We updated this guide in March 2023 to ensure all products vetted by the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and correctly priced. We also added newly tested models from Craftsman, Greenworks, Sun Joe and Worx, plus additional shopping and product insights from our experts.
If your collection of outdoor power tools doesn't include a pressure washer, your home's exterior isn't as spiffy as it could be — and you're definitely working harder than you need to at whatever cleaning tasks you're tackling by hand.
"I pull my pressure washer out a few times a month or more, especially during the spring and fall," says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "It's the best way to properly clean a wide array of surfaces and materials, from mildewed decks and patios to dusty fences to grimy outdoor furniture."
What's the best pressure washer for most people? Though it had stiff competition in our latest round of pressure washer tests, the Ryobi 2,300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer holds on as our top-rated model, thanks to its combination of value, performance, durability and user-friendly features. The newly tested Sun Joe SPX3000-XT1 XTREAM Pressure Washer gave the Ryobi the biggest run for its money — in fact, it sells for about $150 less and delivers nearly the same cleaning power with many helpful accessories.
As with other power tool categories tested by the GH Institute, from cordless drills to leaf blowers, pressure washers have seen a ton of innovation in recent years, including more durable motors, increased safety features and improved performance of battery-powered models. For this latest round of testing, our experts spent 30 hours considering these and other factors to determine the following list of the best pressure washers available today.
Our top picks:
After reviewing our picks, keep reading to learn more about how we test pressure washers and what you should consider when shopping for one for your home. Want to do more outdoor cleanup with top-notch gear? Check out the equipment our experts chose in categories like the best lawn mowers, the best paint sprayers for fences and decks and the best leaf vacuums.