Karcher Pressure Washers: Which is Best?
If you’re in need of a pressure washer and you have your eyes on Karcher, this is a wise choice since they have a strong background within the niche. However, a quick search online will bring up several of their models which begs the question of which is best. Of course, we won’t be able to answer this question directly because we don’t know exactly what you’re looking for but we can answer ‘which is best for my needs?’.
As you’ll quickly notice, the different models will vary in their features and abilities so this is what we’re going to try and highlight in this guide. If you’re looking for something that isn’t going to take up much room but will be good for the odd job here and there, the compact design is likely to be the answer you need. Elsewhere, the Premium Full Control Car and Home Pressure Washer will do more in the way of cleaning but also with extra features such as the LED display and pressure settings.
Even within the themes and styles, if we take the compact model as an example, you’ll find different options such as the K2 Compact Pressure Washer and the K4 Compact Pressure Washer. At this point, you might be considering clicking away from this guide and picking one at random but it isn’t as confusing as it sounds so don’t panic just yet.
For a total of seven pressure washers, we’re going to list the main features and discuss why they’re different to one another. By the end, you should be in an ideal position to make a decision for your needs. Remember, your needs are always the most important factor; just because a friend owns or the reviews are marginally better for a particular model, this doesn’t mean it will work for you so keep this in mind!
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- Full control lance (offers iconography for the most appropriate setting to use)
- Ideal for large surface areas
- Four different settings including mix, soft, medium, and hard
- On-board storage for accessories
As the first in the K2 range, this is the first level of ‘Full Control’ available from Karcher and it serves as a starting point for those who need a simple unit or perhaps a first foray into the niche. For decking, patios, cars, boats, caravans, and bikes, the four different jet settings will be a fantastic addition to your cleaning process. Depending on whatever you happen to be cleaning, you might need a soft spray (for woods and those materials easily damaged) or a heavy spray (patios and walls).
After this, you’ll have all the basics including a built-in detergent tank, automatic motor and water inlet feature, a mobile and lightweight design, and on-board storage for near enough everything you need including the Dirt Blaster, Spray Gun, Vario Lance, hose, and the cable for the unit itself. In terms of pressure, you’ll receive 110BAR with a flow rate of six litres per minute.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Karcher K2 Premium Full Control
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- Compact and lightweight design
- All units are tested individually
- Storage for cable and lance
- Clever, comfortable carry handle
- High-quality filter to prevent damage to the pump from dirt and debris
After the Premium Full Control model in the K2 range, we also have the starting point for the compact design and this is just as the name suggests. If you need a design to carry around with ease, this is a much better solution but you will have to forgo some of the more advanced features. However, there are various accessories you can choose when ordering including a hose connection set, brush and detergent, rotating brush and detergent, outdoor wood and stone cleaning kit, and a bike/car cleaning kit.
According to Karcher, the compact K2 model is more suited towards cars, small surfaces, garden furniture, and bicycles so this is where the difference can be found. As we get towards the more powerful models, the difference will be more pronounced too. While the Full Control units are for larger tasks, the Compact units won’t be able to offer the same results at this level
Karcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
Karcher K4 Premium Full Control
- Full LED display and full control trigger gun
- Numerous accessories
- Five-year warranty
- ‘Plug n’ Clean’ detergent system
- Patented cooling system to reduce wear over time
With this K4 Premium Full Control unit, you’ll have 130BAR of pressure while spraying seven litres per minute so you can see the jump from its K2 counterpart; suddenly, the increase in pressure allows for more water to be released over the course of a minute. In terms of hose length, this remains the same at six metres and you benefit from cable storage in addition to an integrated hose reel.
Despite the advancements made with this unit, it’s still incredibly easy to install. As long as you have your water source, this is all you really need to get started so you don’t need to worry about complicated instructions (this is generally true for all the models here today!). Although slightly heavier than the first two solutions, the high-impact wheels and perfectly-placed handle keep transportation easy. Overall, you’ll have three different pressure settings along with a detergent mode and the LED display allows you to flip from one to another in quick time.
