8 Best Air Compressors to Use in Your Garage – Reviews and Buying Guide

Users love this small yet powerful air compressor from Porter-Cable. The pancake air compressor only has a small six-gallon tank, but with a maximum pressure output of 150 psi it is among the most powerful one-tank air compressors on the market. In addition, the 3.7 cfm flow rate at 40 psi means that this air compressor is able to turn over relatively quickly so that you can keep working. However, note that it is still designed for small air tools rather than industrial work where continuous air is needed - for this purpose, you'd be better off choosing a powerful industrial air compressor.

Users appreciated that this compressor is able to start in cold temperatures thanks to the powerful two horsepower motor and can be operated with an extension cord without issues. However, they noted that although the compressor is not impossible to move around, without wheels and weighing in at 30 pounds it is significantly more stationary than similar air compressors. Users also found that the compressor is noisy – certainly requiring ear protection for any amount of use – and vibrates enough to shake non-concrete floors.

One of the best things about this garage air compressor compared to others in our review is that Porter-Cable offers a long three-year warranty, which adds peace of mind to your investment.

This garage air compressor from Dewalt is more expensive than other pancake-style air compressors in our review, but brings the technical specification and customer feedback to justify the added cost. First, the compressor has a powerful two horsepower motor that is able to start up in extremely cold temperatures or on a 50-foot extension cord without issues. Second, the compressor has a maximum pressurization of 165 psi – significantly more than most other one-tank air compressors on the market today. The air deliver rate, 2.6 cfm at 90 psi, is on par with other pancake-style air compressors and provides fast enough turnover for uninterrupted use of smaller tools like nail guns. The main limitation on this air compressor is the six-gallon tank, although this is not an issue for most at-home mechanics looking to power small tools for the occasional job.

Users appreciated how well-constructed this air compressor is and the attention paid to small details. Dewalt equipped the feet with heavy rubber fittings to prevent scratching or bending the legs from repeatedly moving the compressor around. The handle is easier to grab and carry than on other pancake air compressors, and the unit is significantly quieter than competing compressors like the one from Porter-Cable.

This two-tank air compressor from California Air Tools is ideal for the professional mechanic or contractor who needs extraordinarily fast turnover to power continuous-use tools like air ratchets and air drills. The unit is rated for 6.4 cfm at 40 psi, which with tanks that are only 4.6 gallons each means that the compressor is constantly working. However, the two horsepower motor has no issue handling this workload and users appreciated that it was powerful enough to run in cold conditions while still drawing a relatively low current from a generator.

Like other offerings from California Air Tools, this compressor is among the quietest in its class and left users impressed. Note that although the air compressor uses a two-tank design, it is not intended for extremely high pressure applications – the unit is rated only to a maximum pressurization of 125 psi. In addition, although the generator is advertised for use in the field, it weighs in at nearly 70 pounds and does not come with wheels – making it extremely difficult to move around.

While the air compressor comes with a one-year warranty, users found the same poor manufacturing quality and customer service issues as are present on some of the other air compressors from California Air Tools.

This oil-lubricated air compressor from Wen is much bulkier and requires more maintenance than the oil-free compressors in our review, but it will last you a lifetime if taken care of properly. In addition, Wen offers a two-year warranty to back the performance of their air compressor.

The compressor is not extraordinarily powerful – the tank is only six gallons and it has a maximum air pressure of 125 psi. The unit also comes with an adjustable regulator that allows you to precisely control the output pressure all the way down to just a few psi. In addition, although it is not the highest output rate among compressors we reviewed, the 4.2 cfm flow rate at 40 psi is better than the flow rate found on most comparable garage air compressors – especially at this moderate price point.

Users noted that this garage air compressor is significantly noisier than other air compressors of the same size class and requires ear protection if you are using it for more than a few minutes. Another issue that users identified is that due to the small tank volume, the compressor begins recovering after only a very short burst of use and takes surprisingly long to recover. As a result, this compressor is much better for small projects and is not suitable for continuous use.

Users loved this inexpensive air compressor from Bostitch. Although the small 10.5-amp motor might leave you skeptical about its ability to handle serious projects, don’t underestimate the power that this garage air compressor packs. It is able to deliver up to 150 psi maximum air pressure and has a flow rate of 2.6 cfm at 90 psi for fast turnover. In addition, the compressor has two output ports so that it is possible to use two air tools simultaneously without disconnecting and reconnecting them constantly. Users found that it could easily handle most garage air tools, although of course the six-gallon tank remains a limiting factor for use by contractors and other industrial workers.

Like the compressor from Porter-Cable, this air compressor uses a pancake design that is somewhat more difficult to move around than comparable wheeled compressors. However, unlike that unit, this air compressor is not excessively noisy and does not suffer from extreme vibrations.

Although the unit comes with a relatively short one-year warranty, users report few problems with the air compressor even when using it frequently. Users also liked that the compressor arrives ready to use, unlike some other models.

This twin-tank garage air compressor from Makita is a smaller, less professional-minded version of the twin-tank unit from California Air Tools. First, the compressor requires oil for lubrication, meaning that it requires much more frequent maintenance than an oil-free compressor. However, this comes with the added benefit that users report the compressor will last for years to come, far beyond Makita’s one-year warranty period. Although the compressor is louder than the offering from California Air Tools, it is only slightly so – users remained impressed with how quiet this air compressor is.

The performance of this air compressor is solid, but not outstanding for the cost. The compressor outputs a maximum pressure of 130 psi and turns over significantly more slowly than the California Air Tools two-tank model – 4.8 cfm at 40 psi. What does distinguish this compressor is the 2.5-horsepower motor, which is the most powerful motor among air compressors in our roundup.

The additional downside that users found with this unit is that it is very heavy and not designed with wheels - if you're looking for a more portable option, take a look at our article on some of the best portable air compressors. Some users report mounting it on a dolly to be able to push it around rather than carry it by the built-in handle.

This 10-gallon tank air compressor from California Air Tools is designed with the semi-professional mechanic in mind, offering a larger air volume to power tools like air ratchets and air drills without frequent interruption. The tank is arranged vertically, rather than in a horizontal orientation as is common for six-gallon air compressors, and is on wheels for easy transport. The powerful two horsepower motor provides plenty of kick for starting the unit in any temperature conditions and only draws 2,000 W of surge power if you are planning to run this unit off of a generator in the field. Although the maximum pressure is somewhat low at 125 psi, the unit turns over extremely quickly with a flow rate of 6.4 cfm at 40 psi and 5.3 cfm at 90 psi.

Many users turned to this air compressor because it is rated as the quietest 10-gallon air compressor on the market today, which can make a big difference if you are planning to use it frequently.

However, for many users, the advantage of the noise reduction was outweighed by poor manufacturing quality. Many users report that the unit stops working within the first year of use and that California Air Tools frequently declines to honor their already short one-year warranty.

This oil-free air compressor from California Air Tools is surprisingly expensive compared to air compressors of the same size and pressure output, but the secret is its built-in noise reduction. At only 60 dB, this is one of the quietest air compressors on the market – users were pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was and could use it for short burst without ear protection.

The air compressor has a small tank at only 5.5 gallons, so it is able to run small air tools but does not perform well with tools like an air ratchet or air-powered drill. Users found that it would allow 10–15 seconds of use before needing to refill the tank when working with these tools. In addition, the maximum pressure of 120 psi is significantly lower than other less expensive air compressors.

While some users were impressed with the performance of this air compressor, other reviews were mixed and many users reported having issues with manufacturing quality. Many users found that the unit stopped working within the first year of use when pressurized frequently, and California Air Tools was not always great about honoring the one-year warranty.