Dressed in its familiar yellow and black uniform, most of us are more than familiar with Karcher pressure washers. Alfred Karcher started out by selling heating systems in 1935, but it wasn’t until 1950 that he developed a portable, high-pressure, hot water-based cleaning device which was a breakthrough in technology at the time. This machine paved the way for their entry into the cleaning equipment market. As the years passed, Karcher continued to refine and innovate its pressure washer range, making them more powerful, efficient, and versatile until the first domestic pressure washer was launched in 1974.
The focus on product quality, performance, and reliability led to the brand gaining popularity not only in Germany but also worldwide, and their innovations really paved the way for the choice and variety of pressure washers we can currently choose from.
But we’re interested in the range of Karcher pressure washers available today. From lightweight and cordless pressure washers up to the mighty K7, we’ll have a meander through the range and find out what’s the best one to suit you.
Best Karcher pressure washers 2025 at a glance
Pressure washers come under all sorts of different brands, from Worx, Nilfisk, and Bosch to the premium AVA of Norway brand. Karcher units stand out by a considerable margin because there is such a wide variety of models to choose from. They can easily cater for budgets under £100 with the K2 series to full-on smarter units for the £500 and over mark, consisting of the K7 variants. We’ve dug deeply into Karcher’s range and rounded up the best pressure washers to suit every budget.
How we test
Quite simply, the primary thing we look for is cleaning ability. Which Karcher pressure washer is best at it for cleaning a car? That’s exactly what we’re here to find out. Whether it’s clearing dirt or car shampoo residue, a pressure washer should always be able to do the task.
Next up is versatility: how good is the pressure washer at not only cleaning cars, but bits of your home as well? Karchers aren’t cheap, so it’d be nice to know if they can cover loads of ground.
Value for money will be considered, too. Although it’s worth saying that with any model range from a pressure washer brand, you will always get what you pay for – and that includes the Karcher range with budget pressure washers to more premium models. However, if one model isn’t necessarily worth it over its less powerful sibling, we’ll mention so. All of this will be tied in with the product’s overall score.
Who tested them?
Alex Boyd
Boasting an extensive career in TV, radio as well as training in electronics, Alex has a keen and trained eye for sussing out good products from the bad and puts his many years of know-how into being a products writer for Parkers.
He is particularly fond of Karcher machines, so naturally, putting the K5 model to the ultimate cleaning test was right up his street. You can read his full review of the machine here for the full rundown.
Ryan Gilmore
Ryan has been writing for Parkers since 2020 and cut his teeth into product testing as a Deputy Commercial Content Editor before becoming our Car Buying Editor in 2024. His MA Automotive Journalism degree undoubtedly helped him to climb the ladder and train him as the analytical journalist that’s required for testing out a plethora of car products.
Throughout his time as a Deputy, Ryan took every product test with both hands and in his time, has checked out more pressure washers than your local auto outlet probably stocks.
Aaron Hussain
A products writer for Parkers since 2023, Aaron has organised and undertaken many product group tests and reviews for the site and works tirelessly to ensure that anything and everything car product advice is as accurate and as helpful as it can be.
Throughout his journey, Aaron has bagged both a BA degree in Journalism and MA in Automotive Journalism, as well as dipping his toes in a number of different automotive outlets before eventually landing in the hands of Parkers as a products tester. His knowledge and passion for all-things journalism means he is able to review any automotive product available and tell you whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
The best Karcher pressure washers tested 2025
Tested product
Best Karcher pressure washer for home and car
My impressions of the K5 are substantially good; setting it up is pretty straightforward with all the water connectors being quick to install with minimal faffing around, the ten-metre hose means you can pull the machine around freely without hassle on your driveway, and provides a good, even layer of foam and spray in very little time.
It's so powerful, you can feel the kickback when you pull the trigger. But the cleaning performance is properly good, all-things considered. The Home pack I tested came with a T5 Surface Cleaner, and I had a go with cleaning my slabbed driveway with it. I have to say that in my case, it made just as good progress over the monoblock driveway and patio paving.
