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Best pressure washers 2024: our top picks from Karcher, Nilfisk and more

Give your car, patio or driveway the spring clean it deserves. This expert guide will help you pick out the best pressure washer for your home
Manca VirantResearcher & writer
Person using a pressure washer

By Easter at the end of March, we'll hopefully be outside enjoying our patio. So this is the ideal time to give your outdoor surfaces a thorough clean by pressure washing them.

To help you find the best pressure washer for your needs, we've rounded up the top-scoring models that impressed us in our tests, and because they've all gone through rigorous, independent Which? lab testing, you can rest assured that no matter which of these pressure washers you go for, they will tackle your tough outdoor tasks.


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Best Buy pressure washers for 2024

Here's our pick of the top Best Buy or high-scoring pressure washers, including the cheapest model to ace our tests.

Best pressure washer for cars

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    • Surface cleaning ability
    • Ease of cleaning a car
    • Ease of storage
    Test score
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For top car cleaning tips, head over to our How to clean your car with a pressure washer guide.

Best pressure washer for bigger cleaning jobs

    • best buy
    • Surface cleaning ability
    • Ease of cleaning a car
    • Ease of storage
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Best pressure washer for hard-surface cleaning

    • best buy
    • Surface cleaning ability
    • Ease of cleaning a car
    • Ease of storage
    Test score
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Best value pressure washer

    • Surface cleaning ability
    • Ease of cleaning a car
    • Ease of storage
    Test score
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Tables updated: March 2024.

Video: how to buy the best pressure washer

What is a pressure washer? 

Pressure washers (also known as jet washers and power washers) deliver a powerful concentrated jet of water to remove dirt more efficiently than a brush, and using less water than you would with a garden hose.

A pressure washer is essentially a motorised hosepipe. It uses a pump to create a high-pressure flow of water that dislodges dirt more quickly and effectively than you can with a scrubbing brush or hose alone. 

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What type of pressure washer should I buy?

To choose the best pressure washer for you it is worth taking time to think about what you'll be cleaning, how dirty it will be and how often you'll use it. 

Our expert advice will help you find one that has the right power and features for your cleaning jobs.

Light duty

Best for: Cleaning small areas of lightly soiled paving, bicycles, small cars and garden furniture.

These tend to be own-brand, cheaper models that have low-powered motors (1,200W to 1,600W), low water pressure (less than 90-bar) and low flow rates. They are split into small hand-carried units and petite trolley-style models with low handles and small wheels.

Hoses lengths vary from three metres, which is too short to wash a car; to five metres, which is an adequate length for car cleaning. Some of the cheaper pressure washers come with fixed nozzles that don't allow you to vary the water pressure.

The shorter hose and low power can make cleaning slow and difficult, and the motors tend to be noisy. The parts also tend to be flimsy and prone to frost damage. 

Medium duty

Best for: Cleaning domestic garden paved areas and decking, cars and 4x4s.

Medium duty pressure washers tend to be a mix of high-end own-brand models and cheaper premium-brand models. As such, you'll find a confusing array of high-powered-but-basic models by garden machinery brands such as Stihl or Nilfisk, mid-powered Karcher, Bosch or Vax models with some choice of accessories, and high-powered and highly accessorised machines from Qualcast and Mac Allister. 

They tend to have good cleaning ability and are quick and easy to use. 

Expect a medium-powered motor (1,600W to 2,000W), mid-range water pressure (100 to 130-bar) and medium flow rates. Most units are a bit heavy, have larger wheels and on-board storage for accessories so make sure you can lift it to clean and have somewhere to keep it stored. 

Hoses tend to be five or six metres, and some may even have hose reels.

These machines can be noisy and others may lack the power to clean encrusted dirt and weeds. 

Heavy duty 

Best for: Cleaning extensive areas of paving, grimy 4-wheel drive vehicles, commercial vehicles and caravans

The priciest washers on the market, heavy duty models tend to be made by well-known machinery brands such as Karcher, Bosch, Nilfisk and Stihl. These are semi-professional models with high-powered motors (1,800W to 2,500W), high water pressure (130 to 150-bar) and high flow rates which mean they tend to clean quickly and brilliantly. 

Motor noise is typically less intrusive with these machines but they can be a little overpowered for many domestic cleaning jobs. Make sure you know how to use them properly to avoid damaging your surfaces. 

The machines tend to be very large and heavy, to cope with the high-powered motors and pumps that they contain, and use more-durable aluminium pumps and induction motors than the cheaper models. Large wheels, telescopic handles, multiple lances and robust cleaning accessories are common.

Should I buy a petrol, electric or cordless pressure washer?

