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There are a ton of outdoor surfaces that you might want to keep clean. Your driveway, sidewalks, porch, deck, house, lawn ornaments, and even your vehicles…they can all benefit from a good cleaning every once in a while. But tackling these tasks with a sponge and a bucket would just take forever, and for most of those surfaces, it just wouldn’t be possible.
It’s times like these when you need a pressure washer. You can use them safely on almost any hard surface, and they’re portable enough to travel with you to the cottage or to help out your friends and family. No matter what outdoor surfaces are in need of a new lease on life, a pressure washer can help make it happen.
If you agree with us, we’d love to help you choose your first (or next) pressure washer. They aren’t all created equal, and you might not know where to start. Since they’ll all have different prices, hose lengths, maximum pressures, weights, water flows, and more, you’ll want to think about all the features to make sure the one you choose will meet your needs.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best pressure washers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer
Upgrade Pick: Karcher K5 Premium Smart Control Electric Pressure Washer
Gas Pick: Westinghouse WPX2700 Gas Pressure Washer
Runner-Up: Craftsman 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
The Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer is a well-rounded option suited to just about anybody. It won’t kick up a fuss when you’re assembling it or learning how it works—it's straightforward. One of the things we like most is the Total Stop System—it shuts the pump off as soon as the trigger is released to save on power and preserve your pump for as long as possible.
We also like the colour-coded system for the nozzle tips. They connect and disconnect easily, and you get five of them to match every task. Its most unique feature is the dual detergent system. You can store two different types of detergent onboard, and swap between them with a quick flip of a dial. It doesn’t get easier than that.
The only thing that might become an issue is the connection site where the water hose meets the body of the pressure washer. It tends to leak, and while it doesn’t affect its performance at all, it might be something you just don’t want to deal with.
Reviewers love the Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer. It’s got a lot of power for the inexpensive price, and they had no trouble putting it together or figuring out how to use it. The versatility offered by five nozzle tips makes it easy to get every chore done with the same machine, and they’re very grateful for the lightweight, wheeled design.
Dimensions: 15.6” x 13.5” x 33.9”
Weight: 24.3 lbs
Colour: Black and green
Maximum Pressure: 2030 PSI
Flow Rate: 1.76 GPM
Number of Nozzles: 5
Hose Length: 20 ft
Power Cord Length: 35 ft
Wand Length: 34”
Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
Has two 0.9L onboard detergent tanks to store two types of soap at the same time
Pump automatically shuts off until the trigger is pressed—this saves energy and increases pump longevity
Comes with 5 color-coded quick-connect nozzle tips (0º, 15º, 25º, 40º, and soap)
Very easy to assemble and use
Cons:
Connection site between water hose and pressure washer body will leak slightly
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer was an easy choice for our top overall recommendation. Whether it’ll be your first pressure washer ever or you’re familiar with them already, you won’t have any trouble falling in love with this one. You’ll be looking for extra things to clean!
There are so many great things about the Karcher K5 Premium Smart Control Electric Pressure Washer we don’t even know where to start. The smart control wand is one of our favourite things about it. It lets you adjust the amount of soap used and the pressure of the water! Unheard of, right? It also has a telescopic handle on the body to make it comfortable for everyone to roll it around. Yup, it has wheels, too!
Another highlight feature is the 3-in-1 wand. Rather than three separate nozzles that are easy to lose, this thing houses them all together. With a simple twist, you can switch between the soap nozzle, flat nozzle, and rotary nozzle. How cool is that!? You’ll need to buy Karcher detergent bottles for this unit, but that’s because they slot right into the machine. It doesn’t get easier than that.
Honestly, our only complaint with this one is the price tag. We want everyone to find joy in pressure washing, and this option will get you there. But it’s also incredibly expensive, and unfortunately won’t be a reasonable option for everybody.
Reviewers are big fans of the Karcher K5 Premium Smart Control Electric Pressure Washer. The smart pressure control and 3-in-1 design of the wand make it so easy to switch to different spray types and pressures depending on their current chore, and that seems to be the biggest hit. However, they also love the sturdy and compact wheeled design as well.