My one reservation extends to the telescopic transportation handle. It felt very loose and wobbly, which is quite surprising when you consider how well the rest of the machine is made - especially at its price point. Overall though, it pounds out a mighty surge of power and has the ideal equipment you need to cater for your car and home.
Review by Alex Boyd
Read our full Karcher K5 Pressure Washer review
Pros
- Karcher app support compatible, should you ever need it
- 10m long hose for great versatility and ease of use
- Amazing flow rate of 500l/h and amazing power
Cons
- The telescopic handle is flimsy compared to the rest of the machine
- 13kg is quite heavy to move around
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 145 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 500 |
| Power (W) | 2100 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 10m |
| Dimensions | 40.2 x 30.6 x 58.8 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 13kg |
Tested product
Best budget Karcher pressure washer
The K2 model range begins at well-under the £100 mark with the horizontal model, so you can't expect anything like the capability of the K5 and K7 models. But in its own right, it provides plenty of power with 360 litres per-hour of flow rate at 110 Bar of pressure. In practice, we've found that it cleans a car extremely well, and I like the simplicity of it overall.
What don't I like? Well, it's quite harsh and generates quite a bit of vibration under operation - almost to the point where my hand was beginning to get strained after nearly going around a whole car. That, and the fact it's quite short means that while standing, I can't easily reach it when moving it around.
For the price point, the K2 is pretty much all the pressure washer you'll ever need. You have to live with the lack of refinement that more expensive pressure washers have, but that goes across all brands - not just Karcher.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Read our full Karcher K2 Pressure Washer review
Pros
- Compact size and lightweight for decent storage
- Decent spray and flow for cleaning a car
- Great value for money with prices beginning under £100
Cons
- Hose and cable length is quite short
- Quite harsh and vibrates in your hand
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 110 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 360 |
| Power (W) | 1400 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 5m |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 28 x 58.6 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 4kg |
Tested product
Best heavy-duty Karcher pressure washer
It has a little LCD screen in the trigger handle and is compatible with the Karcher app, so you can get the best tips on how to use the machine in different cleaning tasks. Unlike other machines, it even had a boost mode if the dirt and mud under the wheel arches is a tricky so-and-so to remove.
With the high pressure and immense flow rate at hand, the K7 is a flawlessly powerful and capable machine to clean your car or home with. Better still, it can be tailored to whatever it is you're cleaning and is just as capable as it is heavy.
It's a large unit like the K5, so moving it around isn't the easiest task. But this is balanced out with a long hose and cord length at hand, making moving around a relative doddle. Generally speaking, the K7 is a fabulously capable machine with all the power you could ever need. But for most car cleaning purposes, it's easy to think that it's perhaps a little overkill compared to the brand's other models and variants.
Review by Ryan Gilmore
Pros
- Powerful output at 550l/h at 180 Bar of pressure
- Easy spray control and mode selection - helped by the app
- Home kit available in some trim levels
Cons
- Heavyweight at 17.8kg, so it isn't the easiest thing to move around
- Not a lot of attachments included as standard, which is disappointing for the price point
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 180 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 550 |
| Power (W) | 2800 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 10m |
| Dimensions | 45.9 x 33 x 66.6 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 17.8kg |
Recommended
Best introductory Karcher pressure washer
Moving the machine isn’t a major problem, though, as it’s still fairly light at just under 5kg. This one is probably still what you would classify as a light-duty pressure washer – great for things like car washing and patio cleaning but maybe doesn’t have the grunt for tougher jobs.
Pros
- Longer hose than the K2
- Still fairly light at 4.4kg
- Slightly higher flow rate at 380l/h
Cons
- The differences from the K2 aren't that substantial
- Not too much kit as standard
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 120 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 380 |
| Power (W) | 1600 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 7m |
| Dimensions | 29.7 x 28 x 67.7 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 4.4kg |
Recommended
Editor's pick
The pressure is regulated by turning the spray wand, and the LED display on the Full Control Power gun makes it easy to check. It flows at 420 litres per hour at 130 Bar of pressure - which makes it a mightily powerful pressure washer when compared with alternatives.
