Best Portable Air Compressors

Learn about Portable Air Compressors and How to Choose One

Updated July 5, 2019

Buying a portable air compressor can seem like an overwhelming process due to the shear amount of different types available. However, when you ask yourself a few basic questions, you’ll be able to narrow down your selection significantly. Knowing exactly what your air compressor will be used for, how often you will need to use it and how much power you will need are the perfect starting points.

Portable air compressors can make large jobs or simple tasks easier. That’s why you see them used by the average homeowner, professionals, manufacturers and many other people. When you’ve got a good understanding of what you’ll be using your portable air compressor for, then you can focus more on details like tank capacity, CFM output, weight, size, horsepower and available accessories. We’ve researched and tested dozens of different types of portable air compressors to help make your buying process easier.

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Best Portable Air Compressors for Lawns and Garden
1. PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor with 13-Piece Accessory Kit.

2. Campbell Hausfeld Oilless, w/ 10 Piece Accessory Kit Including Air Hose & Inflation Gun
3. Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor

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Best Portable Air Compressors for Lawns and Garden

Portable Air Compressors

Discover the best portable air compressors for your home, worksite, or car from the Better Lawns & Garden team.

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Editor's Choice

PORTER-CABLE

C2002-WK Oil-Free UMC Pancake Compressor with 13-Piece Accessory Kit.

Price Check

Bottom Line

This portable air compressor is powerful enough to be used as your main air compressor, yet light enough to be taken anywhere you need it to be.

About

It’s perfect for airing up tires, operating a nail gun or anything in between. It only weighs 30 pounds and has dimensions of 18.3”x18”x19”, so it’s compact enough to be stored or carried virtually anywhere without getting in the way. It has a 6-gallon capacity, a 150 PSI maximum tank pressure and operates at 2.6 CFM at 90 PSI, which all combines to give you longer run times and quick recovery times for the compressor.

Editor's insights

One of the main benefits of this Porter Cable compressor is the oil-free pump. You won’t have to worry about doing much maintenance on it, and the lifespan is longer as a result. Customers are typically surprised at how much power and stability this air compressor has after looking at the compact size. Both professionals and recreational users can find plenty of uses for it. One recommendation is to not overlook the break-in period. The instructions may be ambiguous about the importance of it, but you can ruin the product if this step is skipped.

Value Pick

Campbell Hausfeld

Oilless, w/ 10 Piece Accessory Kit Including Air Hose & Inflation Gun

Price Check

Bottom Line

When it comes to value selections for portable air compressors, you may not find a better one than this Campbell Hausfeld model.

About

It includes a 3-gallon horizontal tank with 0.36 CFM at 90 PSI. The pump is also oil-free and provides a maximum PSI of 110 to give the DIY expert plenty of power with very little maintenance. You’ll also receive several accessories to go with it, including a coiled hose, inflation needles, a blow gun and more.

Editor's insights

The target customer for this portable air compressor is the DIY homeowner who likes to tackle various small projects. But some professional contractors even find value in it since it’s lightweight, quick to come to pressure and easy to take from place to place. Many people have this air compressor simply to air up tires, operate a nail gun and other smaller tools. The main complaints people have with this air compressor are the noise level and the lack of power for big projects. However, for a value pick, it’s not designed to handle large projects. Purchasing with the proper expectations will help you appreciate the value much more.

Contender

Makita

MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor

Price Check

Bottom Line

This Makita 2.5 HP portable air compressor satisfies many needs, whether you need one for professional use or just for DIY projects around your house.

About

This performs at 4.2 CFM at 90 PSI, so you will be able to be productive for longer, and it’s one of the quietest air compressors you will ever own. It also includes a 4.2-gallon capacity twin-stacked tank, which holds an operating pressure of 130 PSI. The pump is oil-lubricated to allow for reduced wear and tear as well as cooler operating temperatures. It is a bit on the heavy side at 77 pounds, but has roll-cage construction for ease of portability.

