Best Pressure Washers for Concrete

1. How We Picked

We did not run these machines on a test slab for this guide. We compared the specifications manufacturers and retailers publish: rated pressure, rated flow, engine or motor, pump type, wheels, hose and warranty. Where sources disagreed on a figure, such as engine size or hose length, we say so on the product card. The criteria are the ones that matter on concrete specifically, which is a narrower question than which pressure washer is best overall.

Concrete is the job that separates pressure washers. A deck or a car needs gentle pressure and modest flow. A driveway needs enough flow to rinse loosened dirt away quickly and, ideally, enough output to drive a rotary surface cleaner, which is the attachment that turns a long, streaky job into an even one. That is why most of our picks are gas machines around 3,000 to 3,300 PSI and 2.4 to 2.7 GPM, with one heavy machine for large areas and two electrics for smaller ones.

We weighted pump type and wheels more than we would for a general-purpose washer. Concrete sessions are long, and a triplex pump tolerates long run times better than the axial cam pumps on most budget machines. Pneumatic or never-flat wheels matter when you are dragging a 60-pound washer down a cracked driveway. For the broader market, including washers for siding, cars and decks, see our main pressure washer guide.

Every pick was listed for sale when we checked, but model numbers in this category change often and several brands sell near-identical machines under different part numbers. Check the PSI and GPM printed on the box against the numbers here before you buy.

2. PSI, GPM and Cleaning Units for Concrete

Pressure, measured in PSI, is what lifts dirt off the surface. Flow, measured in gallons per minute, is what carries it away and determines how fast you can move. On concrete, flow matters at least as much as pressure, because you are rinsing a large area rather than blasting one spot. Our guide to what PSI you need puts concrete at around 3,000 PSI, the top of the household range, and that is a good target for a driveway.

A common way to compare machines is cleaning units, which is simply PSI multiplied by GPM. The Simpson PowerShot at 3,300 PSI and 2.5 GPM works out to about 8,250 cleaning units, the Generac SpeedWash at 3,200 PSI and 2.7 GPM to about 8,640, and the DeWalt DXPW4440 at 4,400 PSI and 4.0 GPM to about 17,600. An electric washer listed at 3,000 PSI and 1.1 GPM comes to about 3,300. The figure is a rough guide rather than a guarantee, but it explains why a large gas washer finishes a driveway in a fraction of the time of an electric one.

Be careful with electric ratings. Many list a peak PSI and a peak GPM that do not occur at the same time; the Greenworks listing, for example, gives 1.1 GPM at its rated 3,000 PSI and 2.0 GPM only at 100 PSI. Our explainer on PSI versus GPM covers how to read these numbers. When comparing, look for flow at rated pressure.

3. Our 7 Picks

We researched these seven from manufacturer specifications and retailer listings; we did not run them on a test slab. Every figure is attributed to its source, and where sources disagree we say so. Model numbers change often in this category, so check the PSI and GPM on the box before you buy.

2

Best for Flatwork Out of the BoxGenerac SpeedWash 3200 PSI (G0079000)

Gas, 3,200 PSI, 2.7 GPM, Power Broom Included

Best for Flatwork Out of the Box

The SpeedWash is the pick if you want concrete-ready attachments in the box. Generac lists it at 3,200 PSI and 2.7 GPM, the highest flow of the homeowner gas machines here, with a brass-head axial cam pump that Generac says lasts up to twice as long as aluminum-head pumps. The kit includes a Power Broom, a turbo nozzle and a soap blaster, plus four quick-change tips and a PowerDial gun with four settings. The Power Broom is a wide multi-nozzle wand rather than a rotary surface cleaner, so it speeds up rinsing and light cleaning but will not give the stripe-free finish of a proper rotary deck on a dirty driveway. Sources disagree on the engine, with Generac describing 196cc and some retailers 212cc, and on hose length, 25 or 30 feet. Do it Best lists it at 62 pounds. If you plan to add a surface cleaner later, 2.7 GPM leaves headroom for a 15 or 16-inch deck.

Pros

• 3,200 PSI and 2.7 GPM, per Generac
• Power Broom, turbo nozzle and soap blaster included
• Brass-head axial cam pump, which Generac says lasts up to twice as long as aluminum-head pumps
• PowerDial gun switches settings without changing tips

Cons

• Power Broom is not a rotary surface cleaner
• Engine size and hose length differ between sources
• Axial cam pump is less suited to very long sessions than a triplex

The Bottom Line

The Generac SpeedWash gives you 3,200 PSI, 2.7 GPM and flatwork attachments in the box, per Generac, which makes it the quickest route from purchase to a clean driveway.