Pros
- Good performance
- Easy control using the G 160 Q Power Control gun display
- A very healthy flow rate of 420l/h
Cons
- The hose can be prone to coiling
- Heavier than the others at 11.5kg
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 130 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 420 |
| Power (W) | 1800 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 8m |
| Dimensions | 40.2 x 30.6 x 58.8 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 11.5kg |
Recommended
The best cordless Karcher pressure washer
We don't believe that with a 12-minute battery life (included 2.5Ah battery), it'll be much good at a full car detail, but for cleaning the wheels or perhaps your bicycle, it can do a pretty favourable job. Happily though, if you have a larger battery such as a 5.0Ah unit, it can be connected if you need more endurance.
Pros
- Brilliant for wheel cleaning without a cord to worry about
- Comes with battery and charger included, albeit a small 2.5Ah unit
- Compact and easy to store away once finished
Cons
- The 2.5Ah battery has a very short life of approximately 12-minutes
- It doesn't represent as great value as other cordless pressure washers - i.e. the Worx Nitro Hydroshot
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 24 Bar |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 200l/h |
| Power | 18V |
| Cable length | N/A |
| Hose length | N/A |
| Dimensions | 30 x 8.9 x 25cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 1.3kg |
Recommended
Best portable pressure washer
It runs off a rechargeable integrated lithium-ion battery with an LED warning when the battery power is low, but a full charge should get you up to 15 minutes of run time. There’s a four-litre water tank, and the nozzle can be adjusted to either flat or conical spray.
Pros
- Portable and can be used on the go
- Lightweight for easy use
- Easy to store
Cons
- Limited water supply from the tank
- Hose length is quite short at three meters
| Maximum pressure (bar) | 110 |
| Maximum water flow (l/h) | 360 |
| Power (W) | 1400 |
| Cable length | 5m |
| Hose length | 3m |
| Dimensions | 38 x 19.7 x 24.8 cm |
| Weight (without accessories) | 3.5kg |
FAQs
Are electric pressure washers better than petrol ones?
For all things considered, electric pressure washers are absolutely the way to go. They’re easier to use, cheaper to buy and run, and above all, are more suitable for your average car and home cleaning tasks. Petrol pressure washers are far more heavy-duty and are often overkill for what most people need.
Do pressure washers need to be connected to taps?
If you’ve got access to one and the correct adaptor, yes they do. Our method though has mostly been to fill up a huge bucket of water and place the end of the hose at the bottom of it. This is because we’ve not always had access to taps when testing pressure washers and cleaning equipment, so it was our next best method.
How should you use a pressure washer?
Carefully. You should never rush the process and always be wary of having too much pressure on your paintwork and other components. Start by ensuring all the components of your machine are fitted together correctly and ensure you have a suitable, reliable electiricity and water supply.
When operating the machine, begin with a gentle setting and get used to the machine and its behaviour, and then experiment using the more aggressive settings, if you feel like the surfaces you’re working on can take it.
What is the best PSI for a pressure washer?
The machines we’ve tested at Parkers range between 110 to 200 Bar of pressure – which equates to 1,595 to 2,900 PSI. As long as you’re using the right setting for the machine in hand, any pressure washer within that range should be suitable for your cleaning tasks, both car and home.
Does a pressure washers use a lot of water?
The simple answer is not as much as a standard tap. You can easily find out how much water your machine uses by looking at the flow rate of it. For instance, the Karcher K2 uses 360 litres per-hour (l/h) of water, whereas a K5 will use up to 500l/h. In contrast, this is considerably less than an average garden hose, which can use an average of around 1,000l/h or even more.
What soap do you use in a pressure washer?