Editor's insights

One of the benefits of owning an oil-lubricated air compressor is it’s typically much quieter, and this one is no exception. Customers really appreciate how quiet this air compressor is, especially when using it in an enclosed area like a garage or shop. Customers use this air compressor for airing up tires, using a paint sprayer, operating nail guns and much more. While it’s an extremely versatile air compressor, the main downfall people say about it is the weight. It’s possible to move it to different locations without assistance, but since it weighs nearly 80 pounds, most people find a spot for it in their shop and leave it there.

What to Look for When Evaluating Portable Air Compressors

If you’re going to invest in a portable air compressor, you need to make sure it at least solves your basic needs. For example, if you only want to keep a portable air compressor in your shop at home for airing up tires, balls and other similar items, then a small tank capacity of around 3 gallons should get the job done. But if you’re a DIY expert and often tackle various projects around the house requiring nail guns or other air-powered tools, then a tank capacity of 5-10 gallons is ideal. A tank capacity of around 6 gallons will usually handle any household project with ease, so it’s the most common size purchased for the average homeowner.

Many people focus solely on the pounds per square inch (PSI) when evaluating portable air compressors, rather than the cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the PSI, the more air volume can be compressed into the air tank. But the CFM is measured by the volume of air actually delivered in a one-minute timespan of the portable air compressor operating. So when evaluating the power of a particular air compressor, the CFM output should be one of the specifications you place the most emphasis on.

Shopping Guide for Portable Air Compressors

The best way to select the perfect portable air compressor is to look at the specifications of the tools you’ll be using, and see if the air compressor you’re interested in buying can support it. A finish nailer may operate at a lower CFM than a framing nailer, and those specifications should be listed on the package or instructions. The idea is if your finish nailer needs to operate at 0.5 CFM at 90 PSI, then your portable air compressor should have at least that amount output.

Due to the variances in size, weight and power of portable air compressors, some people actually have a couple different ones to serve multiple purposes. It may be challenging to load and unload an air compressor weighing 80+ pounds on a daily basis, especially if you may not even need to use it every day. So keeping a heavier and more powerful air compressor in your shop or at home, and taking a lighter one on the road, is ideal for many people.

Another thing to consider is whether you want an oil-lubricated air compressor or an oil-free one. An oil-free air compressor requires less maintenance, since you don’t have to worry about changing out oil at all. It’s ideal for people who don’t necessarily use their air compressor much, since oil can get gummy and cause problems if it doesn’t get used much. An oil-lubricated air compressor often operates more smoothly and is often quieter as well. It will also operate at cooler temperatures and the wear and tear will be reduced compare to oil-free options.

Why a Portable Air Compressor

Portable air compressors can be a useful tool for blowing up car tires or providing a portable way to run a nail gun or similar tools.

What Are the Benefits of a Portable Air Compressor?

Having compressed air when you need it can prove to be extremely useful. When you always have a portable air compressor in the back of your truck or the trunk of your car, you can quickly and easily air up a flat tire if you ever need to. You may never have to use it, but it is extremely convenient to have when you do need it most. Getting out of difficult situations like this makes the investment well worth it after just a single use.

Portable air compressors are also valuable for the DIY expert and professionals alike, since they can power various tools from basic nail guns all the way up to paint sprayers. You can even use it to blow off dust or debris from your work surface, shop, truck or anything else. Having a portable air compressor handy can ensure you have the right equipment to get the job done when you need it.

There may not be a one-size-fits-all portable air compressor available, but there is an air compressor available to fit everyone’s needs. People who do various jobs will often invest in two or more portable air compressors if it makes sense. Some air compressors are labeled as portable, but are still heavy, bulky and inconvenient to move. Those are usually best suited for staying in a shop. Comparable models can be found that are lighter in weight to make transporting them easier.

If you are looking for other tools for your home projects, check our our other recommendations.

Best Portable Air Compressors