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Best Portable Air Compressors

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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
HOTO Electric Air Pump
HOTO
Electric Air Pump
Compact & Powerful

An exceptional design quickly made this one of our favorite auto products during our trials.

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Compact & Powerful
Bottom Line

An exceptional design quickly made this one of our favorite auto products during our trials.

Pros

Has a compact design that fits easily in a glove box or emergency car kit. We love how well it inflates car tires with speed and efficiency. The exterior casing allows it to resist drops and scratches. Charges from empty in a little under 4 hours.

Cons

It is rather loud during use despite the size.

Best Bang for the Buck
AstroAl Portable Air Compressor
AstroAl
Portable Air Compressor
Quick Results

Our expert appreciates the comprehensive and versatile nature of this air compressor set.

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Quick Results
Bottom Line

Our expert appreciates the comprehensive and versatile nature of this air compressor set.

Pros

Full set comes with all of the necessary inflation tips so that users can customize the pressure to their required projects. Presta valve allows air compression for bicycles. LED screen displays settings for added convenience.

Cons

Does not come with a carrying case, which can be frustrating.

Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Avid Power
Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Feature-Packed

Innovative design allows users to preset the gauge and sit back, making it a recommended pick by our home improvement expert.

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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

Innovative design allows users to preset the gauge and sit back, making it a recommended pick by our home improvement expert.

Pros

Built-in battery allows for cordless operation, leaving room for a full range of movement. Does not require the user to hold to the trigger while in operation. Arrives with a tool bag for easy storage and transportation.

Cons

Does not work well in cooler climates.

GSPSCN Silver Dual Cylinder 12V Air Compressor Pump for Car
GSPSCN
Silver Dual Cylinder 12V Air Compressor Pump for Car
Most Versatile

Super fast and does not vibrate when in use; our expert likes that it can be powered with a car battery.

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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

Super fast and does not vibrate when in use; our expert likes that it can be powered with a car battery.

Pros

Perfect for heavy-duty use. Made from quality material to ensure durability and reliability. Comes with different sets of nozzle adaptors for use in a range of inflatables. The double cylinders offer increased pressure compared to other compressors.

Cons

The gauge can often display inaccurate results, and some users claim it can be slow at inflating tires.

Kensun AC/DC Power Supply Portable Air Compressor Pump
Kensun
AC/DC Power Supply Portable Air Compressor Pump
Simple Yet Solid

This easy-to-use air compressor is great for roadside tire inflation, and our expert likes the variety of inflation tips.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

This easy-to-use air compressor is great for roadside tire inflation, and our expert likes the variety of inflation tips.

Pros

This trusted pump can either be plugged in or run from your car's cigarette lighter. It comes with 2 accessory nozzles, is extremely lightweight, and has a compact carrying case for easy transportation.

Cons

Takes about 10 minutes to fill up a standard tire.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
October 27, 2021
30
Models
considered
24
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best air compressors

Written by Bob Beacham, and fact-checked by Beth Allen
Updated July 2023

A portable air compressor is an extremely useful tool. There are dozens of tasks it can help you perform, from filling tires, to framing out your loft, to grinding welds on auto body repairs.

There are also dozens of different models available, and a potentially bewildering range of specifications. Choosing a portable air compressor that meets your needs is far from easy.

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Air compressors with multiple outlets are useful if you swap tools frequently, or work with another person. In the latter scenario, check that the compressor will produce enough air to run both tools at the same time.

How air compressors work

In essence, an air compressor is quite a simple mechanism. Atmospheric air is pulled into a chamber, where it is compressed by a motor. A tool is attached via a reinforced hose, and a trigger opens a valve, allowing the compressed air to power the tool.

In a few models, pressure is generated by a rotating impeller (it looks a bit like a fan blade), but in most models, it's done by a piston running up and down inside a cylinder. It's very much like the engine in your car or lawnmower.

In small, cheap air compressors the air produced is used straight away – the compressor runs continually. In larger models, it's stored in one or more tanks. The advantage here is that the compressor doesn't need to run all the time. Once the tank is full, the motor will switch off. When the pressure drops, the motor restarts automatically to refill the tank.

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Testing portable air compressors
We spent 34 hours researching 78 different portable air compressors before choosing our favorite. We then purchased our top pick and tested it in the field to confirm our choice.
STAFF
BestReviews

Types of air compressor

Though they might look very different from the outside, air compressors can be broken down into a few basic types:

  • Electric- or gas-powered.

  • Oil lubricated or oil-free.

All of the portable air compressors we selected are powered by electricity and can be plugged into an ordinary household outlet. Larger electrical models may have more demanding requirements, but these are normally stationery and more suitable for professional workshops and factories. Gas-powered air compressors are often big, powerful units used in commercial environments or construction sites, as well as situations where an electrical supply is unavailable.

The majority of air compressors are lubricated with oil, particularly the more powerful models. Oil levels should be checked regularly and changed periodically. It's a quick and simple maintenance routine that ensures a long working life. Indeed, these compressors are known for their long-term durability.

Oil-free air compressors have Teflon-coated cylinders that don't need lubrication. There's virtually no maintenance, so it's no surprise they are popular.

