The 8 best pressure washers and pressure cleaners in 2026 – tested by our experts

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. Ideal for cleaning surfaces, furniture and large areas quickly, a pressure (or power) washer contains a motor that pumps a pressurised jet of water through a nozzle to shift dirt and stubborn grime with ease. There’s no need for hours of back-breaking scrubbing that would otherwise be required to get your garden back in shape.

Investing in a garden power tool like a pressure washer can save water, too, as they use less than a garden hose, cleaning quickly and efficiently. Both electric corded pressure washers and portable cordless pressure cleaners are now available, but choosing the right pressure washer for your garden will depend on the size of your space, what you're cleaning and, of course, your budget.

To make the buying process as painless as possible, we’ve tested a range of these versatile tools, all claiming to leave your patio, decking, garden furniture or car sparkling and put together a buyer’s guide filled with advice on key features to look out for, the different sizes available and suggestions on which models are best to clean a car and patio.

Best Buy pressure washers at a glance

• • Best pressure washer for storage: Stihl RE110 Plus
  • Best pressure washer all round: Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer
  • Best pressure washer for paving: Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer
  • Best pressure washer for gentle cleaning: Nilfisk Core 140
  • Best compact pressure washer: Black and Decker BEPW2000
  • Best pressure washer for portability: AVA Go P40 large bundle
  • Best value pressure cleaner: Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner
  • Best pressure cleaner for performance: Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner, WG620E

Jump to:

• Best Buy pressure washers
• Best Buy pressure cleaners
• The best of the rest
• How to choose the best pressure washer
• Pressure washers vs pressure cleaners

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

Stihl RE110 Plus

RRP: £319

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Ebay

Pros

• Lots of features, including a winding hose reel
• Good onboard storage
• Excellent cleaning performance
• Good stability

Cons

• Heavy

This powerful pressure washer has been awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for storage. Very little set-up is needed, just attaching the crank handle to the hose reel and slotting the cable, lance and nozzles into place, and it’s a very well-designed piece of kit. Both the 7m hose and the 5m cable are good lengths, and this pressure washer has a sturdy handle and large wheels that help make moving it around the garden and into place easy. At 20kg, it is heavy, though, so getting it up and down steps might be an issue for some.
It has very well-designed onboard storage, with a wind-up reel for keeping the hose stored away, a compartment for the cable and nozzles, and the handle is telescopic, so it takes up less room in the shed.

It comes with a detergent bottle and two nozzles – a rotary jet nozzle and an adjustable fan jet, and the lance has a soft grip handle so it’s comfortable with prolonged use, and even at the highest setting, when the lance pushes against the hand, it doesn’t vibrate like some models. Performance-wise, this is a very reliable machine. With an operating pressure of 110 bar, it tackles all outdoor cleaning jobs well and blasted away the stubborn stains on our patio with relative ease. This is a well-thought-out and consistently performing machine. Accessories for cleaning the car and patio are available to buy for this pressure washer, and it comes with a three-year warranty

Buy the Stihl RE11o Plus from Ebay, MowersUK and Stihl

Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

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 7m. A BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy 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

Buy the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer

RRP: £159

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

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 1,600-watt engine, and its patio cleaner had no problem clearing any dirt in our test, so it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy 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 is 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

Buy Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer from Argos, B&Q and Currys

Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer

RRP: £185.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

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 for gentle cleaning. Small and compact, it has great storage features, while the sturdy wheels and handle make it conveniently portable.

Read the full Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer review

Buy Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer from B&Q, Toolstation, Very

Black & Decker BEPW2000

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Light and compact in use and storage
• Ready to use
• Powerful cleaning
• Self-priming with additional hose

Cons

• Vibration in the hand after only a short time
• Handle slips down

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best compact pressure washer, this neat little model cleans surprisingly powerfully and efficiently. Almost ready to use straight out of the box, it just needs the hose, cable and lance attaching and requires no extra tools. A telescopic handle makes it simple to tuck away in storage, and at just over 8kg, it’s light and easy to move around, although the handle does slip down occasionally in use. It has a 6m hose and comes with two nozzles – a rotating turbo nozzle and an adjustable fan nozzle – and a detergent bottle.

There’s only one power level, but you can adjust the spray with the nozzles, and with 150 bar pressure, it cleaned our patio, garden furniture and caravan well. Tackling a stained patio took a little longer than some of the others in the test, but it is definitely powerful enough to get the job done. There’s also space on board for storage of the cable and nozzles once you’re finished. The only issue with this pressure washer is that after a while, the vibrations can be felt quite strongly in the hand. Otherwise, this washer is easy to use and store, small, light and quiet and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Black and Decker BEPW2000 from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up,

AVA Go P40 Large Bundle

RRP: £149.90

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Light and easy to pick up and carry
• Simple to use with good features
• Excellent for storage
• Powerful

Cons

• No instructions
• Can be tricky to slot on the nozzle
• Telescopic lance gets stuck

This well-designed pressure washer was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for portability. Small and neat, it has no wheels but is low, with a rectangular design, and is light enough to pick up and carry around the garden with you. It has a strong, steel-reinforced hose and comes with a detergent bottle and two nozzles – 'turbo' and 'vario'. It also has a telescopic ‘zoom’ lance for reaching into corners and higher spots, although this did get stuck a few times in use in our test. It was also sometimes tricky to get the nozzles on and off, which was frustrating, but when both these things were working well, this was a great little pressure washer.

