Buying guide
What Pressure Washer Do I Need?
For cars and light furniture, start with a compact, controllable washer. Patios and decking need more water flow and reach; large driveways need a higher-capacity machine that can sustain the work.
The largest pressure number is not automatically the best choice.
Start with the job
List every surface you expect to clean. A mixed car-and-patio machine needs enough flow for paving but also a variable or gentle setting for paint and trim. Measure the hard-surface area and the distance from the tap and socket before comparing machines.
The specifications that matter
- Maximum pressure helps separate broad machine classes, but it is not a safe setting for every surface.
- Water flow, stated in litres per hour, helps rinse loosened dirt and affects how practical a machine is over a larger area.
- Hose length determines reach without repeatedly moving the machine.
- Nozzle control matters for timber, vehicles, pointing and other vulnerable surfaces.
- Included patio cleaners and detergent applicators can be useful, but bundles change.
A sensible starting point
Small maintenance jobs commonly suit compact machines around the 100–120 bar class. Larger hard surfaces tend to benefit from more flow, a longer hose and a machine in roughly the 125–150 bar class.
These are comparison ranges, not instructions to use full pressure. Use the pressure-washer finder to calculate a starting specification from your jobs.
Safety and sources
Read the manual, inspect the surface and test an inconspicuous area with a broad spray from a cautious distance. Never direct the jet at people, animals or live electrical equipment.
Bosch explains pressure, flow and application differences in its official pressure-washer range; product instructions remain the authority for a specific machine.
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