The trouble with the great outdoors is that it gets a bit untidy. Your garden tools might do a good job of keeping your plot in check, but keeping your patio, decking and outdoor furniture spick and span can take hours, especially if you rely on a bucket of soapy water and a scrubbing brush.
That’s where the pressure washer comes in. These handy tools connect to your hose pipe and squirt water at any cleaning problem. Stubborn and unpleasant stains, from bird dirt to years of neglect, can be lifted from your garden’s hard-wearing surfaces in seconds. With the right attachments, you can also use your pressure washer to hose down cars, bikes and boats.
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At a glance
Best pressure washer overall:
Ava Go P40
Best budget pressure washer:
Kärcher K 2 Classic
Best cordless pressure washer:
Stihl REA 60 Plus
Best for high-power deep cleaning:
Bosch UniversalAquatak 135
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Why you should trust me
I’ve been testing all sorts of cleaning gadgets for years. I’ve tested vacuum cleaners, mops, hard-floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, window vacs and various robots designed to do jobs automatically, from internal cleaning to lawn mowing. I’ve got a keen nose for a labour-saving device, and I live in a busy household that never seems short of a dirty surface to test things on, including an extensive patio area and a filthy car. There was a perfect alignment of dirty jobs crying out to test these pressure washers on.
How I tested
I gathered eight pressure washers of various types and prices from a range of manufacturers, and put each through the same tests. First, I used each washer to clean one of the dirty paving slabs at the side of my house. This is where the dog gets washed after walks and it’s a well-trodden thoroughfare, making it a dark and grimy corridor.
Next, I wanted to test the washers on decking. Unfortunately, I don’t have a deck of my own, so I had to find someone else’s to clean. Fortunately, a shoutout on our neighbourhood WhatsApp group found a neighbour with a deck that hadn’t had a deep clean for a few years, so it was primed and ready to challenge the washers. This was by far the wettest job of the lot – but my neighbour was delighted with the extreme hose down I gave it.
I then washed the wheels of my car. As with most cars, it has only four, so I washed half of each wheel with each washer, so I could compare their work.
Where appropriate, I tried the various attachments and settings that I hadn’t used previously on other jobs. It included cleaning out empty water butts, clearing a few years of built-up algae off my whirligig and testing the supplied foam cannon on the rest of my car.
All of the pressure washers were supplied by their manufacturers, most of whom will pick them up when I’ve finished. Any that don’t get collected will be given to Workaid, a Chesham-based charity that refurbishes tools of all kinds. It donates them to training centres and self-help organisations in Africa and the UK, to help young people develop new skills or start their own businesses.
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The best pressure washers in 2026
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<em>Best pressure washer overall:</em>Ava Go P40
- What we love:Solidly built with a 10-year warranty to back it up
- What we don’t love:Lower pressure than some larger rivals
Ava may not be a household name in the UK, but the Norwegian pressure washer manufacturer has entered the market with affordable products that are designed to last. The P40 is a great entry-level device that should last for years, with a 10-year warranty to back it up.
Why we love it
It’s clear that the design focused on how the product would be used. It feels better built than similarly priced rivals, from the kink-free steel-lined pressure hose to robust but easy-to-release clips that hold all the parts together.
My favourite feature is the extendable lance. At the push of a button, the lance can extend from 84cm to 116cm. If you’re working on cleaning a floor, there’s no question this will reduce the amount of bending you have to do.
The kit I reviewed came with two nozzles (one variable for adjusting the width and pressure of the cleaning area, and another turbo nozzle for particularly tough jobs) and a foam cannon. Matching this with Ava’s detergents made car cleaning a breeze, and it performed well in all my tests.
It’s a shame that … it’s not as powerful as the most powerful products we’ve tested here, so it can be bettered for stubborn dirt on the hardest surfaces.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles
Pressure hose length: 6m
Weight: 4.5kg
Corded or cordless: corded
Cleaning power: 11,313 cleaning units (6.5 litres a minute x 1,740PSI)
Attachments included: zoom lance, turbo nozzle, vario nozzle, foam cannon
Warranty: 10 years
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<em>Best budget pressure washer:</em>Kärcher K 2 Classic
- What we love:Affordable price and decent cleaning power
- What we don’t love:Lower-quality components make it fiddly to use
Kärcher sells more pressure washers than any other manufacturer, with the low price of the K 2 indicating why. None of the other washers we tested was as affordable as this compact unit.
Why we love it
Its affordability makes it ideal if you want something quick for occasional use. Considering the low price, you’re still getting a surprisingly effective cleaner. It doesn’t have the clever design and high build quality of corded rivals from Ava and Bosch, but there’s been no skimping on raw cleaning power.
