9 Best Pressure Washers of 2022

Our experts start by analyzing the current marketplace to identify the pressure washer you’re most likely to find on store shelves and online. From there, they focus on the brands that have performed the best and proven the most reliable through years of pressure washer tests at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

When it came to reviewing specific models for this roundup, our engineers and product testers spent more than 20 hours poring over hundreds of technical and performance data points. Hands-on testing involved pressure washing various real-world surfaces, including decks, patios, siding, assorted pavements and outdoor furniture. While overall cleaning ability was their main criteria, they also assessed ease-of-use, including handling and maneuverability, ease of swapping nozzles and adding cleaning solutions. And they paid attention to noise since pressure washers are often operated for long stretches at a time. Finally, our engineers evaluated general construction, such as materials and fittings, to highlight models that should deliver the longest service.

Our testers evaluate pressure washers in real-world conditions, including measuring their ability to blast away dirt and mildew from a white fence.

All pressure washers work the same way — a motor powers water through a concentrated nozzle. How the motor is powered has a lot to do with its performance, price, and safety. There are two types:

Electric pressure washers are generally suitable for the vast majority of homeowners and can tackle projects like car washing, cleaning lawn furniture and spot treating surfaces. They are more affordable (think $300 and below), lighter, quieter and easier to store and maintain.

Gas pressure washers are most commonly used by professionals, because they are a lot more powerful. They’ll blast nearly any dirt and debris — use them for things like decks and sidewalks — but they’re much more expensive (think $300 and above), plus they’re bigger, heavier, noisier and harder to maintain.

PSI, or pounds per square inch, indicates the water pressure delivered by the machine, says Adrienne Hunt, associate merchant for Home Depot. Pressure washers with a high PSI will clean deep stains more effectively than machines with a lower PSI. If you’re looking to clear dirt and grime from furniture or hose down the car, electric pressure washers with typical PSIs in the 1,600 to 2,300 range should do the job. For tougher cleaning tasks — say tackling oil stains on a concrete driveway or removing sap from the back deck, you’ll do better with a gas pressure washer ranging from 2,700 to 4,400 PSI.

Though PSI is important, you also need to pay attention to GPM, or gallons per minute. “The two specs in tandem are super important,” says Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “One without the other won’t result in the right combo.” GPM measures the volume of water delivered by the pressure washer — an indicator of how quickly your machine will clean. Higher GPM pressure washers (2.0 and up) will clean faster than those with lower GPM, adds Hunt.

While you can find pressure washers for under $100, the least expensive models on our winners’ list are closer to $150. At the other end of the price spectrum, you could spend $600 or more on a pressure washer, but our experts say the best of the best for home use are in the $300 to $500 range. That’s a serious investment, but hiring a professional to pressure wash your home will cost between $25 and $100 per hour, according to Bailey Carson, Home Care Expert at Angi. That works out to around $250 for a single patio or deck, so the machine quickly pays for itself.

“You really need to respect the power of these machines,” says DiClerico. “There’s a higher risk of injury and surface damage if you don’t know what you’re doing.” Wear closed-toe shoes and safety goggles at all times when operating your pressure washer. And if your machine comes with interchangeable nozzles, use the least powerful one first — you can always progress to a stronger nozzle if you need to. Always position yourself about four feet from whatever you’re cleaning to avoid debris. When in doubt, spot test an inconspicuous area first to ensure the spray won’t damage the surface. Our experts also say to stay away from the zero-degree spray (always the red one in the set), since the highly concentrated spray is enough to break the surface of the skin. You can get the same cleaning results with a wider spray; it will just take a bit longer.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including pressure washers. In his role as Director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, Dan DiClerico brings more than 20 years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports. He also handled all kinds of power tools during his years working in the trades. And, of course, he routinely pulls out the pressure washer at home to clean the wood deck, brick patio, outdoor furniture and other exterior surfaces.

For this report, Dan worked closely with Rachel Rothman, Chief Technologist & Director of Engineering at the Institute. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about products across the home improvement space. Rachel also does a lot of pressure washing around the house!