If you’re looking for a decent pressure washer but don’t want to spend a fortune, the best budget pressure washers will make car care and other cleaning tasks a doddle. A pressure washer can cut the amount of time you have to spend washing your car and can have loads of other uses around the home and garden, from washing garden furniture to cleaning months of dirt from your patio. The budget end of the market is also fiercely competitive, so we’ve gathered the best examples on sale and put them to the test.
The old double bucket and hose method might have worked perfectly well for you, but you can make things so much easier and reduce the amount of time and effort you have to put into your car detailing with a pressure washer – and it needn’t break the bank as there are some pretty good machines around at surprisingly low prices.
We’ve been investigating to find some great pressure washers, including a budget-end Karcher pressure washer, that’ll cope with most domestic jobs yet won’t cost you a fortune.
Best budget pressure washers 2024 at a glance:
- The best budget pressure washer: Bosch EasyAquatak 120 – buy from Amazon
- Editor’s pick: Nilfisk Core 130 – buy from Amazon
- The best value budget pressure washer: Ryobi RY100PWA – buy from Amazon
- Best quality budget pressure washer Nilfisk Core 130 – buy from Amazon
How we test the best budget pressure washers:
To find out which is best, we compiled five pressure washers that are both good and don’t break the bank. They range from compact pressure washers to full-size units and range in power and capabilities. We’ve ranked them after thorough testing on several cars that are owned by both staff members and others belonging to car manufacturers’ press fleets, and these are our findings – and ultimately – what we thought of them.
To find the best budget pressure washer, we pointed each one at a mucky car and set to work cleaning. We created some parameters to inform our overall score.
Cleaning ability is the top concern for us. Despite the low price points we’re still looking for at least 100 bar of pressure, a good flow rate above 350 litres per hour, and some tasty attachments for different cleaning duties.
Manoeuvrability is core to a good pressure washer, especially if cleaning a large area. Here we’re looking at cable and hose length, weight and onboard storage. A pressure washer with wheels, good handles or a cordless design will score well here.
Quality won’t be right in the upper echelons here, but it’s still an important factor to consider. We look for robust plastics that’ll take a beating, quality controls and accessories, and overall fit and finish.
Value for money is a smaller consideration at this price point, but there are still shining examples to be found. A pressure washer that balances quality, cleaning ability and a goodie bag of accessories with an affordable price will score well here.
Verdict
All things considered, the Bosch EasyAquatak 120 bags the victory with its keen pricing, quality and attachments. In a close second, the Kärcher K2 Power Control lacks the attachments but makes up for it with excellent manoeuvrability.
Best budget pressure washers tested 2024
Best budget pressure washer
It makes a bit of a racket, but it’s not as vigorous as the Karcher K2. In terms of water flow, it sprays plenty of it at 350 litres per hour at 120 Bar of pressure. Naturally, it isn't as powerful as the Ryobi or Nilfisk we had on test, but it does feel a bit more relaxed as far as pressure washers go.
This will inevitably suit some, as this pressure washer is also designed to tackle jobs around the garden as well as the car - indicating a slightly less vigorous spray. Naturally, the machine and lances don’t allow as much pressure as the Ryobi or the Nilfisk, but it’s good enough for anybody wanting to begin their pressure washing skills. The trigger is lightweight enough, and the build quality is perfectly durable and very respectable for its price point.
Aaron Hussain
Second opinion, Ryan Gilmore:
"The clear winner for me, the Bosch EasyAquatak 120 excelled in every area. The pressure wasn’t class-leading, but for car care, it never felt out of its depth. It was also mostly a joy to use. The trigger was light while the whole thing clipped together with ease. The shorter cable and hoses did make car cleaning more laborious than it should have been, but the low weight and sizable carry handle softened this blow. The quality was outstanding for the price, the compact base felt tough to touch, and the included attachments were robust and surprisingly effective."
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to carry around, thanks to its 4.7kg weight rating
- Perfect pressure washers for beginners due to lower flow rate and pressure
- Quite sturdy and good quality materials for the price point of just over £100
Cons
- Hose and cable length of five metres does feel very short when in use
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 120 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 350 |
| Power (W) | 1300 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 5m |
| Dimensions | 37.5 x 20 x 40 cm |
| Weight | 4.7kg |
Editor's pick
It is compromised a little on quality as the feel of the plastics feels more akin to the Ryobi rather than the Bosch and, indeed, the Nilfisk. During operation, you do feel the vibrations the most out of all the machines we tested, which may put off some buyers. However, the capabilities of washing a dirty car are still impressive, and for many, that's all you'll ever be looking for in a pressure washer. It also comes with a five-year guarantee, which adds an air of reassurance.
