The UK's bestAir Compressors2022 Review

Probably more famous internationally for their cars, Hyundai are one of South Korea’s biggest engineering firms. They also happen to make probably the best air compressor that I’ve had a chance to try out.

The HY3050V portable air compressor makes use of a powerful 2.2 kW 3 hp motor to fill the large 50 litre tank up to 8 bar. And because it’s got a direct drive pump, you can expect it to be a reliable air compressor that will last for years. Putting out 14 cubic feet per minute (cfm), it’s more than powerful enough for any home DIY task.

The 50 litre tank is a real advantage if you want to get into air-hungry jobs like paint or adhesive spraying. It means you can spend more time working and less time listening to the motor run to refill the tank.

Weighing in at 45 kg, it’s a good thing that this air compressor comes complete with a sturdy pair of wheels on the back. The tubular steel handle on the front helps to make it portable as well as sturdy.

What makes this Hyundai air compressor stand out though is the accessory kit. Hyundai have included a decent quality set of air tools. A standard blowing head, liquid sprayer with tank, paint spray gun, inflator with pressure gauge, and airline. You can get to work straight away!

Another excellent entry from South Korean industrial titans Hyundai is the HY7524 oil-free air compressor.

Hyundai have made use of a 750 Watt, 1 hp motor to drive the air pressure up to an impressive 7 bar that puts out 5.2 cfm. Not bad for a smaller machine. It’s still enough for reasonably air-hungry tasks you might get up to in your home workshop.

It comes with a 24 litre tank and there’s only 22 kg to lug around. This compressor bridges the gap between being very portable and holding enough air to get bigger jobs done. I like that it’s an oil-free compressor as well. There’s no messing around with messy lubricants to get this machine to work properly.

The idea of “silent” air compressors is a bit of a mystery to me. This compressor puts out just 60 dB though.  That’s equivalent to a conversation in a restaurant, so it’s quite impressive compared to much louder air compressors.

They haven’t included an accessory pack or airline though, so you’ll have to buy those bits separately.

Sporting a large air tank, powerful motor, and extensive accessory kit, the Dealourus 50L air compressor is a serious piece of kit.

With a 2.5 horsepower or 1.5 kW motor under the bonnet, this is a reliable and powerful air compressor. I’m impressed by the 50 litre air tank, because it means you’re going to spend less time running the motor and more time blasting air.

The huge tank capacity makes this a great air compressor for paint spraying. It’s more than capable of dealing with air-hungry applications compared to air compressors with smaller air capacity.

Probably my favourite thing about this air compressor is the weight. It weighs less than 30 kg and comes with a pair or large wheels and a handle for moving it around to where you need it. That’s an impressive power to weight ratio.

I’m impressed by the accessory kit as well. You get a tyre inflator with an accurate pressure gauge, an air blowing gun, a paint spray gun, and an oil spraying gun. There’s also four metres of quality spiral hose. It’s the ultimate value for money air compressor kit if you ask me.

A family-owned tool business based in Lincolnshire, ParkerBrand design and make an impressive range of power tools and workshop equipment. Their 24 litre air compressor is one of the best compact air tools that I’ve tried out and proves to be serious value for money.

With a 1.5 kW, 2.5 hp motor this air compressor puts out 9.6 cfm. It’s enough for smaller spraying jobs but it’s not the most efficient bit of kit on the market. It can pressurise the tank to just under 8 bar, which is enough for most DIYers.

At 26.5 kg, it’s a little heavier compared with the Hyundai HY7524, but the wheels make it just as portable. The handle’s a bit shorter though, which makes it a bit more awkward to manoeuvre. And don’t expect the larger motor to be quiet either, it’s quite noisy when in operation.

The South Korean manufacturing experts make an impressive range of air compressors. The HY5508 is an extremely compact and lightweight bit of kit that you can take with you wherever you need to go.