With an operating pressure of 120 bar, it cleans powerfully and well, tackling grubby patios and cars with ease, and we felt no vibrations in the hand as we worked. Once you’re finished cleaning, there’s a dedicated space to store both the hose and cable and the nozzles and lance, even on a machine as small as this. It's also very good value and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Buy AVA Go P40 Large Bundle from Amazon, Robert Dyas and Wickes

Best pressure cleaners

Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner

RRP: £134.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Easy to assemble and store
• Multi-spray nozzle and Eco mode
• Two-position handle
• Fast charge
• Battery level indicator display
• Accessories, including an extension lance, a soap bottle and a 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 battery life. 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

Buy the Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet cordless pressure cleaner from Amazon and B&Q

Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot WG620E Pressure Cleaner

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

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
• 3-5 hours charge time
• Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, 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 do, 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

Buy Worx Pressure Cleaner WG620E from Argos, B&Q and Very

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: £144

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Ebay

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Excellent rotary nozzle
• Onboard storage
• Easy to set up
• Great value
• Three nozzles - fan, rotary, and detergent

Cons

• Significantly weaker at lower pressures

Stihl’s latest pressure washer is a lightweight, budget model. With a 1400W power output, 120 bar pressure, and a 5m 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 £144 RRP, especially considering the good three-year warranty.

Buy the Stihl RE80 from Ebay and Sam Turner & Sons

Yard Force EW U15 Pressure Washer

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Good cleaning power
• Long hose reach
• Useful features, includinga winding hose reel

Cons

• Vibrations uncomfortable
• Heavy
• Sprays are 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, B&Q and Very

Husqvarna PW125 pressure washer

RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

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 it takes a long time to set up
• Warranty is 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 7m 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.

Buy the Husqvarna PW125 from Amazon and Mano Mano

Makita HW111 Pressure Washer

RRP: £200

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

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, an integrated hose reel and a foam sprayer.

Buy from the Makita HW111 Pressure Washer from Amazon and Tool Den

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. And 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 and best multi-tools.

Buying a pressure cleaner - video

Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.

How to choose the best pressure washer or cleaner

Good cleaning performance is essential, but there are a number of things to also consider before buying your pressure washer or cleaner.

• Think about what you need to clean, how often and how dirty it will get. The higher the pressure that a washer produces, the more power it has to shift stubborn dirt. Pressure is measured in bars, so the higher the bar number, the heavier duty the washer, but the size of the motor, measured in watts, plus the water flow rate, also indicate high performance.
  However, although a more powerful machine can lift heavy dirt quickly, a cheaper, lighter-duty washer will still do the job – it will just take longer. A low power and flow rate are ideal for cleaning delicate surfaces like decking, fencing and block paving, so a smaller machine would suffice. Otherwise, choose a gentle nozzle on a more powerful washer to avoid damage. For larger surfaces, look for a higher bar rating and flow rate to tackle the job quickly
• All washers come with a standard nozzle, sometimes two, but specialist attachments will help you get specific jobs done properly. Work out the main jobs you’ll be doing and choose a washer with the relevant accessories – or check they’re available to buy later, at not too high a price. A brush is handy for cleaning furniture, cars and greenhouse glazing, while a patio cleaner will make very light work of surfaces without spraying dirt and grime everywhere. Some washers have an integrated detergent tank, others have a bottle that you fill with diluted detergent and attach between the lance and the nozzle
• The amount of assembly required varies – some simply need the lance and hose attaching, but others have to be practically built from scratch, with screwdrivers and Allen keys required. Check what's needed before you buy
• Pressure washers differ considerably in weight. Make sure a larger model has wheels to help you move it around the garden. Carry handles in the right places are essential if you have a lot of steps or need to lift the washer up onto a shelf for storage. If you have a large garden, check the hose length to ensure you can reach everything you need to clean. An extension lead suitable for outdoor use will also extend your working area –just make sure you protect it from the sprays

What's the difference between a pressure washer and a pressure cleaner?

The main difference between the two is that pressure cleaners are portable, so they don’t need to be attached to the mains water supply. Instead, they're self-priming and 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. Depending on the model, they 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.

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

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

Top-of-the-range and semi-professional pressure washers

If you’ve got a large commercial area to clean or some seriously built-up grime, you’ll need 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

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 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:

• Set up and storage. 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 size, any storage features, how quick it was to charge the batteries for the pressure cleaners and how easy it was to store
• Handling. Looked at weight, balance and how easy it was to move around the garden and use, its grip, including features like a safety button, the battery runtime, and noise levels
• Performance. Focused on cleaning power and how well and quickly the pressure washer cleaned. We assessed how they dealt with different surfaces, such as paving, furniture, brick, and cars and tested different nozzles, water pressure levels, 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

What to wear when pressure washing

Before you begin pressure washing in the garden, it’s worth considering what you’re wearing. You might be surprised at how much water and muck can get thrown up whilst using these tools. Wear wellies and waterproof trousers to stop your clothes and feet getting soaked. Goggles are essential to protect your eyes from the dirt and grit that may be blown up in the spray, and you might also like to wear ear defenders when using noisier models, or if you’re working for a long period of time. For more clothing inspiration whilst you’re gardening, take a look at our selection of the best clothes for gardeners.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.