Our Top 5 best air compressors quick summary:
- Draper 31254 100 Litre Belt-Driven Air Compressor
- Hyundai HY30100V
- Einhell Air Compressor TC-AC 190/24/8
- Stanley 6 Litre Air Compressor
- Orazio 45 Litre Air Compressor
Read on below to find out more about each one and air compressors in general!
What do you need to know about Air Compressors?
How an air compressor works and the jobs that they are going to be able to help you complete doesn’t really change much – but the technology and best models that are available changes all the time! With increased power and PSI, held in an even lighter tank…the more modern designs are definitely worth looking into. That is why we have updated this article for 2022 to keep up to date with the very best the industry has to offer!
This article includes some of the best air compressors for you to choose from, along with all the information that you need to make your purchase so that you know exactly what is going to be right for you. If you are planning on paint spraying, you are going to need a totally different air compressor than if you were working with large air-compressor tools – which is why you need to know what you are looking for!
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Only got 5 minutes to spare?
We appreciate time is valuable and important and you may not have the time nor inclination to read the whole of this buyers guide. If you only have 5 minutes this section will hit the high points of what you need to know, couple this with our comparison table below and you should have just enough of the basics to help you make a buying decision.
Full size vs portable air compressor
Depending on what you decide to use your air compressor for will determine which way you decide to proceed. A portable air compressor is great for inflating tyres, footballs, air beds, etc.
They come in a variety of 12v power and battery-powered models and some include digital gauges showing current pressure and allowing you to set the desired PSI to inflate to.
Full-size air compressors allow you to perform tasks such as running air power tools, paint spraying and cleaning. There are several key considerations when choosing your full-size air compressor which are listed below.
Key considerations for an air compressor
- Are you planning on using it for spray painting? If so you will need to look for something that supports a low amount of pressure and a high flow rate, usually measured in CFM.
- Do you plan on keeping the compressor in one place such as a garage, or are you planning on moving it around your home?
- What is your budget? Depending on what you plan on using the air compressor for will dictate which compressor is for your budget.
If any of the points above trigger a consideration that you hadn’t initially thought about, I would suggest you find the relevant section in this buyers guide to find out a little more before investing in an air compressor.
Our Best Pick
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Our Best Budget
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Our Best Pick Air Compressor – Hyundai HY30100V
- Powerul Engine: Powered by a Hyundai 2.2kW 3hp 230v motor. V-twin direct drive pump: fitted with a standard 13A UK Plug.
- Includes twin pressure gauges, automatic cut out switch, safety valve and pressure regulator/ adjuster.
- 100 litre tank capacity: provides an air displacement of 14CFM or 396 litres per minute and 8bar / 116psi.
- Fitted with twin Euro quick release connectors. 5 piece tool kit: including spray gun, air duster/jetter, degreaser gun, hose with Q/R fittings & tyre inflator.
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As you read on you will see what we have used to decide which models should feature in our best pick and best budget models. But we set a clear brief that the models must adhere to in order to feature.
This Hyundai air compressor made the cut as we felt it ticked the most boxes. For the average user at home, the requirements include the ability to run power tools, spray paint and inflate tyres.
This air compressor from Hyundai allows you to all of these things to a high standard. It is fairly heavy at 60Kg but as far as home user air compressors go this is well worth the investment. We have reviewed this compressor more in-depth further down the article.
Why Trust Us?
The internet is full of review sites that claim they have bought and rigorously tested every product so they can give you the best buying advice. Tripadvisor has some fake reviews, so who can you trust?
At ToolsReview, we pick individual products, ranges or whole categories of tools and spend hours pouring over technical information, manuals and forums to find out everything you could possibly want or need to know about the products.
We bundle all that information into a buyers guide so you can make an informed decision based on your needs without doing the legwork.
We pride ourselves on being independent and objective – if we don’t like a product we’ll tell it as it is.
Things you need to know about an air compressor
When choosing an air compressor there are two main considerations in my eyes, is it for domestic or commercial use.
If you are looking for something for commercial use, you may consider something that costs several thousand pounds, weighs a few hundred kilograms and takes up a lot of room. This will be the bread and butter of your business if you are spraying cars or replacing tyres for a living. This article isn’t based around that sort of niche.
This article is looking more at the domestic air compressor market, what is the best air compressor for the home garage?
So, first, we need to look at what a compressor is made up of and how it works, this will then give us a list of what are important factors when choosing the best air compressor for our needs.