When it comes to cleaning detergents and pressure washers, you should always use what either the manufacturer provides or specific car cleaning equipment designed to be used in one. Karcher does provide solutions designed to clean garden patios, and you can use any dedicated car snow foam inside the snow foam cannons of your machine.
How do I use a pressure washer safetly?
The big priority is ensuring physical and electrical safety. Is there a risk of the water spraying into the electrical outlet powering it? Is there a trip hazard? Are all the components fitted correctly, and are the wires and hoses all in good condition? These are all the basic checks you need to ensure before you start using your machine.
Is the Karcher K4 better than the K5?
In terms of value for money, it certainly is. The K4’s flow rate of 420 litres per hour is more than enough for most car and home cleaning needs, and you’d really have to be bordering a professional to get the most out of a K5’s rate of 500 litres per hour – which is arguably overkill for many.
Is the K4 better than the K2?
Undoubtedly. It may be twice the money, give or take, but it feels like it’s worth it. The K2 is a great entry-level machine for most users. But from a team member’s personal experience, it’s quite rudimentary in the sense that it vibrates your hand to a near-irritating level. The K4 and other slightly more premium options eliminate this and operate a lot more smoothly.
Is the Karcher K7 better than the K5?
The K7 is certainly a lot of machine, so it’s not hard to see why Karcher have priced it the way it has. However, a K5 is already very powerful. You’ll have to really justify why you need an enormous 550 litres per hour of flow at 180 Bar of pressure. You’re almost certainly paying for the machine’s capabilities, as it’s important to note that, as standard, not a lot of attachments are included with Karcher products.
Are Karcher pressure washers reliable?
There’s always a little rule of thumb when it comes to any machine from cars to pressure washers: it’ll only be as reliable as the person looking after it.
Generally speaking, Karcher pressure washers are some of the better machines when it comes to lasting durability. They come with warranties that last up to five-years, so it displays a sense of confidence which is common with other brands such as Nilfisk and Bosch.
Are Karcher pressure washers repariable?
Absolutely; on its site, you can buy a selection of spare parts and accessories for your machine (at a hefty premium, mind) which does add an element of D.I.Y to the ownership. Of course, if you prefer, you can get it repaired under warranty, should you need it.
Are Karcher pressure washers waterproof?
Like every other corded pressure washer, they run on electricity. So, they’re not waterproof by principle. The best way to waterproof any electricity wires in your pressure washer is to invest in some waterproof cable covers, should you feel you need them.
What are the top five pressure washers?
We conducted a mega test of pressure washers to find out which one was our ultimate winner. It ended up being the AVA of Norway Evolution P70, followed by the Bosch UniversalAquatak 135, and the Karcher K5 and Nilfisk Excellent 160. On the cordless end of the market, we particularly rate the Worx Nitro Hydroshot (WG633.E model) for it’s brilliant power, cleaning capability, quality, and battery life when hooked up with a 4.0Ah unit.
Final things to consider when buying a Karcher pressure washer
Pressure Rating and Power: Karcher offers pressure washers with various pressure ratings. Consider the level of power you require – higher pressure ratings are suitable for tough jobs, while lower pressures are more appropriate for lighter tasks.
Flow Rate: Look for the litres per hour (l/h) specification, which indicates how much water the pressure washer uses. Higher flow rates can deliver better cleaning efficiency, but often at a cost. Budget pressure washers will generally have a lower flow rate.
Portability: Consider the weight and design, especially if you need it to be easily portable. If you are concerned about portability, our guide to compact pressure washers may be for you.
Attachments and Accessories: Check what accessories come with the pressure washer. Karcher offers various nozzles, wands, brushes, detergent tanks, and extension hoses that can enhance the versatility of your pressure washer.
Cleaning Applications: Think about the types of cleaning tasks you intend to use the pressure washer for. Different Karcher models may be better suited for specific applications, such as car washing, patio cleaning, or heavy-duty industrial use. Also, consider the range of pressure washer accessories available.
Price and Budget: Set a budget for your pressure washer purchase and compare different Karcher models within that range.
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