Pressure Washer Chooser
Find your main job in the table below. For each job it gives a suggested power type and class with an outdoor outlet and with no outlet, a starting nozzle and any accessory worth checking, with links to the matching picks and guides.
If you're asking "which pressure washer should I buy?", this is the place to start. The table starts narrower: which type of washer suits the job you do most, given the power you have where you clean. Each row gives a class (compact electric, full-size electric, gas or cordless), a starting nozzle given as an angle, since tip colors vary by brand, and any accessory worth checking, such as a surface cleaner for big flat areas. Below it, for each job, the page lists what manufacturers' own guides say about pressure, with each source named, because those guides don't agree. It never names a model and never ranks anything. Follow your washer's manual over anything here.
Suggested type by job
Find your main job in the first column, then read across: a suggested type if you have an outdoor outlet where you clean, a suggested type if you don't, a starting nozzle angle, and anything worth checking. The table suggests a type of washer, not a product. It doesn't know your surface's condition or your machine, and it doesn't recommend specific products. Check the manufacturer's guidance and your manual before you spray.
| Main job | With an outdoor outlet | With no outlet | Starting nozzle (angle) | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car or bike | Compact electric | Cordless | 40° | A foam cannon (check it fits your washer) |
| Outdoor furniture | Compact electric | Cordless | 40° | — |
| Wood deck or fence | Full-size electric | Gas | Manuals differ: 25° (Sun Joe, Generac) or 40° (Greenworks/Simpson). Check your washer's manual. | — |
| Patio or pavers | Full-size electric | Gas | 25° | A surface cleaner rated for your washer |
| Concrete driveway | Gas, or full-size electric | Gas | 25° | A surface cleaner rated for your washer |
| Siding | Full-size electric | Gas | Manuals differ: 25° (Sun Joe, Generac) or 40° (Greenworks/Simpson). Check your washer's manual. | — |
| Boat or RV away from an outlet | Compact electric | Cordless | 40° | — |
Tip colors vary by brand; see the nozzle guide or your manual. The type suggestions are our editorial mapping, not a manufacturer's.
The matching picks: electric, gas and cordless on the main page, the electric, gas and cordless pages, plus accessories, gas vs electric and how to choose.
What manufacturers say about pressure by job
| Job | What each manufacturer says (PSI, and GPM where given) |
|---|---|
| Car | Greenworks buying guide: 1,300–2,000 PSI, 1.2–1.6 GPM. Greenworks car guide: 1,200–1,900 PSI. Greenworks Canada: 1,300–1,900 PSI. BLACK+DECKER: 1,300–1,800 PSI. Sources differ; check your washer's manual. |
| Outdoor furniture | Greenworks buying guide ("Light (cars, furniture)"): 1,300–2,000 PSI, 1.2–1.6 GPM. Greenworks Canada (patio furniture): 1,300–1,900 PSI. |
| Wood deck | Greenworks buying guide ("siding, decks"): 2,000–2,800 PSI, 1.8–2.5 GPM. Greenworks Canada: 2,000–2,500 PSI. BLACK+DECKER: 1,800–2,500 PSI. Sources differ; check your washer's manual. |
| Fence | Greenworks Canada: 2,000–2,500 PSI. BLACK+DECKER: 1,800–2,500 PSI. No GPM given. |
| Siding | Greenworks buying guide: 2,000–2,800 PSI, 1.8–2.5 GPM. Greenworks Canada: 2,000–2,500 PSI. BLACK+DECKER: 1,800–2,500 PSI. |
| Concrete driveway | Greenworks buying guide: 2,900–3,300+ PSI, 2.5–4.0 GPM. Greenworks Canada: 2,600+ PSI. BLACK+DECKER: 2,500–2,800 PSI. |
| Patio or pavers; boat or RV | No manufacturer range found. Check the manufacturer's recommended pressure for this surface in your washer's manual. |
Ranges are manufacturers' general guidance; follow your washer's manual and use the lowest pressure that does the job. For concrete, Simpson and DeWalt add: "Household jobs… shouldn't need a machine larger than 3000 PSI" (Simpson; DeWalt).
Other sources disagree with these manufacturers on two jobs:
- Car: Sources differ: Consumer Reports advises against pressure-washing a car (Consumer Reports).
- Deck: Sources differ: Consumer Reports recommends lower pressure for decks than these manufacturers do; check your washer's manual.
Whatever type suits your job
Start well away from the surface, use the lowest pressure that does the job, test a hidden spot first, and follow your washer's manual.
For gas washers:
For electric washers:
FAQ
What pressure washer should I buy for home use?
Pick the type by job and outlet access. Electric washers suit cars, decks and patios near an outlet. Gas washers suit big surfaces outdoors. Cordless power cleaners suit rinsing away from an outlet. Use the table above.
What type of pressure washer do I need for a driveway?
Gas, or a higher-flow electric with a surface cleaner rated for it. Compare listed GPM. Manufacturers' concrete ranges differ: Greenworks says 2,900–3,300+ PSI and 2.5–4.0 GPM, Greenworks Canada 2,600+ PSI, and BLACK+DECKER 2,500–2,800 PSI. Simpson and DeWalt say household jobs "shouldn't need a machine larger than 3000 PSI."
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