If you’re planning to spruce up outdoor areas in desperate need of a clean, a pressure washer could save you a great deal of hard work.
Investing in a garden power tool like a pressure washer can be a great way to save water, as they use less than a garden hose, and get through tiresome cleaning tasks such as washing the greenhouse, car or decking quickly and effectively.
Choosing the right pressure washer for your garden will depend on the size of your space, how quickly grime builds up and, of course, your budget. We’ve collated a list of ten of the best pressure washers that we’ve tested, which should cover a range of price points and suit a variety of gardening tasks, surfaces and garden sizes.
We’ve also included three pressure cleaners in this round up, because if you’re not able to hook up to a mains water supply, these portable pressure washers offer complete flexibility.
To make the buying process as painless as possible, we’ve also put together a buyer’s guide filled with advice on key features to look out for, how much you should be spending and suggestions on which models are best to clean a car and patio.
Our experts have also tested the best leaf blowers and leaf vacuums, which come into their own when you’re tidying up the garden, as will the best strimmers and the best hedge trimmers.
If you need to update your watering kit, check out our tests of the best garden hoses and best garden hose spray guns.
For more cordless garden tools, read our best cordless mowers and best robotic mowers guides, or take a look at the best cordless drills.
Pressure washer – Buyer’s Guide video
Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.
Buying a pressure cleaner – video
Best Buy pressure washers at a glance
- Best pressure washer all round: Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer
- Best pressure washer for furniture: Greenworks G30 Pressure Washer
- Best pressure washer for paving: Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer
- Best pressure washer for gentle cleaning: Nilfisk Core 140
- Best budget pressure washer: Ryobi RPW110B Pressure Washer
- Best pressure cleaner for performance: Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner, WG620E
- Best value pressure cleaner: Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner
- Best budget pressure cleaner: Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner WG629E.1
Best Black Friday pressure washer deals
Looking for a discount on one of the pressure washers on this list? Our experts are busy tracking prices live to bring you the best pressure washer offers on tried-and-tested favourites, top-rated by the BBC Gardeners’ World team.
Kärcher High Pressure Washer K3 | £229.99 £149.99 at Kärcher (save £80 or 35%)
Yard Force 150 Bar 2000W | £169.99 £114.99 at Amazon (save £55 or 32%)
Our expertise
We tested a range of pressure washers and cordless pressure cleaners, using them for different jobs in the garden to help you find the right one for your needs. Each pressure washer has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to ease of use, handling, performance, and value for money. Every pressure washer and cleaner in our round up has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.
Jump to:
- Best Buy pressure washers
- Best Buy pressure cleaners
- The best of the rest
- How to choose the best pressure washer
- Types of pressure washers
- Pressure washers vs pressure cleaners
- What’s the best pressure washer for patios?
- What’s the best pressure washer for cars?
- How to use a pressure washer
In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best pressure washers and cleaners below.
Best pressure washers in 2023
Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer
RRP: £179.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros:
- Simple, with no nozzles to swap
- Comfortable to use
- Powerful, effective cleaning
- Excellent stability
Cons:
- Accessories expensive
Ideal for bigger gardens, the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer has a long hose reach of seven metres. A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for the best all round pressure washer, it has sturdy wheels and two handles that make it easy to move around the garden as you clean. The upright handle also folds down for easy storage. The pressure washer is supplied with three nozzles – pencil, jet and fan nozzle – and additional accessories such as a wash brush or patio cleaner can be bought, although they are a little expensive.
Read the full Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer review
Greenworks G30 Pressure Washer
RRP: £159.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Buy now from Wickes (£140.00), eBay (£139.95)
Pros:
- Good features and accessories
- Fast cleaning
- Solid and stable
- Handy extension arm
Cons:
- Wheels fiddly to attach
This Greenworks pressure washer has a six metre house and comes with a variety of accessories including two nozzles, a wash brush, an extension lance and a patio cleaner. It is one of the heavier models we tested but the sturdy wheels and trolley handle make it easy to manoeuvre and we did find it to be powerful, making light work of algae on garden furniture, which made it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner.
