Head Judge: Andrew Wilcox
Channel 4’s Head Judge & Founder of Shed of the Year Andrew Wilcox has worked to help design an impartial judging system for WhatShed. The judging system uses many different parameters to help give a large degree of impartiality to the way we select products for each of the league tables we do. You can read more about the system here.
Perfect for cleaning walls, patios, driveways, garden furniture, your car, and everything in between, pressure washers have a lot of different uses, and we’ve spent over 20 hours looking for the best pressure washer models on the market. Taking expert and user reviews into account, we’ve selected seven of the best pressure washers to help you save time in your search for the right choice
Kärcher K2 Full Control Home Pressure Washer
The Karcher K2 Full Control Home Pressure Washer stands out as one of the best-rated pressure washers money can buy right now. Well-suited for cleaning large areas of patio and decking, while also being useful for walls, paving slabs, garage doors, and cars too, this Karcher pressure washer can be assembled in a matter of minutes. It comes with all the accessories and instructions you need to get started, boasting impressive build quality and multiple attachments for handling different surfaces, offering a maximum pressure rating of 110 bar, a top flow rate of 360 l/h, and an overall unit weight (without accessories) of 4.3 kg.
8 Reasons To Buy
- This is one of the most compact pressure washers around, making it really easy to carry
- The Karcher K2 is available at a very reasonable price, offering good value for money
- Many reviewers stated that this pressure washer was more than powerful enough to tackle decks, patios, garden furniture, and vehicles
- Many users appreciate the various attachments that come with this pressure washer
- The Karcher K2 comes with a bottle of patio and deck detergent, as well as a T150 patio cleaner
- Users enjoy how easy it is to set up and use this pressure washer, with simple lance attachment changes
- Users appreciate the fact that this pressure washer can be set-up in just 5-10 minutes
- Many users were also impressed by the build quality of this washer
3 Reasons Not To Buy
- Some users feel that the power cable on this pressure washer is a little too short
- Some negative reviews of this compact pressure washer argued that the power cable and water hose are tricky to roll around the unit and can fall off quite easily
- A few users stated that this pressure washer wasn’t quite powerful enough for some of their more intensive cleaning jobs
Kärcher K7 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer
If you’re looking for the best pressure washer in terms of pure power and performance, and don’t mind paying a little extra for the privilege, the heavy-duty, high-pressure Karcher K7 is a great choice for you. Building on the foundations established by other models like the Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer, the K7 is a top-of-the-range model that offers 180 bar of pressure, a 550 l/h max flow rate, ideal for all kinds of surfaces, and more than enough power to tackle any cleaning job on even the most stubborn surfaces. It’s an expensive and heavy unit, but it brings a lot to the table with its intelligent control system, easy detergent application, and 3-in-1 lance.
6 Reasons To Buy
- Many users appreciate the immense power of this pressure washer, comparing it favourably to other Karcher models like the Karcher K4 Full Control
- The Plug ‘n’ Clean System of the Karcher K7 lets you click in a bottle of detergent and start spraying in seconds
- The Multi Jet Lance of this model lets you switch between three different cleaning modes on the fly
- The K7’s Intelligent LCD control system lets you adjust pressure easily for any task
- Many users liked the fact that the hose can be wound up with ease when not in use
- A lot of reviewers were happy to see that the K7 comes with a telescopic handle, making it easy to move around
3 Reasons Not To Buy
- Some reviewers felt that the K7 was so powerful, it could pose a risk to brickwork and paint
- The high price point of this model was a little off-putting for some
- Some negative reviews mentioned the weight of this pressure washer, calling it difficult to manoeuvre up and down steps or inclines
Nilfisk C 110 bar 110.7-5 X-TRA Compact Pressure Washer for Basic Tasks
One of the best pressure washers in terms of overall value for money, this compact pressure washer from Nilfisk weighs in at just 6 kg and comes with a simple handle and wheels on the base, making it really easy to move around. It can work well on patios, cars, grills, and decks, among other surfaces, with two nozzles, included and a 5m hose too. The maximum pressure for this washer is 110 bar, while the topwater flow rate is 440 l/h. It comes with a 2-year warranty too.
