The Best Electric Pressure Washers of 2022

An electric pressure washer is a great piece of equipment to have because it produces dramatic cleaning results. It can quickly and safely wash a muddy vehicle or strip grime and goo from patio furniture, decks, or the siding on a house. Cleanup jobs that take a lot of time and elbow grease with a scrub brush and a garden hose are achievable in minutes with a pressure washer.

Pressure washers use pumps and engines to amplify water pressure, turning your garden hose into a high-powered cleaning machine. There are two general types of pressure washers: electric powered and gasoline powered. While gas-powered pressure washers typically offer more power, electric pressure washers are growing in popularity for their combination of cleaning power, portability, and overall versatility. Plus, the best electric pressure washer models can tackle many of the same jobs as gasoline-powered washers used by professionals, and they are more affordable, lighter, quieter, and easier to store and maintain.

There are many electric pressure washers on the market with a wide range of features, so it can be tough to choose the best electric pressure washer for your cleaning projects. In order to figure out which models are right for different jobs, we chose some of the most popular models and tested them for cleaning power, portability, and versatility.

Keep reading to learn more about shopping considerations, and take a look at our detailed hands-on product reviews of some of the best electric pressure washers on the market.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Electric Pressure Washer
Keep the following factors in mind while shopping for a pressure washer so you can find one you can use for years to come.

Power

The amount of power a pressure washer has is measured in a combination of pounds per square inch (psi) and flow, measured in gallons per minute (GPM).

PSI indicates the water pressure delivered by the machine. The higher the psi, the more powerful the pressure washer and the more effective it will be at

cleaning deep stains. Electric pressure washers typically range between 1,500 and 2,500 psi. A machine with a lower psi rating can do almost all the jobs a more powerful machine can do, but a machine with higher psi can do it faster.

GPM measures the volume of water delivered by the pressure washer, which in tandem with psi, is a measure of how fast the electric pressure washer will clean. Higher GPM electric pressure washers are more powerful and will clean faster than models with lower GPM.

Hose Length

The proper hose length has a lot to do with the task at hand. Washing a full-size pickup truck might require a 25-foot hose, while pressure washing a deck might not require all that length. The extra length is needed to walk around the truck without dragging the pressure washer or pulling it over. On the other hand, that extra length could be a hassle when pressure washing the deck as it may become a tripping hazard.

Pump Type

There are two main types of pumps used in pressure washers: axial and triplex. Most electric pressure washers have an axial pump. Axial pumps are maintenance-free, meaning the oil doesn’t have to be changed. However, an axial pump can’t be rebuilt and its seals or valves can’t be changed like with a triplex. Once an axial pump fails, a new pump will need to be purchased or the entire pressure washer will need to be replaced.

Nozzle

Most pressure washers come with replaceable nozzles that fit onto the tip of the pressure-washer wand so the user can customize the water stream’s angle or intensity. Nozzles are measured in angles ranging from zero to 40 degrees. The higher the angle, the lower the water pressure.

A 40-degree nozzle might be used to wash a car or the siding on a house, a 25-degree nozzle might be used for general tasks, and a zero-degree nozzle may be used for the toughest cleaning jobs, like getting an oil stain out of a driveway.

Ease of Use

An electric pressure washer is easier to use than a gasoline pressure washer. It doesn’t need oil changes, spark plugs, or throttle adjustments. It doesn’t require a tricky pull-start either. The user just hooks up the hose and throws a switch to turn the machine on. Electric pressure washers are also a lot quieter than gasoline-powered pressure washers.

Another ease-of-use feature to look for is quick connect fittings for nozzles and hoses. These spring-loaded fittings snap on and off quickly and easily. No wrench is needed.

Portability

Electric pressure washers are smaller and lighter than gasoline-powered models. Some electric pressure washers aren’t much larger than a cooler and are easier to store.

It’s a good idea to pick an electric power washer that balances power with portability. Generally, the more powerful the pressure washer, the heavier it is. The ideal model is light enough to move around the yard or house without straining the user, yet it still contains the power needed to get the job done.

Our Top Picks

Portability, size, power, cord length, and accessories are some of the top features that set some electrical pressure washers ahead of others. Check out the individual product reviews ahead to learn how each pressure washer performed in our hands-on driveway tests.