It’s a lesser specification but still comes with two nozzles, which are pre-attached to their own lances. One produces a lighter spray at a fixed angle, while the other is a turbo nozzle that sends out a powerful rotating jet. The turbo nozzle was good at cleaning paving slabs, and the lighter nozzle did good work on my car wheels.
It’s a shame that … you get what you pay for in build quality: the pressure hose wants to stay curled up, no matter what you do with it, and the unit is so light that it’s prone to falling over.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles
Pressure hose length: 3m
Weight: 3.2kg
Corded or cordless: corded
Cleaning power: 9,573 cleaning units (6 litres a minute x 1,595PSI)
Attachments included: single spray lance, dirt blaster lance
Warranty: five years
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<em>Best cordless pressure washer:</em>Stihl REA 60 Plus
- What we love:Easy to store and use, good water pressure for a cordless
- What we don’t love:Expensive if bought with its powerful battery
Moving from corded to cordless washers usually incurs an increase in cost and a decrease in pressure. But while the mega battery for Stihl’s REA 60 Plus is pricey, it can push out water at pressures that rival corded tools.
Why we love it
During testing, the REA 60 Plus surprised me with its high pressure, which is closer to corded levels than the other battery-powered washers we tested. Although full-pelt washing diminishes the battery rapidly, Stihl has added a power dial that lets you tame the jet. That means you can wash at a lower pressure for longer, and this lower pressure is useful for more delicate tasks as well. You can also control the flow with the handy nozzle, which lets you choose between three jet types (fan, rotary and cleaning agent, with the latter fed from a hose on the side of the main unit).
What I really admired about the REA 60 Plus was how neatly it all packs away, largely thanks to its pressure hose reel. When you start, you can just pull out what you need, up to its 5m length. The storage clips for the dismantled lance and gun, and the lack of a power cord, also help keep things neat and tidy.
It’s a shame that … although the REA 60 Plus is affordable, it doesn’t come with a battery or charger, which adds another £197 to the cost.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles, away from home
Pressure hose length: 5m
Weight: 6.7kg
Corded or cordless: cordless
Quoted battery run time: 25mins
Cleaning power: 8,485 cleaning units (4.5 litres a minute x 1,885PSI)
Attachments included: 3-in-1 nozzle
Warranty: three years
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<em>Best for high-power deep cleaning</em>:Bosch UniversalAquatak 135
- What we love:Good balance of price and performance
- What we don’t love:No wand extension and a hose that wants to remain curled up
The Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 is a corded pressure washer that offers a good balance between high pressure, reasonable price and usable design.
Why we love it
With a high maximum pressure and a high flow rate, the cleaning power of the UniversalAquatak 135 isn’t really in question. In my tests, it quickly lifted dirt from every surface I pointed it at.
There’s a little assembly to be done, but it’s nothing too arduous and doesn’t require any tools: it’s just a case of clipping the wheels on to the unit and assembling the handle mechanism. Despite having wheels, it’s not particularly large or heavy, so there’s no problem lifting it and carrying it around.
It comes with a single nozzle that can be rotated to select one of three jet settings – fan, rotary and pencil – to provide various pressures to suit your requirements.
It’s a shame that … I found the long 7m pressure hose had a strong desire to stay curled up, and it doesn’t have the extendable lance or extra-long warranty of the Ava P40.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles
Pressure hose length: 7m
Weight: 6.9kg
Corded or cordless: corded
Cleaning power: 14,685 cleaning units (7.5 litres a minute x 1,958PSI)
Attachments included: 3-in-1 nozzle, 450ml detergent nozzle
Warranty: three years
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The best of the rest
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Ryobi 18V cordless One+ HP brushless power washer
- What we love:Gun connects straight to garden hose
- What we don’t love:Less water pressure than a traditional washer
Best for: weight and portability
For lightweight duties, the Ryobi 18V One+ is quick to set up and use. In the garden, you can connect your hose directly to the lance, so there’s no pressure hose to worry about, but you do then have to drag your hose around. I didn’t find this to be any more of a problem than using it for regular watering, though.
It comes with its own hose, too, which you can connect up and dip into any water supply, further enhancing its portability. This would be great for washing down equipment after a boating trip, for example, where there’s a plentiful supply of water. You could also use it with captured rainwater from a water butt or similar.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it doesn’t provide the same kind of pressure as the winners, although it’s certainly the right tool for the right job. The lack of pressure wasn’t particularly apparent in my cleaning tests, but you will notice it when tackling the toughest jobs.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles, bikes, away from home; pressure hose length: N/A; weight: 2.7kg; corded or cordless: cordless; quoted battery runtime: 18mins; cleaning power: 1,607 cleaning units (2.6 litres a minute x 595PSI); attachments included: 3-in-1 nozzle, 6m siphoning hose, 18V battery and charger; warranty: three years
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Bosch UniversalAquatak 36V-100
- What we love:Affordable battery-operated washer with decent power
- What we don’t love:Less convenient to use than its cordless rivals
Best for: an affordable cordless pressure washer
This battery-powered Bosch sits somewhere between the Stihl and the Ryobi in terms of its cleaning power. It doesn’t have the full-pelt power of the Stihl, but it’s more affordable. And while not quite as portable as the Ryobi, it does at least have the option of portability, whether you’re using it around the garden or flinging it in the car to take elsewhere.