How an air compressor works
When looking at how an air compressor works, it is quite a technical in-depth topic, there is a video we came across on YouTube below that looks into it in depth. But for the purposes of this article, we want to take a high-level overview and try to explain the basics.
On top of the main body or cylinder, there is an air inlet valve. Inside the cylinder is a piston, the air inlet valve is initially open so that as the piston goes down air can fill the cylinder. As the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder, the air inlet valve shuts and the air outlet valve opens.
The piston then pushes the air out of the cylinder up and out of the air outlet valve into the air storage tank. The air outlet valve shuts as the piston reaches the top again, in turn, the air inlet valve opens and the process starts again.
As the storage tank starts to fill up with compressed air a sensor in the tank monitors it so that it knows when it is at capacity or at the maximum amount of bar or PSI of pressure for the compressor.
Once that happens the electric motor driving the piston up and down switches off. As air is used from the compressor by power tools, etc the motor will start up again to keep the storage tank full and under pressure.
There is an oil pan that the crankshaft (attached to the piston) sits in, keeping all of the moving parts lubricated and cooling the moving parts. Compressing air generates a lot of heat and so it is important to keep the oil levels correct.
There is also a filter that removes moisture from the air, as moisture build-up inside the compressor would start to rot the compressor and cause rust, equally you wouldn’t want moisture transferring to something you were spray painting or to your tools.
I appreciate that there is a lot to digest and when performing research for this article I had to read various sources and it still took me a while to get my head around it.
The video below also helps in explaining it and hopefully, the image above will allow you to see the various components I was talking about.
Uses of an air compressor
Paint Spraying
When it comes to spray painting with an air compressor you are after two things, high volume and low pressure. Whilst some compressors are capable of kicking out upwards of 140psi, you are only looking for up to around 70 PSI for spray painting, what you need though is volume!
Each spray gun requires a different specification air compressor so it is worth checking if you already have a spray gun or you are intending to purchase a spray gun and air compressor.
An average would require around 12 CFM to run. You want to be looking at a compressor that provides more than this so that it isn’t constantly struggling. Our best pick the Hyundai, for example, has 14 CFM, this would suffice for a paint sprayer such as this Clarke Spray Gun.
The domestic industry for paint spraying has opened up in recent years and you not only have the option of traditional paint sprayers that are run through a separate compressor but also HVLP mains electric powered spray guns.
These allow a constant amount of pressure and reduce risks such as water and oil getting into the paint sprayer. The Meterk paint sprayer below is a perfect example of this.
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Power Tools
The majority of our website looks at power tools, battery-powered, mains powered but very few air-powered tools. This is something we may look to review more of in the future, but they aren’t as widely purchased, certainly in the domestic market as mains and battery-powered tools.
Most people don’t have a compressor kicking about in their kitchen when they need to do a spot of DIY and they aren’t exactly what you would call portable. So are they any use and why do they exist?
Well, air-powered power tools are phenomenal pieces of kit for a few reasons;
- No motors, so less maintenance and risk of failure is reduced.
- Unlike battery-powered tools, the power source is constant and doesn’t run out.
- They are much more powerful.
- They are also usually cheaper to purchase due to no motors.
If however, you have a compressor for other tasks, then considering some air fed power tools really isn’t a bad idea at all. You can buy a kit like the one below that has a basic selection of power tools to get you started. Featuring an air impact driver, air chisel, an air drill and an air ratchet screwdriver.
When you consider that price of the kit, one of these tools alone that is a decent make and battery-powered would cost that!
- Stanley Air Pressure Device Set 34 Pieces
- The perfect little helper for home and workshop, complete in a suitcase
- Impact wrench ½ inch
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What to look for in a home garage compressor
As I said earlier, whilst commercial and larger compressors are great, they aren’t really the focus of this article. So what things do we need to consider when purchasing a compressor for use at home?
Primarily noise, weight and size. You don’t want something that is going to annoy the neighbours, or that makes enough noise that it could be damaging to its user.
We would always recommend wearing ear defenders when operating a compressor anyway as even the small units can generate quite a bit of noise.
Noise
When looking to choose a compressor it is worth looking at the DBA rating that it comes with, this will show you roughly how loud it will be. But how are you supposed to know how loud 80 DBA is for example?
We have had the issue of when reading tool specifications and trying to imagine how loud something is based on a DBA rating for a while now, so we looked further. You can read more about this in-depth HERE but in essence, there is an app you can download for your iPhone which you can see a link to below.
If you then use something in and around your house such as a hairdryer, you can put the app on and see how loud it is in DBA. You could also use the volume control on your TV to get you to the required sound level, we think it’s pretty simple and kind of cool.
