Keep it clean on the cheap with the best budget pressure washers

These pressure washers won't price you out of a clean patio.

what is the best budget pressure washer

by Natalie Corner |
Updated on

If your garden furniture, patio or BBQ looks a little grimy and is in need of a good clean, then the best budget pressure washer will do the trick - and won't break the bank, either. Wave goodbye to hours of scrubbing with your bucket and brush, as this powerful garden tool blasts away dirt, mould, and mud in just a matter of minutes. At Modern Gardens Magazine, we're hoping to find you a great pressure washer to spruce up your decking.

While your garden hose simply sprays out water, a pressure washer is like a super-charged version. When it comes to a patio washer, we recommend something this powerful to get the dreaded job done. As well as being fixed to your water mains it's typically powered by an electric motor that sprays out water at very high pressure. A pressure washer can also save water too, as they only use around 400 to 600 litres in an hour, whereas a hose can use up to 3,500 litres.

Best budget pressure washers at a glance:

Best overall budget pressure washer: Bosch EasyAquatak 120 – View on Amazon UK
Best pressure washer for garden furniture and tools: Kärcher K 2 Power Control – View on Amazon UK
Most affordable pressure washer: Turtle Wax TW120 – View on Amazon UK

But there are a lot of pressure washers on the market - such as hot pressure washers. While some are better at cleaning specific things, others can be incredibly expensive. That’s why we’ve found the best budget pressure washers, so you can still achieve a bloomin' lovely garden without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a renowned Kärcher pressure washer or something specifically for your patio, we’ve got a budget pressure washer for you.

Our pick of the best budget pressure washers

Best overall budget pressure washer

Bosch EasyAquatak 120Bosch/Amazon
Price: £109.99

If storage space is a slight issue, then this highly compact Bosch EasyAquatak 120 will be ideal. It may be small, but it still offers 100 bar pressure, a 1,500 watt motor, and is capable of spraying 350 litres of water an hour.

At 4.7 kilograms, it's light enough for you to hold while you use it, while the adjustable cleaning intensity allows you to tailor the spray size for your task, from a gentle rinse to the removal of stubborn dirt. 

As well as the pressure washer and five-metre high-pressure hose, this comes with a high-pressure gun, a patio cleaner attachment, a wash brush that's perfect for cars and windows, and three nozzles.

Pros

  • This washer is compact, portable, and lightweight
  • Ideal for cleaning all garden furniture, tools and patios

Cons

  • This has no wheels, so has to be moved manually
Dimensions:‎37.5 x 20 x 40 cm
Weight:4.7 kg
Max water pressure:120 bars
Water flow rate:350l/h
Hose length:5 metres
Cleaning area:Doesn't specify
Motor power:1500 watts
Cable length:5 metres
  • High-pressure gun
  • 250 patio cleaner
  • Wash Brush
  • Lance
  • 5 m high-pressure hose variable fan jet nozzle
  • Rotary Nozzle
  • High pressure detergent nozzle 450 ml
  • Water filter

Best pressure washer for garden furniture

karcher K2Kärcher/Amazon

Kärcher has long been the standard name in the pressure washer business – the German brand bringing all the efficiency it can offer paired with reliability and precision.

We love the Kärcher K 2 Power Control. With a maximum pressure of 110 bar at 160 litres per hour and weighing just 4 kilograms (without accessories), this pressure washer is light but mighty. It’s ideal for cleaning your garden tools, garden furniture and even your bike.

It may not have the power to blast away stubborn dirt from your patio, but it’s more than capable of all those smaller tasks. All the bundled accessories, including the hose and cable, can be stored on the device to save space.

Pros

  • Space-saving storage as the accessories attach to the washer
  • Wheels and extendable handle make it easy to move around

Cons

  • Not strong enough for deep-cleaning patios
Dimensions:11L x 9.7W x 23.1H cm
Weight:4kg (without accessories)
Max water pressure:110 bars
Water flow rate:360l/hr
Hose length:4 metres
Cleaning area:20m² per hour
Motor power:1400 watts
Cable length:5 metres
  • High pressure gun
  • 5m high pressure hose
  • Vario power spray lance
  • Dirt blaster lance

Most affordable pressure washer

turtle wax pressure washerTurtle Wax/Amazon

If you’re partial to a little car cleaning here and there, you may be familiar with the brand Turtle Wax. With 120 bar of pressure from a 1,600-Watt motor and a flow rate of 390 litres per hour, this Turtle Wax TW120 is powerful and could be the perfect answer to your car cleaning questions. 

