Are Harbor Freight Pressure Washers Any Good? Here's What Users Say

There are a lot of great reasons to own a pressure washer. You can use it to clear oil stains, moss, and dirt from your drive and walkways, remove grime and algae from decks and patios, clean mildew and pollen from outdoor furniture, or blast the caked-on dust and cobwebs from the siding of your house — in addition to dozens of other tasks that would be difficult to manage with a garden hose alone. The sheer versatility of these tools makes them incredibly desirable among home DIYers and pros alike, but they can run a bit on the expensive side when you look at the big-name brands.

If you're familiar with Harbor Freight, then you know that the company's entire business model is essentially based on manufacturing and selling tools with comparable specs and designs to those made by the best power tool brands, while keeping their prices as low as possible. Harbor Freight currently has seven pressure washers available in its stores: one from Portland, three from Bauer, and three from Predator, as well as a wide range of useful pressure washer accessories. Those who are considering getting one of these might first want to know a bit more about them. That said, there's only so much you can learn from a spec sheet. One of the best ways to see how these tools perform in the real world is to take a look at what previous owners have had to say about them.

This probably won't come as much of a surprise, but the most affordable option that Harbor Freight sells is also the least powerful. The Portland 1,750 PSI, 1.3 GPM Corded Electric Pressure Washer retails for just $89.00. This product currently has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on the Harbor Freight website based on over 15,000 reviews, with 89% of customers stating that they would recommend this product to other buyers. Most users seemed to find that the Portland Pressure Washer was worth it at its low price point, providing a solid option for situations where excessive power could cause damage, such as cleaning vehicles without harming the paint. Many of the lower ratings were from people who experienced leaking from the handle, broken nozzles, and other failure points in the physical design.

The three Bauer models are all a bit larger, but they have similar weighted ratings. The Bauer 2,000 PSI 1.3 GPM Max Performance Electric Pressure Washer costs $189.99 and has a 4.4 on the Harbor Freight site, with 91% of customers claiming that they would recommend it. The Bauer 2,300 PSI 1.2 GPM Brushless Max Performance Electric Pressure Washer is $249.99 and also has a 4.4, and the Bauer 3,000 PSI 1.1 GPM Brushless Max Performance Electric Pressure Washer costs $379.99 and has a 4.5. "This unit is perfect for small jobs," said one reviewer. "Super easy to set up and operate. I also love that the electric motor has a pressure switch so that if you let off the very easy to use trigger it the motor stops." The others in this series boasted similar comments.

The most powerful pressure washers that Harbor Freight sells are the three gas-powered models from Predator. The smallest of these is the Predator 2,650 PSI 2.4 GPM 5.6 HP (196 cc) Pressure Washer. This washer retails for $349.99 and currently boasts a 4.6 out of 5 on the Harbor Freight website, with 90% of customers claiming that they would recommend it. "Very simple to use and plenty of power," said one.

The Predator 3,200 PSI 2.8 GPM 6.8 HP (223 cc) Pressure Washer represents the middleweight gas-powered option, going for $399.99. This one has the highest user score of any Harbor Freight model, with a 4.7 out of 5 star rating and a whopping 96% of customers stating that they would recommend it to others. Many commented on its ease of use and its impressive power. The few critical reviews that it has received seem to be from people who received damaged or faulty units.

Finally, we have the top-of-the-line model: The Predator 4,400 PSI 4.2 GPM 13 HP (420 cc) Commercial-Duty Pressure Washer, which costs $899.99, has a 4.6 out of 5 rating, with 95% of customers reporting that they would recommend it. "This thing is a monster," one buyer stated. "It works really well, and has adjustable pressure, which is convenient. It is a big machine. [...] The wheels probably could have been manufactured a little better, but it's not a deal breaker. They work as intended." This reaffirms the general pattern that the ratings go up along with the power level and price, so it might be worth waiting for those times of year when Harbor Freight offers special deals and discounts.