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4

Best Mid-RangeSimpson MegaShot MS60763

Gas, 3,100 PSI, 2.4 GPM, Kohler Engine

Best Mid-Range

The MegaShot sits between the budget and pro machines. Simpson's own datasheet for the MS60763 lists 3,100 PSI and 2.4 GPM with a Kohler RH265 engine and 10-inch pneumatic tires. That output is comfortably inside the 15 to 16-inch surface-cleaner band, and the pneumatic tires roll better over cracked or uneven concrete than hard plastic wheels. It is a common sight at home centers, so accessories, nozzles and service are easy to find. Be careful with the model number: Simpson's 2800 PSI, 2.3 GPM MegaShot is a different machine, the MS60773, so check that the box says 3,100 PSI if you want this one. We did not find a manufacturer warranty statement specific to the MS60763, so read the terms on the listing you buy from.

Pros

• 3,100 PSI and 2.4 GPM, per Simpson's datasheet
• Kohler RH265 engine
• 10-inch pneumatic tires for rough concrete
• Widely sold, so parts and accessories are easy to find

Cons

• Easy to confuse with the lower-output MS60773
• Axial cam class pump rather than a triplex
• Warranty terms not confirmed for this exact model

The Bottom Line

The Simpson MegaShot MS60763 is a solid middle choice for concrete, with 3,100 PSI and 2.4 GPM from a Kohler engine, per Simpson's datasheet.

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4. Pairing a Surface Cleaner

If you clean concrete more than once, buy a rotary surface cleaner. It is a round deck with a spinning bar and two or more nozzles that hovers a fixed distance above the ground, so it cleans an even path without the stripes a wand leaves. It is faster, it keeps spray off your legs and the house, and it is the single biggest upgrade you can make for driveways and patios. Our surface cleaner guide covers specific models.

Size the cleaner to the washer, not to the driveway. Our sizing guide matches roughly 12 to 14-inch decks to electric washers around 1,500 to 2,000 PSI and 1.5 to 2.0 GPM, 15 to 16-inch decks to typical homeowner gas washers at 2,800 to 3,400 PSI and 2.3 to 3.0 GPM, 17 to 18-inch decks to larger washers at 3,200 to 4,000 PSI and 3.0 to 4.0 GPM, and 20-inch decks and up to machines with 4.0 GPM or more. A deck that is too large for the washer's flow spins slowly or not at all and leaves swirls.

On that basis, the PowerShot, SpeedWash, WPX3200 and MegaShot all suit a 15 to 16-inch cleaner, the DeWalt suits an 18 to 20-inch one, and the two electrics suit a 12 to 14-inch deck. Check the connection too: most gas washers use a 3/8-inch quick connector at the wand, and some cleaners need an adapter. If the result shows stripes or rings, our guide to a surface cleaner leaving streaks walks through the causes.

5. Gas or Electric for Concrete

For a typical two-car driveway, gas wins. The gas picks here deliver roughly twice the flow of the electrics at higher pressure, which means faster rinsing, a bigger surface cleaner and fewer passes. Our comparison of electric and gas pressure washers covers the full trade-off, but on concrete specifically the gap is wide.

Electric still makes sense in some cases. If your concrete is a patio, a short walk and some steps, an electric washer with a small surface cleaner will do the job quietly, without fuel, oil or a pull cord, and with far less maintenance over the winter. It is also the only practical choice where gas engines are restricted or noise is a concern. Our guide to whether an electric pressure washer can clean concrete goes into what to expect.

The time difference is the cost of electric. On a heavily soiled driveway with oil spots and years of grime, an electric washer can take two or three times as long and may still leave some staining that a gas machine would lift. If that is your situation and you only need to do it once, renting a gas washer and a surface cleaner for a day can be cheaper than buying the larger machine.

Whichever you choose, use a wide tip or a surface cleaner on concrete. The 0-degree tip and even the 15-degree tip can etch and scar softer or older concrete, especially at gas-machine pressures. Our explainer on nozzle colors covers which tip does what.

