Who makes the best pressure washers? Ego? Greenworks? Westinghouse? Or is it Bauer or Ryobi? We evaluate 9 pressure washer brands using lab tests, survey data, and pricing.
With just a few short bursts of water, pressure washers can make short work of dirt, stains, and debris from decks, patios, walkways, and sidewalks.
By James K. Willcox
A pressure washer (or power washer) is an ideal tool for quickly removing stains, mud, and decomposing leaves from decking, walkways, patios, and steps.
Consumer Reports tests a new batch of models each year; our pressure washer ratings now cover 65 models from roughly 25 brands. The best pressure washers in our tests can completely clean a surface, stripping paint and other debris at multiple angles and using different nozzles. That means effortless cleaning of any suitable outdoor surface.
But there are still more pressure washers for sale, in a variety of sizes and with different technologies and features. So, what if you’re interested in a pressure washer we haven’t tested? Should you choose a Greenworks? A Ryobi? A Westinghouse? In that case, CR’s pressure washer brand scores can be a big help.
The brand rankings, shown below, are based on a statistical model that incorporates CR’s proprietary lab and survey data on each brand’s pressure washers. We also look at price. Brands get credit for delivering high performance and reliability at a more budget-friendly price than their competitors.
A Best Brand receives the highest Overall Score in its product category based on the brand’s aggregate performance, reliability, and satisfaction data across the model lineup tested by CR. Look for the CR Best Brand mark in stores and online to help in your shopping journey.
Best Pressure Washer Brands
Our analysis combines gas, battery, and corded electric models. In the past, our buying advice zeroed in on the best gas or corded electric models. No battery-operated pressure washers scored high enough in our tests to earn a CR recommendation. But that has changed over the past few years: Some battery-powered models are now strong options for homeowners.
As you can see in the chart below, most of the brands that make our list have favorable brand scores.
Here are a few of the higher-rated models in our tests from the pressure washer brands with the highest brand scores. All do a very good or excellent job at cleaning. You can find more options in our review of the best pressure washers, based on our ratings.
Bauer 23142E-B
Ryobi RY143011
Greenworks PW80L420
DeWalt DWPW2400
Westinghouse WPX3400
How to Use Consumer Reports to Find the Perfect Pressure Washer
At Consumer Reports, we provide several key pieces of information to help you find the best pressure washers for your home.
Model performance: Our pressure washer ratings show each model’s performance in our tests. Of particular importance are scores for cleaning. A high score means the pressure washer cleans quickly and effectively on a variety of surfaces. If you’re interested in a particular model, you can filter by type (such as gas or electric), price, brand, and features to see how it compares with other models in our ratings. We also highlight the best-performing models in articles such as Best Pressure Washers of 2026 and Best Electric/Battery Pressure Washers of 2026, Tested by Experts.
Reliability and owner satisfaction: We survey CR members to learn how well their power washers have held up over time. We use any problems or breakdowns they report to predict how reliably new pressure washers from each brand will operate in the first five years of service. To determine owner satisfaction with a brand, we also asked our members whether they would recommend their power washers to others. Both the predicted reliability and owner satisfaction results are available in our pressure washer ratings. Before you purchase a pressure washer, check the predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores.
Brand-level performance: These scores, shown in the chart above, indicate how well pressure washers from a given brand perform in lab tests and surveys. Note that these scores aren’t model-specific; some brands that scored relatively low may have some higher-end models that do better. As a result, the brand scores are most helpful if you’re interested in a particular model we haven’t tested.
How CR Tests Pressure Washers
At Consumer Reports, we assess pressure washers according to a range of factors, but we place the most weight on how easy they are to handle and, especially, how well they clean.
Some pressure washers take their time cleaning a surface. The best are not only effective but also quick. Our power test measures potency and, in turn, how fast each pressure washer can blast through grime. In addition, the best pressure washers start easily and have simple controls, cords, and hoses that don’t feel unwieldy. They also make switching nozzles seamless.
We measure the pressure each model can produce in pounds per square inch, then use the pressure washer to strip paint from plastic panels and time how long it takes. Models with a higher pressure output tend to perform better on this test.
We also measure noise. Almost all pressure washers are loud enough to require hearing protection, like earplugs or an earmuff-style headset.
Last, we size up ease of use. We start the machine and note features that make the experience simpler and faster. We assign a higher score to, say, a model with an engine that automatically shuts off when the oil is low, protecting the device from burning out.
In the past, our buying advice zeroed in on the best gas or corded electric models. No battery-operated pressure washers had scored high enough in our tests to earn a CR recommendation. But that changed in 2024: Some battery-powered models are now strong options for homeowners.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2026, Consumer Reports, Inc.