Cleaning a patio with a pressure washer

Electric and cordless pressure washers are more suited to domestic cleaning, while petrol pressure washers are designed for professional, large-scale jobs.  

Although you have to be near a power outlet to use an electric washer, they are typically lighter, better for the environment, less noisy and will be powerful enough for the usual home and garden cleaning jobs. 

Petrol models will allow you to go anywhere because they don't need to be near a power socket. But will normally be too powerful for general jobs such as cleaning your car or patio. 

Cordless models are powered by a battery, so like with petrol models, you won't be restricted by a cord. However, the battery will need to be charged regularly. In the past, cordless pressure washers were appropriate for light duty use only, but we've been seeing more releases that can compare to corded models in water pressure and flow rates.

How much do I need to pay for a good pressure washer?

This all depends on how much you can afford and how powerful and durable you want your pressure washer to be. 

  • Light-duty pressure washers: £40-100
  • Medium-duty pressure washers: £100-200
  • Heavy-duty pressure washers: £200-400

The best-known brands in pressure washers tend to be considerably pricier, but you generally get more robust products, built with better-quality materials. They can be considerably more of a pleasure to use than cheap pressure washers, with more power and a quieter motor.

Best pressure washer features to look for

Cleaning a car with a pressure washer

If you just need a pressure washer for light cleaning, then most no-frills machines come with just one lance, which is a long tube with a nozzle on the end. The nozzle will usually provide variable pressure – when you twist the nozzle, you can adjust the spray from a powerful narrow jet to a more broad gentle fan. 

But for anything more, the following additions could prove invaluable:

  • Washer hose: starting at three metres for the cheapest models, hoses can be up to 10 metres long.  
  • Trigger: all triggers should have a safety lock to avoid accidentally turning on your pressure washer. 
  • Detergent tank: we found built-in but removable detergent tanks more convenient than bottle attachments in our tests. 
  • Variable fan-jet: also called variable pressure lances, these allow you to vary the force of the jet from a focused point to a broad fan.
  • Angled lance: great for cleaning under cars or furniture. 
  • Rotary jet lance: a powerful jet that spins as it leaves the nozzle. Ideal for heavily soiled paving slabs, but not cars or decking. 
  • Brush attachment: useful for cleaning cars, greenhouses and conservatories. 
  • Patio cleaner attachment: circular plastic hoods with a brush around the bottom edge. Stops you having to stoop and helps ensure dirty water doesn't spray everywhere.
  • Wheels: handy for heavier models. But, if you have lots of uneven ground or steps make sure you can still carry the machine. 
  • Hose storage wheel: avoids the cable getting tangled up. 
  • Attachment holder: to keep your tools to hand while cleaning. 
  • Additional handles: some machines have a variety of handles that will make carrying it around while cleaning much easier. 
  • Telescopic handle: super-useful if you need to clean high level surfaces.
  • Pressure gauge: some more expensive models have a pressure gauge on the lance handle but, as the pump pressure doesn't vary, they're of little practical use.

Visit our pressure washer reviews to find out what features each pressure washer offers.

Where to buy a pressure washer 

There's real polarisation in the pressure-washer market, with lots of cheap models available for less than £100. These often appear to have all the features you want at a low price, but they tend to be cheaply made and lack the power to clean the toughest garden grime. Consult our expert pressure washer reviews if you're unsure which models to shortlist.

Popular online retailers that sell pressure washers include:

  • B&Q stocks pressure washers from a large selection of brands. Its list of sub-£100 models includes the Karcher K2 Compact, the Mac Allister Corded Pressure Washer and the Turtle Wax TW120.
  • Screwfix offers pressure washers from major gardening brands including Bosch, Karcher and Worx. You can expect to spend anywhere between £50-500. The retailer claims the Karcher K4 Power Control is one of its best-selling models.
  • Halfords has a range of pressure washers for dealing with a mucky car, the majority of which are made by Karcher and AVA of Norway. The retailer also offers two pressure washers of its own under £100.
  • Argos stocks pressure washers from the likes of Karcher, Nilfisk and Spear & Jackson. Prices start at £50 and rise to around £500. If you purchase a pressure washer before 5pm, Argos can deliver it by 10pm the same day for £4.95, subject to availability.
  • Toolstation has electric and petrol pressure washers, some of which are bundled with a patio cleaner.
  • Karcher sells its popular pressure washers directly online. You can order any of their models, with most coming with free shipping.

To discover which retailers are rated highly by Which? members, consult our expert guide on the best and worst shops.

How to avoid pressure washer problems

Pressure washer in use

The most powerful models cost hundreds of pounds so to avoid your pressure washer breaking, take a look at how to avoid issues, such as leaking and pump failure.