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Karcher K4 Compact Pressure Washer
- Improved life and performance with water-cooled motor
- High-pressure hose connects within seconds
- Three-year warranty
- Compact and lightweight
- Comes with Vario Lance and Dirtblaster
By appearance alone, it’s easy to see this model fits into the ‘Compact’ series from Karcher but there are certain improvements in this model compared to the K2 version. Now a mid-range machine, it offers more power as well as energy efficiency so the balance between the two is just right. With a water-cooled motor, performance will improve in the short-term while the unit also becomes more durable which means it should remain as your companion for many years to come.
With all K4 models, they can be used in two ways; from a harvested or static water source. Although you won’t get a suction hose with the order, it can be purchased separately for a small fee. Just as we saw before, the model is ideal for the smaller tasks you might face whether it’s cleaning the bike or perhaps just a fence panel in the garden. Instead of small areas around the home, the K4 Compact Pressure Washer is now ideal for ‘medium-sized’ areas according to Karcher themselves.
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Karcher K5 Premium Plus Full Control
- Control all detergent flow and pressure with +/- buttons
- Three-in-one lance for fast cleaning
- Various accessories including stone and facade detergent
- Five-year warranty
- On-board storage for lances, cable, telescopic handle, and more
As we reach the K5 models, we really start to see the power increasing and this one has 145BAR for pressure. As a flow rate, you’ll enjoy just over eight litres per second and the hose also increases to eight metres. With the majority of fantastic Karcher models, they offer a base which includes fantastic accessories, on-board storage, and detergent injection systems. However, the real change from one model to the next is found with the power, pressure, and flow rate so this is where you should place most of your attention.
With the three-in-one lance, you don’t have to worry about swapping it over just to get the benefits of detergent, Vario, or Dirtblaster so this makes for a clever time-saver. For all large areas such as patios and walls, this is second only to the final solution we have today and you’ll see why in a short while.
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Karcher K7 Premium Full Control Plus
- Control all detergent flow and pressure with +/- buttons
- Three-in-one lance for fast cleaning
- Various accessories including stone and facade detergent
- Five-year warranty
- On-board storage for lances, cable, telescopic handle, and more
As we reach the K5 models, we really start to see the power increasing and this one has 145BAR for pressure. As a flow rate, you’ll enjoy just over eight litres per second and the hose also increases to eight metres. With the majority of fantastic Karcher models, they offer a base which includes fantastic accessories, on-board storage, and detergent injection systems. However, the real change from one model to the next is found with the power, pressure, and flow rate so this is where you should place most of your attention.
With the three-in-one lance, you don’t have to worry about swapping it over just to get the benefits of detergent, Vario, or Dirtblaster so this makes for a clever time-saver. For all large areas such as patios and walls, this is second only to the final solution we have today and you’ll see why in a short while.
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Karcher K7 Premium Full Control Plus
- On-board storage
- Useful accessories
- Three-in-one lance
- Full control plus trigger gun
- Five-year warranty
In terms of the five features listed above, you’ve seen them all before with the K5 Premium Full Control Plus so where’s the difference? Why should you consider investing more money into the K7 unit? Well, you’ll receive the most powerful washer of the lot at 160BAR while also distributing ten litres per minute in full flow. If you have a large garden or driveway, the ten-metre hose suddenly becomes ideal and you’ll enjoy all the other benefits we discussed in previous models.
Ultimately, this is a mean machine and should be able to handle any task you throw its way. Whether it’s a darkened patio area or even a caravan that hasn’t seen the light of day for a while, the power and distribution the K7 Premium Full Control Plus offers is second to none. According to Karcher, it’s the ‘perfect balance of power and control’ and we think this description is better than anything we could attempt so it’s fair to say we’re fans of the design and engineering (so long as you would use it regularly and make use of the investment!).
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Summary
If you’re in the market for a Karcher pressure washer this year, we hope to have helped with this breakdown of all the best models. When choosing, although we’re in danger of overstating the point, remember your own needs and be willing to read customer reviews. These days, people tend to leave detailed reviews on sites like Amazon and this allows you to get a better feel for the model in question. As long as you do this, you’ll have your new pressure washer working away in no time!
Last update on 2023-04-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