Boasting a featherlike 15 kg weight, it’s still got a serious amount of power underneath the bonnet. The 0.55 kW or 0.75 hp motor might seem small but it can fill the 8 litre tank quickly. It’s not the sort of compressor you’d use for paint spraying large areas, but it’s ideal for running an air nailer on site.

For this size air compressor, I’m impressed with the 7 bar maximum air pressure it can build. This is a capable air compressor that might not be as powerful as a full-sized compressor with a large 2 hp motor, but you can literally pick this one up and walk off with it.

What makes this possibly the best air compressor for home use are the low noise levels. When the motor’s running it puts out just 60 dB. That’s not very loud. It makes it an idea hobbyists compressor setup when noise needs to be kept to a minimum.

ORAZIO sell lots of different filters, regulators, and accessories for their air compressors. The 241184 low noise air compressor is a reliable, lightweight machine that makes transporting it around nice and easy.

Although this smaller air compressor can’t put out as many cubic feet per minute of air as other air compressors, it’s wonderfully quiet. It makes it ideal for light workshop use when air pressure requirements are less.

For the money, you get a 0.8 kW or 1.1 hp motor that can put out a reasonable 4.7 cfm. It comes in a lightweight compressor package weighing just 22 kg. The little wheels on the back mean you can manoeuvre it around quite easily as well.

What sets the Orazio 241184 apart from the competition is how quiet it is when in operation. At just 65 dB, you could have a conversation with someone next to it when it’s running. Not bad at all.

German engineering firm Einhell have built themselves a solid reputation for honest power tools that won’t completely empty your wallet. The TC-AC 200/30/8 air compressor is a solid and dependable workshop tool that takes up less room than the competition.

Making use of a 1.1 kW motor, the compressor can build up to 8 bar in the tank. The output is close to 6 cfm, or 165 litres per minute (lpm). It’s perfectly suited to DIYers because it’s a low-maintenance oil-free system as well.

What I like about this air compressor is the upright design. Most air compressors sit horizontally, taking up a lot of floor space. The Einhell has a much smaller footprint while still performing well against the competition. This makes it an ideal tool for smaller workshops.

At just over 18 kg in weight, it’s reasonably portable. You can make use of the large wheels and higher handle for transporting without hurting your back. The large 30 litre air capacity is welcome, because the motor is loud when in use.

Japanese tool brand Ryobi have been making quality equipment since 1943. Their ONE+ line of cordless power tools is a favourite among savvy DIYers. The idea is that you can buy any ONE+ tool and run it on the same 18 Volt battery.

That’s right, Ryobi now make portable air compressors! Making the most of Lithium-Ion technology, you’ve now got compressed air wherever and whenever you need it. Which is really quite handy.

The four litre tank is tiny compared to some of the other air compressors on my list. But it can still build up 8.3 bar of air pressure inside using the little onboard motor. Ryobi claim that you can reinflate a flat tyre in just ten seconds with just 0.72 cfm coming from the locking regulator.

The other thing that’s great about this portable compressor is the weight. Just 6.8 kg with the battery makes this light enough to throw in your car boot and use it when you’re stuck. Just remember this is a “naked” tool sold without batteries or accessories.

One of the biggest names in DIY, Stanley have been making reliable kit for more than 170 years, a pedigree that’s hard to match by any rivals.

The DN200/8/6 compressor is a small, benchtop tool that isn’t meant to rival large compression tanks. It’s more suited to small DIY jobs unless you want to listen to the motor building up air pressure every few minutes.

With a 1.1 kW, 1.5 hp electric motor, you can fill the 6 litre capacity tank up to a useful 8 bar of air pressure and output just over 5 cfm. The advantage of this mini air compressor is that it’s extremely light and portable. It doesn’t come with wheels because it really doesn’t need them. Weighing just 9 kg, you should be able to move it where you need it without breaking a sweat.

The oil-free construction means there’s minimal fiddling around and helps to keep everything nice and simple. Provided you don’t need huge amounts of air and are only using this air compressor for fine or hobby work, you won’t be disappointed.