Dimensions: 16.2” x 12” x 23”
Weight: 37 lbs
Colour: Black and yellow
Maximum Pressure: 2100 PSI
Flow Rate: 1.4 GPM
Number of Nozzles: 3
Hose Length: 25 ft
Power Cord Length: 35 ft
Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
Smart control technology on wand handle lets you adjust water pressure and amount of soap
3-in-1 design of spray wand lets you switch easily between flat nozzle, rotary nozzle, and detergent nozzle
Telescopic handle on pressure washer body lets you adjust for your height
Karcher detergent bottles fit right into the pressure washer body
Cons:
Quite pricey
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Karcher K5 Premium Smart Control Electric Pressure Washer is our top recommendation for everyone who’s looking for luxury and won’t mind a higher price tag. It really has no flaws, and it’s got so much adjustability to suit every person and every outdoor chore. We just love it.
The Westinghouse WPX2700 Gas Pressure Washer is a true beast of a pressure washer. And we love that for you. With a maximum pressure of 2700 PSI and a flow rate of 2.3 GPM, this thing is designed for all of your toughest and most exhausting cleaning tasks. It’ll make quick work of them, we promise. And with the cart-style design and 12” never-flat wheels, you won’t get tired of dragging it around, either.
We love that you get four different nozzles with this pressure washer. It doesn’t have a turbo nozzle, but it’s got nozzles for three different spray angles plus a soap nozzle that works with the onboard soap dispenser—you won’t have the weight of a soap bottle weighing your wand down. The one-gallon gas tank is also a favourite feature. You’ll be able to get all of your chores done (multiple times!) before you need to refuel.
There are just a few minor things we want you to be aware of before you commit to this option. You’ll need to prepare to invest a little extra, and we mean this in terms of initial purchase price and a steady supply of fuel and oil for maintenance. Also, unless you’re very familiar with this type of equipment, you might have a confusing time putting it together.
Reviewers are blown away by the Westinghouse WPX2700 Gas Pressure Washer. The pressure is very reliable, and the four different nozzle types allow them to tackle every chore without any additional purchases. It doesn’t wander around with the vibrations, and the wheels make it really easy to move around on every surface. They have no complaints at all about its performance!
Dimensions: 39” x 21” x 19.7”
Weight: 70 lbs
Colour: Black and blue
Maximum Pressure: 2700 PSI
Flow Rate: 2.3 GPM
Number of Nozzles: 4
Hose Length: 25 ft
Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
Extremely powerful
Cart-style design and never-flat wheels make it easy to move around
Comes with a 0º nozzle, 25º nozzle, 40º nozzle, and soap nozzle (paired with onboard soap tank)
One-gallon gas tank provides a long run time
Cons:
More expensive than the average pressure washer
Will require fuel and maintenance regularly
More complex to put together than electric versions
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Westinghouse WPX2700 Gas Pressure Washer is our top recommendation for everyone who is looking for gas power. It’ll require more money and time to keep it in tip-top shape, but you’ll get a lot more out of it, too.
At some point in our lives, we all end up asking, “Why is this so complicated?” for some new piece of equipment we’ve bought. That won’t be the case with the Greenworks 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. It’s incredibly straightforward to use—just attach the hose to a water supply, plug in the power cord, turn it on, and pull the trigger. It’s that easy!
This option is also incredibly portable. It’s compact, lightweight, and even has a carry handle to make things easier. It won’t leave your ears ringing once you shut it off, either. It’s really quiet. To make sure it can handle everything you need it to, it comes with two different nozzle types and even a soap-dispensing attachment for washing your patio furniture and your cars!
We only have two low points to share that might sway you away from this option. First, the pressure is limited to 1700 PSI, so it might not quite be powerful enough for the efficiency you’re looking for. Also, the attachment piece that connects the hose to the water supply isn’t the best quality…some people only get 50 attachments before the thing refuses to budge. You’ll be better off leaving it connected all the time to avoid this issue.
