A complete buyers guide to the best pressure washers by Karcher.
Karcher is probably one of the most well-known brands for pressure washers, and with good reason. They rate highly with consumers, are affordable and provide a vast range of efficient cleaning solutions.
With over 600 current patents on cleaning technology, Kärcher products are sold by over 120 companies in 73 countries around the World.
At a Glance
Last update on 2023-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Karcher Pressure Washer
We compared the best Karcher pressure washers – let’s take a look:
K2 Plus 1600 PSI 1.25 GPM Electric Karcher Pressure Washer
Lightweight at just 16 pounds, this electric Karcher pressure washer comes with two different wands, including the Dirtblaster wand that works miracles on caked-on dirt, grime, and other debris. The pump is specially made to last for a very long time and is practically maintenance-free.
The washer comes with a 20-foot hose to make maneuvering the unit a breeze, as well as a detergent siphon hose in case you run into an extra challenging cleaning job. It is priced at around $120 and is therefore affordable for everyone, and the 30.8” x 9” x 11” size makes it easy to operate regardless of who you are.
K5 Premium Electric Karcher Pressure Washer
This electric Karcher pressure washer offers 2,000 PSI and 1.4 GPM, and the 25-foot hose makes it super easy to accommodate all types of cleaning jobs. It comes with an integrated hose reel that makes the hose easy to store right on the unit itself, and it even comes with a detergent tank for those jobs that are super hard to complete.
It also comes with a Dirtblaster wand, which works miracles on dirt, grime, and debris that is extra thick and caked-on. In addition to all of this, the K5 Karcher pressure washer also has a super high-quality pump that is non-corrosive, maintenance-free, and built to last for a very long time.
K4 1900 PSI 1.5 GPM Electric Pressure Washer
At around $240, this is a reasonably priced pressure washer, and you get a lot in return for your money. This includes a PSI of 1,900 and 1.5 GPM capability, making it perfect for a wide variety of household cleaning tasks.
The unit weighs around 27 pounds and is therefore fairly lightweight, and the 25-foot hose makes it super easy to maneuver the unit when you’re working in your yard. It comes with two wands, including the Dirtblaster wand that cuts through extra-thick built-on dirt and grime. It also has a noncorrosive pump that is built to last and is practically maintenance-free.
K1 Entry Electric Karcher Pressure Washer with Accessories
If you need a good entry-level pressure washer that is easy to operate, this is it. The pressure on this washer is a bit lower than usual – only around 1,450 PSI and 1.2 GPM – which makes it easy to operate for people who have never before used a pressure washer.
A lightweight, compact unit that is horizontally shaped and easy to maneuver, and it comes with a 25-foot hose to make it easy to tackle any cleaning jobs that come your way. The two wands that come with it mean it will accommodate even tough caked-on debris, and at only around $100, it won’t harm anyone’s bank account.
K3 Follow-Me 1800 PSI 1.3 GPM Electric Karcher Pressure Washer
The feature that makes this pressure washer so unique is the four wheels, which give the unit a horizontal design and makes it work similar to a vacuum cleaner. It provides 1,800 PSI and 1.3 GPM for most light to medium cleaning jobs, and at barely 16 pounds, it is super easy to maneuver.
It comes with a built-in detergent tank for those extra-challenging jobs and a non-corrosive, maintenance-free pump that is built to last for a very long time. Use one of the two wands to tackle your caked-on debris, and plan to spend only around $170 because this is a very reasonably priced pressure washer indeed.
K1700 Cube Electric Karcher Pressure Washer
This is a very compact electric Karcher pressure washer that offers 1,700 PSI and 1.2 GPM, making it perfect for a number of cleaning jobs. It has a convenient on/off foot switch and can be set up in only five minutes, so you can start using it as soon as it comes out of the box.