Read the full Greenworks G30 Pressure Washer review
Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer
RRP: £129.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Buy Now from Karcher (£229.99), Amazon (£184.99), and Very (£209.99)
Pros:
- Powerful patio and surface cleaner
- Comfortable to use
- Integrated detergent feed
- Good choice of sprays
Cons:
- Needs more assembly than many
This pressure washer is lightweight and has wheels and two handles to make it easy to move around the garden. It has a powerful 1600w engine and its patio cleaner had no problem clearing any dirt in our test, so it won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for cleaning paving. There is an integrated detergent tank and onboard storage in the body of the pressure washer to tuck away the cable, hose and lances. A range of accessories are available including a dirt blaster spray and an extension lance to limit the strain on your back.
Read the full Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer review
Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer
RRP: £199.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Responsive trigger gun
- Compact design for easy storage
- Solid and sturdy
Cons:
- Limited accessories
A fast, efficient pressure washer, which tackled my patio, decking, furniture and car with ease. Three different power levels, combined with two nozzles provide plenty of variation to suit delicate tasks as well as those tougher jobs, which is why it won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for gentle cleaning. Small and compact, it has great storage features, while sturdy wheels and handle make it conveniently portable.
Read the full Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer review.
Ryobi RPW110B Pressure Washer
RRP: £89.99
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy now from Amazon (£80.45)
Pros:
- Light and compact
- Storage space
- Cleans well
- Choice of sprays
- Great value and warranty
Cons:
- No wheels
- Lacks safety button
Thanks to a low RRP, the Ryobi RPW110B is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for the best budget pressure washer. A good option for lighter cleaning, this Ryobi pressure washer is small and compact. With a five metre hose, the model comes with a selection of accessories including a variable fan spray and a pencil jet. More accessories including a wash brush and patio cleaner are also available for an additional cost. There are no wheels but it’s light enough to lift and move around the garden as needed.
Read the full Ryobi RPW110B Pressure Washer review.
Best pressure cleaners in 2023
Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner, WG629E.1
RRP: £164.99
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and store
- Multi-spray nozzle and two settings
- Accessories, including an extension lance, a foldable water bucket, soap bottle and brush
- Battery level indicator display
- Fast charge and good run time
- Part of the WORX PowerShare battery system
Cons:
- Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this cordless pressure cleaner from WORX comes into its own if you don’t have an outside tap for a garden hose. It’s self priming, which means it can draw water from any source, including a bucket, pool or river. It also comes with a water inlet filter on the end of the hose to prevent debris clogging up the system. The multi-spray nozzle features five settings – 0°, 25°, 40°, shower and mist, and we like that it also has two pressure modes – high pressure for tackling stubborn stains, and low pressure for gentle cleaning and watering the garden. What’s more, it has a turbo setting, which delivers a 360° jet of rotating water that covers a broader area – we found this was most effective when used with the high pressure setting. It’s compact, and features three accessories – a brush, soap bottle and foldable bucket – to help effectively wash cars, garden furniture and bikes, as well as water the garden. Operating at 22 Bar pressure, it delivers 120 litres per hour water flow rate and comes with a 10m hose, which was the longest in the group we tested and gives plenty of freedom. It has a 30 minute run time, takes a nifty one hour to charge and features a battery level indicator, which is really useful. Part of the WORX Powershare family, the 20V 2 AH MAX lithium-ion batteries can be used across the other power tools in this range. It comes with a three year warranty.
Read the full Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner WG629E.1
Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner
RRP: £149.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and store
- Multi-spray nozzle and Eco mode
- Two position handle
- Fast charge
- Battery level indicator display
- Accessories, including extension lance, a soap bottle and brush
- Part of the Yard Force CR20V range
Cons:
- Heavier than the WORX pressure cleaners, at 3.7kg
- Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for value this cordless pressure cleaner is compact, yet powerful enough to handle washing the car, patio and garden furniture, as well as watering the garden. Self-priming, it draws water from a bucket, pool or river rather than the mains supply and comes with a water inlet filter on the end of the six metre hose to prevent debris from clogging the system. We really loved that you can also adjust the angle of the handle, so it’s comfortable to operate. The multi-spray nozzle features three settings – Jet, for a wide fan shaped spray, Low pressure, for a lighter clean and Turbo, for a higher pressure spiral spray. It operates at 22 Bar pressure, which delivers a flow rate of 160 litres per hour through the six metre hose, which is more than the WORX models in our test. The Eco Mode allows you to quickly switch to using less water and power for a lighter clean and also helps conserve the battery life, and we love that the battery light indicator shows the percentage levels remaining. It uses a 20V 2.5Ah lithium-ion battery, which gives a 20 minute run time from a fast one-hour battery charge, It can also be used across the other power tools in the Yard Force cordless range. It comes with a foldable 10L water bucket, soap bottle and brush, as well as a three year warranty.
