The best pressure washers under £100

Written by Alex Boyd Updated: 10 February 2025

In a world where pressure washers are being retailed for up to £500 for the best models, there is some relief in that you can find some really good pressure washers under £100. One that’ll pressurise water, be able to douse your car in snow foam with ease, and won’t be too fiddly or break within five minutes.

While the more premium examples are embracing smartphone apps, aftermarket attachments that’ll fill a shed and motors that’ll strip a plastic garden chair to shreds, looking to the other end of the market delivers some fantastic options. The best part? These wallet-friendly machines are all from the main, reputable pressure washer manufacturers.

We gave ourselves a challenge: to see what we could find in terms of pressure washers under £100. Suffice to say, we were quite surprised at the results. There are a great deal of budget pressure washers out there for the price point – and from known brands that manufacture them.

With some of these choices, you could recoup the cost in a handful of washes. Where a wash, wax, and dry job at a local valet centre can cost around £10 or thereabouts, you can recover those costs after nine or ten-ish washes when you invest in a budget and/or very compact pressure washer. And if you simply invest in a good set of shampoos and other cleaning products, you can save loads of cash compared to the hundreds of pounds that a professional detailer would charge. And remember, pressure washers are handy for loads of other tasks around the home and garden, too.

The best pressure washers under £100

FAQs about budget pressure washers

What is the best budget pressure washer?

In our budget pressure washer group test, we crowned the Bosch EasyAquatak 120 as our winner. The difference between it and the EasyAquatak 100 and 110 featured on this list isn’t huge. The 120 just has a slightly higher flow rate, but all the machines are more-or-less the same as each other.

It’s a close tie therefore, between one of those EasyAquatak machines and the Karcher K2 range. The latter can be had in Classic, Horizontal, and Power Control form. They’re all brilliant for the money, will compliment your car detailing process, and will last you a long time before needing to be replaced.

What is the most reliable brand of pressure washer?

The be-all and end-all for pressure washer reliability has to be handed to the brand, AVA of Norway. A lot of its pressure washers come with a 20-year warranty and each of the moving components within can be replaced individually. This undoubtedly means the brand has a lot of trust in its machines, and can be treated as a long-term machine.

On the more price-conscious end of the spectrum, the best contender for quality is Nilfisk. We’ve been impressed by many of its machines in both operation and durability – and this extends even to its entry-level models starting from the early £100 mark.

How long do pressure washers last?

It’s difficult to provide a concrete answer, but a reputable pressure washer model from a known brand should be good for at least several years, if not more. Some manufacturers have warranty periods which become active once you register your machine with them. Here’s the rundown of each one that specialises in warranties for pressure washers.

• Karcher offers a five-year guarantee for any of its new pressure washers. You have to register your machine within 28 days of the purchase date for it to be valid, and the warranty only applies to home/domestic use rather than for work or business.

• Nilfisk offer a series of comprehensive warranties as well. For pressure washers beginning with the Core 125 model all the way up to the Premium 200, the standard warranty period is two years. For the Core 125 and 130, this can be extended to three years, and anything above up to five years. For the extended warranty periods to become valid, you must register your machine within 30 days of purchase.

• AVA of Norway meanwhile, have so much confidence in its products, that the standard warranty is 10 years (for entry level products) and 20 years for the Master and Evolution series pressure washers. This cements a great sense of confidence and durability that’s currently unrivalled by the other manufacturers.

How much should you spend on a pressure washer?

To answer this question, you need to have a budget in mind. Like cars, the market for pressure washers comes with all sorts of power capabilities, price points, and models from manufacturers.

If you want a entry-level pressure washer – such as a Karcher K2 or equivalent – that will simply do the job with no gadgetry attached, your limit should really be around the £150 mark. A lot of entry-level machines from Karcher, Bosch, and Ryobi fall into this bracket, beginning at roughly £80.

The next models up are roughly within the £160-£230 range, which are generally the middle-range machines of each respective manufacturer. This consists of the Karcher K4 and its respective competitors.

For the top-end, fully kitted-out pressure washers with 500+l/h flow rates, the absolute maximum you should spend is between £500-£600. With these machines, we recommend doing some fastidious research to see how much you’re getting for the cash and whether you believe it’s worth it over a less powerful/expensive machine.

Does a pressure washer use a lot of electricity?

Pressure washers don’t use up as much electricity as you might think. You will see different machines rated at different power levels (in Watts), and these can be kept in mind for an estimation of how expensive an hour’s usage might be.

But in essence, a 1,500W pressure washer will use 1.5 kilowatts per-hour (kWh). A 1,900W unit will use 1.9kWh, and a powerful 3000W unit will use 3kWh. How much each kWh will cost is down to your home energy plan and circumstances.

For context, a 1200W microwave will use 1.2kWh, so a pressure washer – particularly an entry-level one – is relatively comparable to standard household items in terms of energy usage.

Other things to consider with pressure washers under £100:

If you’re shopping for pressure washers under £100, you have to expect limitations and compromises over more premium and expensive versions, including cordless pressure washers which are often well-over the £100 mark. Most of the top brands will offer entry level pressure washers, but they’re built down to a price and you can tell. We outline what you can expect at the price point

Pressure and flow rate: Higher pressure and flow rate typically result in more effective cleaning. However, at the budget end of the spectrum, you can’t really expect too much. Some will provide higher flow rates and pressures than others, but it’s often a huge chunk off what a more premium product might be. For example, a Karcher K2 will be rated at 360 litres per hour whereas a K7 will be up to 550 litres per hour. One great advantage at having a lower flow and pressure rating is that there is less risk at damaging delicate paint, so if you have a car that needs gentle cleaning, a budget pressure washer could be the answer for you.

Portability and size: Consider the weight and size, especially if you need to move it frequently or have limited storage space. Luckily at this price point, there are loads of compact and lightweight models that are easy to manoeuvre and store, which is a huge advantage over more premium pressure washers. This neatly leads us onto the hose length; a longer hose allows for greater reach and flexibility, especially when cleaning larger areas or hard-to-reach spots. At this end of the market, they will generally be between three and six metres long. If you’re struggling for cable length, waterproof outdoor extension cables can be a solution for you.

Nozzle attachments: Different nozzle attachments provide various spray patterns, such as a narrow jet for stubborn stains or a wide fan for broader coverage. Don’t forget the snow foam lance for better car cleaning. It’s at moments like these when you notice the true build quality of a pressure washer. While a budget-friendly one may not have the same level of durability as more expensive models, there are still some good ones available as found on this list. Look for one that is built with quality materials and has positive customer reviews regarding its durability and longevity.

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