Independent UK pressure washer guide · 2026
Best pressure washers for cars, patios and driveways.
Plain-English UK buying guides. We compare electric, petrol and cordless machines by the job, not the logo on the box.
Best cordless pressure washer UK
Battery machines for cars, bikes and quick patio jobs where a plug is a faff. For a tap-fed machine, start with the cars guide.
Read the cordless guidePick the machine by the job.
Most UK homes want electric. Petrol is for big drives and no socket. Cordless is for light, portable work.
Electric
The default for cars, patios, decking and garden furniture. Quieter, easier to store, enough for most houses.
Read the cars guide →Petrol
More punch and no mains lead. Makes sense for large driveways, farm kit and work away from the house.
Read the petrol guide →Cordless
Light jobs, bikes, camping kit and spots where a hose-and-plug setup is awkward.
Read the guide →More guides.
Patio heads, tank trolleys, wall mounts and how to use the machine once you have it.
Kärcher
Which K2, K4, K5 or OC 6-18 to buy, then the deep review.
Best Kärcher pressure washer →Kärcher patio head
T 5 and T 7 Plus attachments, and the Home kits that already include one.
Kärcher patio cleaner →Ryobi patio brush
18V ONE+ wire and scrubbing tools for weeds in the joints, not a washer.
Ryobi patio cleaner →Tank trolleys
Bosch Fontus, Kärcher OC 6-18 and Makita, if there is no outdoor tap.
Cordless washer with tank →Wall mounted
Retractable hose boxes, SIP brackets and detailing bays.
Wall mounted jet wash →How to use one
Setup, nozzles, cars, patio, decking, soap, frost and runoff.
How to use a pressure washer →K4 vs K5
Which Flex to buy. K4 is the default, K5 is the long-drive upgrade.
K4 vs K5 →K2 vs K4
K2 is light and occasional. K4 is the household step-up.
K2 vs K4 →Four things that matter more than the brand.
The surface
Cars, timber and stone need control. Concrete can take more force. Start with the job, then the bar rating.
Flow, not just pressure
A higher litre-per-minute figure cleans a driveway faster than a flashy PSI number on the box.
Hose and kit
A longer hose, a decent gun and a patio cleaner change how usable a mid-range washer feels.
Where you buy
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An independent UK review site.
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Start with cordless