Read the full Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet cordless pressure cleaner review
Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot WG620E Pressure Cleaner
RRP: £139.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Buy now from Very (£139.99), and ffx (£159.99)
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and store
- Multi-spray nozzle
- Comes with an extension lance
- Good run time
- Battery level indicator display
- Part of the WORX PowerShare battery system
Cons:
- Limited accessories
- 3 to 5 hours charge time
- Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Budget Buy, this cordless pressure washer from WORX is a super option if you don’t have an outside tap for a garden hose or would find a portable pressure cleaner useful. Self-priming, it can draw water from a bucket, pool or river rather than requiring a mains supply – it has a water inlet filter on the end of the hose to prevent debris from clogging up the system. It comes with a multi-spray nozzle, which features five settings – 0°, 25°, 40°, shower and mist, an extension lance, as well as a 6m hose. Lightweight, weighing just 1.7kg, it operates at 22 Bar pressure, which delivers 120 litres per hour water flow rate. It uses a 20V 2 AH MAX lithium-ion battery, and we like that there’s a battery level indicator to show how much charge is left. While it doesn’t come with the range of accessories that the WORX WG629E.1 and the Yard Force Aquajet, it’s part of the WORX Powershare family, which means the battery can be used across the other power tools in this range. It comes with a two year warranty.
Read the full Worx Pressure Cleaner WG620E review
The best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.
Stihl RE80 Pressure Washer
RRP: £139.99
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy now from FR Jones & Son (£107.50) and Mowers2Go (£116.67)
Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Excellent rotary nozzle
- Onboard storage
- Easy to set up
- Great value
- Three nozzles – fan, rotary, and detergent
Cons:
- Significantly weaker on lower pressures
Stihl’s latest pressure washer is a lightweight, budget model. With a 1400W power output, 120 bar pressure, and a five metre hose, the RE80 offers great performance for good value. Thanks to clear and simple instructions, it’s easy to assemble – all you need is a Phillips screwdriver and 15 minutes. It features tidy onboard storage for all of the nozzles and the best of these is the rotary nozzle, which efficiently powers through dirt on every surface. There’s also a fan nozzle, with adjustable pressure that performs well on patio slabs, but only at maximum power – if you weaken the pressure even slightly it’s much less effective. It also includes a detergent bottle attachment. One of the lightest machines on test at 7.5kg, it’s comfortable to wheel around, and because it’s compact, it’s easy to store in your shed. It’s great value for its low £129.99 RRP, especially considering the good three-year warranty.
Buy the Stihl RE80 from FR Jones & Son and Mowers2Go
Stihl RE100 Pressure Washer
RRP: £219
Our rating: 4.25 out of 5
Pros:
- Powerful cleaning
- Quiet
- Good storage features
Cons:
- Heavy to move and lift
- Accessories expensive
A good option for large areas, the Stihl RE100 cleans well and quietly. It’s stable when in use and although it was a little heavy to move, it does have a trolley handle and wheels to help. With in-built storage features, the accessories and cable fit nicely onto the main body.
Buy the Stihl RE100 Pressure Washer from Toolstop, Toolstore UK, and Mowers2Go
Yard Force EW U15 Pressure Washer
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Pros:
- Good cleaning power
- Long hose reach
- Useful features including winding hose reel
Cons:
- Vibrations uncomfortable
- Heavy
- Sprays hard to change
The Yard Force EW U15 is a compact pressure washer with two carry handles. It has a number of storage features including a hose reel and it has a good choice of sprays. It needs very little assembly to set up but sprays can be difficult to adjust and cause some vibrations. Best suited for small areas and quick jobs.
