When you accidentally run over your air hose with the car and completely destroy it, it’s time to buy a new one.
If you’ve had the same air hose for 5 or 6 years, then you’re probably due for a change. If it’s been more than 7 or 8 years then you’re definitely due for an upgrade.
An air compressor is a must-have for any tool kit because of its versatility. It can be used in so many different ways, from powering pneumatic tools to inflating even the most stubborn truck tires.
So what are the best portable air compressors in 2022? Read on to find out.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free 1.0 hp Steel Tank Air Compressor | Best Overall |  |
| BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor | Budget Pick |  |
| Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free 1.0 hp Steel Tank Air Compressor
Pros:
- Quiet and oil free
- Energy saving auto turn-on
- Built-in automatic shut-off with low-oil protection
- Lightweight and portable
- DC brushless motor for quiet operation
- DuraLife steel tank
As the name implies, this model is very quiet when compared to most other air compressors. It works particularly well in situations with sleeping children or the elderly and it’s a nice little addition if you’re remodeling, as it has an auto-off feature.
The use of DuraLife steel tanks is a plus, because they are strong and should last a couple of years before showing any signs of aging. It comes with a ¼” NPT accessory outlet.
It works at 115V and 1.0hp, has a tank capacity of 8 gallons and a maximum pressure of 160PSI. The recommended CFM at 35PSI is about 13.0CFM. It weighs just below 40lbs and measures 14.1×12.4×11.4 inches.
2. Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor
Pros:
- This one come with a hassle-free aluminum finish
- It has a big bore cylinder and is very appealing
- Offers an air-inlet temperature of 50 degrees.
- This one is extremely durable and is safe to use
- It has a vice of 4 mm and a stroke of 3 mm
- It is portable since it has a foldable frame
- The air volume of this one is 2.5m/s and it works at a pressure of 0.5-8bar
This is the last entry to the list of the best 10 air compressors in 2020, it’s basically a compressor that comes with air cooled motor. It’s a very big bore compressor that makes it possible for you to use it on air tools. The motor of this compressor is big so it’s going to run well even on heavy duty jobs.
3. California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S Light & Quiet Portable Air Compressor
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Quiet
- One-touch automatic on/off switch
- Works with 110-volt and 230-volt outlets
- Vibration-dampening
- Portable for easy portability
- Requires little maintenance
- Durable
Cons:
- A little too light and compact for large air systems
- Not large enough for large jobs
- Requires regular maintenance
- Read through the complete review article for further details on the best portable air compressors
1.6HP, 1-Gallon
In this section, we'll review the ten best portable air compressors in the market for the time being. In this section, we'll be reviewing the various aspects of each model, and then decide upon a few of the best models in the section. The factors that we'll be considering include the power of the air compressor, the noise generated, the weight, the ease of use, durability, and the capacity. These are just the general factors that make up a good portable air compressor. We'll be going into a few more of the finer details in regards to the specs and the use of these ones in the reviews.
4. BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor
Pros:
- Fast inflation speed
- Versatile
- Easy to assemble
- Portable
- Inexpensive
- Large tank
- Oil-free
Cons:
- A bit heavy
- Noisy
- Automatically shuts off after a while
This 6-gallon, oil-free, pancake air compressor from Bostitch is a highly versatile tool that really comes in handy at home or in the great outdoors.
With a maximum psi of 150, this air compressor can fill up your tires fast and easy. It also has a maximum of 150 psi, which can inflate anything you need in a home or automotive situation.
This model has a 6.3-gallon tank, which is fairly large for its size, so you won’t have to fill it up too often. It also has a high flow rate, which means that it can inflate stuff almost twice as fast as other air compressors.
5. VIAIR 400P Portable Compressor
Pros:
- Many feet per minute
- Lightweight construction
- Simple push button operation
- Reasonable price
- Can be powered by a car lighter
- Able to handle many applications Cons:
- Short power cord
- Poor build quality
- Small tank for small applications
If you’re looking for an extremely portable air compressor then the VIAIR 400P is one of the best ones on the market.
This is a good choice for easy towing and stable use on the go. It’s very lightweight, weighing in at around 14 lbs, which makes it very easy to move around. It has a power cord for on-the-job use and a reliable, 360-degree swiveling hose with a tensile strength of up to 125 lbs.
With a pressure range of 0 – 100 PSI, this tiny compressor can fill air tires, truck tires, car tires, bike tires, air mattresses, soccer balls, and more.
6. DEWALT Pancake Air Compressor
Pros:
- Easy To Setup
- Lightweight
- Very Cost-effective
- Works perfectly for trim nailers, and other occasional use
- Energy efficient
- Comes with a separate air hose and power cord, along with four different nozzles
- Maintenance friendly
Cons:
- Won’t work for blasting, sledgehammering, framing tasks or other heavy tasks
- Catches fish eyes
DEWALT’s pancake 6-gallon air compressor offers a variety of features that you’re sure to love. Like many products you’ll find on this list, it’s lightweight and efficient, making it the perfect option for those smaller projects.
The tank is 6 gallons to ensure that you’ll get more bang for your buck. It also ensures that the compressor will work for longer periods of time without having to refill the tank.
7. DEWALT Air Compressor
Pros:
- Quiet operation – 58 dba
- Extremely compact for portability
- Solidly built
If you’ve ever used a compressor before, you’re probably familiar with the loud high-pitched whirring noise that it makes. Dewalt designed their compressor to be extremely quiet. Instead of the normal high-pitched sound that most compressors produce, this unit features two special mufflers to muffle the noise.