5 Reasons To Buy
- Many long-term users of this power washer are impressed with its durability, stating that the motor and aluminium body has stayed strong for years
- A lot of users appreciate how easy this pressure washer is to assemble
- Many users like the low price of this unit, calling it one of the best value options on the market
- Many positive reviews mentioned the useful range of attachments and accessories that come with this pressure washer
- A lot of users like the compact, lightweight nature of this washer
3 Reasons Not To Buy
- Some users said that disassembling this pressure washer was too difficult
- Certain reviewers said that the included instruction booklet and CD were unclear
- Some users felt that this wasn’t the best pressure washer for really stubborn stains and encrusted dirt
Wilks-USA RX545 Very High Powered Pressure Washer - 210 Bar
If you’re looking for the best pressure washer in terms of pure power, water flow, and bar rating, this might be the model for you. Boasting a pressure rating of 210 bar, this is one of the best high-pressure washer models around, fitted with a mighty 2,400W motor to power it up. Shipping with plenty of accessories, including five varying nozzles, a turbo wand, a rotary brush, and a patio cleaner, it’s ready for anything from driveways to exterior walls, garden furniture, decking, and your car. All of that power comes at a price, however, with this unit being one of the biggest and heaviest around.
5 Reasons To Buy
- This is one of the best pressure washer kits around, with 11 total accessories included for a huge range of jobs
- The high power motor and strong bar pressure rating of this jet washer allow it to tackle the toughest dirt
- A lot of users were happy with the built-in storage space on this heavy-duty washer for the hose and power cable
- Many positive reviews mentioned the rapid responsiveness and friendliness of the customer support team
- Some positive reviews compared this model favourably to other leading pressure washers like the Karcher K4
2 Reasons Not To Buy
- Due to the number of accessories and options, this pressure washer can take a bit of getting used to
- The size and weight of this unit can make it tricky to manoeuvre
Wilks-USA RX550i Highest Powered Electric Pressure Washer - Massive 262 Bar
Offering a maximum bar power level of 262, equivalent to 3,800 PSI, along with a 510 l/h flow rate and a 3,000W peak motor, this is one of the most high powered pressure washers around. Made from robust, reliable materials, complete with plenty of accessories and 26m of hose, it offers immense cleaning power and potential. And despite being so powerful, this is a reasonably compact and convenient unit too that won’t take up much space in your shed.
6 Reasons To Buy
- This is a very powerful machine, boasting some of the best technical specifications of any pressure washer
- Many users like the impressive 26m hose length with this unit that lets them get to those hard-to-reach spots
- This pressure washer has its own detergent tank, removing the need to click-in or attach a detergent bottle
- This power washer comes with on-board storage for the attachments, power cable, and hose
- Lots of users like the ‘Click and Go’ system that allows nozzles to be attached to the hose really easily
- Many users loved how complete this set was, with all different nozzles and adaptors
2 Reasons Not To Buy
- Some users would have preferred a multi-mode lance, rather than so many different attachments
- The lack of instructions with this pressure washer can make assembly a little difficult
Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 High-Pressure Washer
Fitted with a 3-in-1 nozzle for quick, efficient cleaning without the need to change out between lots of different attachments, this Bosch power washer is one of the best all-rounders on the market. It’s fitted with a 1,900W motor, boasting a topwater flow rate of 410 l/h and a bar pressure of 135. Unlike many other pressure washers, this one comes fully assembled and ready to go right out of the box, offering powerful cleaning potential to pressure wash your car, patio, furniture.
4 Reasons To Buy
- Lots of positive reviews for this product mentioned how it requires no assembly at all
- Lots of users enjoy the 3-in-1 head of this unit, letting you clean different surfaces without changing heads
- A lot of users like the compact and lightweight nature of this jet washer, as well as the wheels and carry handle for transportation
- The self-priming pump is another useful feature of this washer, perfect for drawing up water from a tank or large container
2 Reasons Not to Buy
- Some users felt that this washer was a little lacking in power for really tough, heavy-duty cleaning
- Certain reviewers mentioned fiddly, unstable clips that fail to hold the hose in place
Bosch AdvancedAquatak 140 pressure washer
Another highly rated pressure washer from Bosch, this model offers a flow rate of 450 l/h, a 2,100W motor, and a working bar pressure of 140. It features a self-priming pump for easy filling from tanks and containers, a range of nozzles and accessories for different outdoor cleaning tasks, wheels and a telescopic handle for manoeuvrability, and deep cleaning potential for a car, deck, patio, and other surfaces too.
4 Reasons To Buy
- Many positive reviews mentioned the all-round power and performance levels of this washer, suggesting it’s just right for most cleaning tasks
- The self-priming feature has generated a lot of praise for this washer, making it easy to fill
- Users like how this car washer can work with foam and detergent so easily
- Lots of reviewers like the convenient, portable nature of this patio cleaner
2 Reasons Not To Buy
- Some users felt that this unit lacked power for the toughest stains
- A few negative reviews mentioned that the hose was a little short