Buy the Yard Force EW U15 Pressure Washer from Amazon, Robert Dyas, and Homebase
Husqvarna PW125 pressure washer
RRP: £139.99
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Long hose
- Excellent performance on patios
- Good value
- Three different nozzles – fan, rotary, and detergent
Cons:
- The nozzles are less effective at the edge of paving slabs
- Poor instructions so takes a long time to set up
- Warranty only available through Husqvarna dealers
A compact but powerful pressure washer, the Husqvarna PW125 has a 1500W power output, a flow rate of 320-460 litres per hour, and 135 bar pressure. The seven-metre hose equals the length of the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135, so you can reach most of a patio or deck without having to reposition the main body of the pressure washer. It’s manoeuvrable thanks to wheels and a handle, and it feels robust and sturdy despite being relatively light at 8.3kg. It comes with a lance and two nozzles – a flat spray nozzle and a rotary nozzle for tougher cleaning. It also has a detergent bottle attachment for cleaning greenhouses, windows, and cars, which produces a good spray. Though the jet from the flat spray nozzle is narrow it easily removes dirt on patio slabs, bricks, and stonework. This nozzle also makes quick work of moss, rust and paint, as does the more efficient rotary nozzle with its wider spray. However, we found that this pressure washer is slightly less effective at the corners of paving slabs. The biggest weakness is the instructions, which are only pictures, so it takes about 45 minutes to set up the first time. It’s good value, but you should note that its two year warranty is only available when you buy directly from a licensed Husqvarna dealer.
Makita HW111 Pressure Washer
RRP: £138
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Pros:
- Cleans well
- Compact and stable
- Handy hose reel
Cons:
- Lacks accessories
- Lance feels short
A good option for cars, fences and driveways, the Makita HW111 is compact, stable and has wheels to help make manoeuvring easy despite its weight. The pressure washer is relatively simple but cleans well and is supplied with a choice of sprays, integrated hose reel and foam sprayer.
How to choose the best pressure washer
There are a number of things to consider before buying your washer. The tougher the job, the more power you’ll want from your machine. The smaller or more delicate the area, the less power you’ll need.
Three factors determine the power of your machine:
- Wattage of the motor – measured in watts
- Water pressure – measured in bars
- Maximum water flow rate – measured in litres per hour
The higher the power, the harder the machine will be able to work on tough areas, but some surfaces may require a lighter touch.
If you have smaller surface areas, wooden decking or block paving, a lower flow rate should be able to clean effectively without damaging the surface. For large paved areas such as a driveway, a higher flow rate will be more effective.
Attachments and add-on equipment
There are lots of different models for different tasks as well as a range of attachments and optional extras available. These include:
- Patio cleaner attachments
- Brushes for cars and glass
- 90° nozzles for cleaning under cars
- Drain-blasting hoses
Some models come with attachments included while others will be available to buy as add-ons. Make sure you consider which attachments you’ll need to suit the surface you’re cleaning. Adjustable settings are also useful to tailor the cleaning power to different areas.
In our video guide, we outline all of the above points and demonstrate how to use a pressure washer on both vulnerable, easily damaged surfaces and larger areas, such as paths and patios.
Types of pressure washer
Budget pressure washers
A basic, lower powered machine is best for smaller garden tasks such as cleaning gardening equipment and washing down bikes. If you’re planning to tackle a lot of built up grime on rough surfaces, this isn’t the machine for you.
For a lower powered, budget model you’ll be looking at a lower flow rate plus:
- Motor wattage – 1200 to 1600 watts
- Water pressure – 90 bar or under
While budget brands are more likely to fit this price-tag, some mid-range manufacturers also offer a basic model:
The distinctive yellow Kärcher pressure washers range from around £100 up to full kits in excess of £400, but they do have a “K2 Basic” model for around £70.
Mid-range pressure washers
These pressure washers are ideal for most households. Machines in this range should be able to cope with cleaning paving and garden furniture as well as cars.
