Best Electric Pressure Washers

How We Rated the Best Electric Pressure Washers

As briefly mentioned in the above section, we went through an extensive research process to find the best electric pressure washers.

We started off with the 20 most popular units on the market today. From there, we gathered data including price, pressure, flow rate, warranty length, customer reviews, attachments, and more.

We put that data into our rating algorithm to narrow our list down to the 6 best electric pressure washers currently available. Our algorithm mostly benefits pressure washers with high power-to-price ratios and great customer reviews.

Over time, we will continually update this list to make sure that you can find the best electric pressure washers currently available.

Interested in all of our top choices? Check out our best pressure washers guide.

How to Decide Which Electric Pressure Washer to Buy

Deciding which pressure washer to buy is not as straightforward as it might seem. Firstly, there are a lot of choices out there, and secondly, more choice means more research to find the perfect one!

Do you need the most powerful pressure washer or the most versatile one? Is the warranty the make or break factor? Maybe you would like to have the ability to reach all parts of your yard.

This section will help you take a look at all the factors that you should consider before making a final purchase decision. After all, choices should make it easier to find the right machine, instead of making you feel overwhelmed.

Pressure Generated (PSI)

The PSI, or pounds per square inch, of an electric pressure washer, is the amount of pressure that the model is capable of generating. The higher the PSI rating, the more powerful your pressure washer.

Most electric pressure washers you will come across will fall in the range of 1,700 to 2,300 PSI. For residential uses, this PSI range is usually enough. You can easily clean even stubborn grime and dirt with machines at the higher end of this spectrum.

The greater your PSI count, the faster and easier it is for you to accomplish the task ahead of you. The water hits the targeted area with more force and is likely to clean it off swiftly. But not all home jobs will require the use of maximum pressure. For example, your concrete sidewalk will need to be cleaned at a higher pressure level as compared to your furniture.

To tackle this, a lot of electric pressure washers today come with a choice of nozzle tips or a single adjustable nozzle tip. These tips alter the spray fan and pressure by virtue of their design. How this helps you is that you can switch from one task to another by simply changing the nozzle tip or by twisting the adjustable tip to deliver the pressure you are looking for. You could use a low-pressure, wider spray fan nozzle to clean your furniture and a high-pressure, pointed tip to clean dirt off your sidewalk, for example.

In most cases, the higher the maximum PSI generated, the better. While that may be the case, you still have to consider a few things. Firstly, higher PSI models are more expensive. So if you are looking for a daily use washer that is tasked to accomplish easy jobs, a cheaper and lower PSI version may be sufficient.

Secondly, you have to take into consideration the items you are likely to clean. If you buy a powerful machine but your use is to clean wood or your car, you are likely to damage them instead of cleaning them.

So when you are choosing the right PSI for your pressure washer, be sure to consider the price and the tasks that the pressure washer will be expected to accomplish.

Flow Rate (GPM)

Once you have decided on the ideal pressure, the next thing on the agenda should be the flow rate. Like it sounds, the flow rate is the amount of water that flows from the pressure washer onto a surface in a given amount of time.

The higher the flow rate, the more water hits the surface you are cleaning and the faster you finish the cleaning job. This flow rate is measured in Gallons Per Minute or GPM. When it comes to electric pressure washers the usual GPM range that you can expect is between 1.2 to 1.8 GPM.

Usually, a higher PSI unit will also come with a greater GPM count. These two things combine to give us the cleaning unit count of the pressure washer. The higher the count, the more powerful the machine and the faster and easier the cleaning job.

But with GPM too, you have to consider your usage and the price point. A higher flow rate will command a higher price.

Hose & Power Cord Lengths

Along with a high-pressure hose, electric pressure washers come with a power cord. These two parts of the pressure washer determine your reach around your yard/house. Most electric pressure washers come with a 35-ft cord and a 15 or 20-ft high-pressure hose.

If the cleaning area where you intend to use the pressure washer is concise, you might not have to think about this particular aspect at all. However, in case the area is bigger and might require extended reach, you should look out for the longest versions of the cord and the high-pressure hose.

