Portable Air Compressor Buyer's Guide
Portable air compressors go wherever the job is.
Whether you want to mount a portable air compressor on your truck, wheel it around the job site, or carry it anywhere, there's a portable compressor that fits any job—and any user.
This guide will help you choose the right portable compressor: one you can easily take up on the roof, under the deck, or on the road. We typically recommend customers look for compressors with enough CFM (Cubic Feet/Minute) and PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) to meet the job's demands.
1. Hand-Carry Air Compressors
Hand-carry air compressors are the smallest and easiest to move around. If your compressed air needs include inflating balls, mattresses and tires, hobby work, and other light-duty applications, these are the compressors for you. They are available in a variety of sizes and are mostly electrically powered, with some exceptions of those needing gasoline instead.
| Hand-Carry Compressors | Inflators | Pancake Compressors | Hot Dog Compressors | Twin-Stack Compressors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| Uses | Emergency car tires, inflatables, bike tires | Entry-level uses; car tires; some air tools | Home DIY projects; most air tools | Professional carpentry/ contractor work |
| CFM | 0-2 CFM | 0-4 CFM | 0-5 CFM | 2-7 CFM |
| Max PSI | 60-230 PSI | 90-135 PSI | 110-225 PSI | 120-175 PSI |
| HP | 0-1 HP | 1-5.5 HP | 0.5 - 2 HP | 1-6 HP |
| Power Source | (DC) 12v/24v or (AC) 120v | 115-120v Electric & Gas | 110-120v | 110-230v Electric & Gas |
Air Inflators
Mostly reserved for emergency use, high-quality inflators are extremely useful if kept in your car's trunk. They come in 12-volt, 120-volt, and cordless battery power options and are also the smallest consumer air compressors available.
When choosing an inflator, it's important to understand that it is not designed or meant for tasks other than inflating pool toys, bike tires, or small vehicle tires—in other words, it can't power air tools or fill RV-size tires.
Pancake Air Compressors
Pancake air compressors are portable, require minimal maintenance, and are easy to use. They are basic entry-level compressors with small tanks and are used for small projects around the house.
Pancake compressors are small and portable, making them a simple tool you can pull out and use at a moment's notice. Most have regulators and gauges so you can monitor your PSI, too. Some lighter air tools can be used with pancake compressors; however, due to their smaller air capacity, you may need to wait for the tank to refill often.
Hot Dog Air Compressors
Hot dog air compressors get their name from the fact that their elongated tanks resemble hot dogs. They usually come in 1-7 gallon tank sizes. The size of the tank determines how long an air tool can be used before the compressor kicks on, called its duty cycle.
Two features you should look for are a durable carrying handle and rubber feet to prevent scraping floors. Three-gallon (all-in-one) air compressors are great for small projects around the house and come with the most common attachments for small jobs. They are compact, lightweight, and extremely versatile machines.
You can use these compressors with most air tools, but if you plan on using heavy-duty professional pneumatic tools like a nail gun for a flooring project, you should consider the largest hot dog compressor tank available, or a twin-stack compressor (below).
Twin Stack Air Compressors
Twin Stack air compressors have two tanks, so you won't spend nearly as much time waiting for your tank to fill as with other types of hand-carry compressors. With the second tank, they can consistently power most air tools with minimal downtime.
Most consumer-grade twin stack compressors are direct drive, and they require much less maintenance than belt-drive compressors, with the added benefit of not worrying about oil changes and belt replacements on oil-free models.
Like most portable compressors, twin-stack models are offered as oil-lubricated or oil-free. Oil-free twin stack compressors do not need to be maintained. If you are using an oil-lubricated pump, make sure to check the oil—if there is no oil to lubricate an oiled pump, the compressor will wear out sooner.
2. Wheeled Portable Air Compressors
Air compressors with wheels are often classified by either having vertical or horizontal tanks. Wheeled compressors are available as either electric or gasoline-powered.
Unlike hand-carry compressors, these units have wheels because they are much heavier, so they need to be pushed or pulled to wherever they are needed.
| Wheeled Compressors | Vertical Compressors | Horizontal Compressors | Wheelbarrow Compressors |
|---|---|---|---|
|  |  |  |
| Users | Consumers and hobbyists | Prosumers | Contractors |
| CFM | 3-10 CFM | 2-27 CFM | 5-18 CFM |
| Max PSI | 115-225 PSI | 120-180 PSI | 125-175 PSI |
| HP | 1-4 HP | 1-14 HP | 1-14 HP |
| Power Source | Electric Only (110-230v) | Electric (110-230v) or Gas | Electric (110-230v) or Gas |
Portable Vertical Tank Air Compressors
Portable vertical tank compressors are essentially the same as horizontal units below, just with a different tank orientation and electrical power. If you're debating between the two, your storage space should dictate which style you purchase.