The Dewalt DWFP55130 is the first in Dewalt’s PPP series of compressors. PPP is an acronym for Powerful Performance. This model is designed to provide high performance with a quiet operation.
This unit is also very light and compact, making it easy to travel with. It weighs in at a measly 36 pounds; roughly half the weight of many other portable compressors. That makes it way easier to send to the jobsite with a helper, saving you one trip in your pickup or moving trailer.
8. PORTER-CABLE Air Compressor
Pros:
- Silent
- Has an easily accessible and readable pressure gauge
- Has a large piston that reduces heat to provide long-lasting durability
- Small size for easy storage and portability
- Has a fuel efficient induction motor
- Has a 17 gallon per minute airflow rate
- Has an oil-free ironless piston
- Has an auto shut-down feature to save energy when the tank is filled
- Provides high reliability even with frequent use
- Puts out a higher pressure than similar models
Cons:
- Painting it is time-consuming
- It is only good for home use. You can’t use it for heavy work. It would be too small for anything industrial
Of all the oil-free air compressors we’ve tested, the Porter-Cable C2002 is one of the best. This oil-free air compressor produces enough pressure (100 PSI) for home projects involving air tools.
It has all the basic features we like, including the tank drain, a long power cord, and an oil-free pump. While it’s not exactly the most powerful compressor, it still has the basics covered.
9. Excell U256PPE 6 gallon Pancake Air Compressor
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Good build quality
- Lightweight
- Low noise
- Iron Barrel for heavy duty performance
The Excell U256PPE 12V 6 Gallon portable electric air compressor is a great tool if you’re looking for a good pancake compressor. This air compressor stands out from the rest since it’s equipped with a dual pump that allows it to deliver 8 CFM at 90 PSI.
Thanks to its low pressure, this air compressor is an ideal choice if you’re looking to power a pneumatic screw gun or nail gun. The rated voltage of the compressor is 12 volts, which is ideal if you think that you’re going to be doing some portable work.
The build quality of Excell U256PPE 12V 6 Gallon portable electric air compressor is pretty standard, especially considering the price. The housing of the compressor made from ABS plastic so it is pretty durable, but the frame is made from steel so that it can support the weight of the tank, which weighs around 77 lbs. Also, on the side of this compressor you’ll find some plastic covers that protect the electrical compartment and connected air hose.
10. Tcisa 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump
Pros:
- Fastest inflating car tires Air compressors
- Can inflate a full-size car tire in under 4 minutes
- For light commercial vehicles, boats and RVs
- Simple dashboard digital screen that displays current pressure in PSI or BAR
- Makes inflation quick, easy and mess-free
- Inflates up to 150PSI and 12V
- Can inflate large RV tires, bike tires, car tires, inflatable rafts, etc.
This 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump is a model that comes with a digital dashboard so you will be able to know the current pressure at all times. It has been designed in such a way as to allow you to inflate your tires very fast, and this is a feature that has made it an excellent option for almost all drivers out there.
What Is It?
This electrical pump is capable of being used on a wide range of tires, including automobile tires, light commercial vehicle, boats and RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best portable air compressors?
Most commonly, a portable air compressor is used for filling or topping off vehicle tires. However, they can also be used for portable household appliances, toys, sports equipment, and so forth. Generally speaking, a portable air compressor is a low-vibration, low noise, low-energy consuming, lightweight, and economically priced device.
What is the best air compressor for the money?
It is helpful to know the power rating you need for your tire inflator tool.
The watts of the compressor you buy depend on the tires you want to fill up and how fast you want to get the job done. If purchasing a compressor for hunting or sporting equipment, keep the PSI rating in mind.
Many compressors can function differently for their intended uses, so check reviews to find the best one for each use. For example, you can also find lithium-powered compressors, which power the inflator while being lighter and smaller.
What is the best portable air compressor for auto?
They are portable, but you can rarely use these types of air compressors for a car tire.
These units are designed to inflate sports balls, bike tubes, or inflatable toys. They are not designed for inflating car tires.
These inflatable (portable) air compressors are not designed for the average person to own a compressor. They are made as a novelty item that people can take to the beach, keep in their cars, or give to their kids.
Most of these compressors perform poorly for car tires, which is why we did not include them in our list.
Car owners should stick with an electric models of air compressors.
Portable compressors are great for inflation situations such as kids toys, bikes tubes, and furniture but are less than ideal for cars tires.
What is the best small air compressor?
We looked at not only the flow and volume of air delivered by each of the compressors in our review group, but we also dug into customer reviews and found which compressors people recommended. After studying the data, we determined that the best portable air compressor for most homeowners is the of our pick is the PORTER-CABLE CMB15. Its durable design and impressive airflow make it a great pick for anyone who routinely finds themselves in need of inflating tools and equipment.
In our testing, we found that the majority of competitive portable air compressors all delivered similar performance. That said, we were able to identify the CMB15 as a great performer in this comparison because it was a well-regarded pick by our panel of experts and customers alike.
Conclusion
While you might just want to stick with your electric compressor, there are times when a portable compressor comes in handy. Also, a portable compressor can save you money for cases when you need to inflate a tire and don’t have access to AC power. You’re better off with a portable compressor that works well and does what you need it to do efficiently than having to struggle with one that’s going to need lots of help to perform.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free 1.0 hp Steel Tank Air Compressor | Best Overall | |
| BOSTITCH Pancake Air Compressor | Budget Pick | |
| Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor | Upgrade Pick | |