Lastly, if the longest cord and hose still fall short, you have the option of purchasing an extension to the high-pressure hose. In this case, you must find an electric pressure washer that has an extension hose available readily.

Weight & Maneuverability

Unlike gas pressure washers, electric units are usually lighter. You will find that the lightest pressure washers weigh around 12 to 15 lbs and the heavier ones can go closer to 45 to 50 lbs. However, a vast majority of these washers lie around or below the 20 lbs mark. Dragging these around your yard should not be a hassle at all.

In addition, almost all electric pressure washers are supported by wheels. The ones that are not are usually very light and easy to carry around. In the case of these wheels, you should look out for a larger set of tires. These enhance the stability and you will find it easy to maneuver around your yard.

Most electric pressure washers also use plastic parts and this further adds to the lightweight and maneuverability factor.

Detergent Tanks & Detergent Dilution

If you are planning to clean up your car or other items at home with soap, finding an electric pressure washer with an onboard detergent tank will be helpful. Once you find models with detergent tanks, you should look out for two factors.

The first is the size of the tank. Common detergent tank sizes range from 500 mL to 1L, and you should look for a bigger tank size for an uninterrupted session. However, the second factor to look out for also determines the size of the detergent tank you require.

Some machines come with what is called automatic detergent dilution. What this means is that you can pour the detergent directly into the tank without preparing a dilution mix first. The pressure washer will mix the water and the detergent in a certain ratio on its own.

Alternatively, some brands also sell nozzle tips that come with a small detergent tank. This can be a more reasonable approach if extending your budget for a detergent tank would not be feasible. This option works best if using limited soap works for you.

You can go through the specs and features, decide what factors are the most important to you and choose a pressure washer accordingly.

Customer Reviews

Electric pressure washers are widely purchased and many customers have had good and bad experiences. While electric pressure washers are light and less powerful, common customer feedback forms itself around the flimsy build-quality and lower than expected water flow.

Another frequent area of concern for users is the slow turnaround of the customer service agents. Aggrieved customers have sometimes had to wait long periods and even had to go over several rounds of communication before the issue was finally resolved.

Sometimes, as in the case of gas pressure washers, long-term storage without use can cause the machine to jam and offer resistance before starting. Keeping these points in mind would help you choose a hassle-free option.

Warranty Length

The warranty length is another important thing to consider. Pressure washer warranties usually cover manufacturing defects and can vary from part to part. This one though is mostly a no-brainer, the longer the warranty period, the better your peace of mind. You will commonly find 1 or 2-year warranties. Some units, however, come with 3-year warranties that are far superior.

What you should also consider are the parts that are protected under the warranty and the time for which they are covered by the warranty. Some companies also present higher quality warranties like Sun Joe’s “no questions asked” warranty and that might make their pressure washer more attractive. However, this may also have an impact on the price.

There could be situations where the pump is covered for 1 year and the attachments are covered for 2 years, or the other way round. So you will have to consider whether a higher price for a longer warranty or the right warranty periods for each attachment, fall into your decision-making criteria.

Other Features

On top of the basic aspects of a pressure washer, are additional features like the build quality material, versatility, efficiency, reach, and many more.

There are some interesting features that you might want to consider. One example is the “Total Stop System” that shuts off the pump when the trigger is not pressed, increasing efficiency and durability. Adjustable nozzles or 360-degree turbo nozzles will add a different dimension of power to your pressure washer.

Other features include onboard storage provided for a compact and concise storage experience and bigger attachments like surface cleaners, for faster cleaning. You must go through these additional features to understand what one pressure washer can offer over the other.

What Electric Pressure Washes Can Be Used For

Here is a list of some things you can use electric pressure washers to clean:

• Siding
• Sidewalks
• Patio furniture
• Decks
• Walls
• Cars
• Fences
• Wooden surfaces
• Rusty surfaces
• Boats
• Ducts, gutters, and drains
• Bikes and motorcycles
• Outdoor equipment
• Windows
• Pools
• Moss-covered surfaces

Deciding Which Nozzle to Use With Your Electric Pressure Washer

Here are examples of the nozzles many electric pressure washers come with and what each is best suited for: