Most of us have been there – you’re rushing though the morning routine, late for work, running out to the car … only to find that one of those round black rubber hoops has failed in its job of holding air. A flat tire. Great.
Fortunately, there are plenty of options in the market of portable air compressors which can pump you up faster than Hans and Franz. Some of them require power from a household electrical socket, a few are battery-powered, while others fire right up with juice from a car’s 12V power outlet. The latter two are especially handy if compressed air is needed while one is on the road in a remote area and not parked in the comforts of a covered garage.
Remember, a tire that is leaking air has been damaged, creating a potential safety problem. Be sure to get it inspected by a pro at the first possible opportunity.
With that legally mandated mumbo-jumbo out of the way, here are a few of our picks for portable air compressors and tire inflators.
Its inscrutable brand name is offset by great customer reviews and too-cool looks, thereby appealing to both left and right sides of the brain. Styled in the appearance of a cordless power drill, this unit has a large 2200mAh rechargeable lithium battery to get you back on the road quickly.
A full set of accessories are included, allowing re-inflation of not only car tires but also bicycle tires and sporting equipment. The manufacturer, for reasons unknown but probably kowtowing to bed-wetting lawyers, have specified it is not to be used on trucks. Cars, crossovers, and SUVs are kosher. It comes with a car charger, two different length air hoses, and a battery pack.
When looking at a product’s average review score, it’s important to consider the total number of customers that have provided feedback. A five-star rating based on a single review isn’t much to go on. This unit has over fifteen thousand reviews, making its 4.5 star rating an impressive feat.
It draws power directly from a car’s 12V power source, making it a handy tool when you’re on the road. Multiple redundancies, including a pair of fuses and an over-inflation shut off, add a sense of security. An easy to read display shouts out numbers in kPa or psi, while a built-in LED flashlight is awesome for illuminating the tire you’re trying to inflate or find that burrito you’re searching for under the seat. Pro tip: don’t eat that burrito.
If all you’re looking for is a bit of cheap insurance to toss in the truck of your car, this may be the rig for you. Priced less than a couple of fast food meals, this compressor is the flat-and-square type that runs off your car’s 12V power outlet.
It does come equipped with four different nozzles, so it can also be used to inflate smaller items like basketballs or that weird doll you got in Vegas. Truth be told, this is probably what this unit is best used for, but there’s nothing wrong with an ounce of cheap prevention.
Here’s an option for gearheads looking for something beyond the standard 12V portable air compressor. Viair 300P Portable Compressor is a mid-range portable compressor kit capable of inflating up to 33-inch off-road tires by simply clamping the power leads to the battery terminal, connecting the lever-style tire chuck to the tire valve stem and turning the unit on.
That’s right – this thing has robust alligator clamps for connectivity, just like a set of jumper cables. It can operate at 150 psi for 15 minutes at a clip but needs a half hour cool-down period in order to catch its breath (pun intended). It’s not light, weighing in at a lard-like 8.6 pounds, but its 25-foot air hose and ability to work in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to 158 degrees F means it’ll provide the air you need no matter what condition in which you find yourself.
Offered as an option that’s heavier-duty than most compressors, this tool has an auto-thermal cutoff switch to protect against motor damage for those times you leave the thing running while answering the call of nature behind a tree. Another bonus? Owners can air down tires to a specific pressure level, which is very handy for off-roading.
It has some very robust features, including a 1/3 horsepower motor (about the same power as a household garage door opener) and a 30-amp inline fuse. Maximum airflow is rated at 72 liters per minute and has a duty cycle of about 40 minutes at 40 psi. In another nod to off-roaders, this thing can be permanently mounted and hard-wired.
Most gearheads know that a smidgen of air will escape a freshly inflated tire while the operator is removing the air hose nozzle from the tire’s inflation valve. This unit takes care of that vexing problem, leaving the final inflation value 0.5-1.5 psi higher than the value set into its memory. The company says this approach solves the problem of reduced pressure after removing the valve connector, thus making inflation more accurate. Fair enough.
Built-in overheating protection will shut the thing off automatically if its operating temperature gets too hot. It has a maximum operating time of fifteen minutes, more than enough to top off a single tire and plenty to inflate sporting equipment like a basketball or air cushion. An backlit LED screen calls out numbers with the clarity of a stadium scoreboard. Adaptors are included for different inflation situations.
A well-known brand name appears on this inflator, billed as a multi-purpose unit. Its reviews are solid, with real world customers reporting a sub-10 minute time to inflate a vehicle tire to spec from completely flat and a top-off time of 15-20 seconds. Like many other portable compressors of this style, its 10-foot power cord snakes back to a 12V power socket in a car for its electricity source.
Be aware that this tool is part of the Black & Decker family of portable tools and, as such, does not come with a rechargeable battery. One can be purchased separately or use one they already have if they’ve previously bought battery-powered tools which are part of this product line. On-board storage pockets mean owners won’t be hunting for that inflation needle the next time Junior wants his soccer ball inflated.
No word if this thing comes with a fluffy bunny beating on a marching bass drum, but it is emblazoned with the brand name made famous by those commercials. Who knew Energizer was also in the tire inflation business?
Of course, they likely just lent their name to a generic unit that’s mass-manufactured in a faraway plant. This little compressor has an LCD screen for accuracy, 120PSI maximum working pressure, and a price tag that won’t shock the budget.
Best Portable Air Compressors and Tire Inflators
What brand of air compressor is best?
Although there are several manufacturers in the market such as Bostitch, California Air Tools, etc., according to a majority of user reviews and feedback, when it comes to overall performance, Campbell Hausfeld manufactures some of the best air compressors.
What is a good size air compressor for home use?
If you want to use a compressor merely for vehicle tires and air toys, a portable one with 100 PSI and around 6 gallons of compressed air storage capacity would be sufficient enough to serve the purpose pretty well.
Who makes the quietest air compressor?
Honestly, it depends on the model. However, if you are buying one for home, you can consider going for Cambell Hausfeld as they make some of the quietest air compressors for domestic purposes.
What you need to know before buying a compressor?
Several factors that help you decide upon the type of air compressor that would be best according to your requirements, namely:
Before buying an air compressor, evaluate what type of tasks do you want it to do for you. For instance, if you need one merely for your car tires or air toys, going for a portable compressor with around 6 gallons of compressed air storage tank would be quite sufficient. On the other hand, if you own heavy-duty air tools, an industry-standard machine with around 60 gallons of storage tank would be your best bet.
If you are planning for a small air compressor, most of those don’t require any installation as they are portable and can be stored anywhere in your house. Whereas, if you want to buy a commercial-level machine, it should be placed where it can get plenty of open-air, and doesn’t annoy your neighbors with its noise, which may go up to 80dB to 100dB at times.
Usually, a normal air compressor works on 15 amp 120 volts, and for home uses, such equipment is sufficient. However, if it’s a commercial compressor, you may want to call an electrician for rewiring, and have a 240volts with 22amp power outlet installed to allow the machine to function correctly.
Although multiple parts are assembled in a perfectly balanced pattern to form an efficient air compressor, as a home user, the points that are worth considering before buying one include:
In simple words, PSI is the amount of pressure (force) at which a compressor throws the air. A majority of air tools require 90 PSI to function normally, and therefore while buying a compressor, you must look for the PSI value. Generally, most air compressors have 100 PSI. When talking about tires, for reference, those used in the cars have somewhere between 32 PSI to 35 PSI each.
The volume of air that a compressor produces at a certain pressure level is its CFM. Compressors with a higher number of CFM produce more air which is useful in large applications, typically in industries or production plants.
HP is the power a compressor works on. The higher the HP of a compressor is the more work it can do, and the more electricity will it consume. However, the truth is, if your compressor is new, it can perform well even at a lower HP value. As time passes, and the performance of the machine deteriorates, the efficiency level of the compressor gradually decreases as well.
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Since I’ve standardized on the Lowe’s / Kobalt 80V / 24V tools, I recently got their 24V tire inflator to join my 24V impact wrench and 24V drill.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Kobalt-24-Volt-cordless-high-pressure-inflator-24-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Li-Ion-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Battery/1002183680
It’s very good. Set the pressure, press go, and let it run up to the setpoint. Great for tire rotation and the change of seasons.
DeWalt makes a similar inflator, the DCC020IB:
https://www.dewalt.com/products/storage-and-gear/air-compressors/20v-max-cordedcordless-air-inflator/dcc020ib
It goes up to 160psi with auto stop, will inflate tires or high-volume items like rafts or air mattresses, and will run on DeWalt’s 20v Max batteries or 20/60 flex batteries, off of a lighter/power port, or on 110v AC (adapter sold separately). The only downside is the max 10 minute runtime with 20 minute rest.