6. Pumps: Axial Cam vs Triplex

The pump is the part that does the work and the part most likely to fail on a budget machine. Most homeowner washers, including the SpeedWash, WPX3200 and electrics here, use an axial cam pump. It is compact, inexpensive and fine for occasional use, which for most people means a few sessions a year. Generac says its brass-head version lasts up to twice as long as aluminum-head pumps.

Triplex pumps, like the AAA units on the Simpson PowerShot and the DeWalt, use three plungers driven by a crankshaft. They run cooler and slower for the same output and are generally rebuildable, which is why they appear on professional machines. On concrete, where you might run the washer for an hour or more at a time, that durability is worth paying for if you clean regularly.

Two habits protect any pump. First, never let the washer run for long with the trigger released; water recirculates in the pump and heats up, which damages seals. Our guide to running a pressure washer without water explains the limits. Second, make sure your water supply can keep up: a washer drawing 2.5 to 4.0 GPM needs a hose and spigot that deliver at least that much. Our water supply guide covers how to check.

At the end of the season, winterize the pump with a pump protector or by running it dry as the manual directs. A cracked pump from frozen water is one of the most common and least necessary failures. Our winterizing guide walks through it.

7. How to Clean Concrete Without Damage

Start by sweeping the area and moving anything that could be hit by spray. Pre-wet the concrete and nearby plants, then apply a concrete or degreasing detergent through the soap nozzle or the washer's soap system and let it dwell for the time the label specifies, without letting it dry. Detergent does much of the work on organic staining and grease, so you need less pressure.

With a surface cleaner, work in straight, slightly overlapping passes at a steady walking pace, moving in the direction the water drains so dirty water runs onto areas you have not cleaned yet. With a wand, keep the tip at a consistent distance and angle and use a sweeping motion rather than holding it in one place. Lingering is what etches concrete and leaves visible wand marks.

Finish with a rinse using a wide tip to push dirty water and loosened grit off the slab. Edges and corners the surface cleaner cannot reach need a quick pass with the wand. Our step-by-step guide to pressure washing a patio covers pavers and stone as well as concrete, which need gentler treatment.

Be cautious on new concrete, which should cure for some weeks before pressure washing, and on old, crumbling or exposed-aggregate concrete, which can lose surface paste or aggregate under high pressure. Test a hidden spot first and back off the pressure or widen the tip if you see the surface roughening.

8. Oil, Rust and Organic Stains

A pressure washer removes surface dirt, mildew and loose grime well, but it does not lift every stain. Oil and grease soak into the concrete's pores, and water alone tends to spread them rather than remove them. Treat oil spots with a degreaser or poultice before washing; our guide to getting oil out of concrete covers the methods by stain age.

Rust stains from furniture, fertilizer or irrigation water need a rust remover formulated for concrete, used according to the label, because pressure alone does little. Organic stains from leaves, algae and mildew respond well to an appropriate cleaner followed by washing. Tire marks, paint and sealer residue each need their own approach.

Hot water helps with grease, but most homeowner washers are cold-water units, and most manufacturers say not to feed them hot water. Our explainer on putting hot water in a pressure washer covers why. For heavy grease, a good degreaser and longer dwell time is the practical route.

Expect some staining to remain even after a thorough clean. Concrete is porous, and deep or old stains can be lightened but not always removed. Sealing afterwards is what keeps new stains from soaking in so deeply.

9. After Cleaning: Drying and Sealing

Cleaning is often the first step of a bigger job. If you plan to seal the driveway or patio, a thorough pressure wash is the preparation every sealer label asks for, because sealer will not bond to dirt, oil or loose material. Our guide to pressure washing a driveway before sealing covers the steps and timing.

Let the concrete dry fully before sealing. Sealer manufacturers generally specify a dry surface, and many recommend waiting at least a day after washing, longer in cool or humid weather. Sealing over damp concrete can cause clouding and poor adhesion, which shows up as a white haze or peeling.

Choose the sealer for the surface and the look you want. Penetrating sealers soak in and leave the surface looking natural, while film-forming acrylics add sheen and color depth. Our concrete sealer guide compares them. For asphalt, the process is different, and our asphalt driveway sealer guide covers it.

Clean and inspect the washer after each concrete session. Grit picked up from the slab can wear nozzles and surface cleaner seals, and a worn nozzle widens the spray and reduces cleaning power. Replacing nozzles is cheap, and doing it when the pattern starts to look uneven keeps the results consistent.