  • Water leaks from within the pressure washer - Drain your pressure washer before you store it for the winter – check the manufacturer’s instructions for how to do this. Do not allow your pressure washer to freeze by storing it in a frost-free place - garages and sheds often aren't frost-free so you may need to store it in the house. It is possible to buy replacement parts for the plastic components and pumps of some pressure washers – check the manufacturer’s website for further details.
  • Pressure-washer lance fails - Always check that your lance and nozzles are assembled properly before turning on the trigger to avoid straining the seals between them. Avoid dropping your lance on the floor while you are using it and always check that the nozzles are free of debris. You could use a pin to gently remove any debris you find. If your pressure washer has storage slots for the lance and nozzles, use these when you are cleaning instead of propping the lance on the floor where it could pick up dirt.
  • Pressure washer loses pressure  - If the pressure is pulsing it’s worth checking that the water supply is fully turned on and that the hose supplying the pressure washer is not squeezed or kinked first. Then clean the water filter. To get rid of air run the pressure washer with an open spray handle and nozzle at low pressure until regular working pressure resumes. If the pressure is steady but low it can indicate a worn stop/start valve – squeeze the trigger five times in quick succession to get it working again. Otherwise it might be a worn nozzle, which should be replaced. 
  • Seals failure on a pressure washer - Always drain your pressure washer after using so no water is left in the pipes and avoid storing your pressure washer where it can freeze. Garages and sheds are often not safe from frost so you may need to store your pressure washer in the house for winter. Seals can be replaced in some cases, so check with the manufacturer.
  • Pressure washer pump fails - Store the pressure washer in a frost-free place, such as a cupboard in the house, and make sure that the water is turned on and at adequate pressure before running the pump. Takes steps to remedy a pulsing pressure washer.  

Should you buy a separate patio cleaner?

Pressure washer patio cleaner

Some pressure washers come with a patio cleaner attachment, but they're often an optional extra costing around £40-50. So are they worth it?

Patio cleaners can be useful for large expanses of patio or driveway. They make cleaning easier and less messy than using a standard jet lance, as the plastic cover over the nozzle helps to stop dirty water spraying everywhere. They are also often quicker to use than the main lance.

They can be particularly useful for cleaning block paving, as they're less prone to blasting away the sand from the joints than more powerful nozzles.

But there can be big differences between the effectiveness of patio cleaners from different brands. We make it clear in all our reviews whether we think that the compatible pressure washer accessory is a useful addition to the model.

Read our guide to cleaning your patio with a pressure washer for more tips.

Nilfisk vs. Karcher pressure washers

We've compared the two most popular pressure washer brands detailing their score and price range to the typical differences between them. The customer score, fault and loyalty stats are based on an online survey of 8,881 Connect and general public respondents, taken in January 2022. The minimum sample size for a brand to be included is 30.


Total testedBest BuysDon't BuysRange of test scoresPrice range
Nilfisk100061 - 73%£100 - £430
Karcher132062 - 78%£70 - £400


Key differences

  • Karcher has a higher customer score of 78% (sample size: 2,271) versus Nilfisk's 74% (sample size: 185). This reflects how satisfied respondents are with the brand and how likely they would be to recommend it.
  • Fewer owners of Karcher pressure washers experienced faults within the first seven years of owning it - 8% said they had (sample size: 2,271) versus 16% of Nilfisk owners (sample size: 185).
  • In terms of brand loyalty and how many people bought the same brand of pressure washer again, an impressive 73% of Karcher owners (sample size: 329) said they had versus 10% of Nilfisk owners (sample size: 52).
  • Nilfisk models are typically more lightweight compared to Karcher models. They are constructed with light materials to make them easier to move around.
  • Nilfisk pressure washers tend to be quieter than Karcher models as they're designed with a noise-reduction system.
  • Nilfisk's entry level models tend to have more powerful motors and come with an aluminium pump head rather than a plastic one for durability.
  • All Karcher models come with a hose to draw water from any source, such as a water butt or a bucket. This also makes them more portable.
  • Karcher were the first to introduce smart technology to pressure washers so you can connect them to your smartphone via an app.

Find out which pressure washer brands are the most reliable in our Which pressure washer brand to buy guide.

Why Which? pressure washer reviews are better

Which? is independent and doesn't accept advertising or freebies, so you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about a product. 

As part of our pressure-washer tests, we wash a one-metre square patch of several different types of surface including concrete, block paving, paving slabs, softwood decking and even a car. Checking how long it takes and rating how clean the surfaces are. Our tests also look at: 

  • How easy the pressure washer is to use. 
  • Which version performs better.
  • How easy it is to move and store.
  • How well the additional and optional attachments work.

To find out more, head to how we test pressure washers.


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