It comes with everything you need to take the stress out of your cleaning tasks including a high-pressure gun, a five-metre-long hose, jet nozzle, a detergent nozzle and a quick-fit hose connector.

Plus, everything can be stored neatly in the compartment on the back of the pressure washer. There is the option to expand your cleaning repertoire by buying additional accessories, too.

Pros

  • Wheels and an extendable handle for easy transportation
  • Powerful enough to clean garden furniture and decking

Cons

  • Heavier and larger than other pressure washers listed
Dimensions:‎18.9 x 11.81 x 11.81 cm
Weight:7 kg
Max water pressure:120 bars
Water flow rate:390l/h
Hose length:5 metres
Cleaning area:Doesn't specify
Motor power:1600 watts
Cable length:5 metres
  • Turtle Wax ™ quick connect high-pressure gun
  • 5m high-pressure hose
  • High-pressure jet nozzle
  • Detergent nozzle
  • Quick fit hose connector

Most powerful pressure washer

Ryobi pressure washer Ryobi/Amazon
Price: £93.38

Whether you want to give your outdoor patio a new lease of life, remove dirt from your decking, tidy up your brick walls, or clean your car, the Ryobi RY110PWA will be able to handle it.

It has a 1,400-Watt motor, onboard storage, a spray nozzle wand and an on-demand detergent option. It is an average weight for a pressure washer at 6.5 kilograms, and with its compact design and wheels, it's easy to transport and store.

Although this model only comes with the trigger gun, Vario lance, turbo lance, and hose you can purchase additional accessories to boost your cleaning power.

Pros

  • Onboard storage for accessories for a tidy solution
  • Great all-rounder for all home and garden cleaning needs

Cons

  • Heavy, but wheels and handle make it easy to manoeuvre
Dimensions:29L x 25.4W x 42.4H centimetres
Weight:6.5kg
Max water pressure:110 bars
Water flow rate:380l/h
Hose length:5 metres
Cleaning area:Doesn't specify
Motor power:‎1400 watts
Cable length:6m
  • ‎Trigger gun
  • Vario lance
  • Turbo lance
  • 5m steel-armed hose

Best budget pressure washer for patio cleaning

Nilfisk core 130Nilfisk/Amazon

If you've got a little room to wiggle in your budget and want a pressure washer that can do it all, then the Nilfisk Core 130 is worth considering.

With a 130 bar max water pressure and a 1,500 watt motor, this pressure washer is perfect for patios and everything in between. It comes with three cleaning nozzles to help tackle everyday cleaning tasks, as well as additional cleaning accessories.

There's even a handy little guide — perfect for first-timers. At 6.6 kilograms it's not too heavy either and everything can be neatly stored on the back. We rate this as one of the best pressure washers for patio cleaning.

Pros

  • Great for cleaning patios and everything in between
  • Comes with a great range of accessories

Cons

  • Customer comments that the foam gun was below par
Dimensions:Doesn't specify
Weight:6.6kg
Max water pressure:130 bars
Water flow rate:462l/h
Hose length:6 metres
Cleaning area:Doesn't specify
Motor power:1500 watts
Cable length:5 metres
  • Standard lance
  • Extension lance
  • Dirt blaster lance — provides a concentrated blast of power to remove dirt
  • Car wash brush
  • Wash brush for long life operation
  • Quick connector
  • Patio cleaner
  • Low pressure spray gun
  • Removable detergent tank
  • On board storage
  • Manufacturer's 2 year guarantee

Best pressure washer for extra accessories

Greenworks pressure washerGreenworks/Robert Dyas

Despite this Greenworks pressure washer being one of the heaviest of the bunch at 9.4 kilograms, it's not a major issue, as its solid wheels and handle allow you to easily manoeuvre it around. It's got very good motor power at 1,500 watts, a max water pressure of 120 bars, and a water flow rate of up to 480 litres per hour.

This washer comes with a great range of accessories - you get a patio cleaner attachment, various lances, a turbo nozzle, and even a foam sprayer. You can swap out attachments quickly and easily thanks to Greenworks' quick-click connect system.

All the bundled accessories can fit onto the washer before you stow it away, including the power cable and the six-metre hose.