Update: After the first article, I bought the DeWalt DCC020IB. It’s been really nice, not having to wait in line at Discount Tire for a free air check, especially after a cold snap, when lots of people are lined up due to the drop in temperatures.
The only thing I might change is having a lever-style chuck, instead of the screw-on fitting the DeWalt includes. I usually increase the inflation setting by a half psi to compensate for any loss when unscrewing the fitting.
Relevant: http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_5/Nitrogen_or_Air.html
Even more relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweel
https://specialopstools.com/products/tire-inflator-air-armor-m240
Bought this for my Jeep instead of the high dollar ARB one. It’s not as fast as the ARB but it does a good job on larger tires and the kit fits in the ammo can with all the tools which is nice. It’s hard to beat this for $120. I got it on sale for $90.
“hella”? Was this written by a teenage boy?
I do have one of these type inflaters, it works pretty well but it takes time to inflate a tire. My neighborhood gas station offers “Free Air”, so I go there
1. Pick the size you want/need.
2. Choose the appropriate VI Air model.
3. Never worry about this again.
Never heard of Viair (wacky off brand? not at all!) but saw they were highly recommended. Pretty much the only inflator I’ve had that can actually handle the 50 PSI of my trailer tires. All the other ones overheat. It also comes with a cord that is about 2 miles long so you can reach all the tires with no struggles.
Only complaints is the gauge is off by about 5 PSI so you need to slightly over-inflate. Also would be nice to have auto-shut off.
I’ll second that. I’m sure any of these will do fine for reinflating a tire that’s a few psi low. But I use the VIAIR300 for reinflating tires when I’m offroading, and it’s plenty powerful for the task. Reinflating a 32″ tire from 15 psi to 35 psi takes a couple minutes, and the compressor is just starting to get hot when I’ve completed all four.
Not portable, but it is an air compressor and is available on Amazon. :-)
I recently picked up this little guy ‘just because’ – only 2.2 CFM, but it really is quiet, refills quickly and they claim a lifecycle of 3,000 hours.
“California Air Tools 2010A Ultra Quiet and Oil-Free 1.0 HP 2.0-Gallon Aluminum Tank Air Compressor,Silver”
(Just about ideal for running a brad nailer or finish nailer inside the house, for example. The reduction in noise compared to my old pancake and twin stack compressors is dramatic – and welcome. Only draws 8 amps, if you ever needed to power a compressor from an inverter. Plus it has “California” right there on the tank.)
Many off-roaders I know have the Smittybuilt compressor. I used to have a portable air tank that worked well for dirt bike tires. Ever since I’ve changed to running 10 ply tires on my F150, I haven’t had an issue with flats.
I’d follow the commenters mentioning DeWalt and Kobalt.
Makita makes an 18V one.
Milwaukee has a nice one in their 12V line.
I did some looking at these a few months back. The DeWalt honestly seems like the best one if you’re not in a battery platform already.
I spent considerable time researching before purchasing my most recent compressor.
Was tired of 12volt compressors that either burnt out their motor or blew the vehicle’s fuse.
Wanted something that a) could plug into my home electrical socket, b) came with a rechargeable battery c) had a ‘screw on’ connector rather than one of those ‘quick clips’ that rarely work, and d) had other options such as a light or could serve as a ‘power source’.
Viair is very good. Others I’ve had would overheat on larger truck tires. Not the Viair.
Like others, I’ve not had problems with a few Viairs I’ve tried. Nor with a Makita 18V one, for very light top-up use. The latter isn’t really much better than a good bicycle floorpump, though…
For active, offroad, inflate/deflate use of big tires, a Powertank CO2 system is way ahead of any of these for speed. It’s also a lot simpler, so less reasons why it would fail/overheat/leak…. It has the flow to seat tires, and to run any airtool. May not be ideal for a Trans Siberian nor around the world offroad type outing, but anywhere where you can get an occasional CO2 fillup (a tank lasts quite long for regular use), they’re just a lot smoother. And not that expensive, either.
I’m almost surprised the Ryobi One+ hand-held wasn’t mentioned. I had an unexpected need and found it on sale, to go with my existing One+ tool batteries and it works very well, though I admit its pressure gauge isn’t the most accurate. It well met the need for airing up the tires of two vehicles in the course of a single session to compensate for low-temperature pressure drop with the onset of winter weather.
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