Weight
Weight is also a big consideration if you are looking for an air compressor to use around the house. If this is something that you are going to set up in your garage and run from that location, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the weight of your air compressor.
But if it is something that you think will be used around the house then the weight is a huge consideration.
From paint spraying walls when decorating to using your new air power tools, if you are planning to use them around your house the weight of your air compressor is a consideration.
In the best of the rest section below, we look at some of the smaller air compressors on offer which whilst might not have the airflow for paint spraying, can certainly copy with airpower tools for use around your home.
Size
Similar to the weight of the compressor, size comes into play when you are considering where it will be primarily stored. If you have plenty of room in a garage or shed to store it and operate it from, then the size of your air compressor doesn’t really matter all that much.
If however this is something that you are going to move around or is going to be stored under the stairs then you will need to factor in the size of the unit.
What to look for in portable air compressors
When I say portable air compressors, I’m talking about the sort of thing that allows you to pump your car tyres up on the move. In the past few months, I have bought one of these pieces of kit and also a portable jump pack, for jump-starting a flat battery.
In the past devices like this whilst available, used the old style of batteries that couldn’t hold a charge over time, battery quality degraded quickly and didn’t provide a constant supply of power. With the advent of Lithium-ION batteries, these tools are amazing and well worth the investment.
There are also models that run off the 12v power supply in your car, whilst these are still a great option and you aren’t relying on battery power and the batteries being charged.
Top Tip: It is important to have your engine running to avoid flattening your car battery. The issue with this is the risk of your vehicle being stolen while you are crouched down around the other side of it.
Some of the models in the table below have battery power and some 12v supply, some also feature a digital gauge where you can preset the amount of pressure you want to put in the tyres, this is a big advantage.
When it comes to choosing our best pick, best budget and best of the rest products for each review, we like to set some clear criteria. When it comes to the Air Compressor buyers guide we wanted the following from our selection;
- At least 1.5hp
- With the exception of small compressors a minimum 50L tank
- Capable of running on single phase 240v power
We also look at several other factors with our buyer’s guides, these are things that we feel are important across the board to our buyers. These include;
- At least 4 out of 5 stars when it comes to reviews
- 1 Year warranty or above
What we also try to highlight as we look at each of the products we have identified as part of our air compressor buyers guide are what the compressor would be useful for.
We look at air compressors with large tanks, high flow rates, smaller units and portable air compressors. With each we try to identify the best use case for each, if your aim is to be able to do paint spraying there is no point in looking at something that has a flow rate of 5cfm.
Additional considerations with an air compressor
One thing that we feel is important to note with air compressors is power and heat.
Air compressors generate a lot of heat within the motor area and it is important to do several things;
- Keep them away from being in a tightly enclosed space
- Keep flammable materials away from them
- Ensure that oil levels and moisture levels are regularly checked
The other thing that is important when it comes to air compressors is their power requirements. Whilst all of the compressors featured in this power guide are designed to run off single phase 240v power, with a 13amp plug, you need to be careful how they achieve this.
Extension leads are a no go and if additional electric sockets have been added to your home or garage it is important to ensure they comply with regulations. If not you could find you start popping circuit breakers due to the power requirements of an air compressor.
Our best pick air compressor, in more detail
- Powerul Engine: Powered by a Hyundai 2.2kW 3hp 230v motor. V-twin direct drive pump: fitted with a standard 13A UK Plug.
- Includes twin pressure gauges, automatic cut out switch, safety valve and pressure regulator/ adjuster.
- 100 litre tank capacity: provides an air displacement of 14CFM or 396 litres per minute and 8bar / 116psi.
- Fitted with twin Euro quick release connectors. 5 piece tool kit: including spray gun, air duster/jetter, degreaser gun, hose with Q/R fittings & tyre inflator.
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Our best pick air compressor goes to the Hyundai HY30100V air compressor. This compressor, being from one of the best-known names in the industry, features 14CFM airflow, 114 PSI of pressure, a 100-litre tank and a 3HP motor.
Weighing in at just short of 60Kg it is worth noting that this air compressor that is better suited to a fixed location in your garage or workshop. This impressive model would be perfectly adequate for running paint sprayers, airpower tools and many more tools and accessories.
This is a great all-round air compressor that should be considered as long as you can accommodate its size and weight.
Best Budget Air Compressor
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- Design
- English (Publication Language)
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When it comes to our budget air compressor choice, we decided on something that would get basic tasks completed. It can happily inflate tyres, clean with air and run a basic range of air-powered tools. This compressor wouldn’t be any use for paint spraying due to its lower flow rate.