The drawback with oil-free models is that the Teflon lining will eventually wear, and cannot be replaced. There's no solution other than buying a new compressor. While it sounds drastic, it's a slow process, and a high-quality, oil-free portable air compressor should last many years.

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Expert Tip
Be very choosy in choosing a portable air compressor. Consider all the potential uses you may have from tires to toys. Do you need a home and car plug? Do you need a cordless model to get to the backyard shed to pump those mower tires?
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Air compressor specifications

To understand portable air compressor performance, you need to understand the terminology, and how important each aspect is.

Air compressor specification sheets should supply you with four figures:

  • Horsepower (hp)

  • Cubic Feet per Minute (cfm) or Standard Cubic Feet per Minute (scfm)

  • Pounds per Square Inch (psi)

  • Tank Sizes (gallons)

Horsepower

The horsepower rating tells you how hard the motor can work. The higher the horsepower, the quicker the compressor will get to working pressure, and the faster it will fill the tanks – and refill them while in use.

CFM

This is a measure of airflow, and the most important characteristic of any air compressor. You can have low horsepower, and the pressure will build up eventually. If you have low airflow, some tools simply won't work – there isn't sufficient power to drive them.

If you only need a compressor to inflate tires or blow up an air bed, low airflow doesn't have much impact. If you're using a nailer, grinder, or impact wrench, then the right output is absolutely vital. All air tools have a cfm rating. If your air compressor doesn't match or exceed that rating, the tool will not work.

The reported airflow for an air tool or compressor should be measured at 90 psi. The figure is used to give a standard for comparison, rather than meaning the tool must be used at 90 psi. Beware of cfm numbers quoted at different psi levels. It can be used as a way to make the compressor appear more powerful than it really is.

Check the air tools you expect to use before buying a portable air compressor. A brad nailer can have an airflow as low as 0.5 cfm at 90 psi, but a framing nailer might require 2 to 2.5 cfm, and a 1/2" impact wrench could need 4 cfm.

You can always turn the pressure of a big compressor down, but you can't turn a small one up beyond its stated cfm rating.

Expert Tip
Consider if you want to purchase more than one unit. Do you need them in dual cars to offset not having roadside assistance?
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

PSI

This is the actual air pressure generated. In theory, a 3-gallon tank full of air at 150 psi has 30% more air in it than the same size tank at 100 psi. So, psi could be used to compare how long two compressors would run between refills.

In practice, even the smallest, cheapest portable air compressors will generate 100 psi or more. Anything above that should be more than adequate for DIY and small workshop use.

Tank size

Whether tank size is important or not will depend on the kind of work you do. If you're only looking for a compressor for general inflation duties, you probably don't even need a tank.

If you run a selection of air tools, a tank gives you the advantage of creating an air reserve: the compressor fills the tank to a pre-set pressure, then stops working until the pressure drops. It makes for a quieter working environment, too.

Expert tip
Be prepared. Most inflators need some recovery time between inflations to prevent burnout, so take that recovery time into account before you start.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Twin tanks can be useful if two people use the same compressor simultaneously, particularly if they're using different tools. With a large tank, a pressure drop could adversely affect both tools. With twin tanks, each tool can be supplied more effectively.

However, some air compressors that appear to have twin tanks, strictly speaking, do not. Two cylinders are used to save overall space, but they are in fact linked, and act as one. This is often true even if two outlets are offered. Read the manufacturer information carefully to determine whether the tanks operate independently.

When you need super powerful tools at your disposal, an air compressor is a must have.

Key specifications summary

  • Producing the right amount of airflow (the cfm rating) is absolutely vital. Get it wrong and your tools won't run.

  • High horsepower is good because it means your portable air compressor works hard and fast.

  • High psi is nice in terms of run time, but not the most important element.

  • A larger tank will let you work longer.

Other air compressor considerations

  • If portability is important, look at how much the compressor weighs, and whether there's a carry handle or convenient part of a frame to pick it up.

  • It's nice to have clear, easy-to-read gauges. Also, controls that can be adjusted with gloved hands make your work flow much more smoothly.

  • A portable air compressor with a low amp draw at start-up is less likely to trip your household breakers.

  • With lubricated models, a sight glass makes checking oil level simple.

  • A kit of accessories is a useful addition, but they're usually only good for inflation tasks. High-performance portable air compressors tend not to include them.

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Air-powered equipment like grinders, nailers and cut-off tools are every bit a dangerous as their electrical counterparts. Always wear suitable protective glasses, face shields, or masks.

What does a good portable air compressor cost?

Inexpensive

If all ever do is inflate your car tires, you can buy a small, tankless air compressor for under $20. It will be a bit noisy, slow, and it might not last very long, but it will do the job.

Mid-range

An entry-level machine capable of a wide range of inflation tasks, including powering modest air tools like brad nailers and staplers, will cost between $60 and $140. The actual cost depends very much on power output. With tools like this you often get an accessory kit.

Expert Tip
If noise is an issue for you, remember to check the decibel rating of the model you're considering before you buy.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Expensive

If you want to undertake serious do-it-yourself, auto repair, or other workshop activities, you'll need a minimum of $200. The best portable air compressors cost over $300. However, for that money, you'll get a hard-working, reliable tool that ought to last a lifetime.

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