If you’re not a fan of wires and having to rest a long cable over the back of your neck, cordless machine polishers are the answer. Instead, they rely on chunky, heavy-duty batteries provided by a number of top firms.
But what are the benefits of a battery-powered machine polisher? The answer is quite a few. If for example, you only need to correct a small section of bodywork at a time, they’re more convenient than a corded polisher. If you have to polish your car without access to a plug socket, they fit that requirement as well.
Cordless machine polishers vary in battery life as well, depending on how far upmarket you’re prepared to go. Some like to run out after around 15 minutes of continuous use, whereas some will plough on for a lot longer. The latter tend to be the pricier units. This, of course, is not an issue with corded polishers. The other added benefit of cored units is that they can vary in polisher type, particularly if you’re after a dual action polisher.
The best cordless machine polishers at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Flex PE15018EC5 Cordless Rotary Polisher – Buy from FFX.
Best cordless polishing kit: Sealey Cordless Polishing Kit – Buy from Amazon.
Best value cordless rotary polisher: Ryobi RDP18-0 ONE+ – Buy from Amazon.
But shopping for machine polishers can be complicated. You often have to navigate through a jungle of cheap options from unheard-of brands. We’ve made things easier and ranked our favourite cordless machine polishers that vary in range and budget.
The best cordless machine polishers
Editor's pick
It also comes with a 16cm polishing back, which sits on a 15cm backing pad. You also get two 250ml polishes, a microfibre cloth and even a case to carry it all in.
Pros
- Very comprehensive kit
- Great quality and suitable for gradual polishing
Cons
- Some will prefer higher load speeds
Best cordless machine polisher for surface area
Rrp: £134.95
Rrp: £134.95
It's quite a lightweight machine as well, weighing in at just 1.3kg before the battery is attached. The motor spins between 500 to 3,000rpm and with a 2.5Ah battery attached, it can run for approximately 25 minutes on a single charge.
Pros
- Wide polishing pad included
- Lightweight machine
Cons
- No batteries or charger included
Best cordless polishing kit
You also get a storage bag to carry it all in, which is handy. The pad is 7.1cm in length, and the machine is surprisingly lightweight at just 1.8kg. The machine itself operates in a two-speed setting ranging from 0 to 2,500rpm and 0 to 7,500rpm, depending on the mode.
Pros
- Variable speed settings
- Batteries and charger included
Cons
- Batteries take 1 hour to fully charge
Best value cordless rotary polisher
A battery and charger are not included, and the 5Ah battery sits at around £80. But the 18V unit spins the machine in two-speed settings. One between 0 to 2,800rpm and the other from 0 to 7,800rpm. The polishing pad is 7.6cm in diameter and operates in a rotational manner - which isn't necessarily suitable for most beginners.
Pros
- Good value for the equipment included
- Runs up to 65 minutes
Cons
- Polishing pad isn't as large as the others
Best compact cordless machine polisher
You need a Milwaukee M12 battery in order to make the machine work. But even with it attached, it's a fairly lightweight item; it weighs 800g before the battery is attached. And because it's a compact machine, you can access hard-to-reach areas where a larger machine would struggle.
Pros
- Compact design
- Versatile load speeds for the size and 12V battery
Cons
- No batteries or charger included
Best value cordless polishing kit
Rrp: £76.99
Rrp: £76.99
You also get a charger for the battery which can provide a full charge in a little over an hour. Workpro claim a 30-minute working time from the 2Ah battery, however some reports quote even less than that.
Pros
- Great value for the equipment included
- Decent load speed range
Cons
- Battery life is reportedly very short
Things to remember about cordless machine polishers
The first thing to consider is battery life. Generally speaking, the more expensive the product, the greater the battery will be in capacity. The key number to look out for is the Ah rating; it means amp-hours, and it represents the rating of ampere in an hour at a constant flow. So, a battery rated at 5.0Ah is going to last longer than one rated at 2.5Ah.
The next thing to consider is what kind of polisher you’d prefer. A lot of cordless machine polishers are rotary units, which are more in line with what professional detailers use. They generate more heat in a single spot, and if you’re not careful, too much of that heat generation can damage the clearcoat or paintwork. A dual-action machine polisher reduces that risk as the pad moves on an axis which allows for more movement in a single space.
Finally, you will need to factor in whether said unit comes included with polishing equipment and/or the battery and charger. The profession is quite an expensive one once you add in the cost of the polish and polishing pads. Batteries that are compatible with machines tend to cost quite a lot of money, so you will need to factor this in when purchasing. Of course, some manufacturers will produce batteries compatible with a plethora of other products under their brand. So, if, for example, you already have another Milwaukee machine with an M12 battery, you will only need a bare polishing unit.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, while we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us