It comes with much the same equipment as the mains-powered Bosch, including the handy three-in-one nozzle and a clip-on detergent tank you can use to quickly cover a dirty item in cleaning foam.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it’s not quite as portable as the Ryobi or as neat as the Stihl.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles, away from home; pressure hose length: 4m; weight: 4.7kg; corded or cordless: cordless; quoted battery run time: 45mins; cleaning power: 4,496 cleaning units (3.1 litres a minute x 1,450PSI); attachments included: 3-in-1 nozzle; warranty: three years
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Kärcher K 3 Classic
- What we love:Better build quality than Kärcher’s basic K 2 model
- What we don’t love:Better pressure washers are available for a similar price
Best for: a better-built version of the K 2
If you’ve got a little more to spend than the sub-£100 for the K 2, then the K 3 is a level up in build quality. The pressure and flow rate are improved, so you get a more powerful clean, though I didn’t notice a huge difference in my tests. However, the device itself is a definite step up, with a longer pressure hose, wheels for dragging it about and an extendable handle.
Otherwise, it’s largely the same as the K 2, but better balanced and less prone to falling over.
It didn’t make the final cut because … if you’re moving up from the K 2 and can afford it, the Ava P40 and the Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 are better options for only a few pounds more.
Suitable for: patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles; pressure hose length: 6m; weight: 3.8kg; corded or cordless: corded; cleaning power: 11,023 cleaning units (6.3 litres a minute x 1,740PSI); attachments included: single spray lance, dirt blaster lance; warranty: five years
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Titan TTB1800PRW
- What we love:Plenty of power in an affordable package
- What we don’t love:Takes some assembly, feels a bit flimsy
Best for: affordable power
The Titan TTB1800PRW from Screwfix is a no-nonsense pressure washer that’s affordable and powerful. In fact, it’s the most powerful washer I tested, yet is available from Screwfix for less than £100, with only the less powerful Kärcher K 2 Classic beating it on price.
Once I’d assembled the washer (see below) it made short work of the cleaning tasks I set it. It comes with two nozzles, and I generally preferred the power nozzle over the other, as it did a significantly better job of lifting off dirt. It was also the only model to come with a patio cleaning brush tool, though I found this to be too light to be of much use and preferred the roto nozzle during testing.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it took more assembly than any others, requiring a screwdriver to put together some of the parts. I didn’t like the extendable handle: it doesn’t lock into place and can catch you out when reaching to pick it up.
Suitable for: patio, garden tools, vehicles; pressure hose length: 6m; weight: 7.1kg; corded or cordless: corded; cleaning power: 14,891 cleaning units (7.3 litres a minute x 2,031PSI); attachments included: vario fan nozzle, roto nozzle, patio cleaner; warranty: two years
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What you need to know
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What to look out for
Hoses
Your pressure washer will come with a high-pressure hose to connect the pump unit to the spray gun. If you’re going to use your pressure washer a lot, opt for an anti-tangle or premium hose, as these are easier to manage. Lesser hoses don’t unwind as well and require regular untwisting as you work.
When it comes to connecting the pressure washer to your water supply, you’ll need your own hose. Every pressure washer we’ve tested uses the standard 0.5in quick-connect attachment, compatible with most garden hoses and accessories found in the UK, including the Hozelock system. Solid plastic hoses are generally better here than the softer expandable hoses because they’re less liable to kink and restrict the required volume of water getting to the pump.
The exception may be if you get a portable pressure washer that can operate from an alternative water supply. This may come with its own short length of hose you can dangle into any available source of water.
Nozzles
Pressure washers come with various nozzles. These are usually interchangeable and sit at the end of the spray gun, creating different angles of spray for different levels of pressure and cleaning power. A concentrated narrow spray, for example, produces a lot of water pressure at the tip, which is useful for precision cleaning. A fan that spreads the water across a larger area produces less pressure and is suitable for more delicate surfaces. Some nozzles may be variable, offering options from a single nozzle.
The other type of nozzle has a relatively narrow angle but rotates the water around a slightly larger area. These are often called turbo or dirt-blaster nozzles. They have all the power of a concentrated nozzle, but work faster as they work over a greater surface area.
Attachments
Most pressure washers have a range of accessories available. Some may come in the box, and others can be bought separately.