If you're re-siding a home, building a deck, or framing an addition, a major benefit of the vertical orientation is eliminating the need to bend over to use the compressor.
A major difference between the horizontal and vertical air compressors is there are no gas-powered vertical models. If you need to work away from electricity and need significant CFM or PSI, horizontal portable compressors will likely be your best option.
Portable Horizontal Tank Air Compressors
Portable horizontal compressors are popular because they have more power than hand-carry units. In most cases, they are very similar, just with larger tanks and more costly components.
These single stage compressors are popular with carpenters because, with their large tanks, they don't need to run constantly to refill.
Horizontal compressors are also available as electric or gas-powered, so you'll need to decide ahead of time where you'll be using your compressor and how much CFM you need.
Wheelbarrow Air Compressors
When you need durability and mobility, choosing a Wheelbarrow air compressor might be exactly what you need. With single or double wheels and sturdy handles, you can pull wheelbarrow compressors weighing upwards of 300 lbs through tough, uneven terrain.
Wheelbarrow compressors are designed for professional tradesmen on the job site. They are built with larger air tanks and heavy-duty materials so they can handle challenging conditions and withstand the normal rigors of a job site.
You can choose between gas-powered or electric-powered models, single or two-stage motors, and single and two-wheeled varieties. Some compressors even offer dual-air outlets to power two air tools simultaneously.
3. Mobile Air Compressors
Mobile air compressors are as portable as the vehicle they're attached to. This category includes truck-mount, tow-behind, and DC compressors, each with unique applications and uses.
Truck-mount compressors can be found mounted on roadside service vehicles, and tow-behind compressors are often towed with construction trucks. DC compressors are designed to inflate punctured tires and power air tools on the go, making them perfect for off-roading in Jeeps and UTVs, or vehicles that use air-ride suspension.
| Mobile Compressors | DC Compressors | Truck-Mount Compressors | Tow-Behind Compressors |
|---|---|---|---|
|  |  |  |
| Uses | Off-roading, air-ride suspension, semi-trucks, agricultural equipment | Mobile contractor, farmer, and construction applications | Industrial construction applications |
| CFM | 0-8 CFM | 13-57 CFM | 90-790 CFM |
| Max PSI | 100-200 PSI | 150-200 PSI | 100-150 PSI |
| HP | 0.25-2 HP | 8-18 HP | 24-254 HP |
| Power Source | 12-24v | Gas Only | Diesel Only |
DC Air Compressors
DC (direct current) air compressors open up new possibilities that gasoline or electrically-powered compressors can't offer by running on battery power instead. These types of compressors don't normally have air storage tanks, meaning they run constantly, and many models boast a 100% duty cycle rating (always running).
Because they are battery-powered with either 12-volt or 24-volt currents, you can use them virtually anywhere, including permanently-mounted on your jeep, ATV, semi-truck, or agricultural equipment. You'll even find these compressors being used for air-ride suspension applications on vehicles.
With a DC compressor, you can go off-roading with ease, knowing you don't need to rely on plug-in power to prevent your tires from going (too) flat on you up in the mountains. Also, on rocky tracks, you won't have to worry about spilling gasoline or losing the gas tank, either.
Truck-Mount Air Compressors
Truck-mounted air compressors deliver heavy power from an even heavier compressor, supplying CFM and PSI levels of a two-stage compressor. As such, these compressors need to be transported in the bed of a work truck. You'll get the power of a stationary compressor with the convenience of portability.
For professional contractors or hard-working farmers, these compressors offer amazing value on job sites or in remote places. Just remember to bring extra gasoline because they are gas-only and can't be powered by electricity.
Tow-Behind Air Compressors
Tow-behind air compressors are behemoths of compressed air power. Up to 120 HP and over 375 CFM, these 2-stage rotary-screw compressors rival industrial stationary compressors.
Too powerful and large to fit into the standard truck bed, most require a hitch and a sturdy set of wheels to transport them to the job site. However, some will fit into the beds of larger tractor-trailers and can even be purchased without the trailer (skid-mounted). Either way, with a compressor like this, sandblasting, graffiti removal, pavement breaking, post-pounding, and more have never been so simple.
Because of their size and horsepower, they can deliver as much consistent power as a 2-stage stationary compressor with the benefit of being out in the field. These professional compressors also come with options for extended warranties and cold-weather protection kits and are highway tow-able (up to 55 mph).
The Best Portable Air Compressors
We know it can be difficult to choose the right type of portable air compressor, so we've created tools to help make the decision simple. What better way to discover the best portable air compressors than by hearing what our customers actually think?
Click the link below to view the best portable air compressors of the year, as voted by our air compressor experts and customers who have purchased, used, and reviewed their own compressors. Or, if you need more help, give us a call.
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