This Stanley air compressor is however very lightweight and ideal for someone who wants something that can be easily carried around the house and beyond. It is even small and light enough to put in the boot of your car to take with you to a friends house, should you require.
If you are paint spraying or planning on regularly doing lots of work with air power tools, this might not be the compressor for you, but for occasional
The best of the rest
- Very High Power - Powerful 3 HP engine ensures a shorter wait for the tank to pressurise.
- Dual Air Line - Twin air outlets delivers increased versatility as they enable two air-lines to be connected at the same time.
- Features - Fitted with a safety valve, pressure regulator, pressure gauges and a standard 13A UK plug.
- Large Tank - 100L tank portable air compressor.
- Portable - Features wheels and transport handle which makes it easy to move around.
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The Draper 100L air compressor is one that we wanted to mention. Whilst this model didn’t get our best pick it is the highest specification of air compressor that we mention in this buyers guide.
It has a 100-litre tank, can shift 8.1 CFM of air and has a 3HP motor on tap. It is very well specified and is significantly lighter than some of the competition at just under 2Kg.
This unit will cope with paint spraying, powering air power tools and much more. It didn’t quite get the best pick due to the fact that the Draper name means so much! It has a reputation built up that gives people the confidence to know what to expect.
- The TC-AC 190/24/8 is a versatile compressor which with its compact dimensions and maximum continuous power of 1,100 W delivers up to 8 bar operating pressure and therefore provides good service on numerous compressed air jobs.
- The controlled working pressure setting can be adjusted by the pressure reducer and is displayed on the pressure gauge. The quick-release coupling enables diverse air tools to be quickly & easily attached without the need for any additional tools
- In operation the 24 Litre tank provides enough reserves for prolonged jobs. The oil lubrication of the pump ensures that the compressor has a long service life
- For the best possible user safety there is a non-return valve and a safety valve. A drain plug is provided for the comfortable and clean removal of condensate from the tank
- A vibration-absorbing foot prevents mechanical shocks and reduces noise generation. For quick mobility and easy transportation there is a carrying handle and two rubberized wheels
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The Einhell is a great little air compressor. Whilst it doesn’t have the flow rate or pressure of some of the bigger units such as the Draper. This unit is great if you are looking for something more portable and that takes up less room in your home.
The air storage tank on the Einhell is 24 litres, which is plenty big enough to power the twin air outlets that it features. This is more useful for having two airlines hooked up at once with two different power tools attached. Whilst they can be used simultaneously, due to the power of the unit I would suggest using for convenience.
- ORAZIO Silent Type 24 Litre Portable Air Compressor
- 800 Watt powerful copper motor operates at 1450rpm for high performance
- Lightweight compact size and shockproof rubber feet covers for easy portability and transport
- Oil free requires no daily maintenance and eliminates risk of oil stains on work surfaces
- Offers a soft 65 dB/A noise level for a quiet work setting, suitable for home or workshop use
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The Orazio 241184 whilst not being the most powerful air compressor on our list is still a great addition depending on your needs. If you are looking for a unit that is fairly mobile, can be used around the home for cleaning, inflating tyres, etc.
The power of this unit isn’t suitable for running most air power tools and it certainly isn’t powerful enough for paint spraying. It does, however, run at 65 decibels, which for an air compressor is very quiet indeed!
Portable Air Compressors
- CORDLESS & PORTABLE: Your VonHaus cordless tyre inflator is ideal for on-the-go tyre repairs thanks to its lightweight design and easy-use pre-set and auto-stop features – with this in your car boot or bike basket, nothing will stop you
- RECHAREGABLE: Powered by a rechargeable 12V battery for mains charging, your reliable battery tyre inflator has got you covered with a flow rate of 13L/min
- ALL YOU NEED: You have all the roadside emergency components you need with your versatile air compressor, complete with narrow pin attachments, a small toy inflator, and a sports equipment inflator
- MULTIUSE LED LIGHT: Use your digital tyre inflator at any time of night with the built in LED light, allowing you to inflate tyres in the dark whilst its red flashing setting doubles up as a hazard warning
- OUR BRAND PROMISE: Established in 2009, VonHaus is the helping hand you need to craft your dream home, inside and out. Kickstart your next DIY project with our Tyre Inflator.
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The VonHaus is one of the most popular models of portable air compressors available. It makes use of a Lithium-ION battery, meaning that it shouldn’t lose charge in between being used. It will fit most if not all different valve types, allowing you to inflate anything from a tyre to an air bed.