The most common accessories are reservoirs that add detergent to your washer. These are normally used to produce a covering of suds over something particularly dirty, such as a car. This should work its way into the dirt so you can rinse it with a lighter spray to remove both the soap and the dirt.
Other attachments put a brush or mop on the end of the spray gun. This adds a constant supply of clean water to these more traditional cleaning tools. Brushes are good for patios and decking, particularly where the pressure from a jet might damage older surfaces. Mops are good on cars, particularly for wiping down after a dousing of detergent.
If you have a particular attachment in mind, look out for bundles that include it, as many washers come in both bare-bones and fully loaded versions. Kits with attachments are more expensive, but are usually better value than buying those attachments separately.
How do you use a pressure washer?
Pressure washers are simple tools that accept water from a water supply, build up the pressure using an electric motor, and then squirt out the water again from a gun attached to a separate hose (called a pressure hose).
All the washers I tested use a universal garden hose attachment that lets them easily hook up to your water supply. My garden hose has a Hozelock connector, which fitted perfectly on to every model, so check yours is compatible. Once the water is connected and the tap is on, you can power up the washer either by connecting it to the mains or charging and slotting in a battery.
Then you simply select an appropriate attachment or setting, depending on the pressure you want, and point it at the dirt. The gun has a trigger so you can start and stop the water as you please without returning to the main unit or closing the tap.
What safety equipment do you need?
Keep in mind that dirt and debris can fly around when squirted at high pressure. Safety glasses, long trousers and proper shoes should be worn. Gloves are a good idea, and you might want to deck yourself out in some waterproof clothing.
What is a good pressure for home use?
Different jobs require different levels of pressure. Heavy-duty dirty work, such as blasting a concrete paving slab, is best done with high-pressure washers that can produce pressure in excess of 100 bar (1,450PSI). You can get decent results from lower-pressure washers, too, but it might take a bit longer.
Softer surfaces, such as wooden fencing and decking, shouldn’t be attacked with the highest pressure settings of a powerful washer but can be hosed down with a less powerful spray. Washers with pressure of less than 100 bar can be used for this kind of thing. Try your washer on a small and inconspicuous area first to see how it fares before tackling the whole thing.
Some jobs are best done with the pressure at a minimum, such as washing your car. Although you can still use a pressure washer for this, you should use a rinse or fan setting from a safe distance – the pressure is most intense at the tip of the nozzle. Pressure washers with foam cannon are good for covering a car with soap, which you can then rinse after it’s lifted off some of the dirt. Don’t mix detergent with your pressure washer’s main water supply, though, as this can damage the device.
Are pressure washers noisy?
None of the pressure washers I’ve reviewed here was particularly noisy. Your nextdoor neighbour will notice when you’re using one, but they’re quieter than lawnmowers and hedge trimmers. There’s no requirement to wear ear defenders.
Can I rent a power washer instead?
You can, and it makes sense if you need a washer for a one-off job or you don’t have the space to store one. National hire services such as HSS and B&Q offer pressure washers, which you can order online and have delivered to your home. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a more powerful washer, as these tend to be more expensive to buy. There may be competitively priced local hire services or even tool share groups in your area, too, so it’s worth comparing prices online before you commit.
Should I put detergent in my power washer?
Never put detergent through the main water inlet of a pressure washer, as it can cause permanent damage. Some pressure washers come with a separate reservoir for detergent, which is either connected to the main unit or attached to the end of the spray gun. These add detergent to the mix after the water has been pressurised, so they are safe to use. However, it’s worth checking the manual for instructions and information on the type of detergent to use.
Can you clean your patio without using a pressure washer?
Yes. You can clean a patio with soapy water and a stiff brush, though it might take some scrubbing. You can mix water with white vinegar to remove particularly stubborn stains – be sure to be careful around plants, though.
Products such as Wet & Forget are good if applied on a dry day and allowed to dry, as they can stop algae and other dirt from building up in the first place. Keep pets away until the surface is dry.
For more:
• Gardening pros on the tools they can’t live without
• The best lawnmowers to keep your grass in check
• How to create a more eco-friendly lawn
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Andy Shaw is a consumer journalist and technology addict. Having reviewed tech products professionally for more than 30 years, his favoured working environment is a small desk surrounded by big boxes. His greatest weakness is that he never, ever remembers how things came out of their packaging, so they rarely fit back in again when it’s time to return them
• This article was originally published on 18 April 2025. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was amended on 19 March 2026; more information was added to the buying guide, videos were added, and prices were updated throughout.
• This article was amended on 23 April 2025. The article previously referred to the Ryobi 18V cordless One+ 22 bar power washer, but the model tested was actually the Ryobi 18V cordless One+ 41 bar HP brushless power washer. The battery life and cleaning units have been updated accordingly.