At only 12 inches tall and less than 20 pounds, you can easily and quickly carry it from one location to the next without worry. There are no tools needed to set it up, and it is perfect for cleaning jobs that include vehicles, windows, boats, and much more. It is also very inexpensive at around $120, so you can purchase this pressure washer without breaking the bank.
Best Karcher Pressure Washer Accessories
15-Inch Surface Cleaner Attachment
A good surface cleaner is a great accessory to have with your Karcher pressure washer. This gas-powered surface cleaner is 15 inches in diameter and therefore covers large areas at one time, making your cleaning task a lot faster.
It has a splash-free skirt for much neater cleaning, and because it offers 1,500 RPM, it is a very efficient tool. It provides 3,200 PSI of pressure and is compatible with more than a dozen Karcher pressure washer. It costs around $57 so it is very affordable, making this the next accessory you should get for your pressure washer.
PS40 Powerscrubber Brush Extension for Karcher Pressure Washer
This lightweight brush extension is 11.5” wide and therefore covers a large area at one time. It is compatible with Karcher models K2, K3, K4, and K5, and it is perfect for cleaning sidewalks, driveways, corners, stairs, and so much more.
It comes with three different nozzles to accommodate different jobs, and the extension itself is roughly 22 inches long. Regardless of what you need to clean, this handy brush extension will make the task much easier. It is reasonably priced at around $60 and is the perfect accessory for many of your Karcher “K” series pressure washers.
How to Choose a Karcher Pressure Washer
With all these amazing cleaning gadgets from Karcher, it’s extremely tempting to run out and buy the most powerful pressure washer in the store. Unless you plan to use the washer for light commercial or industrial use, this is usually not a good idea.
Believe it or not, pressure washers can actually have too much power, which could be dangerous to the object you’re trying to clean.
Fortunately, once you learn a few things about pressure washers, the task of deciding which one is right for you gets a whole lot easier. Let’s take a look at some of the features you’ll need to learn about before you choose a good pressure washer that will meet your cleaning needs.
PSI and GPM
You’ll hear these two terms used frequently when you’re researching pressure washers:
- PSI, or pounds per square inch, refers to the amount of pressure coming from the washer while you’re working.
- GPM, or gallons per minute, refers to the amount of water flowing through the washer while you work.
If you multiply the PSI by the GPM, you get the number of cleaning units, or CUs.
Using the CU number, you can more easily compare pressure washers to find the one that’s right for you. Let’s say one pressure washer has a PSI of 2,000 and a GPM of 2.0. This washer has a total of 4,000 cleaning units. So once you choose another pressure washer and do the same thing, you’ll be able to tell which one has the most power.
Karcher Gas Versus Electric Pressure Washer
Both electric and gas powered Karcher pressure washer are excellent products. Choosing between them will be the result of your personal budget and cleaning requirements.
For the most part, homeowners need electric pressure washers and nothing stronger, unless they plan to start a small business with their pressure washers. Gas-powered pressure washers generally have much more power than electric pressure washers.
They are also heavier, more expensive, and last much longer. As long as you’re just performing cleaning tasks on your deck, driveway, vehicles, and so on, you should be just fine with an electric pressure washer.
You should also take a look at the accessories available for your pressure washer. Some brands have more accessories than others, but fortunately, most pressure washers come with enough accessories to begin using them as soon as you remove them from their packaging. The additional accessories are usually items you don’t need right away. They’re just nice to have and make using your pressure washer more convenient.
Finally, pressure washers are usually divided into three categories:
- Consumer pressure washers, which have a PSI of 500 to 4000
- Semi-pro pressure washers, which have a PSI of 1,000 to 4,200
- Professional pressure washers, which have a PSI of 1,000 to 7,000
Final Words
Karcher pressure washer is a great brand for your first pressure washer – remember, you never want to choose one that is too powerful. Just decide what types of jobs you’ll be using your pressure washer for, then research the manufacturer’s recommendations so that you get one to accommodate those needs. You can always add a more-powerful pressure washer to your collection at a later date.