How much does a Pressure Washer cost?

A pressure washer helps to clean dirty surfaces and clean them properly. You can get rid of stubborn stains, such as those made by oil, rust, paint, etc. with amazing efficiency. Let’s check out the different factors that influence the cost of pressure washer in the US.

Pressure Washer Cost by Type

There are three main types of pressure washers in the market – battery, gasoline and electric-powered. Each type of pressure washer will have its distinct pros and cons. It is ultimately your decision to see if they are worth your money. For instance, a type of pressure washer may be suitable for certain types of tasks, while others may be suitable for different types of cleaning tasks. 

Gas-powered Pressure Washer

As mentioned earlier, the average cost of a gasoline-powered pressure washer is around USD 379. This type of pressure washer is ideal for frequent use and significant cleaning tasks. This type of equipment produces incredible power and is considered better than battery and electric models. 

Pros:

• High cleaning power allows lets you clean larger areas in less time
• Ideal for heavy-duty cleaning and frequent use
• No restrictions to remain near a power outlet 

Cons:

• Most expensive type of pressure washer model
• Gas fumes and oil can be messy
• Usually heavy, generally weighing around 100 lbs. 
• High-maintenance models
• Noisier than others

Battery-powered Pressure Washer

As we have mentioned, the average cost of a battery-powered pressure washer is around USD 182. This type of pressure washer is extremely portable and you can even carry it easily on your camping trip. You can simply fill a bucket with water from any source nearby and use a battery-powered pressure washer without having to worry around finding an electrical socket or gas. 

Pros:

• Excellent user mobility 
• Lightweight design
• Easy to start
• Less noisy than gas-powered models
• Usually comes with a portable water container or bucket

Cons:

• Have lower pressure, ideal only for light work 
• Slightly expensive than electric variants
• Delivers less power than electric and gas powered models

Electric/Corded Pressure Washer

As stated previously, the average cost of buying an electric-powered (or corded) pressure washer in the US is around USD 167. Electric pressure washers are eco-friendly options to gas-powered models. These washers produce almost the same amount of power as gas pressure washers. However, you don’t have to deal with exhaust fumes and oily mess when operating electric pressure washer. 

Pros:

• Easy to start
• Offers same level of power as gas-powered model
• Eco-friendly washing option
• Most cost-efficient type of pressure washer 
• Lighter in weight than gas-powered models
• Less noisy than gas-powered pressure washers 

Cons:

• Use restricted to cord length limit near power outlet
• Power cord restricts mobility

Factors that affect Pressure Washer Cost

Besides the power source, there are other factors and features that determine the total cost of a pressure washer. Some washers are designed to handle heavy-duty cleaning better than others, and are usually more reliable and durable as well. 

Some of the major factors that decide the final price of a pressure washer are:

Cleaning Power

The power of a pressure washer is either measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) or GPM (gallons per minute). 

These two aspects are used to measure a pressure washer’s suitability for the type of work it can handle. For instance, some pressure washers are designed to handle light work, while others are designed to handle medium or heavy-duty tasks. Remember, the more cleaning power that a pressure washer has, the more expensive it usually is. 

To calculate the cleaning power of your pressure washer, you need to:

PSI x GPM

The result will be the cleaning power unit which is easy to compare between different tools. The higher the number, the more cleaning power the washer has. 

Light-Duty Pressure Washers

On average, light-duty pressure washers can cost around USD 166. Electric and battery-powered pressure washers are ideal for simple cleaning. Make sure to buy a light-duty pressure washer with 1900 PSI and 1.1 GPM to 1.4 GPM range.

Such pressure washers are best-suited for use on:

• Cars
• Grills
• Patio furniture
• Boats
• Dirt bikes
• Walkways
• Windows

Medium-Duty Pressure Washers 

The average cost of a medium-duty pressure washer is around USD 246. Gas and electric-powered models are most suited for medium-duty cleaning tasks, as long as the PSI is not too high. 

Ideally, a medium-duty pressure washer has a power of 1900 PSI to 2800 PSI, with consumption at around 1.8 GPM and 2.5 GPM. 

Medium-duty pressure washers are well-suited to clean:

• Sidewalks 
• Driveways
• Paint preparation 
• Siding

Heavy-Duty Pressure Washers

Heavy-duty pressure washers on an average cost around USD 422. Most of these are gas-powered versions that have more than 2800 PSI and over 2.5 GPM rating. 

Heavy-duty pressure washers are ideal for use on:

• Patios 
• Decks 
• Oil stains 
• Dust
• Paint
• Graffiti 

Make sure to use the appropriate PSI for individual tasks. You can easily control the power and pressure by attaching a nozzle tip to the hose. If the pressure washer has a high PSI, then it can damage soft, sensitive surfaces. 

Portability

Some pressure washers have portability features to make cleaning tasks easier and more comfortable. However, the portability of pressure washer also increases it overall cost. This is the reason why battery-powered pressure washers are usually more expensive than electric-powered pressure washers. 

Some portability features that are attached to pressure washers include:

• Wheels – Built-in wheels help you move the heavy equipment everywhere around the work site.
• Lightweight – It makes it more comfortable to use the pressure washer for longer
• Cart design – This allows users to move easily and access hose and nozzles efficiently 
• Portable bucket/container – This can be filled in case there is no readily available water supply close by.

Conclusion

The national average cost of a pressure washer is around USD 246, with low-end models priced as low as USD 75 and high-end models priced at around USD 9,549. The average cost of a gas-powered pressure washer in the US is around USD 379, electric-powered pressure washer is around USD 167 while you can buy battery-powered pressure washers for around USD 182. For large-scale tasks, it is highly recommended to hire professional lawn care experts, such as Eden for best results.