The VonHaus like some of the other portable air compressors features a digital gauge. As you attach it to a tyre it will give you a readout of the current pressure, you can then set your desired pressure and turn it on.
It can sit there with hands -free operation inflating your tyre. It does suggest that before and after using the VonHaus you use a separate gauge to ensure the accuracy of the amount of air in the tyre.
One thing I would point out with this and some of the other portable air compressors is they take time to inflate, bearing in mind they are battery powered and don’t have an air storage tank, I think they can be forgiven! The convenience they bring outweighs the wait time in my opinion.
- FAST INFLATION: GSPSCN Heavy Duty Double cylinder design,maximum pressure 150PSI, air flow 70L/min, inflates standard vehicle tyre in 1.5 minutes (200/70/R18, 0-40psi)
- STABILITY TECHNOLOGY: Rubber feet to make sure the 12V air pump stays where it is placed and does not move around during operation ,make the air compressor more powerful,effectively reduce the vibration and noise
- DOUBLE CYLINDERS DIRECT DRIVE INFLATION PUMP: In the direct drive of the motor, the two cylinders at the same time compressed air, powerful and fast inflatable, also direct-drive motor makes the drive low rotating speed, high efficiency, compact, quiet and stability, and easy to control
- WORKS: particularly suitable for SUVs, trucks, vans, RVs, crossovers, MPVs, campers,Auto, trailers, minivans, also can use for cars, motorcycles, golf carts, bicycles, and more
- EQUIPPED: with 3M cigarette lighter switch and 3M extension hose and high quality battery clamp, extension hose meet the needs of the long-wheelbase vehicle inflatable, battery clamp connect directly to your vehicle battery, power tyre inflator and other 12-volt devices, like vacuum, coffee maker, and more
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The GSPSCN portable air compressor is a little different from the other two we have mentioned in that it runs from the 12v supply in your car. There are positives and negatives to this, you don’t have to hope that you remembered to charge it last time you used it, but equally, you need to be careful not to flatten your car’s battery.
I would recommend leaving your engine running where possible, but obviously, be aware of the security risks involved with that.
One thing that I like with the GSPSCN portable compressor is the lights on it, it means that you don’t need to use a separate torch at night to see what you are doing attaching it to your tyre.
It also features a warning flashing light that allows other motorists to see you are working at the roadside. It is always recommended to wear high visibility clothing, use your hazard lights and stay safe but the light helps.
Again the GSPSCN features a gauge which is great for getting a reading before you start along with setting your required PSI level and it automatically shut off once it reaches that level.
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The Oasser portable air compressor is a compact air compressor with a decent battery on it. This is slightly faster than the air hawk pro at inflating tyres and is in my opinion, a nicer looking unit. The product images are a little deceiving as it looks like it comes with two batteries, it in fact only comes with the one.
The oasser also features a digital pressure gauge, showing the current reading and allowing you to select your required pressure level. The Oasser also comes with a 2-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are air compressor hoses universal?
Yes, to a degree. Whilst commercial air hoses may be a different size, in the main domestic air hoses are universal and can be used with any air compressor. There may be a need for different adapters and couplers depending on your compressor.
Can air compressors explode?
Yes, the excess build-up of heat and pressure inside an air compressor can cause an explosion. That is why it is important to store it somewhere that it won’t get knocked or near flammable products.
My air compressor will not start!
There are several things that could be causing this, the first things to check for would be, is the compressor plugged into a socket directly and not an extension lead, is the fuse good, does the compressor have oil in it. After this, it is worth consulting the manual for more troubleshooting steps.
Why use an air compressor for tools?
Airpower tools offer much more power than mains or battery-powered equivalents, they are usually much cheaper and have fewer parts to wear.
Can air compressors overheat?
Yes, it is advised you keep your air compressor from being covered and ensure you check the oil levels in your compressor before each time you use it.
How long can you leave an air compressor running?
Depending on the design of the air compressor, they can be left running from a couple of hours all the way up to continuous use! Obviously, the continuous use models are going to be commercial sized (and priced!) air compressors, whereas the ones that can be left for a few hours will be the smaller, portable air compressors.
Final thoughts on air compressors
Hopefully, this buyers guide has provided you with enough information for you to make a decision on what sort of air compressor you need and whether you need one at all.
We have looked at traditional air compressors and portable air compressors, both with completely different uses. We have looked at different use cases for air compressors, including power tools, cleaning and paint spraying.
If you have any comments or would like to see something added to this buyers guide please let us know in the comments.
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