Are Harbor Freight Air Compressors Worth Buying?

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If you enjoy doing DIY jobs around the house, you probably own a range of tools and equipment. One of the machines you should invest in (if you haven't already) is an air compressor, as it can be a game-changer in a workshop. Air compressors work by compressing air to create kinetic energy that's used for pneumatic tools. They allow you to inflate tires or power paint sprayers, too.

If you would like to buy one of these tools, you can expect to pay an average of $550, but you could pay anywhere from less than $100 to several thousand based on capacity and brand name. If you want to save as much money as possible on your air compressor, Harbor Freight is known as a hardware store where you can find lower-than-average prices. You can also sometimes find extra coupons that help you get the best deal on Harbor Freight tools.

However, some people report having bad experiences with poor-quality tools from Harbor Freight, leading them to feel like they wasted their money. Can you trust air compressors from Harbor Freight, and should you expect to receive a good value from them? Our research shows that Harbor Freight offers good prices and generally has favorable customer reviews for its air compressors. Its products aren't always significantly cheaper than similarly sized models you'll find at places like Home Depot, but the Harbor Freight products tend to have slightly better customer reviews. Learn how customer reviewers view Harbor Freight air compressors, and whether the prices for these products truly represent a bargain compared to big-box hardware stores.

Harbor Freight offers several budget-friendly air compressors that you can use in your garage or at your home. Many of these models have a capacity of less than 10 gallons. Several Reddit users on the r/harborfreight subreddit say that Harbor Freight's small air compressors work fine for light-duty work, but they may not give you long-lasting performance for bigger jobs.

The McGraw 3-Gallon Air Compressor costs $70 at Harbor Freight. However, it only has a 3.9-star ranking among Harbor Freight customers. "The pump is good for car and bicycle ties, [but] far too noisy," one Harbor Freight reviewer says. It only weighs 15.2 pounds, so it offers portability, while delivering 110 PSI of pressure. Home Depot offers a similar air compressor in the Husky 3-Gallon model for $68. It delivers 120 PSI of pressure, and it  has a 3.9-star customer review rating on the Home Depot website.

For a slightly bigger model, Harbor Freight offers the McGraw 8-Gallon Air Compressor for $160. This McGraw model offers 150 PSI of pressure, but it weighs 52.8 pounds, limiting its portability. Harbor Freight customers give it a 4.6-star rating. "This is my go-to option on so much now around the garage," one Harbor Freight customer says. "It's powerful and handles my air tools flawlessly." Home Depot offers a similarly priced model with its Husky 8-Gallon Air Compressor for $159. It also delivers 150 PSI of pressure and weighs 51.2 pounds. However, it has a customer review rating of only 4.1 stars.

If you want a bigger air compressor that can provide air pressure for longer periods of time for heavy-duty jobs, Harbor Freight has multiple options available, including the McGraw 21-Gallon Air Compressor for $280. It offers a maximum pressure setting of 175 PSI. Customer reviewers appreciate this model, giving it a 4.7-star rating. "For [the] price and size, I couldn't ask for more – works great," says one Harbor Freight reviewer. Home Depot has a cheaper, similarly sized product in its Husky 20-Gallon Air Compressor for $269. It offers a little more pressure than the McGraw model, delivering 200 PSI. However, the Home Depot air compressor only has a 4.1-star rating.

Fortress might not be one of the brands of tools that are owned by Harbor Freight, but this store is one of the most common places to find Fortress air compressors. Fortress is a higher-end brand for air compressors at Harbor Freight compared to McGraw. The Fortress 27-Gallon Air Compressor is available at Harbor Freight for $400. It offers a maximum pressure of 200 PSI and weighs 115 pounds, but it has wheels installed on the bottom to help you move it around. Customers give it a 4.5-star rating on Harbor Freight's website. "Very quiet, so it can be kept in your shop without a lot of background noise," one Harbor Freight customer reviewer says. Home Depot's Husky 27-Gallon Air Compressor costs $499 while offering a 200 PSI maximum pressure setting. It only has a 4.0-star rating from customers.