Are Harbor Freight Tools' Pressure Washers Worth Buying?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Buying everything you need to pressure wash your own home includes a pressure washing unit, a garden hose, safety gear, and maybe some cleaning liquid. Of those items, the pressure washing machine represents the largest amount of the expense, as these machines have an average cost of almost $250. If you want to pay less than average, you might consider shopping at Harbor Freight. The steps to securing the best deals on Harbor Freight tools involve searching for coupons and instant savings. However, most people consider the retailer's tools and products to be available at a lower price than those offered by other hardware stores, even without additional coupons or savings.

Yet, some people dislike Harbor Freight because of concerns about the quality of their tools. In other words, you might be paying a lower-than-average price because the tools have a below-average build quality and longevity. So, can you trust Harbor Freight when you want to purchase a pressure washer? Are they worth buying, or will you be wasting your money and have to buy a higher-quality replacement unit right away? In short: It's the latter. 

To help you make the choice, the Harbor Freight website lists its pressure washers in categories of good, better, and best. A Harbor Freight 'good' pressure washer might cost less than $100, but it only has a 90-day warranty, meaning it might not last very long. You'll pay $400 or more for a 'best' pressure washer, but it offers a 2-year warranty. When looking at customer reviews for Harbor Freight pressure washers, we found that customers generally trust Harbor Freight's models. However, we also found (somewhat surprisingly) that you can find similar models at same to lower prices elsewhere.

Among Harbor Freight's more expensive machines is the Predator 3200 PSI Pressure Washer, which runs $400. It's powered by gasoline and has a 25-foot hose length with a 2.8 gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate. It also features an impressive 4.7-star rating on the Harbor Freight website, and 96% of customers would recommend it to others. Many customers at the retailer's website say it has plenty of power for all kinds of pressure washing jobs. "This pressure washer has done such a great job," one Harbor Freight customer said. "I couldn't ask for a better product." However, you can find a better value at Home Depot for a machine similar to the Predator model. Home Depot offers a Westinghouse 3200 PSI Pressure Washer with a 2.5 GPM flow rate and a 25-foot hose for $329. The Westinghouse model also has a 4.7-star rating, and 96% of customers would recommend it.

Harbor Freight's most expensive machine is the Predator 4400 PSI Pressure Washer, which costs $900. It has a 50-foot steel-reinforced high-pressure hose and offers a 4.2 GPM flow rate. It has a 4.6-star rating on the Harbor Freight website, and 95% of customers would recommend it to others. "If you're looking for commercial power at a discounted price, this is your solution," a Harbor Freight customer shared. Lowe's has a similar machine at a lower price, though, with its Westinghouse 4400 PSI Pressure Washer for $849. The Westinghouse model also offers a 4.2 GPM flow rate and a 50-foot hose. It has a 4.8-star rating, and 96% of customers recommend purchasing it.

Harbor Freight's most affordable pressure washing machine is the corded electric Portland 1750 PSI Pressure Washer for $90. It has a 1.3 GPM flow rate and a 20-foot hose. Customer reviewers at Harbor Freight give it a 4.3-star rating, and 89% of them would recommend purchasing it. "I loved that it was easy to use and assemble," one Harbor Freight customer said. However, "I might have to get a more powerful one." That reviewer also touched on one of the downsides to electric pressure washers – they are best used as starter machines because of low PSI and GPM numbers, and homeowners may have to upgrade down the road. Home Depot offers a Ryobi 1800 PSI Pressure Washer with an electrical cord for $89. It has a 1.2 GPM flow rate and a 20-foot hose. The Ryobi model has a 4.5-star rating, and 85% of customers recommend buying it.

Another low-priced electric machine from Harbor Freight is the Bauer 2000 PSI Pressure Washer, which is $190. It offers a 1.3 GPM flow rate and includes a 25-foot hose. Customer reviewers at Harbor Freight give it 4.4 stars, and 90% of them would recommend purchasing it. "[I] have had this a few weeks now, and it performs as it should each and every time," one Harbor Freight customer says. Once again, though, a big-box retailer has a more powerful machine at a lower price. Lowe's offers the Westinghouse 2300 PSI Pressure Washer, which runs from a power cord for $157. It has a 1.76 GPM flow rate and a 25-foot hose. This Westinghouse pressure washer has a 4.8-star rating, and 97% of customers recommend it.