Portable Air Compressor Buying Guide

Portable air compressors go wherever the job is. 

Whether you need to mount a portable air compressor on a truck, wheel it around a job site, or carry it anywhere, there is a unit that fits any job—and any user. 

This guide helps in choosing the right portable compressor: one that can be easily taken up on a roof, under a deck, or on the road. 

Hand-Carry Air Compressors 

Hand-carry air compressors are the smallest and easiest to move around. If compressed air needs include inflating balls, mattresses, and tires, or hobby work and other light-duty applications, these are the ideal compressors. They are available in a variety of sizes and are mostly electric, with some exceptions that require gasoline. The table below is a general guideline for hand-carry compressors and approximate specs available on Ferguson Home.

Air Inflators 

Mostly reserved for emergency use, high-quality inflators are extremely useful if kept in a vehicle's trunk. They come in 12-volt, 120-volt, and cordless battery power options and are also the smallest consumer air compressors available. 

When choosing an inflator, it is important to understand that it is not designed or meant for tasks other than inflating pool toys, bike tires, or small vehicle tires. In other words, it cannot power air tools or fill RV-size tires. 

Pancake Air Compressors 

Pancake air compressors are portable, require minimal maintenance, and are easy to use. They are basic entry-level compressors with small tanks and are used for small projects around the house. 

Pancake compressors are small and portable, making them a simple tool that can be pulled out and used at a moment's notice. Most have regulators and gauges so the PSI can be monitored. Some lighter air tools can be used with pancake compressors; however, due to their smaller air capacity, the user may need to wait for the tank to refill often. 

Hot Dog Air Compressors 

Hot dog air compressors get their name from the fact that their elongated tanks resemble hot dogs. They usually come in tank sizes between 1 and 7 gallons. The size of the tank determines how long an air tool can be used before the compressor kicks on, known as its duty cycle. 

Two features to look for are a durable carrying handle and rubber feet to prevent scraping floors. Three-gallon (all-in-one) air compressors are great for small projects around the house and often come with the most common attachments for small jobs. They are compact, lightweight, and extremely versatile machines. 

These compressors can be used with most air tools, but if the plan is to use heavy-duty professional pneumatic tools like a nail gun for a flooring project, the largest hot dog compressor tank available or a twin-stack compressor should be considered. 

Twin Stack Air Compressors 

Twin stack air compressors have two tanks, so nearly as much time is not spent waiting for the tank to fill as with other types of hand-carry compressors. With the second tank, they can consistently power most air tools with minimal downtime. 

Most consumer-grade twin stack compressors are direct drive and require much less maintenance than belt-drive compressors, with the added benefit of not having to worry about oil changes and belt replacements on oil-free models. 

Like most portable compressors, twin-stack models are offered as oil-lubricated or oil-free. Oil-free twin-stack compressors do not need to be maintained. If an oil-lubricated pump is used, the oil must be checked regularly; if there is no oil to lubricate an oiled pump, the compressor will wear out sooner. 

Wheeled Portable Air Compressors 

Air compressors with wheels are often classified by either having vertical or horizontal tanks. Wheeled compressors are available as either electric or gasoline-powered. 

Unlike hand-carry compressors, these units have wheels because they are much heavier and need to be pushed or pulled. 

The table below is a general guideline for wheeled compressors and approximate specs available on Ferguson Home.

Portable Vertical Tank Air Compressors 

Portable vertical tank compressors are essentially the same as the horizontal units described below, just with a different tank orientation and electrical power. If a debate between the two arises, storage space should dictate which style is purchased. 

If a home is being re-sided, a deck built, or an addition framed, a major benefit of the vertical orientation is eliminating the need to bend over to use the compressor. 

A major difference between horizontal and vertical air compressors is that there are no gas-powered vertical models. If work must be performed away from electricity and requires significant CFM or PSI, horizontal portable compressors will likely be the best option. 

Portable Horizontal Tank Air Compressors 

Portable horizontal compressors are popular because they offer more power than hand-carry units. In most cases, they are very similar, just with larger tanks and more costly components. 

These single-stage compressors are popular with carpenters because, with their large tanks, they do not need to run constantly to refill. Horizontal compressors are also available as electric or gas-powered, so a decision must be made ahead of time regarding where the compressor will be used and how much CFM is required. 

Wheelbarrow Air Compressors 

When durability and mobility are required, choosing a wheelbarrow air compressor might be the exact solution needed. With single or double wheels and sturdy handles, wheelbarrow compressors weighing upwards of 300 lbs can be pulled through tough, uneven terrain. 

Wheelbarrow compressors are designed for professional tradesmen on the job site. They are built with larger air tanks and heavy-duty materials so they can handle challenging conditions and withstand the normal rigors of a job site. 

Options include gas-powered or electric-powered models, single or two-stage motors, and single or two-wheeled varieties. Some compressors even offer dual-air outlets to power two air tools simultaneously. 

Mobile Air Compressors 

Mobile air compressors are as portable as the vehicle to which they are attached. This category includes truck-mount, tow-behind, and DC compressors, each with unique applications and uses. 

Truck-mount compressors can be found mounted on roadside service vehicles, and tow-behind compressors are often towed with construction trucks. DC compressors are designed to inflate punctured tires and power air tools on the go, making them ideal for off-roading in Jeeps and UTVs, or for vehicles that utilize air-ride suspension. 

The table below is a general guideline for mobile compressors and approximate specs available on Ferguson Home.

DC Air Compressors 

DC (direct current) air compressors open up new possibilities that gasoline or electrically-powered compressors cannot offer by running on battery power instead. These types of compressors do not normally have air storage tanks, meaning they run constantly, and many models boast a 100% duty cycle rating. 

Because they are battery-powered with either 12-volt or 24-volt currents, they can be used virtually anywhere, including being permanently mounted on a jeep, ATV, semi-truck, or agricultural equipment. These compressors are even found in use for air-ride suspension applications on vehicles. 

With a DC compressor, off-roading can be done with ease, knowing there is no need to rely on plug-in power to prevent tires from going flat in remote mountain areas. Additionally, on rocky tracks, there is no concern regarding spilling gasoline or losing a gas tank. 

Truck-Mount Air Compressors 

Truck-mounted air compressors deliver heavy power from an even heavier compressor, supplying CFM and PSI levels equivalent to a two-stage compressor. As such, these compressors must be transported in the bed of a work truck. They provide the power of a stationary compressor with the convenience of portability. 

For professional contractors or hard-working farmers, these compressors offer significant value on job sites or in remote places. It is important to remember to bring extra gasoline, as these are gas-only units and cannot be powered by electricity. 

Tow-Behind Air Compressors 

Tow-behind air compressors are behemoths of compressed air power. With up to 120 HP and over 375 CFM, these 2-stage rotary-screw compressors rival industrial stationary compressors. 

Too powerful and large to fit into a standard truck bed, most require a hitch and a sturdy set of wheels for transport to the job site. However, some can fit into the beds of larger tractor-trailers and can even be purchased without the trailer (skid-mounted). Either way, with a compressor of this magnitude, sandblasting, graffiti removal, pavement breaking, and post-pounding are made much simpler. 

Because of their size and horsepower, they can deliver as much consistent power as a 2-stage stationary compressor while being out in the field. These professional compressors also come with options for extended warranties and cold-weather protection kits and are highway towable (up to 55 mph). 

The Best Portable Air Compressors 

It can be difficult to choose the right type of portable air compressor, so don't hesitate to contact us, and our experts will be happy to help!