For a medium powered model you’ll be looking at a reasonable flow rate plus:
- Motor wattage – 1600 to 2000 watts
- Water pressure – 90 to 130 bar
Models cost between £100 and £200 or slightly more, depending on the accessories and attachments included and there’s lots to choose from. Even the biggest names have a pressure washer model in this price bracket.
Top of the range and semi-professional pressure washers
If you’ve got a large or commercial area to clean or some seriously built up grime, you’ll be looking for a high powered pressure washer. These pressure washers should be able to clean large areas of paving as well as vehicles, such as 4x4s and caravans.
For a top of the range machine, you’ll want a high flow rate plus:
- Motor wattage – 2000 to 2500 watts
- Water pressure – 130 to 150 bar
For high-end machines, prices range from £200 to £700 for a professional standard washer.
Pressure washers vs pressure cleaners
The main difference between a pressure washer and pressure cleaner is that pressure cleaners are portable, meaning they don’t need to be attached to the mains water supply. Instead, they are self priming and can draw water via a suction hose from any source, including a bucket, pool or even a river. However, most pressure cleaners also feature a hose adapter, which can be connected to the mains tap, offering the best of both worlds. They’re also cordless and powered by lithium-ion batteries, so you will be limited by their run time, but the batteries are usually part of a wider range of power tools within the brand’s range, which can save you money.
As with pressure washers, pressure cleaners also come with multi-spray nozzles, and depending on the model, can be bought with a range of accessories, like a foldable bucket, brush and soap bottle, or these can be purchased separately. Pressure cleaners offer a moderate flow rate, around 120L per hour, with 22 bar pressure from 20V power.
What’s the best pressure washer for a patio?
To clean a paved patio, you’ll need at least a mid-range, medium power pressure washer, although a lower pressure machine is more suitable for block paving or wooden decking. The three pressure cleaners we tested will also cope well with this type of task, just bear in mind their battery run time.
To make it easier to clean larger areas, look for a long hose that will be kinder on your back and opt for a washer with specific patio cleaning attachment tools. Similar to an indoor floor cleaner, the brush head and rotating jets diffuse the pressure across the surface to clean flat surfaces evenly, rather than concentrating the water in a single stream at a time, as a hose would.
What’s the best pressure washer for cars?
For a standard car, a mid-range pressure washer should do the job. 4x4s that see a lot of heavy duty use, caravans or commercial vehicles may need a higher end model. All the pressure cleaners we tested are designed to clean cars and camper vans, as well as bikes when you’re out and about. You will need to keep in mind the run time and possibly charge more than once for larger vehicles.
Specific car cleaning attachments are also available, including angled tools for reaching beneath the body of the car and brushes to softly clean the bodywork.
How to use a pressure washer
A pressure washer can be used for a whole host of cleaning tasks and this will affect which attachments and settings you use.
Before you buy, check you’ve got the attachments you need, such as a patio cleaner or car tools. Some models come with them included but others will require you to purchase them separately. Each model has different settings which vary the power and spray of water. Using a powerful setting on a delicate surface like wooden decking, could risk causing damage, so adjust your settings to suit the job. The instructions should explain which setting is the right one.
The pressure washer will need to be connected to a water source such as an outdoor tap. Pressure cleaners will need a water supply, either in a bucket or from a natural source like a river, or a tap if they have a hose connector.
Finally, consider how water will drain away when you’re working and remember not to use a pressure washer in freezing temperatures.
For more tips and advice, watch this video guide to find out the best way to clean decking.
How we tested pressure washers and pressure cleaners
We tested a range of pressure washers and pressure cleaners, putting them through their paces on a range of surfaces. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:
- Preparation. Assessed how easy the pressure washers and cleaners were to assemble, how long this took and if any extra tools were needed, and how easy the instructions are to use. We also looked at how easy and quick it was to charge the batteries and store the pressure washers and cleaners.
- Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a safety button, the runtime, and noise.
- Performance. Focused on how well pressure washer cleaned. We assessed how they dealt with different surfaces, such as paving, furniture, brick, and cars. We tested different nozzles, water pressure levels, and and different areas of the garden.
- Value for Money. Considered all of the above plus any special features, RRP and warranty.
For more information on our testing process, see How We Review.
This review was last updated in October 2022. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
from BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://ift.tt/H9jvyhG