Aaron Hussain
Second opinion, Ryan Gilmore:
"As dependable as they come, Kärcher is a name synonymous with pressure washers for a reason. The K2 Power Control may sit right on the bottom rung of the brand’s ladder, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Sure, the plastics weren’t as nice as a fancier K4 or 5, but that keeps the weight low. For portability, it really is a class leader with a telescopic handle and wheels. Cleaning a car was a joy using the Kärcher; it was the lack of included attachments that pushed it into second place for me."
Pros
- Decently powerful for the size and price point at 360 litres per hour at 110 Bar of pressure
- Five-year guarantee makes the purchase more reassuring than others
- An ideal pressure washer for beginners and a multitude of tasks
Cons
- Build quality is slightly compromised and vibrations are noticeable
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 110 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 360 |
| Power (W) | 1400 |
| Cable length | 4m |
| Hose length | 5m |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 28 x 58.6cm |
| Weight | 4kg |
Best value budget pressure washer
It makes a bit of a noise. That’s to be expected for any machine built down to a price. But it isn’t as loud as I expected, nor in any way, a poor performer. If anything, it sprays even better than the Bosch unit at 390 litres per hour, albeit with slightly less pressure at 100 Bar of it. It's also very easy to put together, and you just require a few screws and components that come with some easy-to-follow instructions. It’s expected that the plastics aren’t as quality-feeling as the others, but it’s not something that I particularly care about when the RY100 sits at under £75. The price of the unit alone makes it a real bargain - especially when you consider it performed just as well as everything else at car cleaning
Aaron Hussain
Second opinion, Ryan Gilmore:
"You can tell where Ryobi spent the majority of the money here, getting the punchiest motor possible. 100 bar and 390 litres an hour aren’t the strongest figures here, but the Ryobi offers this power with such a bargain price tag. It’s not the most refined example I tried, but I can put up with that.
The exterior plastics were the worst on the test, but the fit and finish was acceptable. Much like the Karcher, it’s let down by a lack of attachments. Partner this with the lack of wheels for manoeuvrability, and it gets a middling recommendation."
Pros
- Very healthy flow rate of 390 litres per hour, which is great for the price
- Very easy to assemble and set up, thanks to simple ergonomics
- Ideal pressure washer for beginners, while only costing a fraction of what you could pay
Cons
- Materials and build quality are a grade below the others
- Hose length is a bit short at five metres long
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 100 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 390 |
| Power (W) | 1400 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 5m |
| Dimensions | 30 x 27 x 42 cm |
| Weight | 5.6kg |
Best quality budget pressure washer
The Core 130 feels sturdy in your hands. The plastics used are thicker and feel a bit softer. The hose is also a great quality item and feels thick and durable enough to survive in any condition. The machine itself is notably smoother and less noisy than the others, and it sprays quite a bit more powerfully. However, it still suffers from a short, five-metre hose, which is slightly disappointing considering you're paying the extra. Nilfisk, however, can sell you an eight-metre hose at £36, which does solve that issue, albeit by removing a large aspect of the 'budget' attraction. It does however, prove to be a bit more cost effective than upgrading to a Nilfisk machine with a longer hose.
This is all to be expected, but the sheer advantages are quickly balanced out by the higher price point, at around £150. In my opinion, at least, it’s a price worth paying for. It's just a shame the hose length isn't upgraded over the others.
Aaron Hussain
Second opinion, Ryan Gilmore:
"This is a nice step up from the scratchy plastics of the others here, the Core 130 is a stylish and well-made option. The pressure was a step up too, I found it was by far the best option for car cleaning.
Then we get to the gargantuan fly in the ointment, you won’t be getting much change out of £150 for it. You could buy two Ryobis for that, which really exposes the chink in the Nilfisk’s armour. If you can afford the update, it is worth the investment but it’s not exactly budget."
Pros
- Easy to manoeuvre, thanks to soft handle and wheels
- Build quality is second to none at this price point and will last for ages
- Very powerful at 462 litres per hour at 130 Bar of pressure
Cons
- Some self-assembly is required, and instructions could be a bit clearer
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 130 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 462 |
| Power (W) | 1500W |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 6m |
| Dimensions | 28.2 x 11.4 x 11.8cm |
| Weight | 7.86kg |
Best budget cordless pressure washer
It comes in a handy, compact suitcase and is as easy to assemble as a sandwich. It performs okay, too. It's very smooth in its operation and can last for up to 45 minutes on a single run. It only sprays out water at 15 Bar of pressure, but battery-powered pressure washers aren't subject to the large numbers that their corded siblings are used to. You can’t connect the hose to a tap, so you have to run the water via a bucket along with a water filter on the end. But with multiple settings and an easy spray, this is more than ideal for giving your car or other items a quick rinse.