Reviewers are very happy with the Greenworks 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. They’ve used it for washing cars, cleaning fences and house siding, and even garage floors, and everyone has been happy with how well it worked for their chores! Several people have run into problems with the low-quality attachment that connects the hose to the water supply, though.
Dimensions: 13” x 9” x 10.6”
Weight: 16 lbs
Colour: Black
Maximum Pressure: 1700 PSI
Flow Rate: 1.2 GPM
Number of Nozzles: 2
Hose Length: 20 ft
Power Cord Length: 35 ft
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Comes with a soap dispenser attachment, a 40º nozzle, and a turbo nozzle
Very portable—lightweight and compact, plus has a carry handle
Quiet when working
Very simple to use
Cons:
Hose attachment for water supply will wear out over time
Pressure might not be high enough for all chores
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
All in all, the Greenworks 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is a surprisingly well-rounded choice for such a low price. It has some quality issues, but for most cleaning chores around the house, this thing will get the job done in no time. It’ll only take you two minutes to figure out how it works, too.
The Craftsman 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is a well-rounded option that we feel confident recommending to pretty much everybody. It’s got two different nozzle types plus an attachment that dispenses soap, so you won’t have any trouble finding the right pressure or spray type for the job ahead of you. The kink-resistant hose keeps your water supply steady, too.
One of our favourite things about it is its compact size. It’s perfect for squeezing into a packed garage or stowing in the car for on-the-move jobs. All of the attachments can be stored onboard, too, and it even has a built-in cord wrap to make sure it stays tangle-free and hassle-free whenever you need to use it.
We have a few concerns to share with you. We don’t love the design of the soap-dispensing bottle, and you may want to find a higher-quality one to replace it with. The pressure is also a little bit limited for some more extreme tasks, so it isn’t great as a professional option. The last thing we want you to know about is the poor longevity…it might not last longer than a couple of years. But you might get lucky.
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Craftsman 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. A couple of people aren’t fans of the soap dispenser bottle, and several others have been unhappy with how long it worked before breaking. The pressure is great for most home tasks, though, and the different nozzles help adjust the pressure when they need to.
Dimensions: 17.5” x 9.25” x 10.4”
Weight: 17.6 lbs
Colour: Black and red
Maximum Pressure: 1700 PSI
Flow Rate: 1.2 GPM
Number of Nozzles: 2
Hose Length: 20 ft
Power Cord Length: 35 ft
Wand Length: 36”
Pros:
Hose is kink-resistant for an uninterrupted water supply
Has a wand attachment for soap dispensing plus a 40º nozzle and turbo nozzle
Built-in cord wrap helps you stay organized
Compact design is perfected for crowded storage spaces or travel
Cons:
Longevity is a concern
Pressure won’t be high enough for all tasks
Soap dispenser isn’t the best quality
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Overall, the Craftsman 1700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is an awesome option for all-around use. It has its flaws, but it’s offered at an excellent price and will make your life so much easier in so many ways.
Pressure washers can range in price from $150 to well over $600. Most people won’t need a model over $400, though. In general, more expensive pressure washers will be more powerful, durable, and versatile.
A pressure washer's most important feature is the maximum pressure. The lower-end models will be limited to 1700 PSI, but they’ll also be much more portable. Larger units can easily reach 2000+ PSI. If you choose gas power, they’ll be closer to 3000 PSI. The higher the pressure, the more effective it’ll be on concrete, asphalt, etc.
Pressure washers can run on a gas engine or an electric motor. Gas power will be more expensive and require regular maintenance, but they’re also much more powerful. Electric power will be more limited in pressure and flow rate, but they’re also simpler to use and won’t cost as much.
Most pressure washers will come with at least two different nozzle types, and some will have as many as five. The more nozzles you have, the more precise you can be with the pressure. They’ll all include a soap nozzle (or a soap bottle attachment if it doesn’t have onboard detergent tanks), but they might also include different angles of flat nozzles or even a rotary nozzle.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.