Pros

  • Comes with a great range of accessories, including a patio cleaner head
  • Three-year warranty for peace of mind

Cons

  • Heavy so you may struggle with manoeuvring it
Dimensions:29H x 27.5L x 80W cm
Weight:10.9kg
Max water pressure:120 bars
Water flow rate:400l/h
Hose length:6 metres
Cleaning area:Doesn't specify
Motor power:1500 watts
Cable length:10 metres
  • Trigger gun
  • Lance
  • Patio cleaner
  • Extension lance
  • Foam sprayer
  • Variable pressure nozzle
  • Turbo nozzle
  • Wash brush
  • Metre hose

Best pressure washer under £60

Hawksmoor High Pressure WasherHawksmoor/Tool Station

The Hawksmoor High Pressure Washer has a 1,400-Watt air-cooled motor that provides consistent power for effective cleaning.

You can switch between a focused stream for deep cleaning and a wider spray for cleaning larger areas with the adjustable nozzle.

This budget-friendly pressure washer doesn't have a patio head as it's more suited to cars and bikes and as such comes with a good-sized detergent dispenser bottle.

Pros

  • Easy to use with uncomplicated controls on the front of the washer
  • Comes complete with a detergent bottle to create foam

Cons

  • Some reviewers say the nozzle can be difficult to adjust
Dimensions:47 x 32 x 21cm
Weight:5kg
Pressure:108 bar
Flow rate:420L/hr
Power:1400W

How we chose the best budget pressure washer

All of these budget pressure washers have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered size, power, and functionality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching pressure washers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.

FAQs: Best budget pressure washer

How to pick the best budget pressure washer

Consider pressure and power rates

The force that the water is released from the lance nozzle is measured in a unit called ‘bars’. The lower the bar, the lower the pressure of water released. A general rule is that a pressure of 100 to 120 bars will be good enough for all home uses. The power of a pressure washer motor is measured in watts. Again, the higher the wattage, the more powerful your pressure washer will be.

Think about the task at hand

Think about what you want this pressure washer for. Are you planning to clean the patio, garden furniture, BBQ or even your car with it? An entry-level pressure washer will have a max pressure of around 100 bars and is good for cleaning smaller items, like garden furniture, BBQs and bikes. Mid-range pressure washers will have a max pressure of 120 bars and are good for cleaning larger garden items, like fences, patios and your car. Choose a model that has the appropriate power and durability to prevent wear and potential breakdowns.

Don't forget accessories

Before you buy your pressure washer, check whether it comes with any of these first. Many models are equipped with different nozzles that will help you carry out different tasks. Some even come with multi-purpose nozzles, which have lots of different spray options for different jobs. It is really important to consider this before buying because if your pressure washer doesn’t come with a specific accessory you need, like a patio cleaner, these can be expensive to purchase separately.

What size and weight are you after

A pressure washer must be stored safely to keep it in good working condition. If you only have a small amount of outdoor storage then make sure you opt for something small and compact. If you do have lots of room and can afford something bigger, remember the pressure washer will be heavier to move around.

Warranty

A longer warranty often indicates the manufacturer's confidence in the product's durability and quality. Therefore, look for pressure washers with extended protection for peace of mind should something go wrong. A warranty or guarantee covers potential repairs or replacements.

Can pressure washers be dangerous?

They can be very dangerous as water is coming out at very high pressure. Therefore it's important that you don’t ever spray them at someone as it could result in a hospital visit. Make sure you wear protective goggles and proper footwear when using.

What’s the difference between a pressure washer and a pressure cleaner?

The main difference is that a pressure washer has to be plugged into the mains water supply, whereas a pressure cleaner doesn’t. Yes - cordless pressure washers mean portability and no run-off into your mains water supply.

Instead, they draw water via a suction hose, which can be placed in anything with water, like a bucket or even a watering can. Unlike a pressure washer, which has to be plugged into an electrical outlet for it to function, a pressure cleaner runs off lithium-ion batteries. This means the runtime of a pressure cleaner is usually shorter. However, many pressure cleaners also come with a hose adapter feature so that they can be plugged into your mains water supply.

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Natalie Corner is the Commercial Content Editor across the Specialist Portfolio for Bauer Media and is slowly learning how to care for her plant babies. When she's not soaking up the three days of sunshine in the great British outdoors, she's testing out the latest BBQ products.

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