Aaron Hussain
Second opinion, Ryan Gilmore:
"The real surprise for me on this test, a cordless pressure washer with battery included could be had for less than £70, and it wasn’t half-bad either. The exterior plastics are toy-like, and the plastic hose felt a bit nasty, but it’s the full package and never let me down. It’s not a patch on the other examples here with its maximum 15 bar of pressure, but nothing else has a 45-minute runtime and use-anywhere versatility. I liked the quality of the nozzles, the quiet operating and the handy storage case too. If it was a little less DIY I’d be smitten."
Pros
- Very portable and even easier to assemble together
- The machine itself does feel sturdy along with its attachments
- Very, very good value for money at the £60-70 mark
Cons
- Battery life does fall short of many others
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 15 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | Information not available |
| Power (W) | 300 |
| Cable length | N/A |
| Hose length | 5m |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 11 x 41 cm |
| Weight | 2.6kg |
Things to consider when buying a pressure washer:
Pressure and flow rate: Look for a pressure washer that provides sufficient pressure and flow rate for your cleaning tasks. Higher pressure and flow rate typically result in more effective cleaning.
Portability and size: Consider the weight and size, especially if you need to move it frequently or have limited storage space. Look for compact examples that are easy to manoeuvre and store if you’re short on space. Cordless pressure washers are also a good option if you need to move around often or don’t have a tap to hand.
Hose length: Check the length of the hose. A longer hose allows for greater reach and flexibility, especially when cleaning larger areas or hard-to-reach spots.
Nozzle attachments: Different nozzle attachments provide various spray patterns, such as a narrow jet for stubborn stains or a wide fan for broader coverage.
Build quality and durability: While a budget-friendly pressure washer (i.e those priced under £100) may not have the same level of durability as more expensive models, look for one that is built with quality materials and has positive customer reviews regarding its durability and longevity.
Budget pressure washers: Frequently asked questions:
What is the best budget power washer?
All of the above selections have their strong points and may offer something particular that would make it ideal for you. We chose the Bosch EasyAquatak 120 due to its adequate power output, compact size, value for money and included accessories.
What is a good PSI pressure washer for home use?
The vast majority of pressure washers start at 110 bar which is perfectly adequate for the majority of domestic jobs, like washing cars and bikes and cleaning decking and garden furniture. If you’ll be tackling tougher jobs, 130 or 140 bar cleaners might be a better option
Is a 100 bar pressure washer enough for a car?
If you have a small to moderate-sized car and you aren’t taking it off-road through mud pools and dust tracks, 100 bar should be perfectly adequate. For larger vehicles enduring tougher environments, a stronger pressure washer might be advisable.
What’s the difference between a pressure washer and a pressure cleaner?
In the UK, the terms “pressure washer” and “pressure cleaner” are often used interchangeably. Both refer to devices that use high-pressure water to clean surfaces. However, “pressure cleaner” can sometimes be used to refer to industrial-grade machines or systems that might include additional cleaning functions beyond just high-pressure water, such as steam cleaning.
What’s the best pressure washer for a patio?
For cleaning patios, a mid-range electric pressure washer is typically recommended. Brands like Karcher and Nilfisk offer models with sufficient power (around 130-150 bar) and flow rates (around 400-500 liters per hour) to effectively clean patio surfaces. Models like the Karcher K4 Full Control or the Nilfisk C 120 are often cited as good options.
Can pressure washers be dangerous?
Yes, pressure washers can be dangerous if not used correctly. The high-pressure water jet can cause serious injuries, including lacerations and puncture wounds. It’s important to follow safety instructions, wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles, and never direct the nozzle at people, animals, or fragile surfaces.
What do the specifications mean?
Specifications Explained:
Pressure (Bar): This measures the force of the water jet. Higher bar ratings indicate more powerful cleaning capabilities.
Flow Rate (Litres per Hour): This indicates how much water is used per hour. Higher flow rates mean more water is used and potentially faster cleaning.
Power Source: Electric models are common for home use, while petrol or diesel models are used for heavy-duty tasks.
Wattage: For electric pressure washers, this indicates the power of the motor. Higher wattage generally means better performance.
Nozzle Types: Various nozzles can provide different spray patterns and pressures for different cleaning tasks.
What accessories do you need for different cleaning tasks?
Surface Cleaners: Ideal for patios and large flat surfaces, these attachments help distribute the pressure evenly and avoid streaks.
Rotary Nozzles/Turbo Nozzles: Provide a powerful, rotating jet for tough stains and grime.
Extension Lances: Useful for reaching high places like gutters and upper floors.
Detergent Tanks and Soap Nozzles: Allow for the application of cleaning detergents, useful for deeper cleaning tasks.
Brush Attachments: Good for scrubbing surfaces while using the pressure washer, useful for cars, bikes, and delicate surfaces.
Drain and Tube Cleaners: Special attachments designed for clearing out clogged drains and pipes.
These accessories enhance the versatility and effectiveness of a pressure washer for various cleaning applications.
How we choose
All of these pressure washers have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching pressure washers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in. Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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