compare
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| Feature | #1Westinghouse ePX3500 | #2Westinghouse ePX3100v | #3Westinghouse WPX3400 | #4Sun Joe SPX3000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best gas | Best with two soap tanks | |
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.6 |
| Price | $150–$200 | $100–$150 | Over $300 | $150–$200 |
| Power | Electric (corded) | Electric (corded) | Gas, 212cc | Electric (corded) |
| Max pressure | 2,500 psi | 2,100 psi | 3,400 psi | 2,500 psi |
| Max flow | 1.76 GPM | 1.76 GPM | 2.6 GPM | 1.76 GPM |
| Hose | 25 ft | 20 ft | 25 ft | 20 ft |
| Weight | 19 lb | 17.6 lb | 63 lb | 24.3 lb |
| Nozzle tips | 5, with turbo | 3, plus foam cannon | 5, with 40° | 5, with 40° |
| Best for | Washing the car and the driveway | Cars, decks and small spaces | Big driveways and siding | Switching between cleaners |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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